Tim Kelly

I don't know, but I have the 7'4" medium glass rod and like it so much that it's the only rod I've ever bought a second one of.

I agree, especially weight records. Irrelevant weights that are going to be scrubbed the next day. I really don't get it. I've tried very hard to enjoy the BPT, but I just find it irritating. You can't follow an angler through the event and get a feeling for how he's doing as the weights are constantly getting scrubbed and starting again. They might as well just have a one day tournament for all 80 anglers and have done with it. It's a shame as I really enjoy the MLF tournaments, it just doesn't seem to work for me as a tour event.

Wow. I suppose I tend to lift and wind, more than straight reeling fish if they're large enough, so might not have noticed.

What was it that made you feel that the reel was flexing? Not sure I would notice the stem flexing, if it did. Unless the reel were binding I wonder how you can tell it's flexing?

I have a fuego and a ballistic, both LT series and have never noticed it, but probably haven't fished with very tight drag settings. I don't think a 15" striper would exert enough force to twist a reel, but maybe. The reel was definitely tight in the reel seat?

Wow. That looks like the apocalypse!

Hope all's well now.

Ugh. Any ideas what the problem is?

KVD's having another shocker. I would have thought this would be right up his street. Mark Davis continues to impress me. If he were fitter I can't imagine anyone else being able to keep up with him, as it is, he's fishing with such a huge handicap but holding his own and more.

That's the one I was thinking of, Keitech, not Reins!

There's a solid bodied Reins tube that might be vaguely similar, but probably no less expensive.

That's entirely fair, hope you enjoy it. I don't think I ever save money making a rod as buying the components is so much more expensive for individuals than it is for rod companies. I've actually bought two St Croix Legends and stripped the handles off them and built them as I like them as it was cheaper to buy a built rod than to buy the components to build it from scratch.

The ultrex is a country mile better, no contest. It does everything the Xi5 does, plus has all the advantages of a cable steer on top. Other than connecting with Lowrance. Now there is a very strong certainty that Lowrance (and Garmin) are working on their own trolling motors to compete with the Ultrex. If you can wait until after the icast trade show in July you might find a Lowrance tm is exactly what you want.

Always the best days when you feel like you worked something out. Very satisfying.

If you don't want to build a rod in a specific way it's probably excellent, though quite why you'd build a rod rather than buying a ready made one if you don't have something specific you want from the build is another question.

Ha ha! That's the article I remember reading a few years ago. I wonder how many TRDs have been sold now. Berkley must feel like the record companies that turned down the Beatles.

That wouldn't really be viable, but it would be easy enough to fit a different rear grip if you wanted to, with a new grip from a rod building supply shop. Might be simpler to wrap the entire handle area with winn grip tape though to make it seem like a full rear handle.

It's the thick end of the blank and it's going to be covered in some sort of handle and epoxy, it really doesn't matter too much how you cut it off as long as you don't actually crush the blank, it's not going to be a weak point!

Yep. looks like you need to work on your knot tying skills. Also worth checking the eye of the bait you're tying to for roughness. If you're texas rigging, check the weight, a rough bore will wear the line out quickly.

Is it breaking at roughly the same place every time?

I'd get the Daiwa. Match reels are shallow spooled reels designed for float fishing light 2-4lb mono. I've never used an Okuma reel I thought was better than the equivalent priced Daiwa or Shimano.

Tremendous, well done. What a fish! Sounds like it was already a great days fishing before you hooked the beast.

4" off the butt won't matter too much, but I'd bet she could get used to using a 6'10" rod without any problem. Getting the handle length right for her will have more effect than the eventual length of the rod as it will affect the handling and balance.

OK, thanks. Not sure how a swivel would stop the bait from spinning, but it would keep the twist out of the line at least.