JayW

We use the granulated kind and it's not too bad. We've used it on some 8/12 roofs with no problems. Roofing has become a real pain! I think I'd rather be catching Gators!

Good advice. Typically, the reel seat on a spinning rod is reversed from how you have it. It will work either way though.

Looking pretty good. I like the small foregrip. Post some more pics when you wrap the guides!

As a roofing contractor... you only have to meet the new codes if you are re-roofing. An existing roof doesn't need anything. The new codes suck! There's a law suite filed against the state over this and I'm hoping they can somehow change it back, as the new codes are over kill and the peel and stick does not allow the roof to breathe at all. Some say this will cause problems with the decking.

Howdy! 8-)

Nice Bass, guys! I once caught a 28.14 lb Bass, but I didn't have a camera or anything, so I let her go and drew a picture of her on a gas receipt. Somehow I lost the only reel proof of the big fish (the gas receipt). I will try and draw a new picture of her and post ASAP!

Opinions are like... well, you know what I mean. I like Yozuri Hybrid, you like Cajun Red, someone else likes Stren, Trilene, Spiderwire, ETC... That's what makes the world go around. If you like it... stick with it! 8-)

The wrapping doesn't take very long (unless there is an exotic or complicated design involved) Finish can take several days to cure hard enough to use. The problem is that often you wait a long time before the works actually gets started. But for him to say it's ready and then not deliver is frustrating. Like Flechero said... that's probably your problem. :-/Or... maybe he's just really backed up? Did he tell you how long to expect when you took it in?

I had one with a graphite base (where it mounts into the reel seat) snap off once. I wasn't rough on it either... not quite sure what happened. Maybe a factory defect?

Congrats! They will get better with each build.

Distribution Center Chase Foster chase@americantackle.us American Tackle Company 400 Kane Ct, Suite 100 Oviedo, FL 32765 Yup thats called the Distribution Center in the same building, thats because Amercian Tackle doesn't sell retail..... Here are the actual offices of the company.... East Coast Office Joe Meehan joe@americantackle.us American Tackle Company 44 Nauset Rd. West Yarmouth, MA 02673 West Coast Office Darrin Heim darrin@americantackle.us American Tackle Company 5016 Old Mill Road Port Angeles, WA 98362 And a owner of Mudhole is a owner of Amtak. I hope you can forgive me for not wording my statements correctly. :-?

I called for you. One of the owners of Mudhole is also one of the owners of Amtak and they are in the same building. This must be the person I spoke with when I was up there at their annual get together, I assumed, as he told me that he was a owner in both companies. They are connected in a sense, but not the same company. Here's the ph # 1-866-790-RODS

Were did you get that piece of info, please provide a link to it.... They are in the same building. I guess I could be wrong, but when I toured the building... they took me over to see the rods. No need to attack me if I'm wrong! ;D Maybe it's 2 different companies sharing a building??? I've been there several times... have you been there and saw their building? Maybe you could call them and ask? Maybe I should have said "Affiliated"?

Well, I never keep a Bass, but I did in 1999. I kept a 10lb Bass that my wife caught and a 13+lb Bass that I caught. Since then... 9 yrs... I haven't kept anything. Before that... I hadn't kept a Bass since 1987 when I kept a 9lb and a 11 lb Bass that I caught back to back and they were all mounted and I even ate the meat from the 2 in 1987. If I get a bigger Bass... I might keep her too! I've let a LOT of 6 - 10 lb Bass go over the years. I don't have a problem with someone keeping a trophy Bass or even eating one as long as they aren't just out there keeping everything all the time. I let go a 10.6 lb and a 12.11 lb Bass just last spring.

I have used a couple of their blanks. I was up there one time and one of the owners showed me some nice little IM6 blanks on close out for $15. I bought 2 and kept one and built a nice little rod for my wife. It's a really nice blank! They own Amtak in case you didn't know.

Good luck and ask away if you run into trouble! 8-) Do you have a rod wrapper? Just curious as to how you'll be building your first rod.

I agree. When I had a Morum, it broke the spring in the spool release thumb button. I called Abu and sent in the reel. After they recieved it... they sent it back next day air at no charge and replaced the spring at no charge! At that time the reel was already about 6-7 yrs old and way out of warranty!

Howdy! 8-)

Of course. You're supposed to! What kind are you using? Some brands pre-grind them, but you usually still need to touch them up. Fuji doesn't do any pre-grinding on theirs. I use a dremel and a grinding wheel sweeping left to right quickly and then go over them with some fine grit sandpaper (500 grit).

Well, I'd be willing to take you, but I live a bit south from Orlando. I'm about 20 or so minutes from Disney if that tells you anything. I'm not far from there at all. I could take you to Tenoroc, a world famous group of phosphate pits here in the Lakeland, Fl. area. I have a 20' flats boat. All you would need would be a Florida fishing license and $3 to get into Tenoroc. Maybe someone from Orlando will pop up. I'll probably be 30-60 minutes from where you'll be, but it's not that far if you don't get any other offers closer. http://myfwc.com/Fishing/offices/tenoroc-home/index.html

I think it's time you try and build one from scratch! You can do it... there's enough guys here who build rods to give you pointers. I started out just like you with modifying a old rod and then went on from there to building rods over 10 yrs ago. I'm really glad I did now looking back. Each rod you build will be a little better than the last!

A pair of tight white spandex Shimano bicycling shorts? C'mon, Dude... I just ate breakfast! :-? ;D

Thanks for all the info, guys! Anyone know how the fishing is there now days? I'd like to go back and give it a try. I'd love to hit Stick Marsh sometime, but I'm kinda concerned about all the stumps and all having never been there. I have a 20' flats boat, so it runs pretty shallow but I don't want to hit a stump! My buddy still has a jon boat, so I guess we could paddle out to the small lake since I now know that they consider a trolling motor a no no! :'(

Yeah, that's actually a friends old boat. Back then... he seemed to think that it meant "no running the motor" and not actually no motors allowed. The last time we went (at least 6-7 yrs ago) there was a guy riding around out there with a 20ft Gambler / Merc 225. Some old man was loading up his jon boat and said he got a ticket out there for just having a trolling motor one time! I haven't been back because all I have right now is a 20 footer. Do you know if it's true that you're not even supposed to run a trolling motor? I remember we caught 50+ Bass the first time we went out there between the 2 of us.

Beautiful 10+!