To Mr. Kirkman and his Esteemed Colleagues.

Wanted to say thanks a bunch for getting me into another fine mess. I ran across your board while looking for information about replacing a guide on one of my casting rods before a tournament last summer. Long story short, I found the information I needed and was back in action in no time.

Short story long, I found myself spending more and more time lurking on the board. Next think you know, I am explaining to the “little woman” what the long PVC shipping container is, why there were 10 fishing rods without the “little round things” on them in the rack, what the funny looking thing with notches and sewing machine parts with a bag of 35 pennies attached to a spool of thread is doing on her coffee table, why a company would call it self Mudhole, any why I was getting packages from them, what I was doing with the little cork rings on my lathe and why I wasn’t turning bowls for Christmas presents, Why did I need +3.5 reading glasses, where was her BBQ rotisserie motor, why my beer consumption was up – guess you get the idea.

Last night I took my first effort off the dryer; 7’ one piece spinning rod, gold Fuji guides, split Tennessee / Sensor type grip, matte black blank, thin gold metallic nail knot trim with purple Forhan locking wraps (hope the rod fishes better than the Vikings play). Thanks to all the information I learned from this board it turned out GREAT. I built it the way I like a rod to be, but I inscribed as a Christmas present to my father - in- law, (whom has never owned a rod other than a 19.95 discount house noodle).

If I do a search on how to remove flex coat and an inscription, do you think I could redo the inscription and keep it for myself? LOL…

Merry Christmas and Thanks Again,

Joe B. Barnett

Another one takes the bait...........

By the way, Joe.........rod building and Rodbuilding.org are sort of like The Twilight Zone..........once you enter, you never can really leave.

takes the bait, or bites the dust...

You now know how those fish feel in the net. You are CAUGHT.

Joe,
Growing up right after WWII and during the worst drought in West Texas, I would visit barber shops so that I could read fishing magazines and dream about someday having the tackle that I wanted. In spite of our dire needs for money, my dad bought me a spinning rig and two spoons. He took me to city park where I caught a nice bass. Every time I sit to wrap a rod, I think about how lucky I was to have a dad like that. I will be a rod builder as long as I can be. It is a great hobby.
Cheers, Ellis

Vikings!!! It could be a lot worse! I'm in MI Go Lions!! (Yeah Right!)

Welcome to the asylum!!!!

Mike

Joe, ain't it a hoot. I've been adicted to this silly stuff since 1960 and can still really get excited about building a new rod. I vividly remember the long dry spell that Ellis mentions, however in the panhandle of Texas there was no water holes deep enough for fish to survive in. Have fun.

Later,
Gerald Mc

And he calls us Esteemed? Hay can you say that on this board???

Poor, poor, poor Joe . . .

He was such a good, good man . . .

And NOW he's better ! ! !

David A. Fuller
Great Basin Fishing Rods

We'll save your obit for later; too danged funny reading that quip, gotta go wipe the tears outa my eyes...