My peers have threatend me with extreme embarassment unless I reveal this rather serious situation.

I delivered a micro rod on Friday to a very high profile fisherman. When he left with this one, his fifth, he had smiles all over his face.

My version of Saturday Nite Live - at 10:00 pm my phone rings and this voice screams "Your rod cost me a tournament!"

After a brief discussion I realized he had consumed entirely too much adult beverage and I was quite mad at being awakened in the middle of the night. Looks like the new micro stuff would ruin my sleep! Details uncovered during the call - delivered a crank to a guy headed for Falcon - he was madder than a hornet - he could not get the braid through the butt guide. When he called he was drunk and I was mad - when I realized that I had filled the ring with the darn finish the shoe was on the other foot - I got drunk and he was mad!

Can't win em all!

Oh well, should have used Perma Gloss to start with!

And how stupid is it not to check the ring openings before letting a rod out the door!

And your are right Bobby - another item added to the punch list!

OK it is out in the open - stop the email teasing!

Bill;
I think I know what happened. When you finished the guide wraps, you did the stop and wipe off excess thing - but with the guide downward ? Thus the finish slid down the brace and onto the ring ?? If so, that is why I put them left and right, no drips no runs, no errors.

Well Bill, I look at it this way. Yes, you should have caught the mistake but honestly I don't know a tournament guy that wouldn't have tried to "quick fix it" i.e.... ram hook through epoxy and clean up... I know that I have have done it in the past when I got a rod back from Falcon where they had done the exact same thing. Honestly I don't know a tourney guy that wouldn't have caught it the nite prior during his prep and set up of boat! Fault lies with both parties in my eyes. Still doesn't make ya feel any better tho! Have a beverage for me.. My 2 week old has all of my consumption on strict hold!! gotta love sleepless nights

Tom

After a night with a 2 week old, you need the beverage.
Ya any thing pointy would have done it. Sure he had hooks. Wonder if he has beverages when fishing LOL

Bill, You should have explained to him that is one of the best benefits of the micros, the line by pass system to prevent ring wear or failures due to line. Explain to him it is the utmost in custom features and you normally charge quite a bit more for it.

We all make mistakes. I recently delivered a crankbait rod with one of your split seats. The front section of the pre made split seats are a little longer than the seats I split myself. Without thinking or even measuring, I adjusted the front section forward instead of back towards the seat, a little too far forward it turns out. I got the same call, except without the alcohol. He and his friends now tease me and offer to send me their reels so that I can make sure they fit.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2008 11:52AM by Robert Russell.

It happens. But like another poster said, my rods are rigged and ready the day before, then I 2nd guess my starting lures because of color or whatever and change them again. If it had been me, I would've done something to get my line through the guide. Punch it out with a jig head, pocket knife, screw driver or something if I thought I couldn't win or fish at my best ability w/out that rod. If all else failed, I would've cut the dang guide off and went at it.

I think that was the "adult beverages" talking. Every tournament fisherman spends the night before making sure his gear is in order. (even I do that on a non tournament trip) He evens ties on baits because he won't have time in the morning. Don't sweat it Bill. The next time you talk to him and he is sober, you will hear an entirely different story. He was just yanking your chain.

Bill,

When he calms down and can get a laugh out of it, explain that the finish is a modification to help control the nth generation carbon nanotube fishing line that his grand children will be using. You were only trying to get a leg up on the competition and place the guide on the rod by mistake. The plan was to prototype a pico guide with an opening of only a few microns.

Joe

I have done the exact same thing to myself, twice. But like the others have speculated and I have had to prove, the solution is quite simple. Just punch through the finish, a hook works fine, and then use a toothpick to make sure all of the epoxy was gone from the ring.

Kind of reminds me of plastic wrap on the toilet seat. ;)

A lot of comments regarding prep. My experience with tournament guys (and gals) begs the question why one rod lost him the tournament. What about the 42 other ones in the rod locker :)

The guy had a lot of adult beverage, he probably felt like a fool in the morning.