When the NERBs started we did a few challenges – grip inlays and building the best Blackfish rod you can. I’m bringing them back and doing a Dec Wraps challenge. Please note this is NOT A CONTEST, this is to motivate and challenge each builder to do expand their skill set and do something they haven’t done before. Check the site to see details: [northeastrodbuilders.com] Please help spread the word on this, this should be a lot of fun, and I hope each person who participates comes out of it as a little bit of a better builder.

Gatherings – We just had our first Gathering of the 2011-12 Wrapping Season here at my shop. Discussion included how to modify blanks for certain fishing applications, blanks construction, handles, guides, and dec wraps. Many other topics were covered in detail as well. We still have space for the NJ & Mass gatherings on Oct 22 & 29th. Contact me for more details.

Tee shirts & Sweatshirts – I will be ordering NERBs shirts – short sleeve tees $15, long Sleeve $18; Hooded sweatshirts – light pullover $40, heavy pullover or zip up $70. Tell me colors and sizes.

I really wish I lived up your way......well maybe I actually wished you lived down my way. I could really use some hands on guideance on the fine art of decorative wraps. I find it so tedious, and time consuming, to do a decent closed wrap that I can't bring myself to do enough of them to understand them well enough to "figure out" paterns.

You mentioned Blackfish rods so I'm going to thread steal a bit and take the oppertunity to ask a question if you don't mind. By any chance have you any experience with the Lamiglas TXC841M (tri-flex) blank for that application? Needless to say we don't have Blackfish here, but from what I have heard I always felt the perfect Blackfish rod would make the perfect mutton snapper rod. IIRC you have fished the dry tortugas area. Chances are you caught a few muttons....if you were lucky:) I'm thinking you guys use a little more lead but our fish are a little bigger. Otherwise about the same general fishing style.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

You challenging me Billy? It is almost time for me to do my yearly dec wrap!!

Russ, come to the HP show and you can see it all first hand. Worth the every bit!! Once you really do a wrap all the stuff starts to click and it becomes easier. I used to be intimadated by it but now I have the grasp of it I fear it no more. Don't get me wrong I'm not good at it but I also don't do many at all but i understand how it goes. The more you do the faster they go!! Oh and Never be afraid to ask the questions!!

Russel - this is the point, I get that you have had a hard time in the past, a lot have. Now is hte time to really sit down and try to figure it out. You need help? Well use the forum and post questions, an dI'll do everything I can to answer them and get you through the process. hopefully you and many other will learn and be able to get some wraps on your rods in teh future after this.

Regarding the blanks - I designed hte HErcules for a reason, I didn't like the other blanks available to us. Muttons that I caught were in the Tortugas so I'm spoiled. We had a morning bite where all the fish were 15# +, I have the 15# fis and I was upset because it was "so small", everyone laughed. The Inshore Heavy I think is the perfect blank for Muttons down there,30-60# and a ton of power ot move the fish