Lots of good information in that article... thanks DR. I've been using braided line for several years and wouldn't change back to nylon for anything.
Forum: rodboard

Scott... nice job on the split grip. I've been planning one for a crappie stick for my sister, think I'll use yours for a 'template'.
Forum: rodboard

Just to be sure I am in time to get a room at the Raddison for the 2007 Expo in High Pt I logged onto Raddison.com today and actually got a "deal"... rooms for $69/night. This is only a few bucks cheaper than the deal TK has arranged but still leaves me about $30 more to spend on goodies. Looking forward to meeting as many of you in person as a couple days allow.
Forum: rodboard

Tom, I hope you can put up with at least one more guy needing to get a better handle on epoxy. See you at the show. I'm a newbie at this, just now working on my 3rd and 4th rods. One for offshore jigging and one for Chesapeake Bay/Delaware Bay trolling for stripers. If the trolling rod works out as well as I think it will, it'll be the prototype for 5 more. If only the FedX guy w
Forum: rodboard

Verified or not, this board is absolutely the best I have found on any subject, not just rod building. And when Cliff gets wound up and delivers an explanation worthy of a science journal the value just goes up up up. The 360 degree view one gets of so many topics makes this a "must visit" site every evening... wrecking my happy hour visits at the local pub but everything has a priori
Forum: rodboard

Tom, The history I've found so far seems to repeat itself with subtle changes over time. I've found a treasure trove of 15-20 year-old Guild magazines, some with articles by TK, and I've found many of the same (or similar) Q&A's that we find on this forum today. I'm looking forward to the history lessons being presented by a man who helped make the history. Keep up the great work!
Forum: rodboard

Just a humble newbie but I'll add a thought... For the rod I'm just wrapping now I suspended a plastic pail (2 gal) from the tiptop and filled it 3/4 full with water to "simulate" what I believe will be the average/high end of the fish I'll be targeting (Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay Stripers) which should come in at 12 to 15 lbs on a good day. Using water makes it easy to determi
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Mike... I'm pretty much grinding to a knife edge now, close enough that it started to worry me a little that it might be too sharp. Tension too tight makes sense... I'll loosen up a bit when I get back to work on it. Sure would be a wonderful world if there were some way to measure that 'perfect' tension. Thanks for the input.
Forum: rodboard

Mike, Sounds like that tutorial would be a great add to the library on this site... or maybe meat for an article in RM. Clyde
Forum: rodboard

Hunter, As another newbie, I think you've hit all the bases with the the 10 things you listed... especially #3. I'm still challenged to get the guide feet ground exactly right to get the thread to move onto the feet smoothly. I suppose even an old guy like me can learn though so I'll keep practicing it on a wood dowel until I get it right. Clyde Thomas
Forum: rodboard

Sure wish your gathering was a bit closer to Maryland.. I'd love to find a similar get together somewhere in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay. Clyde Thomas
Forum: rodboard

I was looking at Mudhole's site this morning and had nearly resisted buying that blank for pretty much the same purpose... now you guys have gone and caused me to break open my piggy bank!!
Forum: rodboard

Cliff, Your description of the Rain Shadow SW blanks make them sound just about perfect for Chesapeake Bay eeling for striped bass. Thanks for the good info. clyde
Forum: rodboard

Billy, I am pretty new to rodbuilding but have been jigging fish off the ocean floor for the best part of 30 years and I agree with you that there is nothing particularly new about the new Japanese sticks... certainly nothing that the Lamiglas CGBT841 or Seeker CLB 708 blanks can't match. clyde
Forum: rodboard