When I started working on rods I would work in an open shop. I noticed that often times I got a "blush". I would bring a rod from inside the house with was about 70F and it might be much warmer outside in the shop. I believe I was getting a slight condensation on the rod and to a degree, on the finish as it set up. Because the rod was cooler, I believe I got a type of condensation s
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I use surgical tubing of various sizes to match the taper of the rod. I got in the habit of using 2 bands per micro. One on the foot and one in front of the guide. This keeps the guide from slipping up the rod. Plus if you cut the band and have a problem, you have another band to start over with. you can also cut a rubber band and tie it on to the blank as well if you don't have any denta
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You might want to buy only what you need plus a few extra starting out. You may find that as you gain more experience you find certain brands of products you like better than others. Only time will answer this question. Also, guides such as micros came into play and put dust of guides that were used prior to them coming on the market. The market does and is advancing its products. Need 8
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Same problem, same story. I both a PacBay wrapping machine with an upgraded chuck. I got about 40 builds out of it until it would not hold a rod. Replaced it with an ALPS upgrade. Problem solved so far.
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Doug do you have some history with All Star?
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I have an old All Star casting rod that a customer has asked me to rework. This is the second old All Star from him he has asked me to work on. I am trying to determine the approximate age of the rod just out of curiosity. The rod has the following items. >The cork rings were glued to the blank and turned on the rod. They were not sanded smooth. The previous rod was very rough. Bot
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I fish for bass on Kentucky, Barkley, Pickwick, Wilson and Wheeler lakes on the Tennessee River chain of lakes.
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I've already passed that word to him. It was bad enough that the finish, thread, and rod resin were mixed together.
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A customer brought me a rod I build about 4 years ago. It is an RX7 blank by Batson. TM high build was used on the guides. He go some kind of solvent on the blank that hit a guide and melted the finish, ran down the blank blistering the rod finish/resin and stopped at the next guide slightly blistering the guide finish. He said he had the rods in the garage. Can anyone think of a pro
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I have the same issues with the site as everyone else. I end up emailing or calling Bill at Midwest to answer my questions and get my questions answered. Hopefully the products won't follow the path of the latest website upgrade! Marketing folks always catch the raft of the buyer, lol.
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I appreciate the sponsors letting me know they have the 10" grips. I have a source. I was really wanting to get a feel if the 9" is more popular than the 10"?
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A lot of my customers want bass rods with 10" cork rear grips. I like the double tendon. Last fall in noticed that they were harder to get. Many of the sources Mudhole etc. had a few 10" with a butt cap tendon. It does not seem to be getting any better this spring. Question is, are 10" grips in demand or are builders seeing more 9" than 10". The 9" seems to
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I have seen the model car decals but I cannot tell the size of the decals. @#$%& is full of them. Not being a model car guy a 1/24 scale does not tell me anything. My customer's blank is black so I need a solid decal.
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Any ideas on who might make or have NASCAR decals that would be small enough to apply to a rod butt section. Looking for something in the 20 mm height range.
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thanks, I saw the ProWrap colors. close to what I am looking for.
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Do any of you know of a manufacture who produces a bright yellow metallic thread suitable for butt wraps?
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There is a significant difference between the RX7 and RX8. And I suspect a similar difference in the RX8 and RX8+ (never invested in a RX8+). I use a Tennessee Handle with the RX8 822.5 if I am using a light head, say 1/8 oz. with 8 to 10lb test flouro. I move the reel very close to the blank so I can lay a finger on the blank without any expoxy on the butt end of the blank If I am using a
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Ron I had looked at your site before posting the message. I could not figure out how to order until I went back and studied your order forms. Thanks for the response. Mark
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Who handles Fish Hawk Thread? And who will process an order?
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James You need to have an idea on what type of c-baits you will be throwing. I use Batson's myself but the brands listed above are fine. I have 4 different blanks, 3 are out of their crankbait line and 1 is a popping blank. Thats not counting the jerk baits. Crankbait rods are like a bag of golf clubs. What is it, 13 clubs to a bag?
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I have a customer wanting a rod with Mississippi State Maroon and White colors. When I look at various images of the color it looks more burgandy/wine. I need some help from any die hard Bulldog fans who also ties rods?????
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You might consider a light and medium jade with black inlays and black guides. The jade is not flashy. Another color you might consider is a maroon with metallic silver. I've had quite a few folks ask for red and black with the titaium chrome blanks as you mentioned above. Some of these combinations seem to draw attention to the thread and away from the rod. IMO I'm not a fan of f
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From what I know so far, live bait is not being used. Waiting for a little more info. Thanks for the comments.
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I've have a customer who has asked me about a 8 ft. and a 8'6" red fish rod by Castaway. This is for a business fishing trip my client is sponsoring for some of his clients. He's ask me to build 2 rods. Problem is I have never seen nor do I live close to a redfish. (Tennessee). I don't know if they are spinning or casting. I do know they are not fishing with live bait. I think the hand
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I believe that is some felt tip pen work listed some years ago on the site. A bit of caution to keep your marks at a minimum was also mentioned at the time.
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I want to thank Jeremy for putting in the effort to organize the first meeting of KYRBS. From all of us who attended he deserves a slap on the back. We probably bit off more than we could chew. More to cover in our next meeting. He did allow (2) Tennesseans to infultrate the gathering. We reframed from wearing anything orange or black and gold. We also had a representative from across
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I have a theory that stepping on a bass rod with a 6 to 12 mm set of quides actually protects the blank from big footed fishermen especially if you have 2 fishermen on the front of the boat. Now with micros I will see more crushed blanks. (I do like the micros for most rods). Now let's see what remarks this comment brings on. Jay, in my part of the world, fishermen don't know what a
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I have used a spiral rod years ago. The only thing I disliked was the guides laying on the deck of my boat with the reel pointed up. I thought the guides took some abuse they would not normally take if they were tied on top of the blank. As far as actually fishing, I thought they were fine. I currently do not use them. I've spent about 38 years on the front of a boat.
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I build about 15 to 20 rods per year, the last 3 years. Hoddy builder. My fishing time went down the tube after I quit practicing and starting putting rods in other fishermen's hands. I used to spend a lot of time on the water but not any more. I have gotten to the point I enjoy the tails that customers tell me about catching fish on my rods than I do catching one myself. I will say that
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You need to think about line weight and the type of hook with these rods and the cover or lack of. To me the XSB 843 will cover a lot of different applications if the cover is not to thick. I think it will do what you want if you are in the 12 to 15 line class. Maybe a little heavy for 10 lb. The size of hook (including diameter) of hook will make a difference. I can tell you this,
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