The 20 lb braid is clouding this thought, as it just wouldn't be my choice for those 2 types of baits, especially in clear water. You say you fish heavy cover, but you can't hardly through a pointer style jerkbait in heavy cover, and I don't think of most top water as being heavy cover other than pitching it around timber, but I don't do that with heavy line and don't seem to have issues. I lik
Forum: rodboard

How many feet are you dressing? If the primary use is just for dressing guide feet why not just use a quality mill file and do them by hand. I doubt it takes much longer and your chances for an oops mistake is nill. Now having a sander is a great tool to have but if it is just for feet, I certainly wouldn't go to the effort or cost.
Forum: rodboard

I have been using the solvent version and water version. Just depends on what I am doing with feathers as to which I use. I use the solvent version the most because it does dry faster.
Forum: rodboard

Well if you live near a Bass Pro Shops store with the Fly Fishing area in it, they will have a selection as well.
Forum: rodboard

Well I have made many a hook keeper from Stainless Steel Leader wire. You can bend it into many different styles based upon your needs.
Forum: rodboard

I use spinning gear a lot. I am 6'6" tall and prefer 7' rods. If the individual the rod is for is under 6' tall, there is a chance they may feel a 7' rod is a tad long. With that said one of the favorite spinning rods I have is the Batson ISB822.5 Matte Clear 6'10" So the SB822.5 or ISB822.5 Matte Clear 6'10" or SB843 or ISB843 Matte Clear 7'0" would be my first cho
Forum: rodboard

Mike Barkley Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When you point at the "Rodbuilders area" a list > will drop down on the right and you click on one Well this list does not display for all of us. I am using IE 7 and it does not display. I figured it out after you entered this comment, and the mouse pointer remains active for the same line and tw
Forum: rodboard

One more item to 'clean' before use is the exacto / cutting blades. When I replace a blade at the beginning of starting a rod, I clean that blade thoroughly before use as many of them have some form of lubricant on them. So if you lay that blade on the threads to trim the tag end, well you now have contaminated those threads if you didn't clean the blade first.
Forum: rodboard

I have 3 Team Daiwa rods I need to fix, evidently the original Daiwa versions didn't hold up well and I can no longer find the tips and guides for these rods for sale. I need 3 x SGPST-4.5/6, Gold finish SiC Ring Top - 4.5/64 Tube 6mm Ring 1 x SGPST-5/6, Gold finish SiC Ring Top - 5.0/64 Tube 6mm Ring 2 x SGNSG-6, Gold finish Silicon Carbide Ring Spinning/Casting Guide -
Forum: rodboard

Well I think it all boils down to how you hold the reel/rod and your reel shape, rod size and the size of your hands. I have several of them I use with light rods and on my 8' CB rod all with low profile Revos and don't notice any issues what so ever. On the other hand for me the ACS is not my favorite, the double groove doesn't feel right on the finger that is against the trigger, so for me i
Forum: rodboard

I just built a replacement Crig rod re-using a trim ring with an ACS seat this time versus the ECS and I will say it is OK but not great. If it were not my rod I probably would not have re-used it. While it snaps in great and everything is butted up nice and flush and you get the color accent, the recess is definetly noticeable. One benefit might be that it will prevent any scratching that mig
Forum: rodboard

Thomas Kaufmann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You don't need to worry about colors, you can get > them in micros if you are willing to wait for > them! I have seen some of the black and gold ones > that Steve has on his personal rods and they are > SWEET. I have procured some of thos as well as > some black framed blue insert models for
Forum: rodboard

Alex Dziengielewski Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My CRig rod has 3s. Spiral or standard?
Forum: rodboard

Well I am getting around to building a new Crig rod after busting the prior rod I had built for that purpose. Previously I had used blue zirc #6 double footed guides due mainly to the color choices for the themed rod. Well I was just about to put the guides on and thought about using micros instead. The only rods I have used micros on so far are 'med - med/lt' crankbait and light worm rods, an
Forum: rodboard

I like using the Gudebrod metallic HT 9245 blue as well. I have used the Fish Hawk 221 and felt is was a bit light unless I painted the blank first. But with painting the blank first it looked nice. And the Fish Hawk 246 looks real good for the blue.
Forum: rodboard

If you like the marbling to look more like marble stone might, use the thinner. If you like pulling the drops to create details more like flames use a thicker faster setting epoxy. I like the stone look more than the drawn out look, but you can achieve the blended look with the thicker epoxies by using a bit of heat. If you use powder pigments, I would either mix the powder into just part A
Forum: rodboard

I have used several brands of air brush paint intended for auto / bike detailing. The solvent based paints yield the best results IMO. I then clear coat with an automotive 2 part clear. I would recommend thoroughly wet sanding all parts to be painted, and remove virtually all scratch marks and chips in the process. The better you can clean up along all joints, and the top side the happier you
Forum: rodboard

Well, I am not as much of a conservative. If you like the color combo use it. I have used Pewter metallic with Blue metallic trim, Blue metallic with Black and Silver Metallic trim bands, Red Metallic (looks a tad copperish) with Silver Metallic trim bands. ...
Forum: rodboard

John M. Hernandez Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Don, > > There are many quality blanks out there it may > come dow to the style and technique of fishing he > does. Batson Rainshadow RX8+Bass and RX8 Bass > blanks are some great blanks and the Batson team > are top notch in my book. They are very > knowledgeable and will answer
Forum: rodboard

"Pebeo Vitrail" product as suggested by Nuno, is available at Michaels if you are intrested in trying it.
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for posting the photos and updates on the thread.
Forum: rodboard

To all that replied, thanks so much. I was able to remove the reel seat using the method described, thanks. The line was Suffix Elite 17# mono, and Seguar Invizx 12#, and without a label and being a bargain rod I made the judgement call on could the rod be used. And to everyone who commented regarding the weight being left on the rod, thank you, as it certainly might have contributed to
Forum: rodboard

Well Saturday I snapped my Carolina rig rod about 3" back from the tip and about 18" further back from that break. Made a sweeping hook set and it just blew up which really surprised me as the main line was 17#, wtih a 12# flouro leader and I would have thought the line might break before the rod did. Loved the rod till then, cast great, seemed to be sensitive enough for the task and
Forum: rodboard

john timberlake Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > make it like you did your handle then place a butt > cap over the bottom to cover the hole. the cap > can be anything that works. automotive panel > fasteners are a good choice. you can also use the > butt tack made by struble. this should give you > some ideas +1
Forum: rodboard

OK, this may sound strange, but I want to make a custom set of rods for my parents. They fish Zebcos all summer long, and are fishing rods 5'6" - 6' for trout in the Mountain lakes of New Mexico using artificial dough bait... Small amounts of weight and small hooks, and most fish are probably under 4 lbs. Having never hardly fished a Zebco and definitely never made a rod for one, I am wid
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the suggestions. I may be using an incorrect term in calling it a weave, but I would like to create a small pattern on the top and bottom or one pattern that basically is centered on top that wraps most of the way around the rod. I got the hair brained idea aftter seeing the color blends on the NERBS site and thought hmm. Seeing the dragon, and Billy V's stuff at ICRBE well, that di
Forum: rodboard

I have never tried a fancy weave and I would like to make a rod for my parents for Christmas. I would like to do a weave of a traditional Navajo pattern. So is there a 'best' book to use as a teaching guide for practicing and learning how to do a weave like this? AND does anyone know of a pattern in a book that could be followed for this type of weave? If it makes a difference this is going
Forum: rodboard

The bubbles tend to come out of the foam brush depending on how wet it is and how hard you press. I think it just takes practice. But I know when Tom suggested I use a foam brush when I was last trying it, that made a big difference but still took practice.
Forum: rodboard

I have epoxied over my auto clear coats but not vice versa. If you put a super fine scuff on the epoxy it might be OK, but I think your best bet would be to tape it off, and perhaps even put a super thin epoxy coat back on any wraps, labels... were ever you have a seam.
Forum: rodboard

I have seen some big gators on those lakes and now I know I won't get close to those again in the spring when we usually hit those lakes. That is one big Gator! I have seen a few 12 footers in the glades and central Florida, but dang that guy is huge!
Forum: rodboard