Nickk

if you're river fishing you can just let a crank(or Clouser's Minnow) hang in the current to elicit a strike.

nice! I remember fishing the Fox with a pretty strong hatch going and the eddies were lined with bugle mouths saluting. Regretfully I had spinning gear with me on that one.

I'd say clean them up real good and let them dry, then glue the snot out of them with Aqua Seal. You'll probably have to clamp them or put a heavy weight in/on them while it cures.

Jonn, I have a Regal knockoff C-Clamp that you can have to bridge the gap until you decide what you need. It isn't rotary though. Let me know and it's yours, Nick

Interesting, I've certainly read my share of "Shimbindo" posts concerning their spinning reels but generally speaking Shimano and Daiwa are the standards in casting reels by which others are judged. I have 4 Shimano low pro casting reels and 1 Garcia(Revo STX), all of those reels have performed well. I have read as many bad threads about Quantum casting reels as I have Shimano spinning reels. Some people are initially put off by Quantum because of their roots(Zebco), you have to wade through those snob posts to get to the meat. I think Eric was pretty die hard with Quantum casters and then had an issue, the issue showed a design flaw. Check his posts last year to check it out. Both Quantum and Daiwa do a fine job of offering left wind versions of their current line-up but Shimano seems to lag behind waiting to gauge demand I imagine. If I had a problem with a Shimano product I'd probably post it up on Tackle Tour, they have Shimano and Abu Garcia support forums. As I understand it Quantums generally require being sent to the factory for repairs as getting parts is difficult(ask Coren's).

Congratulations Craig!

Don, I just found out that my wife has to work that day so I'm out(since I'll be taking my daughter to ballet and such). I'm really sorry to have to cancel. Nick

I'm going to try to make this, what can I bring?

really? With 4-weight line?

I have a 12' SOT, I still haven't had it in moving water. What I've found in still water is that you want to find a spot and anchor and fish. You can drift and fish too but you're better off picking apart some structure anchored. I would think on moving water it would shine in spot to spot fishing, I don't think I'd be too comfortable anchored in moving water but heading to a spot and popping out and working the area with either the yak tethered or beached would be ideal. It would be great to get a couple people yak fishing together and spot a car downstream at the take out.

has anyone tried this?

you mean casting rod right Eric My go to fly for smallies is an olive wooly bugger, sometimes bead sometimes not. A bugger or a Clouser's deep.

why is that? Test casting, awesome! Can't do that from an online store!

hook and hackle has a couple 2-piece spinning kits on sale for around $50.00. These would have premade grips but still great experience for your next build, and with a 2-piece you can make it your trunk rig! http://www.mailordercentral.com/hookhack/p...ts.asp?dept=143

LOL, wait until you get those 3:00AM phone calls "I'm having a weak moment, I think I'm going to drive to Kentucky."

What do you want to know? I suggest checking out this site and asking questions but they're pretty much fly guys and now almost completely split cane guys. (BTW, I'm not very good but happy to share my experiences) I think I have a Flexcoat DVD that show quite a bit that I can give to you. I made use a homemade stand with V blocks for wrapping guides and I glue up cork rings on a section of 1/4" threaded rod for grips, the rod is covered with teflon tape so the grip will release. I shape the grips by chucking the rod into a drill press and sanding it, like a vertical lathe(I clamp a block with a hole in it as a guide to tame the run out). That's pretty much it, if you have a broken rod use it to practice wrapping guides, I suck at myself. You can get rod building supplies at Coren's, Dan's Tackle Service, and Cabelas. I don't think Joseph carries building supplies but he may, there are many places to get blanks. The best way to do your first one is to do a cheapy loaner rod, Hook and Hackle always has specials.

I've built a couple. -fiberglass 3-weight(Lamiglas) -Graphite ML Spinning(St. Croix Premier) -Bamboo 5-weight(well is was suppose to be a 4 weight but what're you going to do? I split and planed that in a class at Coren's) I have 2 in the works right now. A 6'6" 3-weight for my daughter and a 7' G-Loomis crankbait rod(blend). I'm really looking forward to the Loomis, it will have a blue American Tackle guides with a cork split grip that I've already glued the rings and shaped. This is a med power blank with a mod-fast tip for crankbaits specifically but it will double duty with blade baits too(Spinner and Chatter).

LOL, "Where's the gimp"

the jointed dual hook fly with the wool head? I tied a couple of those but never fished them, cool idea!

let us not forget friction with respect to the line and guide articulation as well as wind resistance.....that and the giant knot that my tailling loop put into the leader!

that solidifys it, I'm a crap caster

really? I thought bamboo was more like 7'-7'6"(salmon rods not withstanding), I would think a bamboo pushing the 9' mark would be godawful heavy. I guess I'm a product of the modern age because my 7'6" bamboo feels like a boat anchor, I couldn't imagine one over 8'6".

I've been using a knife recently. one of these one hand opening and cleaner cut, just leave enough of a tag to hold onto while cutting.

what you mean

I Know