Rodmaker

Well, If nobody claimed that rod and reel yet, they obviously aren't a member of ozark anglers, or don't follow it. It's the great people on this forum that instead of keeping that combo, are willing to attempt to find the owner and return it. If nobody claims it a in a week or two, I guess it now belongs to you Darren. Thanks for your honesty.

I do not see the humor in that. Simple stupidity. That would've scared the bejeses out of me.

This topic came up a while back. I contacted Phil and he was mind enough to send me a few.

Well, I guess spring is here............ the "worms" are coming out from under their rocks..........sad

Speaking of rod building, there is a big rod building expo in Winston-Salem NC on February 20-21. It's a great show for components if your a rod builder. I will be attending this year. I have been down there twice before and highly recommend it....... check it out.......rodbuildingexpo.com.

Ya, 5bites, you and I use china markers, mass marketers?...... Don't know. That's an extremely strange place for a blank to break, especially 2 in a row. Generally speaking, if a rod breaks within a week or 2 of purchase , it's most likely a manufacturing defect. If it breaks several months down the road, its most likely user error. I still highly doubt that those rods had metal winding checks. Just my thoughts. There are people out there that are so highly tuned to blanks mechanics, that upon their testing can tell EXACTLY why that that blank broke where it did. I, unfortunately am not one of those people. I guess all we all can do at this point is speculate. All I fish with is my custom builds. All have as many as four metal winding checks. None of my rods have ever broke.

Happy Birthday Bill!

I never understood what good power poles are on table rock.

Its called " highsticking "..........don't ever do it if you cherish your rods!

I'm with you mjk........I think I'll stick with these. I for one don't need a $90 wart. I can buy a lot of s**t for 90 bucks!

Most winding checks on store bought rods are rubber. Wouldn't be an issue when the rod loads and goes oblong. The rubber will stretch with the deformity of the rod. I happen to use metal winding checks as I believe that it just adds a little more class to the rod, however, I oversize them to avoid the potential "pinch".

As a custom rod builder, I know a little bit about blanks. If those blanks were in compromised in any way they could fail. If , during manufacture , they were scribed by a sharp instrument by trimming cork, a winding check, a thread wrap or just a means of marking, the blank is totally compromised at that point. I have no idea where they were made, China? There's person on the assembly line that needs some training. That would be my best guess.

O M G........lol

I used to ice fish........ those days are over....... gave all that stuff to my son........ ya, I'm over 60........I know how it goes.

My biggest fear is my wife selling all my fishing gear for what she thinks I paid for it !

I've had a hook in my hand I had to remove. I certainly wouldn't do that myself on purpose. I'm sure we've all had some sort of a battle with hooks, if you haven't, you haven't fished much.

Sliding titanium sinker above glass bead.... gives off a nice click. Glass bead gives off a better click than the plastic beads. Weight free to move. They just suck it in usually, kind of like a drop shot bite. I do like that underpin setup though. I'm gonna have to try that out.

"Pro staff special " is my most productive color. That's the pack that always seems to be empty first. I hate it when I run out of those.

Keitech swing impact..... love em....I fish them on a Texas rig. Light wire red worm hook with a 1/8 to 1/4 oz slip sinker with a GLASS bead. I generally fish it pretty slow. Its a deadly tactic...... at least for me.

Do those areas with debris get cleaned up by the COE or does most of it get pulled out by wind etc, and just float down lake? Are private land owners and marinas required to clean up the shorelines? Just curious, the COE works in mysterious ways.

Check into the Frabill line of rain gear. I purchased a coat and bibs last summer for an Alaska trip. Super dry ( we had tons of rain ). They make styles F1 through F4 depending on your warmth requirements. I highly recommend their gear. Also, check into the BUFF line of gloves, also a super product. Lots of styles, fingered and fingerless.

Simply put......... No Thank You. ( don't know if they could give them away )

The hideaway resort is in the bottom of the picture with the pool. That's where I always stay when I come down. Ouch! Love it up the James..... pretty quiet part of the lake.

Saw a cartoon the other day were one character said to the other... "you know that we're both going to die some day"... And the other replied.." Maybe, but just think of all the other days that you didn't ". Kind of puts it in perspective. We human beings are a pretty relisent bunch. Carry on! ?

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope your all staying dry down there. Sounds like the water has receded a little bit. I would guess it will mess up the fishing for awhile.