Sarge

Gtw7983, That is impressive!

Yea I saw that deal but was Leary to buy 10 with 0 experience with them first. I think it ended on Sunday.

That is good to read. I was wanting to cast 14 oz. Thanks for input.

Excited to pull on it for sure. In the middle of moving to Lake Fork, so might be a little while on the report.

Will do., Thanks. XH 809.

Many thanks. Ordered 2 blanks.

Anyone have any reviews on these blanks for the mother size + baits? Are they durable? Was told by a guy that was told by a guy that was told by a guy they were fragile for tossing the bigger baits.

I agree with what has been said. I will say this, I’ve been building rods since 1998 using the acid wrap. At the time I was building a lot of G-Loomis GLX rods with conventional wrap. These blanks are very sensitive but also somewhat fragile and had several rods come back with the last 6 to 12 inches broken. After many conversations and theories I decided to try the acid wrap thinking that under load the blank was being torqued back and forth from the line going from one side of the guide ring to the other and was weakening the smallest and most fragile part of the blank. After going to acid wrap the breakage stopped, may have been coincidence but the theory that basically turning the end of the rod into a spinning style rod took away the leverage the guide feet had for twisting and torquing the blank in that area while blank is under heavy load made sense. At least it did to me and I’ve built and used nothing but acid wrap ever since. Also the case had been made to have the guides wrapping to the same side as reel handle which allows the rod to lay flat on the deck and not on the guides. FWIW.

I'll keep a good thought and pray for you.

The new definition of EPIC!

Many thanks for the advise.

Considering which new reel. Does the Shimano Calcutta TE or Conquest have more cranking power than a tranx or toro beast? This will be for the upper bait size stuff, beast, mother, ect.

8 inch stubby, even more thump

I've got the PHD 869 and handles Mothers like a champ, its as heavy as needed in my opinion. Someone on hear recommended it to me when I was looking, and I'm glad I listened. With that said, building a United Composite US 80 Monster right now and may end up liking it better, its got a more mod-fast action and seems to have the same power, but actual testing will tell the tale.

I cannot agree more on the OUTSTANDING customer service and communication. He is an example of how it should be done.

Are the cast offs happening while using the same rod? Sometimes the cracks/nicks in these guides can be very difficult to detect. Check the line guide on the reel and any where else the line can contact the reel. If you've eliminated the line it is in the rod or reel. Take a Q tip and stretch a piece of fine nylon like pantyhose and slowly run it over any surface the line contacts, I'm betting you will feel a rough place. I had one that drove me insane, only found it after placing rod in rod holder and bending the rod, found a small crack. FWIW

Many Thanks guys. Found a comparison video that compares HD, Tranx and Revo. Shimano has engineered a secondary thumb bar catch, this should give peace of mind on engagement during casts. Also has more seals for fighting water intrusion. Convinced me to go Tranx.