Maze

Thanks! Great Idea! I completely forgot about the auction here. I'll have to get things inventoried. This is why I always post for suggestions. maze

I've decided to give up trying to learn to tie. My injuries make it a bit too frustrating to do alone and with the recent loss of my good friend, tying partner and Dr., I've decided to give it up. Any advice on selling my tools supplies, books and videos? I know, ebay for everything, but thought there may be another option. I dove in, even a small Renzetti vise. Just lost the motivation, know what I mean? Thanks in advance for any help. I'd love to donate it, but honestly can't afford to do that, if I could, it would have gone to the VA or DAV. God Bless our Troops and their families!!!!! Maze

Drop me an email at midstreamrods@yahoo.com I'm getting rid of all my stuff. Moving requires I downsize all my belongings! I have a nice little set up that might be just what you want or need. If not, I can at least give you some advice and contacts to make things easier for you. Keep visiting here for great advice and friendship!! Maze

Many times you can take a store bought butt cap and alter it to fit perfectly. I do this type of alteration to get a certain look many times. You can make a butt cap out of farn near anything as well, you don't have to buy a certain material or design. If you need/want one the slips over a stub of the blank, you can measure, it should be in 64th. Check with any of the large suppliers for a butt cap that you like, then, dry fit it, then epoxy and allow to set up. You are done! Ray

Matt is correct about the foregrip being a seperate piece that you may choose to add or delte. There are many good rod blanks out there. Your budget can guide you somewhat. I'd be happy to discuss this and any other rod building questions you have. Just drop me a line. midstreamrods@yahoo.com Ray

Thanks Jim !!! I'm not the best at flies yet, but I will give this pattern a try. Thank you for the help. I'll go check the encyclopedia of patterns for a recipe. Ray

Have any of you done any of this type of fly? I saw a photo of them done in size 6, 8, & 10 with a copper wire wrap on the shank with a metal bead head. Said to be great under the ice. These were from a guy in Canada and no one I know in my area has seen or fished them on ice. I'm interested in trying to tie a few or even buying a couple to test out this year. Any input would be appreciated. You can email me @ midstreamrods@yahoo.com or leave me a PM here. Thanks in advance! Maze

Does anyone know if they are still in business? I was referred to them for some micro jigs (1/500) and only have a phone # I found via a web search. All I get is an answering machine that doesn't even mention the company. No returned calls yet either. Thanks in advance. Maze [/b]

You can get off cheap if you can grab a motor from a gas grill someone is tossing out. Another cheap or freebie is a motor from a broken microwave oven. There are other sources for a variety of motor such as www.surpluscenter.com or http://www.aaaim.com/cgi-local/shop991/shop.pl/SID=PUT_SID_HERE/page=start_shopping.htm either of these sources will have many for you to choose from. maze

Sure, I'll check on part availability if you send me the model #, if it's on it, I'll look up part # and give them a call in the AM. Maze

Hey guys, Ice fishing season is soon to be here and one of my favorite sweeteners for my lures is a Perch eye. If any of you get a mess of fish and don't keep the eyes, I'd love to have them! I'm sure there's a way to send them that won't cost a fortune or break any rules/laws. I hope! Hope to hear from you. Maze

Anyone interest in a trade? I'll build you the rod you want, you make or send me the lures I need to use. If this is off limits, forgive me and remove the post. Thanks in advance!!! Maze

Count me in ! I have a bunch of Tackle Tamers, NIB and I have many reels. I could offer reel or rod repair and donate the profits...even a custom rod's profits or you could raffle one that I would build? let me know how I can be of help. Maze

I have a couple of programs that were given to me by a computer tech and they have made a great difference in my computer. The titles are as follow: Window Washer, Ad Aware, and System Mechanic. These get rid of spyware, clean the registry, dump broken or garbage files and wipe your HD so as to keep it clean, getting rid of history that you don't want pieces of hanging around. People are nosey, even a tech could see where you've been and what you've been doing while your maching was being worked on. Maze

You got the best advice you could. It is very important to set YOUR price and hold fast. The first thing taught in the most famous sales course in US history is, set your value for your customer. If you allow the customer to set a value to you, it will be 0. It is better to explain and educate a potential customer. It may take time to get a solid customer base, but those who have the money or are willing to spend it for what they want, will spend the money. If you put the products in too inexpensivly, you don't make enough and perhaps they get overlooked. People are strange. Bigger $ means it's better to many. It is the same way in Rod Building. Your time, is worth a good wage. Otherwise, you might as wel swap with people. People don't lke prices to go UP, they'll adjust to a price over time and appreciate a sale. Shop owners will always try to get the best deal they can, and rightfully so, just don't let them get one over on you! You can always develop an incentive to attract them as time goes on. More people fail because of setting their prices too low than too high. Maze

Hey guys, this is what I do with my hobby; I build, repair and performance tune rods and reels to the customer's specs or to the type of fishing they will be doing. This can be as simple as changing the guides to a lighter, smaller, shorter or higher type. Placement may need to be changed due to the size of the reel being used. If your rod doesn't seem to cast well, it may be that it wasn't put together right. Custom decals applied, custom thread art (colors, patterns and weaves), custom grips made (bleached and unbleached cork, burl cork in all colors, patterns made with multiple colors, colored foam grips, patterns, letters, names, etc.), simple or major repairs can be done. Believe it or not, a properly made rod makes a big difference in your casting, feeling the bite, hook set and boating of a fish. Baitcaster users...Ever try a Spiral Wrapped Rod? Better casts and no rod twist (torque) when bringing that fish in. Got a question or a swap, give me a holler. Made some good friends here, THANKS !!!!! Maze

Thanks guys, I may just buy a mold or two since I was given about 200 lbs of wheel weights and a friend has access to the Community College furnace and can clean it and pour any size ingot I desire. Anyone who'd like to swap some micros, I do rod and reel repair as well as custom rods. I'll have to get some of those 1/295th, those have to be something the fish here have never seen!!! Tight Lines! :!: Maze

Thanks guys, I will look into the web sites given and if I don't buy a mold and/or premade, I'll be sure to contact you, Screemin' ! These little guys will take some getting used to since it will be hard to see them on the flasher when under the ice. Not very many people using them in my area so I just might find that I can finesse a few more or better fish this year. At least that is what I'm telling myself! Maze

I will post on this topic in the wire forum in the future. I have no actual pictures of any jig that small as of yet. I'd like these for ice fishing mostly. Small gold or red hooks as well as standard black would be great, but I'll take what I can get. As far as the shape of the body, I am more concerned with getting some this small than I am with which style is available. A selection of styles would be ideal, you'd be amazed at how choosey those little guys can be at times! Believe it or not, though these are generally used for Panfish, I have caught some pretty big fish of "other" species on tiny jigs when they wouldn't hit a single thing else! Still can't seem to predict that, but it does still happen to me once and a while. With any luck this will be a good ice fishing season her in CNY. I really hope so since I plan to finally buy an Aqua-Vu rig and have some fun with that. Between that and my flasher unit, I should do well and at least enjoy "the show" beneath the ice! lol Actually, I think the camera will help set the hook when using the micro jigs. Sometimes it's very hard to see them on the flasher so.... Thanks again, Ray midstreamrods@yahoo.com

Does anyone have a mold for micor jigs? I'm looking for 1/100 - 1/200 or somewhere in the vacinity. Thanks in advance. Maze

Yes, it does. Very carefully. Again, I'd rather walk you through it or refer you to previous posts or the "Library" at www.rodbuilding.org It's not that difficult from a skill standpoint, it just requires sharp instruments, patience and time. You don't want injuries or to damage the blank itself. I'm not that good at typing step by step directions, the only reason I won't go into detail here. You can find everything you need to know, very easily and quickly at the above mentioned web site. Ray

30 rpm is way too fast !!! The epoxy for rod building is self leveling but at that speed, you are working against it's inherent properties. You can't really go too slow, unless you thin the epoxy and make it too runny. Many people like 18 rpm., many have another preference and some have no preference at all. I have used a BBQ rot. motor at 1-2 rpm and have used up to a speed of 18, including one's that are controlled by a rheostat and can be set at whatever I liked at the time. You need to experiment a bit to find the one you seem to like best for the product you are using at the time. It's a safe bet that if you are somewhere between 6-18, you'll be happy. Best of luck and if needed, email me for my # and we can talk. Ray

Hey CJ, It is easy to tell you the truth. To answer your question would take too much typing for me to handle! Drop me a line and I'll walk you through it unless you'd like to check out the posts you can find on www.rodbuilding.org or for instructions at http://www.kensfishingrods.com/default.htm for a video that you can follow along. Look in "Workshop". Ken is a nice guy and a builder of some fine custom rods!!! Best of luck and call if you have questions !!! (email for #) Ray

This is true of the bigger name manufactures. Tiger Eye blanks do not come with either. You will find the plastic bag has a the info written on it in black marker. These are a very good budget line of blanks and other components. I along with many others have been very pleased with their products. I just bought a few for some students in my rod building class and they are thrilled with them and their cost. Wild River has changed hands, but you still receive excellent service, though they no longer sell reel parts. Other than that, all is the same. Check out the folks listed in previous replies for good materials. If you want more info and builder's opinions, I suggest going to www.rodbuilding.org You can post or do a search to find what it is you desire. Best of luck to you all!!!! Try buiulding a rod. It is very rewarding and once you catch a fish on a rod you built....well, lets just say, you may not buy a factory assembeld rod ever again! Ray

You have some very good advice here. If you'd like to look up some more info. and get a few more ideas from builders, check out www.rodbuilding.org You can do a search on any topic, I would suggest you do one on each rod type. You can also post any question as long as you use your true name and a valid email address. I'm sure you'll get answers and advice. Best of luck to you!!! Ray