thefunkychicken

Gday.That youtube video is pretty spot on the money.Tip tops are usually glued on (hot melt glue or either a 2 part glue like Araldite), and then in some cases, partially bound over with thread then epoxied.If this is the case, you'll need to scrape off the epoxy and thread with a SHARP knife before applying mild heat then force to the offending broken tip top.These tip guides come in a huge range of materials, colours and sizes. The actual eyelet size should be around the size of the eyelet on the last actual guide. The other way they're measured is in the size of the "tube" that slides down

That'd be a good starting point. They can easily be landed on Bream gear (provided you've got sufficient line and not into skull dragging).If you're fishing from a jetty then light line might not be able to winch them up onto the planks.Cheers.

G'day.It might be a bit different than the fishing you're aiming at with that tackle but if you head upstream a bit... there ARE Mulloway to be found.Tight lines.

Geez, the out-pouring of comments about Tuff Tackle reels is utterly overwhelming.Perhaps I should take that as a sign as well?

G'day.I've snagged a few of these weird little fellas off metro jetties (Glenelg and Brighton) and more than a few at Salt Creek.The jetty ones have been caught via 5/0 or  6/0 hooks on paternoster rigs (really intended for Snapper) with Pilchard or Squid baits. The ones at Salt Creek were hooked on Mulloway and Salmon rigs with Pilchard, Saury, Squid or slab baits.I've released every one of them having never kept one to taste (apparently they can be eaten though).They're a weird and beautiful little thing but I haven't ever really targeted them specifically.Good luck with it.Cheers.

I dropped in to Ray & Anne's yesterday to find that they have no Tuff Tackle reels in stock and won't be getting any more in.Should I be taking this as a sign?Cheers.

G'day.A couple of mates have mentioned they'd like to have a look at the reels this mob has to offer - me included.One bloke is interested in a Diablo 4000, the rest of us are interested in the Sniper 6000.Does anyone have any info/feedback/tips/hints/suggestions regarding these reels?Thanks.Cheers.

Gday.I'm not a real fan of Spiderwire.I stick to Fireline for lighter stuff (12lb and under) and Power Pro for heavier stuff (20lb up to 50lb) and have nothing much to say except praise for these two lines, especially the Power Pro.Cheers.

GdayI built this one a few years ago. It was fairly simple to make, I used plans pretty much the same as one of those mentioned above.I don't have the floorspace in my garage for a rod rack, so mine are stored in racks hung from the ceiling.Cheers.

I know not a huge amount about the Aus Saltiga stuff vs the U.S. Saltiga stuff but I have happened across a fe w people sporting Daiwa Saltiga rods they got "somehow" from the U.S.A. ... they quite clearly have Fuji Hardloy or O-Ring guides. This is not so say that this hardware is inferior but...Beware what you are buying and for what price. If it's too good to be true... 99 times out of 100... well, you work it out.Cheers.

I got one from the Good Guys a while back and absolutely love it.The only reason I never got one before was because of the price of the bags but now I've found a cheap place to get them I will cryvac anything and everything.Go ahead and pick one up for yourself. You won't regret it.Cheers.

If you're fishing from the kayak then that changes things significantly.You'll be able to get away with much lighter gear than would be required from a boat or land based. Even with a locked up drag you're only going to be putting a few kilos of pressure onto the fish - that is unless you're heavily anchored or tied off to something.A heavy leader is definitely a must - as is a reel with ample line capacity - but apart from that... be prepared for a long battle.Tight lines.

If you're in trouble, you can use a knife (carefully!) to prise the ring apart, then use some small pliers - if you have any - to work the split ring onto the lure. You might find it easiest to put the ring onto the hook first, then attach it to the lure second.The knife method is not as good as purpose built pliers but it is do-able. BEWARE OF CUTS TO FINGIES THOUGH!

Yep, I agree:Split ring pliers + good lighting + patience + a clear area so when the split ring goes flying off the pliers you'll be able to find it again within 30 to 40 minutes.

Gday.The two varieties of rods you're talking about will be constucted differently and use different kinds of guides depending on whether it is designed for an overhead or spinning reel.Any blank (the long thin tube of rolled fiberglass or carbon graphite fabric that is the rod) has its own "backbone" - actually some can have two. The backbone is the natural strength (or weakness) or the blank to tend to want to bend one way more than the other. Without getting too far into it: a backbone will determine which way a blank naturally wants to bend and if it is made to bend another way than intend

Gotta agree with what a few others have said:T-Curves are great.TD Sols are great.Wilson Texaliums are good but they're a bit heavier in the hand than others and some of the components (guides particularly) are of a lower spec than those found elsewhere.Even for the money Shimano Rack Raiders are a good buy. Similarly, the old Berkely Dropshots are good value for money but both of these rods are a fair way lower than the price bracket you mentioned.If it was me, I'd probably go with a T-Curve or a similarly priced Daiwa Saltist or Bayrubber or something along those lines.Good luck. Let us know

Out of bait til payday?A squid jig off a jetty or some kind of structure will get you yummy squid tubes for tucker, squid wings & heads for bait, and squid guts for burley.In the famous words of Billy Ocean.............. When the going gets tough....

Lucky bugger!I'm off on my way to work & you're off to chuck a bait! Something's not right.Tight lines.

I'm far from a craftsman, but thanks for the appreciation anyway.I haven't timed myself to actually see how long a rod takes me to build. I've always just built them a bit here & there - whenever I have time really. That said, I have spent the occasional arvo bent over a blank and a fair bit of progress can be made when you're in the zone.I reckon keeping an eye on the clock might make the attention to detail suffer a bit. If something's not right it gets taken off and done again, and again if necessary.Anyway, thanks for the interest in the rods guys & gal.Cheers.

Gday.I'm just putting the finishing touches on a couple rods I've done up for two mates of mine.One is a die hard Crows fan and wanted old style binding done in Adelaide Crows colours - as much as I tried, I could not talk him out of this.The other one wanted something a bit more "different" - ie: he wanted something a bit brighter, even getting towards the gaudy stage. "Well, if that's what you want..." I said and chose bright green, purple, silver and white for his wraps.Personally, I prefer the non-Crows one. Not because of my affection towards Port Adelaide, I just reckon it looks pretty n

G'day.I'm far from being on the pulse in local tackle matters but I do know that nearly all tackle merchants are getting their merchandise at a grossly inflated price thanks to one (1) gentleman (read: unscrupulous bastard) over east - namely somewhere on the mid-north coast of NSW.Me, personally, I'm far from perfect. I am blessed with the ability to buy some (a lot) of my fishing gear overseas in person. There is no way, as long as my tailpipe points towards the earth, that I would be spend $380 on a reel - I was able to get said reel in my hand offshore for about 60% of that price.I WILL NO

G'day.1: After many hours of trolling in the relentless WA heat many years ago, finally hearing that magic zz, zzz, zzzzzz, zzzzziiiiing, strike the thing, fight it, 40 min later... 50 something lb Spanish Mackerel in my hands. (I'll take this argument anywhere: they fight like a gut-shot pig, I've caught the magical Southern Bluefin Tuna and they fight nothing like an angry mackerel).2: Years of diving on hookah on the big drop-off in Shark Bay, WA. Young & full of invincibility I used to hookah over a ledge that went from 8 to 45m without a care in the world. The payoffs were 3kg crays a

I've used Daiwa TD braid (the orange stuff) on a few reels and was pretty pleased with it. I think it might be different to your stuff though, but that's a bummer of a time you've had with it.I wouldn't suggest for a second that it's your fault but just make sure that the braid is spooled up onto the reel properly, ie: it's not being twisted against itself. Another trick is to throw the spool into a bucket of hot water and wind it on from there (this apparently does something magic to the braid and makes it lay onto the spool nicely).Regarding Power Pro, if it's the Shimano Power Pro you're re

I very much like my 7153, both of them actually.1 two-piece, 1 one-piece. I also have another 7153 brand new blank that I'll start to build up one day soon.I reckon you can buy lighter, whippier and perhaps stronger rods nowadays but they'll cost you a king's ransom and these old Snyders are like a beautiful EH Holden.Cheers.