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Freeport Notes

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BrianBM

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Went to the NYSF show today in Freeport. I'd've stayed longer, especially for John Paduano's lecture, but didn't care to risk driving home late in a developing blizzard.

 

I thought the place would be mobbed today by stir-crazy anglers trying to beat tomorrow's bad weather. By the time I left at midday, it didn't seem as crowded as I remember. Did anybody else have the same impression? Fewer people, and fewer exhibitors. I got my new cod/blackfish rod from Al Goldberg, the first spiral wrapped rod I've owned; feels nice at home with lead from 8 to 20 oz. I bought a few Paduano jigs and some teasers; renewed my LIBBA membership; and that was that.

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Was there today. From what I was told Whitewaters was selling SS's for $10 on Friday and of course still a steal at $12 today. I stopped a guy leaving with a Custom Rod and thought it may have been you Brian with the one you were picking up but someone else. I agree with your points. I spent more on Girl Scout Cookies.

Nuff Said. Let's go Fishin' MSA 1764
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I have more plugs then I can use for the next three lifetimes, so I restrained myself. WW had good prices on some big-game stuff, Avet Pro EX for $450 in what I think was a 50 size reel. I'd've been tempted if I hadn't just got the rod from Al.

 

Here's a funny one. I was wandering around the main floor, rod in sock and in hand, and a guy in a wheelchair looked at me and said "You got a Goldberg, yeah?" The buddy who was with him started to say "How do you .." and the first guy said "The knot. Goldberg always puts that knot at the top of his rod sleeves." I don't know who he was, but he knows his custom rod builders and their habits. :D

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BrianBM - I am surprised since your so close to John n John jr's shop you did not build your own @ one of there winter rod building classes. build mine back in 09 and love it - they really give you one on one guidance - I know Al is a great rod builder - I have more than a few customs - but love the three I build there :)

Libba #1953/MSA #1952
surf fishing since 04 "think like a fish"

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Audio, I have built rods in the past. They're ugly but adequately functional. To do better would require me to buy some tools, like a lathe, that I won't use enough to matter. Further, the most important aspects of rod building are those which require lots of rods to have gone through the builder's hands.

 

To be more specific: I wanted a rod adapted to the high freeboard of the Viking Starship and Star, and long enough to fish under the boat. Al took a TriFlex blank and trimmed it to 7'10". It feels really nice with the 10-16 oz. sinkers that are most of what you need for Montauk/Block Island waters; it felt good with 8 and 20 oz., but 12-16 is the sweet spot. I wouldn't have known which blank to pick, or how much to trim. I didn't know what range of sinker weights are optimal for Montauk, until Al told me. The rod's a spiral (acid) wrap, which I haven't done; the rods I've built in the past were all casting rods of one sort or another. The number, size and placement of guides area judgment call based on experience. Since I lurch around any boat more than most customers have to do, Al armored the rod with a rubberized grip material over cord (I think so, there's a spiral of something) well ahead of the reel seat. The guides look like hardloy, the tip may be SiC; I'm not sure and I don't care. Neither do I know what blank it is that he trimmed and used.

 

I have shorter sticks that are fine in the Sound with 6-10 oz., and for the Celtic Quest or one of the Capt. Bob boats out of Mattituck. I had purchased a J&H BL 850, an 8' rod that is (I think) a house brand of the Lami BL 8050; the thing's a beast that barely flexes with a 20 oz. sinker. That's fine for very deep water (maybe someday we'll be allowed to fish in the Gulf of Maine again?) and for tilefish, but this one was adapted to the sinker loads and water depths where a Long Islander can go most often. And the cosmetics, as usual, are drop-dead pretty, abalone shell or some material that I can't tell from abalone around the blank for a few inches above the grip, and my name and nickname beautifully inscribed on the blank ahead of that. I also wanted the rod promptly, for near-immediate use, though this miserable weather has sort of made that part of the deal irrelevant.

 

There is no way a novice could match the functionality or cosmetic aspects of this rod. My Powershot is giving me grief or I'd try and put some photos up.

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Brian here are some pics of the one I built - just threw a reel on for line lay. 1st of 3 rods I ever built - now I leave it up to the professional :) p.s. I turned the rod to give better pics of the guides - they are called "perfection" guides - I have caught from ocean fluke to striped bass - decent seabass and black fish with this rod. = awesome !

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Libba #1953/MSA #1952
surf fishing since 04 "think like a fish"

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Your ambitions, as a novice rod builder, greatly exceeded my own. Good for you.

 

At this point, early in retirement, I'm leaving rod building alone. I need to work more on 1) fly casting 2) fly tying 3) and, if time and life allow, I'll take a whack at plug building. Other than that I just wanna fish.

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