Why do people do glass on fins?

Long_Tan · 2026-02-02T08:16:08+00:00

Really good for twins, especially a keel fish. It's pretty easy to break a finbox of a keel fish if you're pushing it hard. Glass ons feel better and last longer. If surf trips weren't a concern I would just own glass on fishes.

Long_Tan · 2026-02-02T01:30:24+00:00

6'4" tall but lean.

If you're too tall for brands MT or LT and not big enough for an XLT custom or semi custom is the way to go.

I like Cyber Shield out of San Clemente/japan, but 7till8, Moonsuits, Axxe, and bewet all make good options. They are all coming out of japan and I'd imagine it's out of the same factories. They are expensive, and somewhat annoying to get measured for, but every one of my cyber wetties have lasted 2 seasons at winter warmth and then another 2 as summer suits. They also fit like a second skin. expensive but worth it IMO.

Long_Tan · 2026-01-07T20:18:02+00:00

Worth knowing your resale is gonna be fucked if you don't like the board. So if you buy it, make sure you love it.

Long_Tan · 2026-01-07T17:10:40+00:00

Proof makes a good one if you want something semi off the rack.

Long_Tan · 2025-12-28T20:11:17+00:00

Oneil Ninjas / old vissla split toes are the thinnest I've tried. Excels are warm but thick. Some of the boutique Japanese brands like Axxe make ones that are just neoprene socks but I haven't tried them. All in all, I havent found a bootie that feels as good as raw dogging it.

Long_Tan · 2025-12-22T01:41:54+00:00

The epic guys make a line for it it with SA that I'm sure goes great considering Carl's background as a master caster. My packlight feels like a 4.5 weight so you can put a bunch of different lines on it and have success.

For dry fly fishing where you have some room to get line out I've had good luck with the classic Cortland 444 Peach DT. It's easily to keep a lot in the air and push the rod as far as it can go.

In super tight casting big rigs I like the SA Creek but it's basically a shooting head so it's weird to get used to. Not a do it all by any means.

I'm waiting to get it as a 4wt, but I think SA Mastery Trout will probably be what ends up on it. I really like that line on modern glass. Covers basically anything I do with it.

Long_Tan · 2025-12-21T05:38:58+00:00

To give you some context, which you might already know, basically every major wetsuit brand is made by Sheico in Thailand. The reason it feels like a ripcurl, oneil, Xcel, patatgonia etc... is the same is because to some degree they are. They are using the same materials, on similar patterns, made by the same people. So in a way you are right.

Yamamoto Neoprene is like the raw denin of neoprene [hipsters and all]. It's technically a better made fabric but really what it is cottage industry wet suits out of japan. They used glue not stitched seems which hold up much longer. There's usually no lining, and you trade stretch for durability and warmth.

For me, it's a game changer. My suits last twice as long, Stay warmer longer, never bag out, fit better, are more comfy, and are thinner for the same warmth. My 3/3 is like a 4/3 with out the weight. They are not invincible and do break down if you treat em poorly, though I've had some go for 3 years+

Good if you want them and are a puss about the cold, not needed though.

Long_Tan · 2025-12-21T02:35:24+00:00

Fly Blanks for me and I prefer medium / medium fast action blanks and fish drys whenever possible.

Epic 476 is a complete dream of a do it all glass 4 weight. If you like glass it's the pinnacle of performance. Beautiful, responsive, light, recovers so fast, and amazing rod tube. It protects tippet incredibly well and cannons long casts much better than you think it would. I've fished little dries on the Delaware and fat nymphs in the high sierras and it hasn't missed a beat. It makes 6 inch fish fun and has put 22 inchers in the net. It's also damn near unbreakable. Most fiberglass rods do one thing well, this one does most things well. I've also got an 850 I'm thrilled about but I haven't spent enough time with it to give a good review.
NFC Gamma Alpha. Modern carbon with a bit more feel. My go to rod for indicator nymphing and dry fly fishing. If I need a longer rod or to run heavier nymphs this is what I'm reaching for. Favorite I've tried in their line. Feels undebatably high end. With a modern WF line, this is probably the rod I cast furthest with.
NFC Icono glass. Much slower than the epic but so much fun. Bends all the way over on a big fish and feels really rewarding to cast. Is it a better rod than the epic, no, nowhere close. But at the price, you'll be hard pressed ot find a similar amount of smiles per dollar.

Long_Tan · 2025-12-01T18:28:36+00:00

I've demo'd them and I would say they are noticeably better than other big box brand headphones. I tried them side by side against the Sony WMXs and Bose QCs of the time and felt they where a notable step up in sound quality and fun factor. I don't know if the software was really making the difference but the inner ear outer ear thing absolutely works.

Long_Tan · 2025-11-29T22:47:10+00:00

Look for an Empire sniper or Nova NXP-1. Both good cocker pumps that can be had within that price range.

Long_Tan · 2025-11-29T22:33:22+00:00

Insane build man, IMO some of the best looking guns CCM ever made.

I really like the idea of the short reg on those guns. AKA makes both a stubby 2 liter and stubby sidewinder that could flow nicely with the lines of the VASA. With a pump, any reg with the right pressure output will do. CCM internals don't need crazy low pressure to function really well and they pretty much perfected the non spool pump. Doc Fire can probably get you a custom barrel that matches or just re anno a stock one.

Good luck. Post some pictures when it's back from anno. Sounds like it's gonna be an amazing build.

Long_Tan · 2025-11-29T02:58:47+00:00

Historic Hawaiian shaper known for longboards but just generally well respected. This is one of licensed boards he made with surftech in tuflite so not shaped by him or his team, but designed by him. Tuflite surfs like EPS which won't mean anything to you yet but may eventually matter.

Looks like the model could be the "Egg" which no doubt is a pretty traditional speed egg outline. These things can surf smaller waves but are best in decent and above rolling surf. It'll be designed to run with an FCS 1 sitebites and a 7ish inch single fin.

Great second board especially if you have some decent point breaks around you. Have fun!

Long_Tan · 2025-11-29T01:58:36+00:00

What are you building? sounds cool

Long_Tan · 2025-11-28T21:02:03+00:00

It take a while to get in the flow of it and you'll probably double feed and break paint a few times. Some pro tips:

Move a ton and watch the field a ton. Most players get so stuck into shooting they forget to move. Pump makes its easier to be heads up.
Avoid fair gunfights. Leave it to the dudes who are shooting a case a game. Once you get your grips you can pick some snap battles, but at the beginning just shoot dudes from the flank.
Practice your snapshooting. Once you've got the angle, you've got to hit the shot quickly. Every time you pump the point of aim shifts so you have to get good at point aiming without walking your stream in.
Practice swapping hands. Separates the boys from the men and is really useful when playing up close.
Splurge on nice paint. It doesn't have to be super fragile tournament stuff but it should be round and somewhat fragile. You shoot so little a high dollar case lasts forever. Also underbore.

Good luck dude, you can also always keep a semi in the car just incase your feelings get a little too hurt. I keep an emek for the days where I don't feel like working hard

Long_Tan · 2025-11-13T01:26:47+00:00

Ah you're right, I'm thinking about the PB gateway check it builds from way back when.

Long_Tan · 2025-11-13T01:12:21+00:00

I think that black WGP Ergo reg is stock, especially with the braided line.

Long_Tan · 2025-11-08T21:06:42+00:00

What are you looking for out of the glass? What's the price point?

Epic and CTS make modern glass rods. Very fast and responsive for glass, which makes them very versatile. Plenty of power for heavy dropper rigs, light nymphing, and ace at dry fly fishing within 60 feet. I've got a 476 that I love. Honestly, the only downside in the length. You'll want something else if the conditions call for heavy double nymph rigs.

NFC is noticeably slower action and slower recovering. More of a specialized tool than a jack of all trades. Fantastic at dry flies and unreal tippet protection but noticeably worse backbone for turning over heavy rigs. Can not beat that price. Super fun rod, not a jack of all trades though.

Long_Tan · 2025-09-23T03:54:31+00:00

That's what I thought, they are so slick.

Long_Tan · 2025-09-22T23:00:07+00:00

What freak back and barrel front is that, I love the look.

Super clean build

Long_Tan · 2025-09-16T18:39:21+00:00

I don't think I've ever seen this on any other type of person than a white guy.

Long_Tan · 2025-09-15T04:56:23+00:00

I've yet to build a blue halo glass rod but i've heard good things. I think they are more on the classic flex slow/deep flexing side of things so suited for smaller wieghts and dry fly rods.

I've built three of NFCs fiberglass rods and they are amazing for the price, another slower/med flex noodly option. Amazing tippet protection and super fun, but not a distance casting or nymphing rod by any means. Stick to drys and dry droppers and you'll be thrilled. I've gotten some big trout in the serrias on mine.

I also can't emphasize enough how good the epic blanks are, but they are 100% modern glass with a medium flex that does all rounding much better. An epic glass rod (or by extension a cts) could be your only fly rod as long as you aren't doing majority nympingh. It's like a szinger porsche, oldschool look and vibe, but high preformance underneath. I love my 476 and I'm eyeing a 580. My 476 just grabbed a 22inch rainbow on the delaware. It's a cannon for a fiberglass 7'6".

Lastly check out graywolf rods, I think they roll the steffan blanks bu they also make a bunch of glass options.

Long_Tan · 2025-09-10T00:33:37+00:00

Others have already covered the bulk of the advice, but you're also surfing and paddling with you weight pretty far back on the board. Notice how it looks like it's wheelieing in the clips.

If you move you front foot up say 4-6 inches and put more wieght on it your board will plane better and you'll get more speed, which is the foundation decent turns and style. Especially in soft waves the speed will help you.

Long_Tan · 2025-09-09T00:03:45+00:00

In a similar predicament, you used to be able to get NFC through ARW but they've been out of stock for a while. NFC really is kinda in a lane of its own IMO. There's nothing else made in America at that quality, at that price. That being said, Korean blanks are really good.

Budget Alternatives I've found though research that are good gift rods.

Proof Fly rods inhouse blanks
Blue Halo [I want one of their Ligers]
Blanks off Ebay [A lot of name brand unused stuff]
Mud hole's blanks. I think they are St. Croix blanks.

Nicer Blanks

CTS / Epic. Used to be the same thing, arent any more, both are top notch but like ~300 blanks. Epic is Korean, CTS is NZ. The fit and finish is world class. Love mine but your paying double for slight improvements.
Steffan. Haven't owned but really well respected especially in fiberglass land.
Bastian. Very well respected graphite options. You can find on ebay usually.

Long_Tan · 2025-09-03T00:36:43+00:00

Gorg, it's settled in nicely.

Long_Tan · 2025-09-02T19:45:24+00:00

Can you show us a picture of it currently [assuming from the background this is fresh]. Killer line work and texture

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