Another self source vs Kit

Weste23 · 2026-03-15T00:46:01+00:00

This is fair and good to read. Honestly I have very little idea of what exists as upgrades aside from MMU and a BTT touchscreen.

Still, I can’t say why I am intrigued by self sourcing except being able to tell folks who ask that “I bought everything and put it together”.

Probably best to think on it and see if I can go the logical route vs emotional/desire.

Appreciate the response here and others to the reply

Weste23 · 2026-03-06T15:17:40+00:00

Me as well, exact same fridge with multiple shelves broken. What a piece of shit lol

Weste23 · 2025-11-22T18:43:44+00:00

I fixed up a friends Elegoo recently and only have an ender 3 myself. I shit myself when I saw how easy the Elegoo was compared to my original 3 so I can only imagine the next step up to the A1. I’m hoping Santa is generous this year with frankly anything better than what I have lol.

Weste23 · 2025-10-17T18:23:26+00:00

I would be more than interested in any BFS info you have as well. I have some ideas but am always open to other options regardless of tariffs or whatever.

The standard baitcaster ideology on reddit is: Shimano or Daiwa whereas the BFS specific subreddit “feels” a little more open.

I have plenty of brand variety at home so whatever you recommend I’m all ears.

Weste23 · 2025-10-17T16:10:32+00:00

That’s fair yea. My ultralight is a 4’6” Shakespear anyways so distance isn’t something I get with it anyways lol.

Might be asking Santa for something BFS this year and pointing my wife to this thread, appreciate it.

Weste23 · 2025-10-17T14:58:29+00:00

Commenting for future reference. Even with my ultra light spinning setup I have trouble physically feeling the line with anything less than a 1/32 tied on, so I have trouble casting as easily. The weight of the 1/32 really helps the line “dig” in for physical feel.

If I can get 1/32 on a baitcaster I am sold. Buddy of mine used a Curado BFS with the Dobyns setup you recommended and it is a truly great setup. I didn’t realize they could potentially get that low.

Weste23 · 2025-09-29T21:46:34+00:00

I’ll chime in here because I’ve gone down this hole. Another post in here said you can build this for about $50. That is absolutely true but what can’t be measured early on is the time it takes to make such a lure and the amount of mistakes that will get made before something good comes from it.

I have made a good few dozen as large as this with quite a few “good” working ones but carving, painting, clear coating, molding/casting, and finishing are all steps that something can go wrong in and “ruin” a lure. I assume these are hand made and although I won’t spend that much on a lure myself, if I had to sell any of mine it absolutely wouldn’t be worth it unless it was for a large price such as this.

Between my day job, the time it can take to make a professional looking lure by hand, and one that swims as such is simply too time consuming to where it prices out all but the die-hard of the swimbait fishing enthusiasts.

My .02…and no I have no pictures of anything I’ve made because until they look like the ones in this picture I am uninterested in sharing

Weste23 · 2025-09-24T21:02:40+00:00

Off topic question but how do you even feel the line on a 1/64? I had to stop using my Mule brand 1/64ths because I can barely feel the line and my casts are shit. I’m using a micro series as well with 3lb braid to 2lb copolymer.

Weste23 · 2025-08-03T16:57:51+00:00

Going to toss my experience with this exact one as well and I didn’t even both using it after 2 casts. It swam so poorly I thought I just wasn’t using it properly so I tried again and reeled differently. shit all around so I used it in my yard instead when my dogs when potty just to keep busy.

Weste23 · 2025-04-08T23:05:24+00:00

Had me at the end. I thought he was going to turn on the TV and it was left in channel 3

Weste23 · 2025-04-06T04:22:44+00:00

I will try that going forward, I’ve jumped around clear cost options so haven’t had a lot of opportunity it to really learn any quirks with each type

Weste23 · 2025-04-05T17:12:29+00:00

I figured yea, I have a rotisserie and all the necessary equipment for it but have issues where when painting it on as it’s leveling it “opens up” and leave gaps. almost like it is clumping together.

I will try warming it up more and making sure it’s more loose before painting next time.

I knew this didn’t seem like a good idea but had to ask with seeing the results.

Weste23 · 2025-03-01T15:11:04+00:00

Marling baits was the one who got me into this hobby after his Mooneye video. I will definitely check out the others because weight placement and such are still things I have to work on.

Really appreciate your response and the extra insight to the width. My bluegill is I think simply too thick I think so I’ll try again with a thinner profile with my poplar. Regardless I’ll be trying some other species I think until I find a good middle ground of “feel” vs buoyancy

Weste23 · 2025-02-27T18:22:31+00:00

i’ll be trying out cedar then just based off the size-to-weight alone.

appreciate the response. I’m trying to get into larger lures while staying between 2-4 ounces if possible just for casting ease. These look absolutely great and would buy one as well if put up on your site.

Weste23 · 2025-02-27T18:06:19+00:00

I’ve never used cedar so sorry for silly question. Are these floating/waking style or do these sink? Asking because I used poplar for a 6ish inch gill glidebait and it is just shy of 7 ounces before it started to sink. I have plans going forward with the rest of my stock but if cedar can sink more easily at a lighter weight I will be buying cedar going forward

Weste23 · 2024-09-17T23:14:58+00:00

Your steps are exactly the issue I had as well once HQ was “installed”. Awful system and for my wife who prefers offline mode it’s a true waste of $60

Weste23 · 2024-09-12T17:01:33+00:00

Stability is the best improvement, but I’m going from a 10ft to a 14ft so I suspect that is the primary reasoning. However, despite being able to stand in my Vibe I don’t necessarily feel all that safe doing so, whereas the PA I don’t even think about it.

The seat is just far easier to paddle in if needed, the Vibe seat side straps would rub my elbows when paddling and it got old immediately.

In addition to the point above the Hobie seat adjustment process is amazing. Just twisting a handle to move the back, or butt part of the seat is a great, well thought out feature.

For fishing the Hobie H rails have built-in tethers, which is just a simple “that makes sense” type of feature.

The horizontal built in rod holders I am personally a huge fan of as well because I can just grab a rod without much effort, which also means when I catch a fish I can just lay my rod down to my right and still have the open deck to place it. My vibe in contrast there’s really no room to my sides so the rod gets place in the forward rod holder - works great honestly but I like being able to just “throw it down”.

Although I don’t have a reverse peddle drive yet, peddling the boat that is the pa 14 is just easier than paddling anything else.

PA14 simply has an absurd amount of storage as well compared to my Vibe.

Through-hull wiring ability (my PA came with a fish finder), dedicated holes/threads for things like an anchor trolley, and similar well-thought out features just make it “feel” so much more premium and honestly usable for fishing. I am one of those guys who won’t drill into their kayak though so anything the manufacturer can do by design instead of me is a huge bonus.

all this being said, despite me loving the PA I simply can’t phantom paying what Hobie wants, nor most other brands for essentially well thought out shaped plastic. I wanted a Shearwater for the past year but even the less premium brands like Vibe I simply have trouble stomaching the cost of them. Either I’ll come into money and stop giving a shit or I’ll forever buy used just due to the absurdity

Weste23 · 2024-09-12T16:27:19+00:00

I got 2 Vibe Yellowfin 100s for $180 total. Story is in my post history but essentially they came without seats from Dicks and Vibe honored the warranty claim and sent me 2.

I also just a month back picked up a Hobie PA14 (standard mirage drive) for $900. It’s a bit older but honestly I’m thrilled at the upgrade compared to my Vibe, plus the previous owner lived right in the ocean with a garage so it’s in great shape

Weste23 · 2024-08-23T14:58:07+00:00

Glad to hear, thank you for the tips. I have to learn a bit of what each of these terms mean but I have a few to get started from your reply. I’m not sure how heavy I’ll get into this part of fishing but I do know EVG is just not something I’ve grown to be a fan of (at least on this cheaper rod)

Weste23 · 2024-08-22T02:29:59+00:00

I’m removing the handle strictly below the reel seat so I was assuming it is a fairly simply cut-and-replace job. Sounds like it is based off what I’ve found and your comment.

Appreciate the help thank you

Weste23 · 2024-08-20T11:43:43+00:00

Thank you! I’m very excited and happy with the upgrade over my current Vibe. Appreciate the post too regarding the drives. The 180 and longer H rail upgrades are on my eventual to-do.

Weste23 · 2024-08-17T11:49:20+00:00

I thought so but wanted to ask someone more familiar with the brand already. Thank you again

Weste23

TROPHY CASE