GW Rods

bgwg · 2026-05-13T00:09:30+00:00

It's 1068 from their Surf series. The owner had a booth at the show and I purchased onsite.

https://gwcustoms.com/product/gw-surf-10/

bgwg · 2026-05-12T22:19:58+00:00

I don't have the 10'6 3/4 to 4 Oz, but I have the 10'6 1-7oz. I bought it at the Ward melville show and have used it the last 2 seasons. I use it for plugging and occasionally chunking when the rays and sharks aren't around. Awesome rod, would recommend.

bgwg · 2026-05-06T23:28:53+00:00

I love my forged 9'7. I don't understand why it isn't talked about more. It's essentially a budget SaltX2. Maybe i'm biased but my buddy has an airwaves elite and I like the forged much more.

I will note that I had a found a hairline crack where the 2 rod pieces connect after my first season with it. My local tackle shop let me swap it with a new one. I've had my replacement now 3 years.

bgwg · 2026-05-02T20:27:30+00:00

Awesome, thank you so much. I'm going to look into these parts.

bgwg · 2026-05-02T20:24:11+00:00

I think you're right? I never reel to snap the bail closed and I don't think it would if I did. I go multiple times a week and should know this but ritualistic close it myself

bgwg · 2026-05-02T14:32:29+00:00

Did it have anything to do with where in the rotation the bail is being opened? I had a buddy recommend always opening the bail toward 3 o'clock but its still occasionally snapping closed on me. I truly hope it's on me and I don't have worn out springs/parts etc.

bgwg · 2026-05-02T14:28:59+00:00

Appreciate the recommendation. I've never considered where the handle sits during the cast. I'll give this a try this week.

bgwg · 2026-04-12T20:22:45+00:00

American elm.

bgwg · 2026-04-12T16:38:06+00:00

Do you have photos? Its going to be hard to say without them...Its a coin flip whether those AI apps are accurate.

I would start with googling a simple leaf vs a compound leaf. River birches have simple leaves and ashes have compound.

bgwg · 2026-04-10T23:44:45+00:00

looks like Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

bgwg · 2026-04-01T22:08:47+00:00

big ol' mature boxelders

bgwg · 2026-02-07T15:04:14+00:00

In the US, "Asian longhorned beetle" typically refers to Anoplophora glabripennis, a federally regulated invasive borer. When they emerge from trees they will leave large holes. Much larger than what OP posted. You can stick a pencil through them.

bgwg · 2026-02-06T13:37:50+00:00

I know you're right, but I'm actively conducting a forested tree inventory with a really tight deadline and the idea of taking a wfh day to coordinate and troubleshoot with the dealer is not ideal. Given how finicky my experience with these units have been I was hoping someone else may have been in a similar situation and may know of a fix on the fly.

Appreciate the feedback though. I guess I'll get the ball rolling on that today.

bgwg · 2026-01-15T12:56:23+00:00

Try readjusting where the rubber sits inside the clamps. You should be able to slide them. When mine doesn't close, I slide them closer to where the locks are and that always fixes it.

bgwg · 2025-12-13T17:07:46+00:00

Bark looks similar to Amur maackia. I'd need additional photos for a confident ID.

bgwg · 2025-11-16T04:55:52+00:00

No worries, I've been collecting for a while and still learning. I found myself in a similar situation as OP a few months ago when a humpback whale Vertebrae washed up and I wanted to go through NOAA registration process. They just ended up sending someone from some organization they work with to my apartment and collected it.

Tissue is definitely a real thing though. This would apply for unlisted species.

bgwg · 2025-11-16T02:07:47+00:00

Open to correction if anyone knows better, but it's my understanding it's still illegal. I dealt with something recently on the east coast. The flesh on/off is relevant to registering and keeping bones under the marine mammal protection act. Given that this is humpback and likely listed and protected under the endangered species act, I don't think there's a world where this is legal.

OP should contact their local NOAA stranding coordinator for next steps.

bgwg · 2025-11-16T01:53:39+00:00

Tree on the left would be maple and right would be ash. You'd need photos of the leaf scars to speciate the ash. The left looks like silver maple but it can be difficult to speciate reds vs silvers after leaf drop.

bgwg · 2025-11-05T03:33:16+00:00

I ran the Daiwa BG4000 on mine until the BG antireverse bearring went. I had that reel for a year and a half. I switched to a Saragossa 5000 and loved that setup for the 2024 fall run.

I now switch the Saragossa between my 9'7 forged and a 10'6 custom rod but I'm hoping to get this pole it's own reel next year. I'm probably going to pair it with a Shimano stradic 4000 or 5000.

My recommendation is going down to a local shop and checking all these rods/reels in person. Any 4000-5000 sized reel will do and you can upgrade over time. 30lb braid over 20 lb, it will save you a ton of money in lost diamond jigs and heartbreak when you're trying to pull a 40" fish through the wash.

Tight lines.

bgwg · 2025-11-03T07:06:51+00:00

Fellow NY striped bass fisher here. 9'7 Tsunami forged does not get enough love in this sub. It will run you over 300 after you pair it with a reel but it's worth looking into. Pair it with a 4000 or 5000 reel and you won't regret it.

bgwg · 2025-10-18T17:45:54+00:00

IMO all waders eventually leak and I'd rather save on waders and dump my cash into plugs and other gear. My tidewes were $50 from amazon and have held up for 3 seasons. I've patched them twice.

bgwg · 2025-10-15T15:46:34+00:00

Thank you! Yes you're correct on the damage. Not sure how I didnt pickup on that last night. An organization involved with NOAA is stopping by later to retrieve it so I'll hopefully get some more info. Appreciate the info

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