Thanks, Neville, I do like the Beartooth product, but wanted to get the raw materials and try to refine the shock gum thing into a design I like better.
I did read a tip today that makes some sense. One disadvantage to using the shock gum is that there are knots attaching the shock gum to the braided loops on each end. The system is a little bulky and tends to hang up in the rod guides. When I play a fish, I am always careful to keep the knots outside of the rod tip top guide. The probably comes when you are using a long leader and trying to net a big fish. The fail-safe way is to get the fish tired enough that you can bring the shock gum inside the rod guides, shortening the leader to improve the leverage to catch the fish. At least that was the way I was doing it... The tip I read is simplicity itself. Instead of attaching the shock gum between the flyline and the leader, you install it a couple feet down the butt of the leader. That allows the angler to pull leader butt into the rod enough to get the leverage. The shock gum is always outside the tip top. Makes sense, and I doubt it would affect the castability to any degree. I like shock gum when fishing 5x-6x tippets for fish in the 4-6 pound class. It's also good for fishing streamers when the fish are smacking the fly hard, or as an aid in handling the jumpers, thrashers and long distance runners. Wes Wada Bend, Oregon
