WAR WOUND

Water aint never too cold for skates and doggies!

What kinda All-Star rod you throwin?

Most tackle shops carry the thumb patches, has elastic back that goes over the top of yer thumb, and a leather patch to grip the reel with.

TonyQ,I am sure Adam will agree.. I have never had a problem with burning my thumb on the cast,UNLESS,my reel wasn't set right,or the shocknot caught my thumb(now that IS painful)..OR Back to the point:If you have a 14 ft rod maybe it is loading slowly and you are anticipating the rig to fly and it is hesitating because of the length of the rod...... Maybe TIMEING is more of an issue here than thumbguards.....

Please don't be offended by this question Tony--are you a beginner with the baitcaster?

When I first started using my baitcaster my thumb would burn. Now, I don't even thumb it except at the end of the cast.

If the line was coming out so fast that you had to thumb it (I realize 8 and bait would make it move fast), you should put more magnetic resistance (if your reel has it) for braking.

Oh, wait. I recall your post about the 6500--is that the reel? no magnetic. Instead, the little circular know on the right hand side. Did you adjust it so the line fell down to the ground but stopped with nesting when it hit the ground? If not, do that until you get really comfortable with it. Then, just loosen the knob a little each time until you find a setting you like.

you might also try cutting a 10 speed tire tube in to sprips 1 to 1 1/2 inches long and sliding that over your thumb. works for me and alot heavier then surgical tubbing.

Another trick is to wet your finger and slowly apply pressure as you try to slow it down. Sometimes, depending on how much lead you are chucking, you'll have that line come off like a bat outta hell, and you don't just want to jam your thumb in there. Then again, you're talking to a guy who accidentally thumbed a spool when a shark was peeling line.

This is too funny. Imagine in Febuary, that someone from N.W. Washington, D.C. is generating enough heat fishing at Hatteras to burn themselves... Heh, heh, I can't even go close to there...