What are the little things that bother you? 2024

Fat-G reply :

On your rods and reels, and even fishing line, what are the little things that bother you? That would make that certain product go from exceptional to perfect in your eyes?

For example, I have a Citica 200e. I love this reel. I could argue that for $120, this reel is really hard to beat. But there are also things that bother me, for example:

I think the handle is not long enough, and the grips are too small. I use(d) mine for bottom presentations, and a lot of the time wished the handle was bigger. If a fish picks up my Rage Craw and starts swimming towards me, I want to be able to pick up that line REALLY fast and set some steel. Sometimes my hand would slip or my handle rotation would be thrown off because I was trying to go in such small circles at a serious rate of speed. Maybe they should have a Citica 200e7 ;D.

Another one is when a rod has a handle that is too long and not enough length in the rod part. So a 7' rod would feel like a 6'8, but there is more than enough handle, sometimes even to the point that it's annoying. Now I know a rod is made to feel as balanced as possible, but sometimes it's over the top.

So what grinds your gears?

Yes... that was a Family Guy reference ;D.

South FLA reply :

When I set-up on a fish with braid line and slack is created that comes back onto the rod and winds around the guides, really ticks me off!

Also hate when the hook keeper on the rod somehow catches the line, I know the solution is to move it to the top positions, since I have never had an issue with them on top, but some of my rods have it on other side and it catches occasionally.

central.PA.bass reply :

I wouldnt consider this going to perfect... but I have a skeet reese 8' flippin stick... The hook keeper on it sticks out and a lot of the time when i flip or pitch, my line gets caught in it...

Vinny Chase reply :

There should a rod with heated guides

I was out on the river today and man did that get annoying. Nothing good comes from seeing your pointer flying across the river because your guides snapped the line

Goose52 reply :

Hook keeper design.

When will all the rod companies adopt a design similar to what's used on the upper-end BPS rods (and some others)? One that will accommodate all types of baits/rigs including tex-posed baits (without "de-posing") and drop-shot weights.

My best rods are Loomis GLX and St. Croix Avid, and they have the same hook keeper design as on my 45 year old rods... :-/

21farms reply :

the metal end caps on my abu-garcia rods drive me nuts...they scratch easily and the rods slide out from under themselves on hard floors.

the sideplate bulge on my quantum catalyst always dug into my palm...never felt right and sold it.

i dislike the green color of my curados...looks awful on my dobyns champion rods and my red powells.

the little grooves on the handles of my zillion reels collect gunk and nearly impossible to keep clean, even with a new toothbrush.

the chrome thumb bars on my revo reels get discolored from use, resulting in a thumb-shaped splotch. and, for whatever reason, the tops of my revos prone to rashing even though i baby my gear.

btw, i love my citica Es too...so much so that i put curado E gears in them to get the speeds i wanted plus the core 100MGFV handles on them with the big septon knobs. i know it doesn't make any sense to put $60 worth of upgrades on a $120 reel when that same money could net me curados but, like i said, i don't like the green color of my curados.

OHIO reply :

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i hate the metal end caps on my abu-garcia rods...they scratch easily and the rods slide out from under themselves on hard floors.

I really hate this too.

Not much else bothers me that I can think of.

Fat-G reply :

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i hate the metal end caps on my abu-garcia rods...they scratch easily and the rods slide out from under themselves on hard floors.
i hated the sideplate bulge on my quantum catalyst...never felt right in my palm.

i dislike the green color of my curados...looks awful on my dobyns champion rods and my red powells.

i hate the little grooves on the handles of my zillion reels...gunk just builds up in there and it's really hard to keep clean.

i hated how the chrome thumb bars on my revo reels get discolored from use and how the tops of the reels are so prone to rashing.

btw, i love my citica Es too...so much so that i put curado E gears in them to get the speeds i wanted plus the core 100MGFV handles on them with the big septon knobs. i know it doesn't make any sense to put $60 worth of upgrades on a $120 reel when that same money could net me curados but, like i said, i don't like the green color of my curados.

Yeah I'm not the biggest fan either. I think they should be black. I know looks aren't the point, but honestly why would a BIG name company like Shimano put such a odd shade of green? It doesn'y really go with anything but black or green.

Although I think I just answered my question...to promote the sales of Cumara's and GLX's. Haha.

I think a matte black Curado would look sweet, or even a glossy black. Hmm...might have to look into getting it painted ;D.

That reminds me of another thing, I don't like gloss finishes on rods for the most part. It just adds weight and dampens the sensitivity. I think a black Steez with a matte black split-grip rod would be a sick combo.

bilgerat reply :

Once great baits that are shells of their former selves. Just one example - the Jitterbug. Crappy misaligned hardware, cheap bodies, joke hooks. This could be repeated hundreds of times over throughout the fishing world.

That reminds me. Paying for a new bait and having to upgrade the hooks right away. >

BASSclary reply :

I HATE foam grips.

I dislike 40 year-old square design hook-keepers, But My E-Z Keeper fixes that.

I don't like when all the guides are far from the blank. Maybe the first 3 or 4, but after that I want my guides low and not double footed.

I LOVE cork grips.

I could care less about fore grips/split grips

I REALLY like Fuji Reel seats. IMO they are extremely comfortable, and I like the regular reel seet locking mechanism, not the kind that are on the Abu V series rods

I wanna rod/reel that looks cool , and my favorite colors are bonuses. Although If I will fish an ugly rod if it's better than a similar priced pretty rod.

I like my rods to balance nice.

I don't like line with extreme memory like CXX.

Fat-G reply :

Quote
I HATE foam grips.
I dislike 40 year-old square design hook-keepers, But My E-Z Keeper fixes that.

I don't like when all the guides are far from the blank. Maybe the first 3 or 4, but after that I want my guides low and not double footed.

I LOVE cork grips.

I could care less about fore grips/split grips

I REALLY like Fuji Reel seats. IMO they are extremely comfortable, and I like the regular reel seet locking mechanism, not the kind that are on the Abu V series rods

I wanna rod/reel that looks cool , and my favorite colors are bonuses. Although If I will fish an ugly rod if it's better than a similar priced pretty rod.

I like my rods to balance nice.

I don't like line with extreme memory like CXX.

I like split grips, but am undecided on split grips for bottom presentations. Time will tell with the Cumara that is getting here on Thursday. That will be specifically for pitching soft plastics.

I like the Soft Touch ACS reel seat that my Vendetta has. That seat paired with the shape of the Advantage HSTA is a perfect hand shape, at least for me. Either way the rod was free, so there's not much complaining to do.

Looks play a major role for me. I passed on getting a Dobyns Champion because it would be horrendously ugly with a green Curado. I know this is stupid to some, but if the decision is between a Cumara and a Champion, it's a win/win either way. If it had been a Champion vs. say a Veritas, that's a different story.

northern basser reply :

Reels with swept handles. I have a couple and think they look cool, but if I'm not palming the reel for some reason, the handle hits my thumb. When I am palming the reel I do like the mechanics of it (the closer in control feeling).

Ineedanewscreenname20170204 reply :

- Line with memory when I'm fishing unweighted plastics.

- Light braid that ties itself into an impossible knot on the tip of my rod.

- Casting into they wind with light lures on BC

- Having to be careful tying knots in Floro

- Not being able to cut braid with my teeth

- Smart bass

- Jet skis

- Trash in the lake

- Carp accidentally snagged on my expensive LC

BASSclary reply :

Quote

I like split grips, but am undecided on split grips for bottom presentations. Time will tell with the Cumara that is getting here on Thursday. That will be specifically for pitching soft plastics.

I like the Soft Touch ACS reel seat that my Vendetta has. That seat paired with the shape of the Advantage HSTA is a perfect hand shape, at least for me. Either way the rod was free, so there's not much complaining to do.

Looks play a major role for me. I passed on getting a Dobyns Champion because it would be horrendously ugly with a green Curado. I know this is stupid to some, but if the decision is between a Cumara and a Champion, it's a win/win either way. If it had been a Champion vs. say a Veritas, that's a different story.

I was playing around with the Cumaras in the Richmond BPS today (No school cause I dont have any exams!) and man I loved everything about em' but the reel seat and foam.

I guess the reel seat I could get used to, it was pretty comfortable, but i'd have to wrap the grips with the tape they sell at BPS.

But I really like the color if the Cumaras. Under the right light they have a light blue sorta color, similar to a Crucial being green under the right light.

And on the ACS, I really like that seat, its just really comfy to me

Fat-G reply :

Quote

Quote

I like split grips, but am undecided on split grips for bottom presentations. Time will tell with the Cumara that is getting here on Thursday. That will be specifically for pitching soft plastics.

I like the Soft Touch ACS reel seat that my Vendetta has. That seat paired with the shape of the Advantage HSTA is a perfect hand shape, at least for me. Either way the rod was free, so there's not much complaining to do.

Looks play a major role for me. I passed on getting a Dobyns Champion because it would be horrendously ugly with a green Curado. I know this is stupid to some, but if the decision is between a Cumara and a Champion, it's a win/win either way. If it had been a Champion vs. say a Veritas, that's a different story.

I was playing around with the Cumaras in the Richmond BPS today (No school cause I dont have any exams!) and man I loved everything about em' but the reel seat and foam.

I guess the reel seat I could get used to, it was pretty comfortable, but i'd have to wrap the grips with the tape they sell at BPS.

But I really like the color if the Cumaras. Under the right light they have a light blue sorta color, similar to a Crucial being green under the right light.

And on the ACS, I really like that seat, its just really comfy to me

I wrapped the rear grip of my Vendetta with electrical tape. I put a fabric freshener cloth (that you put in the dryer with clothes) on the grip before I taped it to avoid any peeling if I didn't like it. I think it looks kinda cool too. It actually does improve the grip a tad bit.

Fat-G reply :

^That's how bored I am^

Hopped up on Adderall with nothing to do. I actually got up, took a picture, loaded it, and posted it. That's how bored I am.

BASSclary reply :

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^That's how bored I am^
Hopped up on Adderall with nothing to do. I actually got up, took a picture, loaded it, and posted it. That's how bored I am.

Haha the tape and fabric freshener thing was a good idea!

I just lol'ed at the thought of a Vendette smelling like FeBreeze though! ;D ;D

Fat-G reply :

Quote

Quote
^That's how bored I am^
Hopped up on Adderall with nothing to do. I actually got up, took a picture, loaded it, and posted it. That's how bored I am.

Haha the tape and fabric freshener thing was a good idea!

I just lol'ed at the thought of a Vendette smelling like FeBreeze though! ;D ;D

Spring Bliss, thank you very much.

BASSclary reply :

I prefer the Hawaiian Paradise myself.

trevor reply :

I hate braid wrapped around guides

I hate when you set the hook, lure comes out of the water and wraps itself around your rod a zillion times

I hate small reel grips and really big reel grips.

I hate split grips unless its bottom contact

I hate lacquer on the whole rod blank that kills sensitivity

I hate reels that rust in saltwater no matter what you do

I hate corrosion in general

I hate shimano haters ;D

I hate wind when fishing senkos

Nick reply :

*those crummy half hitches with braid that was mentioned earlier,

* lines that coil like a mean rattlesnake,

* the fishing line manufacturers in general for producing lots of crappy lines through the years. Too many reformulations hyped to us that weren't tested thoroughly.

*nothing like setting the hook only to shatter a $200 rod.

0119 reply :

I hate that they arent making that many reels in Japan anymore.

I hate that rodmakers and anglers have forgotten about shorter rods and only concentrate on 7' plus rods.

I hate that people discount Abu round reels as a viable model to use.

I hate that all rods seem tip heavy now.

I hate people who slam others who dont idolize the brand they worship.

The Rooster reply :

I hate spinning rods with undersized stripper guides (the largest one closest to the reel). They restrict line flow. They should all be 1" wide in diameter at least on the inside of the ring insert.

I hate spinning reels with oversized (shallow and wide) spools that they say promote longer casts, and then trying to pair one of these up with one of those rods that has the undersized line guide. You guys tell me how that's gonna work?? Duh. Worst idea ever.

I hate Bass Pro Shops' spinning rod handle grips, the foregrip cranked down on the reel foot does not go down all the way to secure the reel and it forces the reel's foot to be misshapen to stay on the rod.

I hate Shimano's Compre foregrip on a spinning rod, that little cuttout is not comfortable at all.

I hate the location of the hookkeeper just in front of the foregrip, and on the bottom side of the rod blank on most Shimano spinning rods. It should be on top and further up the blank by at least 3 inches. They got it right with the Crucial, and got it wrong with all the rest.

I hate when people say Ugly Stiks are not good rods. They are. They are not made to be light weight and bottom sensitive. They are made to be very tough and durable, flexible and strong. Use them for that and quit complaining that they aren't for finesse fishing light lines and weightless plastics.

I hate rods with no foregrip and exposed threads also. There should be no threads showing when the reel is seated.

I hate the fugly orange color on Carrot Stix rods.

I hate rods that have metal ring guide inserts for the line guides instead of aluminum oxide or some other ceramic like material.

I hate micro guides for the way they look regardless of how well they work. They just look ridiculously too small on the rod.

I hate how they phase out a particular thing in fishing and then bring it back a few years later saying it's new again. Cases in point, wide spool spinning reels (they were all this way decades ago), and EVA grips (10 years ago every cheap rod on the shelf at Walmart had these, it's not new).

I hate a bunch more stuff but can't think of it right now.

I love Fuji ECS reels seats for casting rods and IPS reels seats on spinning rods. All spinning rods should have an uplocking reel seat, or a better made downlocking one such as the Crucial.

ib_of_the_damned reply :

-People that use their spinning reels upside down.

-"fishermen" that use those 8' white saltwater fishing rods from Walmart at the local city lake and still fish their spinning reels upside down

-bait fisherman that take up prime real estate at the lake I fish at, they have about 3-5 rods lined up over a stretch of 10-30 feet apart. I just want to take a crankbait with some braid and snag all their lines and break them off...

SirSnookalot reply :

If my equipment is in good working condition then not much bothers me. If I use equipment that I don't really like, I just don't use it anymore. Line on hook keepers, if problem arises too often I take them off, don't use them anyway. Braid around the tip, no problem, I always let the line drop a little bit before I cast to make sure it's flowing right, if it's wrapped a quick easy fix. I prefer to concentrate on the positive, not the negative, I like all my equipment, some more than others and that's what I use most of the time.

Senkoman12 reply :

Quote
Hook keeper design.
When will all the rod companies adopt a design similar to what's used on the upper-end BPS rods (and some others)? One that will accommodate all types of baits/rigs including tex-posed baits (without "de-posing") and drop-shot weights.

My best rods are Loomis GLX and St. Croix Avid, and they have the same hook keeper design as on my 45 year old rods... :-/

all manufactures should follow suite with this. those hook holders are great. lets what do i hate. line with lots of memory, getting my cork grips wet, and having a fishing buddy who wont shut up about his crappy skeet reese rods

*Hootie reply :

I HATE!!!!

Goose52 reply :

Wow, this thead drifted overnight...

The question posed by the OP was: "On your rods and reels, and even fishing line, what are the little things that bother you? That would make that certain product go from exceptional to perfect in your eyes?."

We went from little things that could create perfection, to hate - hating equipment and hating people.

Sheesh - sounds like a lot of pent-up emotion here - I guess it's good to let it all out though.... :-?

grimlin reply :

Backlashes on baitcasters. As much fun it is to use a baitcaster,it bothers me when i get a backlash....I feel like I'm losing fishing time trying to dig it out.

piscicidal reply :

Quote
On your rods and reels, and even fishing line, what are the little things that bother you? That would make that certain product go from exceptional to perfect in your eyes?

One thing that falls in this category for me is when otherwise exceptional reels (i.e. older chronarch, newer quantum energy PT) have a slight amount of backplay in the reel handle.

This bothers me because the designers/engineers made an obvious decision to favor form over function in trying to hide the hardware which holds the reel to the shaft. I'm an inventor/mechanical engineer and I work with industrial designers everyday, so I understand how these decisions ultimately end up getting made. I think this understanding adds to the frustration for me...

senile1 reply :

Quote
Wow, this thead drifted overnight...
The question posed by the OP was: "On your rods and reels, and even fishing line, what are the little things that bother you? That would make that certain product go from exceptional to perfect in your eyes?."

We went from little things that could create perfection, to hate - hating equipment and hating people.

Sheesh - sounds like a lot of pent-up emotion here - I guess it's good to let it all out though.... :-?

Just when it was starting to get interesting you have to spoil the fun. I hate you, Goose!

Seriously though, I agree with Goose on the hook keepers. A little re-design would help in that regard.

I also agree with SirSnookalot. Right now I am anxious to wet a line but the snow and ice will not relent. I would gladly trade this weather for the worst equipment available if it would get me on the water. There's not much to complain about in fishing and fishing equipment when you consider the alternatives.

BrASSmonkey reply :

I too hate when line wraps around the guides on missed hooksets, but spiral wrapped rods do not seem to be as prone to this.

.ghoti. reply :

I hate to say this, but, nothing about fishing bothers me enough to say I hate it.

Dockhead reply :

The only thing I don't like about my rods....they are not Champion Extremes.

Other than that I like 'em just fine.

Fat-G reply :

Let's not turn this into a "I hate" thread.

The original question was what would you change about a product you LIKE in order for you to like it even more.

roadwarrior reply :

I wanted some of the Rage Tails to be softer,

so Big O softened some of his baits!

8-)

The Rooster reply :

Quote
Let's not turn this into a "I hate" thread.
The original question was what would you change about a product you LIKE in order for you to like it even more.

OK, in keeping with the original theme of things...

Shimano Curado. An awesome reel. Could be better if they offered it in the 200 size and in a 6.3:1 ratio together. Also could be better if it had 2 bearings in each handle knob instead of only one, making it a 9 bearing reel, or even if 2 more could be added, I'd do it myself, but it can't be done. It would be slicker feeling for sure. I added a bearing to each knob of my BPS Extremes and they are now slicker feeling than before, and even feel slicker than my new Curado E7's handle paddles do. I know it isn't necessary but.....I WANNIT ANYWAY. ;D

Shimano Citica. Another awesome reel. Would be better if they had included the bearing on the inside at the end of the driveshaft, same as the Curado, instead of only a bushing. They could skip the bearings in the handles to keep the cost down, but the reel needs the one inside in my opinion. Not just for smoothing it out, but for wear prevention too. I'll be adding this to mine as soon as I order it. That's the single change I'd make to it without otherwise trying to turn it into a Curado. Basically, I think it would be nice if they offered both the Curado and the Citica with different options. Such as a Citica with oversized grips, or a Curado with smaller grips. Some people like features of each reel, and it's obvious there are those who are ordering parts and custom creating their own Citicados and Curiticas. I know it won't happen but it would be nice.

Shimano spinning reels in general. I like them but if you're gonna make an aluminum frame, go all the way. 1/2 of it aluminum and 1/2 of it graphite does nothing for me. I can live with graphite rotors, but both sideplates and stem and housing for the clutch bearings should be aluminum.

There are a couple of fishing items that I'd change NOTHING about.

The Abu Garcial Soron STX spinning reel. This reel is about as perfect as it can get. 11 bearings in all the right places, solid aluminum everywhere, frame, sideplate, rotor, and even the bail arm connecting to the bail wire. Comes with 2 spools, both aluminum, one ready for braid with no backing required. Sealed Carbon Matrix drag. Brass gears inside, drive gear and pinion both. It's light weight enough to bass fish with and solid and rugged enough for extreme saltwater fishing. Offered in a variety of sizes, and it's NOT ugly to look at either. They left nothing out.

Then, also the Shimano Crucial rods. Particularly the spinning rods. It's about as flawless as it can get. It has the perfect grip for the way I hold one, a moderately sized foregrip which is where I hold it at, the hookkeeper is positioned up the blank out of the way so I can keep a couple of fingers directly in contact with the blank and have a lot of clear blank to be in contact with (unlike on the Compre spinning rods with the small cutout in the foregrip and the hookkeeper too close to the grip as well). There are also no exposed threads on the Crucial's handle at all when the reel is seated down. IM-9 graphite blanks, Alconite guide rings, very light weight, and beautiful to look at. Shimano Crucials are perfect in every way. Pricewise, they are worth it too, but......just recently I discovered the Lew's Speed Sticks and they look to be just about as good for less money. Lifetime warranty and all. There are a few tradeoffs compared directly to the Crucial, but not $30 worth which is what the price difference is from the Crucial to the Lew's Speed Stick Tournament series. The Lew's rods look basically like Compres with better handles in terms of features of the rod as a whole. There is also a cheaper version as well, the SG series. At way under $100, it's about as good as it can get.

Drifted somewhat off topic, but not too bad.

*Hootie reply :

Quote
I hate to say this, but, nothing about fishing bothers me enough to say I hate it.

AMEN ghoti

21farms reply :

Quote
Let's not turn this into a "I hate" thread.
The original question was what would you change about a product you LIKE in order for you to like it even more.

okay, i edited my post to remove the word "hate"

Georgia Jeff reply :

All of these listed below are slight adjustments that I would make to the equipment that I have and love.

The Shimano Chronarch 50MG is as close to perfect as a reel can get in my opinion. The only thing that I would change would be to add a slightly longer handle.

I wish PowerPro was quieter when going through the recoil guides on my BPS JM Extreme rods.

I wish my older BPS rods had the cool new hook keepers that the new rods do.

I wish BPS would bring back the BPS Pro Finesse rods and make one in a MH. The Carbonite rods are not half the rod the old BPS Pro Finesse rods were.

I wish BPS made a solid black stick-o.

I wish they made a Curado with a 28 in retrieve per handle turn.

I wish Minn Kota made a 4 1/2 gear between gears 4 and 5 on there Minn Kota 40lb thrust 5 speed motor. 4 is too slow in the river I fish and 5 is freaking wide open. They never did fix this so I bought a Motorguide Tour edition 55lb thrust motor with variable speed. This was the best decision I have ever made. The batteries last longer and you can always dial in just the speed you want.

Hammer 4 reply :

I LOVE my green Curado's.. 8-)

Primus reply :

I hate split grips and anything that's not a cork handle. I do not like my rods painted Orange, Yellow, White or some other goofy color I just want the plain Matte finish. Also, I hate it when hook keepers are placed on the side where they sometimes grab your line.

lynyrdsky1 reply :

I wish zoom made baits that lasted more than 3 to 5 fish.

wish Champion didn't merge with Stratos.

Silver Minnow's still had the same sharp hooks they used to. The new ones won't even puncture paper.

trevor reply :

Most of all i hate getting water on my just cleaned glasses! AHHHHHH!

lightsout reply :

Id love to see a senko type bait with the mann's hardnose matierial on the end...but then they'd sell alot less so that aint happening.

lynyrdsky1 reply :

Quote
Id love to see a senko type bait with the mann's hardnose matierial on the end...but then they'd sell alot less so that aint happening.

Where can you find the manns hardnose? I havn't seen them in so long and really wanted few more bags.

21farms reply :

Quote
Id love to see a senko type bait with the mann's hardnose matierial on the end...but then they'd sell alot less so that aint happening.

they DO have that. it's called the 'freefall worm'...i have a few bags.

http://www.mannsbait.com/index.asp?Pagename=Hardnose

lightsout reply :

Snoopy,

How would you describe the rest of the plastic? I have a few other baits in the hardnose series and the main body of the lure is REALLY stiff, so I wonder about the action on em'.

21farms reply :

Quote
Snoopy,
How would you describe the rest of the plastic? I have a few other baits in the hardnose series and the main body of the lure is REALLY stiff, so I wonder about the action on em'.

yeah, they're nowhere as soft as real senkos nor do they sink as fast (less salt content?). still, i don't that i'd call them *really* stiff. i have a zillion stick baits though so i think i've only fished the freefall worms once that i can remember.

georgiaken reply :

When casting with my Quantum PT Reels, the magnetic bail will often times swing around and close on the cast, the line will snap, and you get to watch $3.00-$15.00 fly across the water.

This often happens if you try to cast "too hard" or you don't use perfect form or if they are greased just a little too much (so that they feel buttery when reeling).

Several of my friends have experienced this with the magnetic bails as well.

But I love that the bails are titanium...you can bend them back into place if they get crushed.

The Rooster reply :

Quote
When casting with my Quantum PT Reels, the magnetic bail will often times swing around and close on the cast, the line will snap, and you get to watch $3.00-$15.00 fly across the water.
This often happens if you try to cast "too hard" or you don't use perfect form or if they are greased just a little too much (so that they feel buttery when reeling).

Several of my friends have experienced this with the magnetic bails as well.

But I love that the bails are titanium...you can bend them back into place if they get crushed.

I didn't think titanium had to be bent back. I thought it snapped back on it's own.

georgiaken reply :

It's kind of both...it's flexible, so you can shape it...

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