pbizzle

Thanks ninja. That's what I was thinking too.

I've only seen Reel Magic and Ardent Line Butter at my local Academy, but I can't recommend any of that crap.

I've never been big on EVA, and I don't have a problem with micros but I plan on using braid with a leader. I think I'm in the minority, but I prefer braid for dragging a football jig.

I'm going to get another 7' MH for football jigs, and I've narrowed it down to either another Ethos or an Ethos Micro. I just got back from Academy, and I tried my first gen Orra SX on both, and I'm leaning towards the original Ethos. I really like the reel seat on the Ethos Micro, but I don't like the EVA grips or the guides. I like my original Ethos, especially the cork grips and bug guides, but although I'm happy with the reel seat I prefer the one on the Micro. I'm really torn between the two, but I'm thinking that a regular Ethos is the way to go. I'm just curious what y'all think, should I go with the Ethos or Ethos Micro?

The purple and gold looks pretty pimptastic.

I also noticed this the last time I was at the bps in Sevierville.

I don't know if someone's already asked this, but I couldn't find it. What's happening to the veritas? Are they being discontinued, replaced, or updated? Every where they're sold has dropped the price and TW doesn't even offer the full line up anymore, which has got me curious. Are they being replaced with the purple and gold Ike series rod that he was showing off on Facebook?

H2O Xpress Mettle is the same price as a Black Max, has an aluminum frame, lifetime warranty, and centrifugal brakes. The new ones have a small profile like the Black Max' s as well. I have 4 of them. I also just bought a Gen 1 Abu Garcia Orra SX at Academy for $60. I LOVE that reel, because it's nearly the same thing as a Gen 2 Revo S, minus a bearing and the drag system. The mettle will out cast it though.

Some of the senko knock offs would also work here. I use the strike king shim e sticks and big bites trick stick and they seem to be a lot more durable. Nothing beats a Yamasenko though when you need fish in the boat.

They just redid their crankbaits, and they seem to be even better. I was worried at first, but they seem like they're even better quality now than before.

My largest bass came in a tournament two months ago. Nothing huge, especially for Chickamauga, but I'm really proud of it. Caught it dragging a half ounce H2O Xpress football jig in PB&J over a deep hump. It was my first fish using Megastrike as well so that was pretty cool. It weighed in at 4.75. It was a really cool fish because it was short for its weight.

Probably the most comfortable shoes on Earth.

Sanuks all day every day! Everyone knows about those slipper looking things that Crocs makes, well Sanuk is the original. I've had mine about two years no and they're still going strong... well besides for a pretty funky odor. I mean these things STINK. They're super comfortable though. The sole is made of the same stuff that yoga mats and beer koozies are made of. They're marketed towards the beach/hippy crowd, but lately I've seen a bunch of pros on TV wearing them, including Casey Martin and Larry Nixon. I've also seen them in Bass Pro and Sportsmans Warehouse. http://www.sanuk.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-SANUK-US-Site/default/Default-Start?source=ggl_ppc&bcd=sVB0t7wNn&pcrid=41378638137&pkw=sanuk&pmt=e&pdv=t&gclid=CjgKEAjwzcWcBRCat43fy9e5i3ASJADXOBwuMQi6RXo8y-xuGS08pDaRXXbGQOVojvfj-3OpoE2fX_D_BwE

I taught myself to bass fish below the Chickamauga Dam using senkos. I completely tore them up by casting a weightless, or using a keel weighted hook, upstream and parallel to the bank. Then I would retrieve them just fast enough to pick up the slack, but I'm still letting it get washed down with the current. The bass position themselves facing into current so that they can eat whatever gets washed down with the current, and it gives the senko a really natural look.

Yup! My buddy's dad is taking us out on Thursday to watch them fish.

If you're throwing those 2 oz swimbaits on that rod, it must be underrated.

I probably won't pitch with this rod much. I'll mostly use my 7'MH for that. I'll be flipping 1/2 and 3/4 oz jigs and Texas rigs, throwing lighter swimbaits, punching, and throwing a 3 wire Alabama rig. I know lure ratings are really just recommendations, but the All Star is rated for 3/8-2 and the H2O is rated for 3/8-1 1/4. Why don't you like it is a flipping rod?

I'm curious how you hold your rods though. I've never heard of a handle getting in the way.

That's an awesome post man. It's cool to see the stories behind those setups to. Really shows you how tough those Ambassadeurs are.

Has anyone used one of these? I haven't seen them before, but I heard that they were in the original Ethos line up like the deep cranking rod. I just saw it on Academy's website though, but I wanted to see what you guys thought. I've been in the market for a flipping stick under $100, and I was pretty set on a 7'11 H F All Star Nano. But I've already got 3 Ethos that I love to fish with. Now I've narrowed it down to the 7'6 XH Ethos ($60) or a 7'11 All Star Nano ($90). I'm leaning towards the Nano, because it's a heavy and that would be more versatile. The Ethos wouldn't be as versatile as the Nano considering its XH, but it's a little shorter than the Nano and would make pitching easier. I'm pretty sure that the All Star Nanos and H2O Ethos are the same rods but with a different paint job. I know that sounds stupid, but both are Academy's house brands, they share the same guides, same reel seats, and when you hold them side by side you can't tell a difference. Thanks. http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h20-xpress-ethos-7-6-xh-freshwater-casting-rod/pid-148119?color=Blue&N=10001+97010080+4294713062

Man you're telling me! I'm in Chattanooga and I'm longing for one of those hosses.

This is how I feel. I don't think it requires light line or "sissy sticks", but it DOES require you to slow down to entice bites. In my opinion power fishing is like putting out a whole fried chicken. You may not get as many bites, but you know if that one big feller is around he'll take a bite. Finesse fishing is like putting out a bowl of M&M's. You know someone's going to eat one, even though it'll usually be a skinny little pre-teen girl. But every now and then ol' bubba or Aunt June is going to want a little snack in between meals.

A lot of people don't use braid just for the strength. I know that I for one only use it for the manageability and the lack of stretch. This grants you with more sensitivity and power behind your hook set. I'll tie on a mono or fluorocarbon leader for visibility reasons, but it forces me to not rely on the braids strength. If I'm using 50lb braid as a mainline, but a 12lb fluorocarbon leader, I'm definitely not going to winch the fish in like I would with straight braid. I wouldn't use anything less than 30lb braid on a baitcaster, because it would be hard to use. Sorry if that doesn't make sense, but it's late and I'm tired.

THANKS! That did it. I tried that earlier, but I couldn't get them pulled out with my hands. I finally did it again after I read your post, but they where so tough I had to wrap my line around some pliers and pull them out..

Here's one of the knots.