Josh Smith

Me too. Problem is that some of the best feeling rods haven't been the most durable. I recall one from BPS I had once -- the thing was really light but snapped quickly. The Jimmy Houston rod (80 million modulus) I just bought for $10 on clearance originally sold for $60 to $80, and I expected it to bust. Spent a day trying to break it and couldn't. Still trying, though! Regards, Josh

I can't seem to get bit right now. Cold, icy water is not a problem, and neither is warm water. Transition time is hard for me, though. Landed a jig on a bass's head yesterday, made her jump, but couldn't buy a bite. Need to work on that! Josh

Later I'll post some pics showing what I use the MH/F for compared to what I'll use a H/F or XF for. Suffice to say for now that my favorite lake has gone through some major personality changes! Josh

Try these: And, how about an avatar pic? Hope this helps. Josh

I don't know that I still have it. I'm terrible about keeping them! I'll look, though. Regards, Josh

Hello, I picked up an Ambassadeur EON and a Jimmy Houston rod by HT Enterprises (see other threads.) Spent the day fishing and trying to break them. I mounted the EON on a 7' Ugly Stik Lite Pro and chucked 1/2 to 1oz crankbaits about 50 yards out, and burned 'em back to shore. The reel functioned flawlessly. On the Jimmy Houston rod I mounted an Ambassadeur 4600c3 with braid (w/leader) and spent quite a bit of time jerking jerkbaits pretty hard trying to get the rod to snap. The thing advertises 80 million modulus so I figured it would. It didn't. It also bends pretty easily. I'm half tempted to buy another one (they're on clearance for ten bucks) and start lifting weights with it. I'll say this much: It does feel good. It's sensitive, and it seems strong. I can't find the original price, though I believe it was in the $60 range a couple years back. I'll keep fishing it if/when it busts, I'll just go back to my Daiwa that I took the Ambassadeur from. Interesting items. Josh

I use a Shimano MH/F 7' rod with an Ambassadeur 5500c3 reel. It works nicely. I don't need a heavy rod most times. Still looking for one, though! Regards, Josh

Thanks guys. Lots to go through here! Regards, Josh

Thanks guys. So what's a low modulus? 20 million? What's considered high modulus? What's the highest and lowest modulus on the market today? If I have a range, I might be able to work this out in my head. Thank you, Josh

Hello, What does 80 million modulus mean? I don't recall ratings on rods 20 or 30 years ago; we just picked what felt good in the weight and rating desired. I therefore have no frame of reference for modulus count, IM6, 7, 8, etc; or ton. What do these mean in practical application? Can anyone help? Thanks! Josh

I would have found a college that offered bass fishing. Not sure there were any in '96. Probably should have skipped criminal justice and gone directly to gunsmithing, but I've used the criminal justice stuff and I'm not sure a gunsmithing college would have taught me the style I learned. So, no regrets. only wishes for collegiate angling where/when I attended. Josh

Dad used to shallac them. I don't bother. Skin oils and fish slime work great! Josh

Ranger, I plan to! It's probably going to see lots of hard use. There are more there and they're all at $10. What does 80 million modulus mean? I don't recall ratings on rods 20 or 30 years ago; we just picked what felt good in the weight and rating desired. I therefore have no frame of reference for modulus count, IM6, 7, 8, etc; or ton. Thanks! Josh

Reckon it helps the rod load on the cast? Just a little extra weight? Josh

Tyler, I grabbed a $140 camping stove for $40 last night. There was an Abu Garcia rod in that bin that I almost bought, but I read something on here about them breaking? Might just buy it, though, if it's still there. Glenna (night manager) is my Aunt-in-law and her husband is in to fishing, so I mentioned it to her for him when I bought the stove. Josh Ranger, Been playing with the Houston rod and can't get it to break. That was one of my concerns, too. Do you have experience with these? Josh

There are a lot more of different types. Two or three TKVD rods similar to mine but made of graphite for $30. Several of those Jimmy Houston rods, and a ton of both Ugly Stik Pro Lite and Cherrywood MH rods. I'd say it would be worth the quick drive to Wabash! Josh

Hoosiers are filling up this board! If you'd like me to resize a pic for you, PM me for my email. I'll be happy to help out. Josh

Since when do pre-spawn fish not bite? They are generally positive. Post-spawn are generally negative because they're worn out, but they're also hungry, so they'll eat. Josh

Hey All, I was at Walmart with my boy helping him pick out a birthday present for a friend. I happened past a clearance bin of rods, and I found these: Not sure what HT Enterprises is, but I can always use another rod. The KVD rod, however, is a cranking rod and I needed one. It has micro guides and all. They were $10 each. Reckon I did OK? Josh

This thing is by far not up to the quality standard I'm used to from them, I'll give you that. It's nice for what it is, but ultimately it'll likely be replaced by a 3600 with a metal frame. (Been looking hard at the 3600 Black Max.) I too have a Black Max 2 -- the low-profile but not the type with the recessed frame. I guess it's OK. I don't use it. I have it in the shop rebuilding it for my boy (he's 8). It's an Ultracast but with a plastic frame. I'm sure it'll do what I'm going to ask of it. One bearing is a bit rough and so I'll be replacing both with bushings. On a 5'6" glass rod, it will serve him as a crankbait setup. He likes to burn everything all the time, and his kiddie reels tend to suffer. Josh

It's just cool to have. I'm sure I can find parts if I look. Reading about it, the levelwind was originally a floating design of some sort, overcomplicated for production. In '02 they started using a standard disconnecting levelwind, and that's the one I have. It's not the quality of my 4000 or 5000 series reels, but it is an interesting design. I'm sure the modern EONs (sold in the UK and elsewhere) have the bugs worked out. Josh

I don't question what works. Solunar tables seem to work, paired with other factors. The whole wind direction thing could be called crap, too, because what does wind direction have to do with whether bass bite, right? Just follow the wind to the plankton, and the bite should be on. It's the weather pattern that the wind direction represents that determines the bite. I would guess something similar happens with the moon phases. Josh

40s -- Not pre-spawn yet. I was probably fishing too fast. Couldn't get to the best spot when I tried the river, due to water levels. Crappie were jumping, though, in the river. Josh

As a teenager, I had two fishing predictors: A homemade barometer and a solunar calendar. They worked well enough. Regards, Josh

I love those Carbontex washers. The only baitcasters I fish are round Ambassadeurs. Josh