PondBoss

Sorry but you're wrong on that. 10lb braid has a much much smaller diameter than 10lb mono or fluorocarbon. The lack of diameter more than makes up for what little flotation the braid provides.

Thanks guys, that's kinda what I was thinking. Thanks for the confirmation. Now if I can just find time to paint.

I rarely use my spinning gear, so I picked up an Agility a few years back. I'd definitely buy another one, it's very smooth on the retreive and the drag is great.

I'm getting into crank painting, and while my blanks are on order, I was going to practice on a bunch of cranks my buddy gave me. These are all brand new baits. How do I remove the paint? Or would it just be easier to paint a white base coat and go from there? Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

Personally I own 14 of the Ethos rods. At least one in ever model that is produced. I do not have any of the newer micro guide rods because I don't really see much benefit over the semi micro guides that come stock already. The 7'6" XH is super sensitive and may be the lightest flipping stick out there. I think you'll notice the flexes are pretty true to form, but the seem to have a tad bit more tip, this seems to be consistent across the board with the Ethos line. I'm a fan of this since I believe it makes each particular rod more versatile and not just a one trick pony. The one exception to the rule is most likely the 7' M cranking rod, for me that is the only thing I use it for. All of the other rods I've used for multiple applications.

Braid does not hinder maximum depth, if anything it helps acheive greater depth.

Not entirely true. Braid does float that is true, however the much smaller line diameter will allow additional depth.`

The camo rod is not the same rod. The camo is IM6 the blue is IM8, not sure what difference that makes, but it I'm sure it makes some difference. That being said, I don't own any of the camo rods. I do however own several of the blue ones. Let me say, they are great! These rods could easily cost twice as much if not more and would if someone elses name was on them.

What he said

I just picked the new Menace up and just from pitching it around in the yard I can tell it's a winner. Just like the Mettle, Menace1, and Mystic it's a sure fire deal. Just another great product at an affordable price. Taking it out on the water tomorrow, hopefully put it to some use.

40 yards (120 feet) is a really long way to pitch a bait. 40 feet however is not bad. Sounds like your spool tension may be a little tight. I wouldn't think there should be any issue with pitching with 65lb braid. Personally I don't use more than 30 on anything, but that's just me.

I use 30lb on everything, never had a problem with digging. I use Spider Wire Stealth, it's way quiter than others and seems to be smooth even after big hook sets. I will say though that I have broken off baits on the cast, but it was a colasal gust of wind causing a nest from the nether regions. lol

It's pretty much the only Fluoro I use, ranging from 8lb-20lb test. I have not noticed any problems with managability or stiffness. That being said I use Real Magic everytime out before I make the first case and once or twice throughout the day.

Any of the H2O Xpress reels.

I do believe in being stealth when approaching the fish, but as long as you are not causing a bunch of commotion and moving a lot the fish are still catchable. If wearing different color clothes makes you feel better about it that's cool, but if you stay in one spot for a few minutes, you become apart of the back ground to the fish. Now if you are doing jumping jacks between pitches I could see problems. lol I caught the same male fish 3 times yesterday while trying to get the female to bite, but she was just wandering around the bed and had not yet locked on. The fish I did catch though, if he couldn't see me, he knew I was there. Went to a different pond and was walking the bank and saw 3 fish hanging out in less than 10 inches of water, pitched to them and hooked a fish on 3 consecutive tries. I like that you're using a white lizard because 2 of the fish yesterday I caught I could not feel, but only saw the white vanish for an instant.

Well by your exact words, I'd rather catch a ton of fish varying in size. Odds are 4-5 of them will be over the 5lb range. There by meeting both end goal points. Nothing wrong with weeding through small ones to get to the bigger ones.

Sounds like you and whoever else fishes it need to start taking fish out.

Just learn how to cast lighter baits on your baitcaster. Loosen the spool a bit and ease up the brakes. I personally never understood "light" specific baitcasting reels. I can throw any size bait I want on my reels with a little practice (few casts).

I jokingly told my dad to pick one up for me and when I came to visit a few days later there it was. This thing is kinda awesome! Casts a mile, retrieves smooth and is super light @ 5.8 onces. The only down side to this reel is, like the Mettle it only comes in one gear ration. (7.3:1) I burn a lot of baits all year long, so I'm not turned off by this like some others maybe. That being said, deep cranking is not really an option with this reel. But for shallow cranks, flipping, and pitching the Mystic seems to be a winner.

I called Do-It and they said no problem to just drill out the hook eye hole since that was the only issue and the hooks fit properly. Thanks for the assist.

It's a snootie mold from do-it and a 60* bend hook

Ok I Kinda messed up but kinda didn't. I got an awesome deal on a ton of hooks so I scooped them up. They get here and I go to check the fit in my mold, and of course they are flat eye and not vertical. lol That being said, the bait that I want to make needs a flat eye hook. Is it fairly easy to grind out or drill a hole in the mold to fit the new hook?

Sorry my initial post was A-holeish I understand what you mean as far as furthering the ability of your gear to cast farther. But as you say if you take off the brakes it backlashes, then your casts go nowhere.

The brakes are there to be used. Why would you not use them? I have never known anyone to come up and ask me how many brakes I'm using and then scoff when I tell them, just to reply that they use one less.

I'm glad to see that you are enjoying the new reel.