Need a new rod?  Don't have a lot of cash, but want a higher-end rod?  Go to Academy.  They have the the American Rodsmiths H3 Titanium 'Judy Wong' rods on sale for $69...regularly $149.  I purchased 3...tried one of them out today, and found them suprisingly sensitive...comparable to my St. Croix LT's.  The H3's boast an 87 million modulous blank and alconite guides.  I dig the purple blank...some might not.

Bought them yesterday...caught a chunk on one of them today...a good test.  They really are a nice little rod.  I plan on using them for jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters, and buzzbaits.

The purple looking color is what sales them here in Louisiana; if it's LSU colors it sales period.

Don't have academy here.

I love how you wrap your rod handles (especially the foregrip).

Were you able to find a matching pair of pumps and a cute handbag while you were there?  

Do they have a catalog or a web site? :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/

Were you able to find a matching pair of pumps and a cute handbag while you were there?  

I'm not sure what pumps are...I guess you have to own them to be 'in the know'  ;D.  Seriously though...went out again today, and these rods are excellent...among the top in the middle rod market I believe.  The only difference in the Judy Wong and the H3 Titanium rod is the reel seat and guides.  You get a blank that comes with a $199 rod for $69.  I'm a Loomis guy, but I appreciate a great deal, and these rods will serve a few purposes.  My only gripe is the 6'6" and 7' rods share the same length of trigger handle.  So obviously the 6'6" Medium is awesomely balanced... mbr783c like, while the 7' MH feels like it needs a longer trigger handle to balance it out.  Anyways...pretty impressive blank, without even considering the price.

This rod has the same blank...

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_76888_100002006_100000000_100002000_100-2-6

Here are the rods on sale at Academy...they just lack SIC's and a gimmick reel seat (who holds the trigger handle while jig/worm fishing?!)

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_90408_100002006_100000000_100002000_100-2-6

Could we get a little how to for the fore grip you have on there. And are you using those BPS wraps for the handle? Or what?