**Had me a Lando Calrissian moment this afternoon**

[Cristo]

Thank you Mr. Wood!! as promised more shots and then some early perceptions.....

[Cristo]

Additional

[Cristo]

Last few...

OK so far so good really loving this iteration of the white python. When I 1st held it and did the initial tip tests it screamed to me weightless plastics and of course moving baits of different varieties and sizes. I chose to move the 6" speed shad butt naked on the monster game ewg in 7/0 a set up I previously mentioned. As my body is getting a little more wear and tear I shore fished again on Tuesday night The white python handled that speed shad set up really really nicely so much so at this point I could definitely see the white python being a dedicated plastic rod given circumstances subject to it I and relativity. She definitely has a lot more tip action and is not as stout feeling as say it's little sister in Mephisto in my hands anyway. OK beyond that talk, the 19' C-40 HDTS is superb. Being that it doesn't feel as stout as say my slant bridge super destruction I would say at 1st I would be comfortable for sure with the 2 ish ounce weight range for treble hook applications may be a little heavier for topwater Anything beyond that in my opinion at 1st mind you seems to be over powering in such that I tied on a 68 weedless special and that didn't feel right in my hands which surprised me for the ratings but the intentions all along were for a to be a treble hook application 1st then plastic(weightless/weighted). Also keep in mind that I am using this specifically for larger profiles and I am sure it is more than capable to do many other things but for now our report my findings for the larger then usual size lures as pertaining to this thread Although she has a little bit more of a tip throughout the body of the rod I still feel I have enough power left over to sweep hook or reel set the 7/0 weightless set up home. Time will tell but I definitely cannot wait to use this staff more. Over all build and waits as statics are pretty much a plus except for a few gripes which are small in the bigger scheme. Christian I really cannot stand that dam Chrome look they put on the reel seat never mind that it is a polarizing reel seat structure to begin with The other is as you can see in comparison to the Valkyrie 7'6" XXH guide tip on the bottom is much more of what I would have rather seen on the WP and last is the finishing on the butt cap os not as tight as it should be, hard to tell but picture but the carbon piece is rather unrefined and tolerances are off a bit. Small small fry sh*t but still important In any case I look forward to more work with this fine specimen indeed enjoy the picks and thank you for letting me share as always TT

[Cristo]

Flip flop the tips Valkyrie on top,white python on the bottom

[Cristo]

Had to wait until I had some good natural AZ sun to pop that spiral architecture out from underneath that bronzed golden finish as seen on the lower handle portion of the blank. That has to be one of my favorite aspects of the C40 Evo line in particular. I believe I covered that subject as well a time ago with the Limited version of the Mephisto from the time I had her in my stable.

[Poisson]

Love this thread. It's refreshing to see the whole journey instead of just the highlight reels that dominate social media. Excellent pics (and gear)!

[Cristo]

OK so I've got in the white python out a few nights the latest being last night In which I believe I got several parties interested and several little bites/pecks but they were smaller fish possibly big bluegills pecking at my soft plastic being the speed shad in the 6" variety naked as mentioned previously so far I definitely like it as a weightless swim bait rod although it doesn't quite load as nicely as I would like with that particular rig next will probably be an 8/0 Owner weighted at half ounce with this speed shad to see if that helps load in get a little bit more distance and test the WP acumen there but for short distance weightless plastics it's very nice!!! With distance again I feel you have to put a little more into it doesn't want to launch it as fluid like my 8' Hyuga. So I'm moving my naked speed shad set up back on there. Anyway on with some more fantastic points on this white python I've also tried treble hook baits in the MB big M 4.0 and Grenade, 7" triple trout, 5" bull gill, and 6" bull shad, and 145 slide swimmers all feel super fantastic. I haven't even attempted top water trebles yet but I would sumise that I would get the same smile when casting and retrieving those particular Bates as well. The white python really wants to load nicely with Bates in that range and I feel it's a lot easier and fluid casting then the weightless speed shad set up I had on their initially. Not to say it's a bad weightless plastic set up just in my hands and the reel/line combination didn't seem to want to fling it out there as easily I felt I had a put a little more work into the my casts which is opposite with the treble hook baits which tells me the white python likes a little weight but not too much Relative to its lure ratings I feel as stated previously. Just North of 2 oz is I think in my opinion is max and anything below is where you want to be throwing treble hook baits with this particular iteration of the "Willie P" Again all this being fairly relative. I will continue to report back my findings
Thanks TT

[Cristo]

Couple of updates I thought it would be fun to share. Here are some shots of how my "thunk" boxes are sitting currently. The main 2 I tote around that I have Room for in my old plano 3700 series soft sider bag are box #1 with the majority of Triton Mike/Whitmer offerings, #2 back up/overflow(stay at home), and #3 soft plastics, terminal etc. Side note the boxes from bass pro shop are super duper for "thunk" Box configurations

The last shot is what I like in plastics and throwing currently. butt naked speed 7/0 Gamakatsu Monster EWG worm hook up top on my 8' hyuga then below that is the old 7" spark shad rigged with the 10/0 beast hook half ounce weight variety on the SBSD

My chapel session/share for today

[Cristo]

I had a question about this too in the real world and wanted to make sure I give everyone an update that I'm still running 65 LB Power Pro through my 4 Shimano reels, I wanted to add that since I been grinding all season here in their at this point since I had a break 65 LB Power Pro has served me extremely well I haven't had any issues or thoughts of not running it it's been that solid of A-line for me in particular kind of do all-in-one while keeping strength and sensitivity and decent payload reserve(actual spooled line) on my reels. I feel and can back that statement which I am sure many of you have already experienced but just wanted to share that as I had a question on that with a buddy of mine the other day.

Also I wanted to add that the 7'6" Valkyrie and newly acquired White Python L set up for the lion's share of treble hook duties which are on display.

I hope all of this is helping some folks either now or down the road as for me personally I don't know a lot of people that fish currently big profiles I decided as previously mentioned to give it a shot and stick with it solely no matter how or where I choose to angle. Of course I've done my fair share of reading on the subject matter but nothing beats personal experience although it's been expensive(my choosing) it's been unbelievably key on how I make my decisions relative to the lures I have selected to be key players in my rotation. although it's been expensive I can attest that it's been extremely fun maybe not productive in numbers and bites but again this experience has been golden and I'm thankful to share it for whoever wants to read and take note, and help more than anything so as always tackle your it's been great resource and thanks for letting me share and be a part of this cool community

[Cristo]

Last night, shored it again. This time giving the 200 S-Waver some quality time. I have to note once again that the Valkyrie 7'6" XXH is so tasty!! The last time I really gave the S-Waver some QT it was being slung on the SBSD. The Valkyrie makes the 200 version so much better, a world of difference and more enjoyable to work with I feel. Anyway the Valkyrie continues to impress No takers but a couple of distinct bumps non structure related As usual last night as it has been the last several nights at Saggie lots of shad action and activity on or near the surface. here is a shot of last night's moon. Weather is getting to be really nice at night.....

IMG_20190913_19157.jpg (22.63 KiB) Viewed 45995 times

Okay some blatant humble requests....

I dig the Deps 175 ss nothing new there folks tried and true indeed, But I'm in search of the unicorns to throw in the various Butch Brown trout colorways, long shot there

Also I'm on the look out for:

Any opinion out there if there are any on the davinci 190 by Elements.... looks fairly interesting and has been out for awhile it appears. of course garnering some of that enthusiasm feel, but actually looks like it might be fairly effective giving the different and somewhat novel variations in things that you can adjust tail wise as well as line attachment points Cal and Zander, future edition of L.O.U.S???

A cherry with the bag hopefully X4 Destruction. I definitely want try this rod so please cough one up folks!

1,000 pardons for the blatant requests and thank you in advance!

Some thoughts I will probably revisit in the near future is throwing magnum flutter spoons when it gets colder for those deeper chunks here, maybe But one has to try especially giving that I have had quite a bit success at these reservoirs when throwing the smaller kast masters and crocodile spoons for yellow and large so it should be fun to try them in the bigger size given where I'm at currently lure size wise, and the 8' Hyuga has me thinking sick spoon rod!!

Have a dope weekend in what ever angling we are attempting for this weekend's sessions......

[Winstondry]

There's a DEPS 175 Slide Swimmer for sale over on that bass boat site, it's the X ray pattern....

[Cristo]

Late rising moon from last night. Slung the big M 4.0 on the the White Python. The white python surely did a slick job launching that bait, though I think with 4.0 pretty much any rod could launch that bait into oblivion. that thing is a tight heavy package and aerodynamic as well compared to most baits of that size. Anyway all in all very enjoyable night despite it being heavy on the bugs but still lots of action on the surface so I think this week I'm gonna try thrown some heavy profile surface lures at night and see if I can get anything intrested looks like a large pack of bluegills chasing shad when I blast my high beams out occasionaly to check the surface One thing I will add I was surprised I don't believe the vegetation has come up as heavy this season which is unfortunate as that means I to get out in my kayak more to search but as stated that's becoming a big to do for me now hence why I have been shoring it as of late. In order to increase my chances though I'm going to need to eat my spinach suck it up and drive on as we used to say. No takers........till next time TT

[Aquaftm45]

No takers........till next time TT

I read your blog/thread religiously, primarily in hopes of one day seeing a damn fish. Slap on a Ned Rig, catch the fish, then hang whatever flavor 10oz lure of the day your slugging out of the fishes mouth and snap snap. Alternativly, keep posting Studio Composite handles..

With that said...best fishless thread on TT!

[Cristo]

I am so stubborn but not to toot my own horn I did catch one back in March on the 6" Bull shad p but the pictures are gone I could repost that's not something I generally do I still have the memory and the pictures plus I'm old school I don't do go pro cast the catch which is very popular amongst the YouTube years I'll keep at it though like I've said I've fished a number different ways I think one of my last leaves to turn is dedicated trout fishing as well as until I move on to a different body water entirely go solely salt water which is my ultimate dream I'm played out on inland waters but possibly if I were somewhere were our having better luck that might change but again I like change in scenery I'm ready for salt water all the way we will see where I land here in a few years or so when the wife is ready that will be a possibility anyway I'm sure I could go as you said different routes but I'm stubborn when I'm a stick to my guns throwing L.O.U.S type lures, Could be timing luck or who knows I just may plain suck at angling But I aim to keep it honest as I want to share knowledge/experience and my personal learning curve in this particular style of fishing as it doesn't seem to be hugely popular anymore at least in my neck of the woods or I should say the desert of the suck My other thoughts are since I pretty much found my deck of cards in how I like to play the angling game is do more dedicated traveling sessions hint hint guys at triple T or anywhere for that fact I am open TTers

[Cristo]

Setting AZ November sunshine....I need to get back out