New purchase review: Daiwa Fuego CT/H2O Xpress Ethos HD

[plawren53202]

As a bank angler, I unfortunately can't take a deck's worth of rods with me, so for a while it has been one MH/F baitcaster combo, one M spinning and one ML spinning combo. Found a partner so I can do some upcoming back of the boat tournament duty, so I need to add some more baitcaster combos--yet I don't have a big budget for them, while at the same time I don't want junk. So the mission was finding that sweet spot of good quality gear that doesn't break the bank.

 

I just added as baitcasting combo #2, an H2O Xpress Ethos HD rod, the one with the cork handle and micro guides, in MH/F 7'0", and a Daiwa Fuego CT. I got the Fuego on sale on Walmart's website for $79, and although the rod technically wasn't on sale, for some reason it had a tag on it for $69, which is the regular price for the non-micro-guide/non-cork version, and the Academy worker told me to make sure they gave it to me for $69 even though the regular price is $79 (they did). Spooled it up with 12# P-Line Fluoroclear (co-polymer) because I couldn't find my usual Sufix Advance copolymer in stock anywhere in town (?) and fished it all weekend.

 

The initial, admittedly small sample size, first impression report is that both of these are really, really solid choices in their price range, and I like this combo a lot. I'm used to using my Lew's Tournament MP with both centrifugal and magnetic brakes, so I was a little worried about getting the Fuego (with just magnetic brakes) dialed in. No problems, and it was a backlash free weekend. I intentionally threw baits at the two ends of the spectrum to see how it would handle, a Whopper Plopper 110 and, other end, a T rigged worm with a 1/8 oz. bullet weight. It did well on both ends; I was particularly surprised at how well it threw the worm with such a light weight, with no issues. Just a little adjustment on the spool tension knob for each, and good to go.

 

This was my first Daiwa baitcaster, and I quickly found out I'm a BIG fan of the big paddle knobs on the handle. The Lew's Winn grip knobs have always been my favorite but these Daiwa paddle knobs are giving that a run for its money. The Fuego just has the feel of a quality reel, something from a significantly higher price point. It's smooth, solid and quiet in all the right ways. Casting distance was great; I was sending that super light worm halfway across the pond.

 

Similar accolades to the rod. The Ethos rods are impressively light for their price range; it compares really well in a lot of respects with my Dobyns Fury (again which I am a big fan of). The balance with a reel mounted adds to the perceived lightness. The two big testing points for me for a rod are sensitivity and casting performance. One day in particular, it was about 95 degrees and bright sun, so the bass were not exactly crushing a bait. I was very impressed with the extremely light contact (not even taps, just slight drag or weightiness) that I could feel with this rod. And as I said earlier, no problems in casting a worm/weight definitely at the light end for a MH baitcaster. Good backbone on the hooksets, even managed to drive one home and land it early on the first day when I realized mid-hookset that I had forgotten to tighten down the drag on the reel (?). And, I think the blue of the rod looks really cool...which dumb as it is, was a factor in this purchase because all of my other combos have somehow ended up being very conservative black/black.

 

Time is the ultimate test for these things, of course, but for first impressions I am extremely happy with this combo. I would absolutely consider another H2O rod purchase in the future, and Daiwa is really making a case for making me a fan, following up on my last purchase of an Aird-X ML spinning/Regal LT reel. 

 

I wanted to post this review because as much fun as the really high end stuff is, I think there are a lot of people who look to this board for advice because they want quality gear but can't pay a lot for it (that's definitely me). I would certainly include both the Fuego and the Xpress Ethos HD rod as candidates for anyone in that boat.

[new2BC4bass]

Nice write up Trey.  I've always read good things about the Ethos rods.  I am a big fan of Daiwa reels...both spinning and casting.  However, I am not a fan of P-Line Fluoroclear.  Put some 10# on a baitcast reel that I took with me to Florida last year.  Broke way too easy.  I had an extra reel or two with me so that reel got pulled the first day of fishing.

 

Wish I had an Academy close by. 

[garroyo130]

I love my Ethos HD as well. Only thing that would make it better is full grips. 

[NavyVet1204]

2 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Nice write up Trey.  I've always read good things about the Ethos rods.  I am a big fan of Daiwa reels...both spinning and casting.  However, I am not a fan of P-Line Fluoroclear.  Put some 10# on a baitcast reel that I took with me to Florida last year.  Broke way too easy.  I had an extra reel or two with me so that reel got pulled the first day of fishing.

 

Wish I had an Academy close by. 

I agree with @new2BC4bass on this. Because I didn’t know any better at the time, I bought the same exact Pline Fluor clear and it would break at the slightest amount of tension. Now I know why that stuff is still in stock everywhere...you can’t even give it away.

 

I too bought my first Daiwa bc recently which was a Tatula 100 and it is flawless. It currently sits on a bass pro carbonlite rod 7’ MF for my shaky head rig. Love it and am now a fan.

[Hammer 4]

Congratz on the new combo, don't have the same rod, but I do have several Tatula reels, including the Fuego, great reels, tough to beat for the $$..Fished my Fuego froggin for a day, held up great, no issues at all.

[NavyVet1204]

1 hour ago, BaitFinesse said:

The Fuego CT has Magforce Z which uses centrifugal force to increase/decrease magnetic braking.

I thought the magforce didn’t start until the Tatula models? 

[BrianMDTX]

10 hours ago, NavyVet1204 said:

I agree with @new2BC4bass on this. Because I didn’t know any better at the time, I bought the same exact Pline Fluor clear and it would break at the slightest amount of tension. Now I know why that stuff is still in stock everywhere...you can’t even give it away.

 

I too bought my first Daiwa bc recently which was a Tatula 100 and it is flawless. It currently sits on a bass pro carbonlite rod 7’ MF for my shaky head rig. Love it and am now a fan.

Also agree on the Pline FC. Never had so many knots break in my life. Using either Trilene XL or YZH, I haven’t broken one. So it’s not my knot tying skillz lol. 

11 hours ago, plawren53202 said:

I wanted to post this review because as much fun as the really high end stuff is, I think there are a lot of people who look to this board for advice because they want quality gear but can't pay a lot for it

I think you are spot on. It’s easy for many to be intimidated reading about $300.00 reels and $450.00 rods when they have a budget of $100.00-$150.00 for both. There are some quality rods and reels on the market today that get the job done and won’t break the bank. 

 

They may not be professional grade, but most anglers aren’t professional. 

[MN Fisher]

14 minutes ago, NavyVet1204 said:

I thought the magforce didn’t start until the Tatula models? 

Nope - Fuego CT has it...change out the standard aperture for the T-Wing, add bearings to the handles and the Fuego becomes the Tatula CT. Same frame, spool, main-gears, etc.

 

15 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I think you are spot on. It’s easy for many to be intimidated reading about $300.00 reels and $450.00 rods when they have a budget of $100.00-$150.00 for both. There are some quality rods and reels on the market today that get the job done and won’t break the bank.

That I can fully get behind. I've got 10 rigs, all get the job done, and I spent less than $900 total setting them all up over three years. Don't have to break the bank to get usable gear.

[NavyVet1204]

41 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

Also agree on the Pline FC. Never had so many knots break in my life. Using either Trilene XL or YZH, I haven’t broken one. So it’s not my knot tying skillz lol. 

I think you are spot on. It’s easy for many to be intimidated reading about $300.00 reels and $450.00 rods when they have a budget of $100.00-$150.00 for both. There are some quality rods and reels on the market today that get the job done and won’t break the bank. 

 

They may not be professional grade, but most anglers aren’t professional. 

Exactly right. I have particularly found my “quality comfort zone” in the $100-$150 dollar range for reels and roughly $80-$100 range for rods. I have worked a lot of overtime the last two months to get what I wanted in that range and it works well for me.

 

Found an Abu Garcia ALG low profile reel on sportsman’s outfitters for $129.99($250 reel) and bought it without hesitation. Deals are there so long as you look and are patient. Now I just have to find a rod...

[NavyVet1204]

Admittedly I was both intrigued and skeptical of the T Wing system aperture prior to trying it. Can I tell you exactly what the T wing offers or improves on over the standard line guide? Nope. I have noticed that the Twing doesn’t hold on to the residual “goop” that floats on the water after retrieval. By no means am I saying it’s a deal breaker to have a standard guide do that, but I have noticed that my spool of fluorocarbon does not retain that brown color from the water. My tatula 100 feels leaps and bounds more quality than my Lews tournament LFS that I bought at bass pro. 

[new2BC4bass]

2 hours ago, NavyVet1204 said:

I thought the magforce didn’t start until the Tatula models? 

Magforce and Magforce Z are two different braking systems.  I got started late with baitcasters (2009).  I know the Magforce Z has been around since at least 2004.  There are many more knowledgeable guys on here than me.  Maybe one will come along to tell you exactly when Magforce Z came into being.