If you could only have one rod?

[Vermillionaire]

I just got a TFO, may be my favorite for trout.

[SGib]

Originally Posted by Vermillionaire

I just got a TFO, may be my favorite for trout.

What model?

[Ray]

I like a very light weight rod, med-light with extra fast action.
The lighter it is, the easier and longer you can fish.
When I swap from mine to someone elses, I can feel the difference in weight.
I prefer custom also. It is sometimes hard to find the right rod. It can take too long to run thru different rods, then you find the one you like, it breaks on the first trip.

[Will"E"Fish]

Chartruse Snaggless Salley Wit a Scorpion treble hook all da long.

[jlincecum]

Originally Posted by ACADEMYPROSTAFFER19

Custom rods are overrated in my opinion....having you name on it with sparkles glitter and shat on it doesn't fill up your ice chest. True story....I went with a buddy of mine who is a very avid trout fisherman and he brought his buddy who I had never met before. Dude was rollin straight Berkley Cherrywoods. We caught a ton of fish that day and he kept pace with my friend and I who use higher end rods. I know that quality of graphite, number of guides, etc.... dictate sensitivity but it isn't necessary to catch fish. Spend that extra money on gas!

the question wasnt what rod does it take to catch fish. Sure I can go grab anything at Academy or even Wal-mart and catch fish with it but its not what I prefer. The more you refine your abilities the pickier you will be about your equipment. I have a very difficult time finding a production rod setup the way I like it.

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by Catcher'sMitt

I have a custom rod that costs serious money with Phenix blank, is it phenix or penix? anyway it was an extra $100 for that blank. broke the first one. sent it back and the guy made me another one. broke that weekend before last on about a 5LB red. messaged him about it and all he said was congrats your the first to break 2.

The one I was looking at is not cheap....it's the k2 model. Got me thinking now might get something else.

[hunter44i8]

If i get a store bought i like the Abu Garcia Veritas in medium heavy 7 ft with micros if i go with Custom it would be a 7 med heavy micro made by Calcasieu Extreme i know they are built good

[mikedatiger]

Originally Posted by Montauk17

The one I was looking at is not cheap....it's the k2 model. Got me thinking now might get something else.

The K2 blanks don't hold up. They are extremely light but also extremely fragile. Have heard of far too many of them breaking. Phenix has some great blanks, but the K2 ain't one of them.

IMO, builders have been way too focused on weight as opposed to balance, feel, load distribution, and power (backbone). There is a fine line that you can cross with regards to weight which will kill the rods durability. A well balanced rod will feel lighter and fish better than a pure "light rod"...

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by mikedatiger

The K2 blanks don't hold up. They are extremely light but also extremely fragile. Have heard of far too many of them breaking. Phenix has some great blanks, but the K2 ain't one of them.

IMO, builders have been way too focused on weight as opposed to balance, feel, load distribution, and power (backbone). There is a fine line that you can cross with regards to weight which will kill the rods durability. A well balanced rod will feel lighter and fish better than a pure "light rod"...

What blanks do you use?

[Dink]

No one has mentioned the Helium???

[mikedatiger]

Originally Posted by Montauk17

What blanks do you use?

I use multiple blanks depending on application as each one has its merits for specific functions - i.e. topwater, plastics, wading, etc. We've gone through just about all of them testing over the last 8+ months. Basically, I have narrowed it down to specific models from Phenix, MHX, Lamiglas, and St. Croix that I recommend depending on what features are most important to the angler.

Will be testing my own carbon fiber blanks soon, but as stated above, testing is a long process. One person's light is someone else's medium-light, their fast is somebody's moderate, etc.

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by mikedatiger

I use multiple blanks depending on application as each one has its merits for specific functions - i.e. topwater, plastics, wading, etc. We've gone through just about all of them testing over the last 8+ months. Basically, I have narrowed it down to specific models from Phenix, MHX, Lamiglas, and St. Croix that I recommend depending on what features are most important to the angler.

Will be testing my own carbon fiber blanks soon, but as stated above, testing is a long process. One person's light is someone else's medium-light, their fast is somebody's moderate, etc.

I know what you mean....I got a mhx ml fast and it's more like a med x fast.

[T-TOP]

Originally Posted by Dink

TFO. G Loomis' new line. They nice!

Looking G-loomis website. Don't see TFO??

[coolhand]

Originally Posted by T-TOP

Looking G-loomis website. Don't see TFO??

TFO is Temple Fork Outfitters. I think Gary Loomis is with them now.

[mikedatiger]

Originally Posted by T-TOP

Looking G-loomis website. Don't see TFO??

You aren't going too. G-loomis was bought by Shimano a while ago and Gary Loomis, through a round about way, started TFO. TFO is a completely separate line of rods with the backing of Gary.

[bayouchub]

Originally Posted by mikedatiger

You aren't going too. G-loomis was bought by Shimano a while ago and Gary Loomis, through a round about way, started TFO. TFO is a completely separate line of rods with the backing of Gary.

Gary loomis has started edge rods. He was paid by tfo to put his name on their rods which are in no way shape or form g. Loomis rods. Imo the tfo rods should retail for about $30 judging blank quality, guides, reelseat, etc. you would be better off with any other rod in the $100 range.

[T-TOP]

Originally Posted by mikedatiger

You aren't going too. G-loomis was bought by Shimano a while ago and Gary Loomis, through a round about way, started TFO. TFO is a completely separate line of rods with the backing of Gary.

Is G-loomis still the same quality rods they were before? They have a 1 time per rid over the counter return policy at LCT. After that you have to send a little money with the broke rod...

[CustomRod]

Gary Loomis' company is Northfork Composites. The blanks are high quality and the prices show how proud they are of them!

[bobo23]

My .02. Not fancy or expensive but my favorite so far has been the Skeet Reese (Finesse/Worm Fluke) for trout. Bought them at Academy and Railside for $79.99, on sale. It has micro guides and is very sensitive. I've got them rigged with a curado or an h2o Mettle and 6/20 braid with 20lb. flouro leeder. Casts a mile. It's the most sensitive set up I have found so far. Just bought a Duce and like it too but have only caught about 20 fish on it so far. Too early to tell.

I have a custom one being made by Calcasieu Custom, right now, and am really looking forward to trying it.

By a long shot though, my largest increase in sensitivity has been the switch to braid.

[Ray]

On slow days, you appreciate a good light weight rod and reel set up.
You don't have the fatigue you would with a heavier set up.
If you are fishing live bait on the bottom, heavier set up's aren't an issue.
If you fish artificial and chunk lures a lot, lighter is the way to go.
I don't buy the already made up combo's, except for Shimano.
At one time they had some good combo's.
I'm too lazy to fish all day like I did in the past. Just fish a few hours and go home, no matter what or how many I caught.