A Question for the TFO Experts

[mizzouflyfisher]

Do you guys really think that there is much of a difference between a 2 & 4 piece rod. And if there is a difference, are there any casters that will be affected by that difference. Basically, will 99.9999% people notice a difference between 2&4 piece rods. I refuse to buy 2 piece rods now because when I travel, I have vowed to never check rods or reels again. (A couple of guys in our group had their luggage "misplaced" on the flight to Alaska. Luckily we had a couple of days before we flew out to start the float trip, and their luggage was found.) Granted the last time I flew to Alaska it took forever to get through security. Apparently 6 fly reels and a vice with a huge chunk of lead look funny on the xray machine.

Mizzouflyfisher

[Brian Wise]

For what it is worth I really like the Pro Series. I have casted and fished both and the Pro rod is a seriously great rod. The series one (Signature Series) is quite a bit slower and isn't quite as much of a pleasure to cast. Saying that though, you can't go wrong with either.

Definitely cast before you buy....

Brian

[vanven]

A little about the quality of the product and more about the quality of the company:

I bought my wife a starter TFO rod this summer. It is a lower end 8'6" 4 piece 5wt rod. She liked the fact that a portion of the sale ($25)were going to be donated to TFO's Casting for Recovery project. This program is designed to help women recovering from breast cancer get back out on the water, or experience it for the first time. I fish a 9' Orvis TLS rod that I love, but I actually cast her rod much better. If it didnt have the little pink women's ribbon, pink lettering, and pink sock I might be tempted to fish it myself.

We got the rod home and realized that the warranty registration card was wedged deep into the hard case we bought with little hope of removing it. My wife emailed TFO and within 13 minutes had a very friendly and personal response thanking her for her purchase and letting her know that a new card was already in the mail. You dont see customer service like this very often.

It is a company that has earned our respect and will always get first crack at our business.

-Jerod

[Terry Beeson]

Good story, Jerod.... How much did Rick Pope pay you to post that one?...

Just kiddin'... I've met and talked to Rick and I know he is one reason the company is like that. Great leadership! Rick usually brings the TFO booth to the Conclave in Mt Home every year (I think he just wants to fish the White and Norfork...) and he's always willing to work with you on what rod fits you best... price is not his issue there... And you can cast about every rod combination - wt, series, length - in their catalog at that time.

From the stories I've heard and experience I've had, the customer service at TFO is second to none!

And I LOVE the fact that they have the CFR program for their rods... one of my favorite charities. Hey... give me one of those rods with the pink ribbon, lettering, and sock... I'll be PROUD to use it... CFR is a great program! In fact, I've tied a lot of flies for CFR (need to start on this year's) and some of them have been pink thread midges. I'm thinking pink wooly buggers for this year...

Hmmmm... it sounds like Rick should send ME a check now...

[jdmidwest]

Mizzou, 4 piece rods tend to have a little faster, stiffer action than the same rod in a 2 piece rod. Orvis uses a rating for flex, and if you look at the same rod, the 4 pc has the higher flex rating. Probably due to the extra ferrules. For the most part I would stick to a 2 piece rod unless I fly with it alot. I flew a 10' and 2)8'6" 2 piece rods to Alaska in a bazooka tube along with spinning rods in 2000. Not even sure you can carry on a rod nowadays, I have not been on a far trip lately other than business. I had a fly tying kit in my carry on luggage with a couple of sink tip fly lines on the Alaska trip. I had a big stall at the xray machine, I had to pull it all out. Come to find out they thought the line was a fuse. Of course, this was all pre 9/11. Now when I fly, everything is checked but a PDA or a book and a jacket.

[Davy Wotton]

Good question and one often asked by my students.

If price is a issue then that would have a bearing on your choice.

Sage are without a doubt in my book the world leaders in fine fly rods for many reasons, too long to get into here the reasons why.

TFO offer great rods at a realistic price.I have many of those also myself.

And so also do other companies.

1. So far as 2/3/4 piece rods, do they differ,yes, but unless you are a very skilled caster the differences and can recognise that,they are not a issue to be honest.

All the rods l use for casts 100ft plus are 4 sections.

The only downside to 4 piece rods is that the sections may loosen as the act of casting can cause the sections the twist and separate. The more you have the more likely that can happen.

It is by the way something that will happen more so if you use roll and switch casts, or you are one of those that rotates your arm during the casting stroke.

Choice of rod should be related to what you intend to use it for, saying that not all 9ft 5 wt rods are the same as action will differ in so may ways.

A Sage TCR 5 is not the same deal as a TFO 9ft 5 pro, far from it.

I would suggest that if you are a moderate caster, intend to fish mainly for trout and may be perch jerking then look for a 9ft 5wt with a moderate mid section flex as that action is by far for most the more comfortable to use at close ranges, 10 to 50ft.

I do not in any way make considerations to sections other than the travel aspects.

To day the factors of both rod and line weight relation is some what of a nonesense.

I will write more about that later on a new thread.

Davy.

[vanven]

Good story, Jerod.... How much did Rick Pope pay you to post that one?...

Just kiddin'... I've met and talked to Rick and I know he is one reason the company is like that. Great leadership! Rick usually brings the TFO booth to the Conclave in Mt Home every year (I think he just wants to fish the White and Norfork...) and he's always willing to work with you on what rod fits you best... price is not his issue there... And you can cast about every rod combination - wt, series, length - in their catalog at that time.

From the stories I've heard and experience I've had, the customer service at TFO is second to none!

And I LOVE the fact that they have the CFR program for their rods... one of my favorite charities. Hey... give me one of those rods with the pink ribbon, lettering, and sock... I'll be PROUD to use it... CFR is a great program! In fact, I've tied a lot of flies for CFR (need to start on this year's) and some of them have been pink thread midges. I'm thinking pink wooly buggers for this year...

Hmmmm... it sounds like Rick should send ME a check now...

I did sound a bit like a fanboi there huh? I will make a deal, the minute I am disappointed in their customer support, I will post it with the same zeal.

On a side note....

I usually let my wife help me pick out flies. I typically migrate to the more natural, complex flies with names that i recognize and that I think will work. She always brings back a handful of pink, sparkly, shimmery gaudy things. I am going to have to start another fly box just for those. If you make a pink wooly, I am sure a few will end up in my fly box.

-Jerod

[3wt]

The extra ferruls in the 3 or 4 pc rods must add something, BUT you most likely will not be able to notice it. Don't let the convenience factor be downplayed, the shorter rods are great for any packing, plane, train, car, whatever.

In short, there's a reason that "travel" rods are popular(so popular that they're not really called travel rods anymore) - you can transport them and the action loss is minimal. You won't go back to 2 pc if you get a 3 or 4 pc.

[vanven]

Although not an expert I can barely tell the difference between a 4 piece and a 2 piece rod. I have spent a bit of time fishing both and I tend to believe what is stated above; technology has caught up and they are almost the same.

Keep one thing in mind when it comes to the definition of "travel". That doesnt necessarily have to mean 10 miles of hiking or carrying it onto an airplane. It can also apply to the back seat of your car when you are wet, tired, lazy, and cold and just want to get back to the hotel room. I have broken 2 two piece rods in the back seat of my truck because the length didnt allow for an inch of mistake.

-jerod

[motroutbum]

I have been traveling alot lately and you can carry rods on. it is much easier to carry on a 4 pc, you can carry on 2 pc rods also. you just have to find the overhead with a brace that has a hole in it so it will fit.

I only used to use 2 pc rods and now i only throw 4 pc. The technology of 4 pc rods now is so good that you cant tell. It all comes down to personal preference.

By the way, ill be back in springfield on tuesday.