…because I haven’t actually used it to fish with, but on the strength of Jack Hise’s testimonial, I went over to Cumberland Transit yesterday evening and tested one of the new TFO BVK rods. That 5-wt was certainly an OK rod with a 5-wt line on it, but it was a cannon with a 6-wt line on it. It filled out the adoption papers (I signed my name at the cash register) and brought it home. I fear that my other TFO rod, also a 5-wt overlined with 6-wt line, will become miffed.
If you get the chance to test cast one of these rods, DON’T DO IT, I mean, unless you just want to adopt another rod…
I’ve been extremely impressed with that same rod that I bought from a member here on the board. I like mine with one of the half weight heavier lines, like the Rio Grand or SA GPX, but then I use those types of lines for most of my rods.
The BVK line has a few interesting “quirks” in it. You hit on one of them. The 5wt handles 6wt lines better than it does 5wt lines. (that actually makes it a 6wt) The gap between the 7 and 8wt BVK’s is pretty significant. A lot of rod lines turn into “big rods” at 7wt, but the BVK turns into a different type of rod at 8wt. Then the 9 and 10wt have significantly better finishing touches (cork and reel seat). The 3wt is a fine light-weight if you like faster action rods of that type. It will easily handle 4wt lines, but also performs well with 3wt lines. And the 4wt behaves more like most 5wt’s.
A lot of TFO rods actually perform better for most people when over-lined by 1. And my very favorite combination of rod and line in the BVK line-up is the 8wt with a 9wt SA Mastery Redfish line. It’s an in-shore saltwater dream.
Last year at the “Gathering” in Townsend, I lawn cast a BVK 5wt at Little River Outfitters and just loved the way it handled so much that I brought it home and it has become my “go to” rod on just about every fishing trip. I now, also, own the BVK 7wt and it is a dream to use and I plan to use it on smallmouth this year. I have 6wt line on the 5wt and really like the way it performs. The TFO BVK rods are a lot of rod for the price and are very light and comfortable to fish with all day.