I’m in the market for a new 9’ 5wt for larger rivers and ponds. I have cast a Temple Fork TiCrX and thought it was a sweet rod. My local fly shop doesn’t carry them thought but they do carry St. Croix. I’m sure this will probably (hopefully) generate varied responses: Does anyone have opinions on the Legend Ultra compared to the TFO??? I have not test cast the LU but will do so before I buy. I respect the opinions of the kind folks on this board and just wanted some input.
Thanks in advance,
bd
“Life is tough. Life is tougher if
you’re stupid”-
John Wayne
Hi Bonedog,
I own a St Croix LU in a 9ft/5wt and have been very pleased with the rod and the service from St. Croix. I broke the tip while fishing on a very cold day soon after I bought it. I can not offer a true comparison between 5 wts but I recently purchased a TFO in a 10 wt for saltwater fishing. I know both are products of reputable companies and that they will honor any dissatisfactions that might come up. I know this is only a part of what you are asking but I feel it is an important part.
Thanks, gerri, that is definitely an important part of what I’m asking. I do not want to spend this amount of money on a rod without good a good warranty. From what I’ve seen both are reputable.
Tight lines,
bd
I bought a TiCR 5-weight last spring, and then didn’t register it. In August, I stupidly broke the tip retrieving a woolly bugger from a tree.
The TFO guy I talked to on the phone (may have been Rick Pope, but I’m not sure) was nice about it. He asked me where I bought it, and seemed to know the guys at the shop personally. He registered it for me, and then replaced the tip after I mailed in the rod. It probably took ten days to get it back. Of course, that’s ten days of not being able to fish – so I bought a $40 Plueger in the meantime. Actually, not bad for $40. We all need a back-up, don’t we?
As far as performance goes, you have to take into account I’m not that great or experienced at fly casting, but I think the TiCR handles weight very well – as in conehead WBs and weighted sculpins – especially compared with the other 5-weights I’ve fished with. That would include a Sage DS2 (which I also now own).
This past weekend, however, I did have the TiCR in the hands of a guy who really can cast. He threw all 90’ very easily, left and right curve casts around obstacles, beautiful tuck casts. It was very cool.
He thought I had made a good choice and that the TiCR would serve me well (his words). Of course, I made that choice mostly by accident. But I’m happy – both with the rod and with TFO. I’m probably gonna buy another TFO this summer, but in a heavier weight.
That’s not to put down anything else, but it’s another data point for you.
[This message has been edited by BigFlatBrook (edited 05 May 2005).]
I fish with the Legend, my friend uses the TiCR, so I have used both. Both are fast action, but I believe the TFO is a tad faster, IMO… The Ultra with throw anything the TFO can, but I’ll hit 90ft with the TFO, 86ft with the Ultra. Go figure…lol But I luv my Ultra’s and have 2 so far and am about to add a third, 7’6 4wt. (8’6 4wt and the 9’ 5wt)
Wow! That’s a pretty ignorant thing to say, but so be it… That’s definitely your opinion. Me? I’ll take a Toyota over a Ford any day, and that’s my opinion.
As for the rods. They’re apples and oranges for sure. the Legend Ultra is a whole lot more expensive that the TiCr. If you’re looking at value as I do, you can’t ignore a TiCr. I have 4 TFO rods, one Series 1, one Professional, and two TiCrs - a 4wt and a 6wt.
I recently snapped my 6wt in half with a #2 Clouser on a windy day. I sent the rod in on a monday and emailed them to let them know to expect it, and it was back in my hands with a new section on that same Friday. That’s outstanding customer service, asian or not. Considering that you can get a fabulous casting rod (and they are fabulous, IMO) with an unbeatable lifetime warranty for $210, I’ll keep buying TFO. I can have two of them for the price of one Legend Ultra, and until I’ve got 10+ years of casting under my belt, I doubt that I’ll be able to tell the difference.
Thanks for all the input guys. I was comparing them in terms of knowing that both are fast actions. Didn’t mean to start anything, I own 2 TFO Series One rods and one St. Croix rod already so I think both companies are reputable. Was just looking for input in regard to action. I sure did like the TiCrX when casting it a while back but I want to support my local fly shop and they are a St. Croix dealer. I will definitely test cast any rod I’m gonna buy.
Thanks,
bd
Yeah, I had a moderately *****ly response prepared, and then thought better of it. Mostly those posts speak for themselves and don’t require a response.
In any case, tight lines with your new rod.
(Hey, FAOL automatically sensors your posts! Just so you know, *****ly is not an obscene word, and it’s in the dictionary.)
[This message has been edited by BigFlatBrook (edited 06 May 2005).]
I too was in the market for a new rod. Money was tight and I looked @ both rods your’e comparing.
I purchased a Dan Craft FT blank. I had never built a rod before but it was easy and fun. I used this sites rod building articles( Thank you Al Cambell). Dan Craft was very helpful.
I believe I have a better rod than either the TFO or the St.Croix. at about half the cost. The FT is the fastest rod I have ever cast.
Good luck w/ your new rod.
I have two TFO’s and like them very
much. Had an accident and broke one and
the customer service was superb. No complaints from me. Excellent bang for your
buck. I might add, they also are a sponsor
of this website. Thanks TFO! Warm regards,
Jim
Thanks for the input guys. Sivertone, I’ve actually thought about building one but am afraid I’ll make a big mess May take that plunge anyway.
tight lines,
bd
“Wow! That’s a pretty ignorant thing to say, I’ll take a Toyota over a Ford any day, and that’s my opinion.”
Wow! that’s a pretty ignorant thing to say considering Toyota is built right here in America at the Georgetown, KY Toyota plant. TFO is built in Korea so you would have been more accurate comparing it to a Kia.
hey hey hey…now lets not be picking on my Kia…lol…it and my St Croix allow me to fish where and how I like…I was interested in TFO info…and now ya’ll have made me see I do need to order atlest one…lol…I like cheap…cheap is good…but My Kia was 16 grand ok so it’s not the base modle…lol…
You buy what you can afford nonetheless…
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
I have a 4 wt and a 6 wt TFO and they are absolutely wonderful rods. As my casting has improved over the seasons so have they (TFO’s) given me more satisfaction. I also have a Winston, a Hardy, an LL Bean, Reddington and a Sage which perform nicely too, and the TFO’s are quite comparable. We live in a globalized world, and like it or not we cannot ignore the products from the rest of the folks who share our planet. One thing we should never do though, is insult them publicly on an online forum.
My friend had a 9wt TiCR, he had a small inconspicous scratch on the handle section, he called in about it and they said keep the section as a backup and he got a new section with in a few days. He says one of the best rods for your $, faster then most rods
Super customer service, I will be buying 2 of them this year
it was an ignorant comment, i guess he must not like shimano, daiwa, or any BPS gear, i can tell you that the low profile bassmaster reel (69-99 depending on sale) is one of the smoothest and best casting reels for your dollar, smoother then my curado and its drag, i would have never purchased it unless my friend that lives near BPS said the spool spins 4ever, its made in korea
i believe tacomas are assembled in US but where are their parts made? St croix spinning and casting reels are just relabled Daiwas, and fuji guides…they must be asain pieces of crap too
May take that plunge anyway.