I am considering buying a new 3wt rod. I know from reading this awesome board that its hard to prescribe a certain rod for an individual, but I would like to hear some of your opinions on the pros and cons of these two lines of rods. My current favorite rod is a 5wt Orvis TLS, but now that children have entered the picture, I’m looking for something that casts as nice for a lower price. thanks in advance.
I can’t speak to the Sage, but the TFO is a great rod for the price and comes with a lifetime warranty. I own 4 and am very happy with mine. I have a couple 4wt’s, but no 3wts.
Fishing the Ozarks
I think so highly of the TFO that I?d recommend it to Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Muammar Khadafi, Dubya, and Martha Stewart.
To people I like I recommend the Sage rod.
I just bought a Launch 5wt for son a first time flyfisher. I liked the Sage over the TFO and the Orvis Clerfield 8’6" 5 wt (as did my son. I think I will also like the Sage over my 8’6" TLS 5 wt when I get a chance to compqare.
Dave
I’m with Gus.
Looked at the launches the other day in a shop. They had just about the worst finish job I’ve ever seen on a factory rod. Don’t know quite why, but I was surprised for sure.
You may want to look into St. Croix.
While I really like the service of TFO, Lefty’s endorsement and input on the design of the rods, and the cheap prices, TFO rods feel clunky to me. It may be the cheaper graphite or something, but they don’t feel as smooth when loading and unloading the rod.
Jude
Small flies work best. Elephants eat peanuts.
www.customflys.com
I;m with Stowaway. I had a session casting the Sage’s and the TFO’s and while I wasn’t entirely sold on the TFO, I thought the Sage (Launch) was very average in comparison. It is an ugly colour, and terrible to cast. In the end I bought an Innovator HLS.
For that price point, I would consider the St. Croix Avid series. It has basic hardware but its very castable. As much as I love Sage I’m not sure their quality carries over to their “entry level” models. I’ve never cast a TFO, but I do know they are made with an imported IM6 blank… I think the SC (high modulus, made in the US) is going to be a higher quality stick.
St. Croix may not be the right answer, but I think there are better buys than the two you mentioned.
not that it has anything to do with the performance of either rod, they’re both ugly as flyrods get.
I’d look at st croix as well.
very seriously.
mgj
I have heard nothing but good things about st. croix. I recently bought a UL and have only had the chance to practice cast with it. So far it is a nice fast action rod. The thing I don’t like about the TFO rods is they look cheap with the graphite reel seats and made in Korea if that makes any difference to ya.
Troutcatcher
You fellows are great, sounds like the st.croix may need some lookin’ into. thanks.
The other option is to save some big $$ and build your own rod. That opens lots of possibilities that have not even been mentioned. Building a rod is not as difficult as one might think and it generally only takes a few hours of actual “work” time. There are many hours of waiting for the glue to dry. It would be a good project for Spring Break. I can usually finish a rod in a few days.
fseagraves,
As you noted in your orginal post, its hard to proscribe a rod for an individual. So much is dependent on personal subjective opinion.
I happen to thing both the TFO models and the Sage Launch are fine fishing tools. Just different from each other and any other rods.
There are many other 3wt options for less than $200 including the aforemention St. Croix. Others include Redington RS3, discontinued RS2 and Sage DS-2 models that can be found at close out prices, Elkhorn, Heritage, Echo, Scott v2, Cortlanc XC, and Cabelas (the $49 Three Forks is quite popular) just to name a few. They all look and feel different.
I happen to have 2 St. Croix Imperial 7ft 3wt rod (had to get another after I couldn’t get the first one back from my wife ) that I really like.
Have to agree on the rod building option. I’m a relative novice at doing it, but you’d be surprised how nice a rod can come out with a little practice.
I’m finishing up a 3wt built on a Hook and Hackle IM6 blank and I’m really liking it. Built it with a “short” reverse half wells grip and a sliding band seat with cocobolo spacer. I’ll post photos when complete.
Total rod cost (materials) about $70. If you want to see some really beautiful work (and no I have no affiliation), check out Dave Lewis’ work at [url=http://www.performanceflyrods.com:9b8f7]www.performanceflyrods.com[/url:9b8f7]
If I ever buy another rod, it will be one he builds. Nice guy to boot.
-Stow
Build my own? Kiddin’ right? What kind of investment on the front end? How much of a learning curve? (read how many will I screw up before I build one that’s fishable?)What kind of savings are we talking about?
With all the free information out there, the first one you build will be fishable. You can easily buy the blank and components for under $100, and can get that down to $60 if you’re on a real budget. As far as tools, you can buy beginers kits for around $75 that will include everything you need. So your first one may be a wash in cost with the initial investment, but there after it becomes very affordable to add a new rod to your quiver. And this doesn’t even scratch the surface of the benefits of building your own.
I’d say do it.
Look at Hook and Hackle ([url=http://www.hookhack.com:fde3a]www.hookhack.com[/url:fde3a]), I think they are a sponser. They have Forcast kits starting from about $35.00 (happens to be a 2 piece, 3 wt., 7’6", medium-fast). It has everything you need to complete the rod. I have built a couple of these and am VERY pleased with them. If you tye flies, you can do a rod. I learned by reading tutorials on the internet (one good site is [url=http://www.rodbuildingforum.com:fde3a]www.rodbuildingforum.com[/url:fde3a]). One warning, building rods can become addictive.
My first was a 6wt on a Hook & Hackle IM6 blank. Then there was the H&H 8wt. Then the Lamiglass fiberglass 3wt. Then the Forcast 4wt, 4 piece. The Lamiglass 5wt and 6wt, 4 piece as well. Now working on a Forcast 3 wt and a Golden Witch Bamboo 4 wt. I need to build some of what I have here so I can order more blanks!!!
[This message has been edited by millerwb (edited 03 March 2005).]
I must give credit where credit is due. Thanks to Al Campbell, who right here on this site has one of the finest graphite rod building tutorials around. Based on his info and the info posted on flyshop.com, I am very pleased with my first build. It handles and looks like a rod costing 3x as much, plus I get to add my own touches such as wrap colors, real seat, grip, etc. Built it with the Pac Bay ultralight snakes and it is very light in the the hand.
Once again, blank, guides, grip, reel seat, epoxy, thread, winding check, hook keeper and tip top cost me ~$70
IMHO the best thing to do is check out a shop with a large range of rods & ask to try what they have available - taking your reel and line would help, although most shops would have their own for this purpose.
Then cast with them - outside, not just a tip “waggle” see what you like most, and then check the $$$. That way you’ll get a rod that you’re satisfied with.
BTW it may be worth trying several shops before you find what you want, so don’t let the sales person hassle you into buying something you’re not happy with.
“If fishing is a sport, then I must be an athlete!”
[This message has been edited by pterosaur (edited 07 March 2005).]