Got rid of my St. Croix for two TFO's, and I'm happy!

[doyle007]

for a long while, i had a St. Croix Legend Ultra 10'6" 9wt. it was a beast of a rod, and i never found myself liking it. i took a casting class this past spring with Ed Jaworowski, auther of "The Cast" and "Troubleshooting the Cast", as well as co-conspirator on "Pop-Fleyes". Ed was a great teacher, and I'm very lucky to have been able to learn from him.

anyway, Ed was casting an 8wt TFO TiCR rod. he let me cast it for about 20 minutes or so, and i was in love. i went back to casting my st. croix to compare, and i realized just how much i hated that rod. so, the st. croix went onto ebay, and i ended up getting myself the 8wt TiCR, as well as the 10wt TiCR.

The 8wt weighs in at about 8.74 on the Common Cents Rating system, and the 10wt came in at about 11.65. So, I put a floating 8wt bright orange Airflo line on the 8wt rod for practice, and I'm in love all over again. The 10wt will get my 450 sinking line, and I'll also have to get myself either a floating or intermediate 11wt line in the near future.

The moral of the story: test cast any rod before you buy it. I bought the St. Croix because Bob Popovics had designed it, and because the extra length would be an asset where I fish. I spent years hating that rod, and going with the plugging gear more than the fly rod. Now, i'm back to all fly fishing, since my new rods are dreams to cast. I have just recently tried my friend's Sage Xi2 9wt, and it was okay, but I wouldn't buy it. Get what YOU like, and not what everyone else says that you just have to have.

[SageBoy]

Great point. Cast before you buy. Some casting styles will fit the bill for a TFO rather then a more expensive rod like a Xi2. The money you would save by buying a TFO you can spend on a quality reel.

[Canalflyer]

That 10 1/2 St. Croix was a beast and not for the average flyfisher. I am glad you persisted and recovered from a poor endorsement. A name on a rod or reel means nothing.

[FishHawk]

TFO has their rods zeroed in pretty good. I like T&T rods and I used to be a Sage guy. Agreed test before you buy. FishHawk

[greenie]

When I decided to try salt water fly fishing, I got the rod first. Since I am a sucker for a "bargain" price, I got a scott sts 9 wgt forty % off on closeout. It was still alot, but I wanted to have a decent, lifetime rod. Got a lesson fr om the fly shop, and still can't feel the clear intermediate orvis 9 wgt load, unless my back cast lands in the water. Granted, am new at this and technique probably the problem. This year, will try sweet water. Got a TFO pro 10ft. 6wgt with fighting but and salt hardware on closeout (sound familiar). Fly Shop owner says upload by one, so I got 7wgt floater and intermediate. Will I pay the price for buying twice without throwing it, time will tell. But youi newbies out there, do as I say, not as I do, try it before you buy it!

Its too bad that shops dont have a demo line in each weight and type for rod buyers to try and see how it feels. If I don't like the line on my surf casting rig, I only lose $8 getting new line. But Fly lines, well,, you know what they cost.. Close out fly lines for half price or less look attractive and I wonder what one loses in distance on them, or is it all marketing hype?