Anybody using TFO Rods?

[Jlawsen]

TFO (Temple Fork Outfitters) is Gary Loomis's new line of rods. I'm just wondering if anybody has had their hands on one. They're priced right there with the Shimano's. The 8'6 medium/moderate Steelhead rod is only 129.00. I'm really tempted to order one. Bass Pro Shop has them.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

The TFO rods where designed by Gary. They are not Gary's new line of rods. Gary’s "new line of rods”, North Fork Composites, are only available as blanks.

I own two. A MB708-1 and C606-1.

To put things into perspective, Gary's new 8-6" Steelhead blank is $193 alone

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

The TFO rods where designed by Gary. They are not Gary's new line of rods. Gary’s "new line of rods”, North Fork Composites, are only available as blanks.

I own two. A MB708-1 and C606-1.

To put things into perspective, Gary's new 8-6" Steelhead blank is $193 alone

No doubt that Mr. Loomis has more than one venture. I'm currently curious about the TFO 8'6 and 9' Steelhead/Salmon Series. The majority of my rod are Shimano/Loomis rods. Meaning that I bought them after he sold the company to Shimano. The Video on the TFO website featuring Mr. Loomis talks about the new rods and gives one the impression that he is quite involved in the company.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

The Video on the TFO website featuring Mr. Loomis talks about the new rods and gives one the impression that he is quite involved in the company.

"Giving the impression" is what marketing is all about.

Gary has no interest in the company. TFO is owned by Rick Pope. All TFO rods are made in S. Korea. Not saying their not good rods. Only that they are as much "Loomis" rods as the Shimano's ones are.

If you want a real Loomis it's NFC for blanks and Edgerods for finished rods. Both proudly Made in the USA

Interesting video about blanks
http://www.steelheadstalkers.com/title_sponsors_north-fork_composites_blanks_gary-loomis.htm

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

"Giving the impression" is what marketing is all about.

Gary has no interest in the company. TFO is owned by Rick Pope. All TFO rods are made in S. Korea. Not saying their not good rods. Only that they are as much "Loomis" rods as the Shimano's ones are.

If you want a real Loomis it's NFC for blanks and Edgerods for finished rods. Both proudly Made in the USA

Interesting video about blanks
http://www.steelheadstalkers.com/title_sponsors_north-fork_composites_blanks_gary-loomis.htm

Thanks for that video. I think I'll make a call on Monday.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

Dingbat, are you building rods?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

Yes, I'm in the rod business

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

Are you getting much call for the NFC Blanks? I'm thinking I need a new river Steelhead rod. Something Medium/Moderate, 9 or 10'. I've got two production Loomis 8-6's that I also run in the boats and like them at 8'6 because of the boat but I'd like something really nice for wading and a 8'6 is a little short. It works but it's hard on my sholder when I have to sling it that hard to get up under trees and such where the winter runs hide when the water isn't so clean.

I'm thinking maybe I want to try over under guides. Not sure on that, is anyone else doing it? I can't find a rack rod in my area that is setup that way to see how I like it. It seems to make perfect sense. I took my Lami Back Bouncer and put it together with the forward guides down under but the guide spacing isn't right so it sort of works but not like I think it should.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

I can count the number of inquires in the past 3 years for "Loomis" rods on two fingers.
This should not surprise you given the fact that less than 1% of the anglers could not tell a $40 blank from a $200 if it introduced itself.

Loomis rods have never been big sellers with the East Coast saltwater crowd. Lamiglas, Rainshadow and a couple of local companies dominate the surf scene. The fly fishing people use Sage blanks. Troll and standup leans heavily on Rainshadow, Calstar, Seeker, and Lamiglas. St. Croix and Rainshadow dominate the “light tackle” scene.

I would look at what Rainshadow has to offer in way of a steelhead blank. RS has good quailty blanks at resonable prices.

Not sure what you mean by over under guides? Do you mean Spiral or Acid wrapped by chance? If so, that is the only way to go from a performance standpoint. A guides location and orientation is specific to the characteristics of the blank so simply putting your a rod together backwards isn’t going to cut it as you found out.

Doubt you will find any commercial spiral wrapped rods. Unconventional doesn’t sell in that market

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

Thanks for the info, yes I was referring to spiral wrapped. Edge can build one, I'll call them in the morning and see what they say about building me a 10' right spiral float rod. I'm thinking about 600.00 ought to get it done.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

Edge can build one, I'll call them in the morning and see what they say about building me a 10' right spiral float rod. I'm thinking about 600.00 ought to get it done.

I would certainly hope they can build you one for under $600. If not, see how much they would charge if they left the 22 carrot advertisement off the butt

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Anybody using TFO Rods?

I was down at Outdoor Pro Shop Friday afternoon and they had 4 piece TFO's on sale for 50 bucks each. Not sure what that's saying about these rods and they couldn't tell me who's blanks they were built off but they were finished rods and not bad but not something I would buy for myself.

I asked Josh if he had an Acid rod or new where I could get one and he just looked at me funny until I explained it. Then he even looked a me funnier and said.. Seriously, not here, they're not a production rod. Made sense to me.

I found a decent parbolic Lamiglass in 10' but it seemed heavier than it should have been, was finished and had too many guides. It was as if they new what they were doing when they started building it but then decided they needed to make it multi-purpose and marketable and ruined it in the process. I'm sure it would have been fine but those little flaws would have been in my head and at 250.00, I probably would have always wished I'd waited until I found the perfect one for me. I passed on it.

My guide license should be showing up any day now and once I have that it may give me a little credibility and possibly get me in to talk to the folks building blanks. I'm not limiting it to any specific builder anymore, I'm in one of my OCD modes and won't stop until I have this subject down to a science.