3.5 ~ 5wt Rod "Booze and Women" Challenge
Fly Rod Challenge
You have $400 to spend. Sell me on the 4~5wt rod you would buy and why. As an extra incentive to the "would be" purchase and to economize the money spent, every dollar you spend under $400 gets matched by a bartender for you to spend on booze and women.
As an example. If you only spend $300 you will still have $100 left over plus the bartender matches your $100 so you now have $200 to spend on booze and women - along with a nice new rod.
Some rules:
Only 1 rod 3.5~5 wt
The price must be the retail price for a new rod (no auctions, sales or knowing the manufacturer). I am using Cabelas as a reference
You would have to agree to live with your choice for at least two seasons and its the only rod you would be able to use during that time
You can't use a rod you already own and spend $800 on booze and women
You must include why this is the rod!
The winner will receive the first ever production official TroutPad t-shirt and be featured in a future article. The winning entry will be determined by the official TroutPad team of Bruce, Robert and Beamer (in case of a tie)
Entry must be in by Friday February 13th. (extended until may 13th)
You have $400 to spend. Sell me on the 4~5wt rod you would buy and why. As an extra incentive to the "would be" purchase and to economize the money spent, every dollar you spend under $400 gets matched by a bartender for you to spend on booze and women.
As an example. If you only spend $300 you will still have $100 left over plus the bartender matches your $100 so you now have $200 to spend on booze and women - along with a nice new rod.
Some rules:
Only 1 rod 3.5~5 wt
The price must be the retail price for a new rod (no auctions, sales or knowing the manufacturer). I am using Cabelas as a reference
You would have to agree to live with your choice for at least two seasons and its the only rod you would be able to use during that time
You can't use a rod you already own and spend $800 on booze and women
You must include why this is the rod!
The winner will receive the first ever production official TroutPad t-shirt and be featured in a future article. The winning entry will be determined by the official TroutPad team of Bruce, Robert and Beamer (in case of a tie)
Entry must be in by Friday February 13th. (extended until may 13th)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris Jackson on -
Come on by. I have a decent stock of rods. I will be out of the shop for the 1st half of Friday and all of Saturday with guide trips. If you know David Colvin of guadalupefly.com, he fishes an Echo 3wt and loves it.
Chris
Bruce Friedman said:Chris - I may come by and give these a try this week.
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Permalink Reply by John Shoup on -
I've read a number of the replies, and I'm not sure I understand them. However, my entry for the Rod Challenge is the TFO Lefty Kreh Professional 5wt. Since this is the only rod that I'll use, I pick the 5wt for the most versatility. Enough backbone to cast in the wind, and delicate enough to deliver smaller dries.
At $149 retail, that gives me $251 left over and $501 booze and women bucks.
I own a number of rods in various price ranges. On one trip I used a 4wt version of this rod that belonged to a friend and was very impressed with the price/performance ratio. Fast action with great feel. Not so much in the beauty department, but after all I now have $501 to spend on other types of beauty. ;-))
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Permalink Reply by Robert Henley on -
Hypothetically... If I were still single.
Could I spend $400, buying booze for a rich woman who would then buy me whatever fly rod I wanted? Will that win me a t-shirt??
Oh wait... I'm a judge and therefore disqualified! Danggit!
Never mind.............
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Permalink Reply by Tim McDaniel on -
For the type of fishing that I do (NH/MA streams)...It's 4 weights all the way...Although I have a mix of actions, I tend to fish my medium action rods more and more. I think the best rod that I have in this price range (for my fishing style) is a TFO Finesse - 8'9" 4pc.
It's probably softer than most folks want, but is great on short to medium fishing ranges, the cork is actually pretty good -- better than what's on the TFO Professional series rods that I have. That said, I used to own a fly shop and the TFO Pro series was the biggest selling line in the shop by far.
TFO warranty service has been excellent, as well.
Leaves a lot of money for other pursuits...like Guinness...
All that said, my go to rod is my 4 wt. Winston. If I moonlight as a bartender, please send me your extra coin so I can get another one...
--Tim
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Friedman on -
Robert Henley said:Hypothetically... If I were still single.
Could I spend $400, buying booze for a rich woman who would then buy me whatever fly rod I wanted? Will that win me a t-shirt??
Oh wait... I'm a judge and therefore disqualified! Danggit!
Never mind.............
There is one in every crowd. The Russian judges give you a 6.0 for creativity but disqualify you for having NASA do your science homework.
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Friedman on
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Tim McDaniel said:For the type of fishing that I do (NH/MA streams)...It's 4 weights all the way...Although I have a mix of actions, I tend to fish my medium action rods more and more. I think the best rod that I have in this price range (for my fishing style) is a TFO Finesse - 8'9" 4pc.
It's probably softer than most folks want, but is great on short to medium fishing ranges, the cork is actually pretty good -- better than what's on the TFO Professional series rods that I have. That said, I used to own a fly shop and the TFO Pro series was the biggest selling line in the shop by far.
TFO warranty service has been excellent, as well.
Leaves a lot of money for other pursuits...like Guinness...
All that said, my go to rod is my 4 wt. Winston. If I moonlight as a bartender, please send me your extra coin so I can get another one...
--Tim
I bought a TFO 7'6" 5 wt. bass rod about a month ago but the slow action is starting to wear on me. I think this is a good rod for those who fish occasionally or those just starting out. It is a really good value, which is probably why it is so popular.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Henley on
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I still want my T-Shirt..... and Chicken!
OK in all seriousness.... My answer remains the same. I like my TFO's - A Lot. And I'm with Tim..... casting those short rods can become a chore, especially if you find a need for some distance, have wind or start chunkin' bigger bugs. I guess that is why you care different rods. For me.... I can typically compensate with a roll cast in tight spots than can I tolerate the diminished casting capacity of the shorter rod. I also just like the traditional feel of throwing an 8'6 or 9' rod.
But I admit I might be all wrong on this one so if there is insight out there I'm all about hearing it.
Murphy.... I like my bird off the pit please!! haha
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Permalink Reply by joshua Evans on -
What can I say I own several high end Orvis rods,T3's Trout Bums, ZeroG's and a 10' helios 4 wt. ( best high stick nymph set up ever ). I also own several other manufacturers. Why I like Orvis, R&D. Research and development that is, 150 years of it. As for warranty I broke a 10year old 9' 9wt. on a recent Tarpon trip to Puerto Rico. The good people at orvis sent me a brand new TLS for $30.00 S&H, couldn't beat that with the but section of my spey rod. Let's be honest though unless your fishing an old Eagle Claw or shooting 100 feet of line to cruising permit,you improve your cast with practice. A fly rod is nothing but a limber stick without it's caster. I've watched guys put line on fish with Pfluegers, and others put line in trees with Winston rods. Fish what you can afford the fish won't care. I mean if it's the difference between a $600 rod and another fishing trip, hell go fishing. Fish are in streams not fancy rod tubes. By the way what's up with TFO not giving you a rod tube for a $150 fly rod. Tight Lines, Josh
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