Thread: Help me pick new bluegill UL rod

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

I just now noticed Trout Magnet is no longer selling the TSS rod. They are however now selling the TCB rod which is a joint effort between them and B'n'M. So.....if you want a rod that is virtually identical to the TSS rod then you will have to get the TCB rod....you will not be disappointed in its fishabality. Check out my review of the TCB rod here. YouTube

Regards

I haven’t been to their site in awhile. I’m glad I bought a spare TSS, although the BNM version is getting good reviews
Bob

I have the TSS rod and couldnt be happier although I would like a TCB rod just to have a spare rod.

I was always sorry to hear of the bad experiences with the TSS rod as mine have been nothing but good. I’m not hard on my equipment but I don’t baby the rod, paying particular attention when getting the fish out of the water. For that rod I have settled on 2lb Stren Crappie, which is a true 3.7 to 4 lb or so. For my little Luna I really like the Troutist 3lb hi viz. I have pretty much settled that I’m not going lighter than 3 lb true test. For stream fishing for me it is the perfect balance between standing up to rocky bottoms and sensitivity. For me and my fumble fingers, I don’t feel I would gain much of anything going lighter.
Bob

I think the TSS was disc. by Leland. I think!!

Originally Posted by trypman1

I think the TSS was disc. by Leland. I think!!

For the time being anyway...could come back in the future.


Regards

I feel like they had a bad run or 2 from their supplier. I hope they will correct the problem and come out again, with a good solid rod.

I got the 6' BPS Panfish Elite today. When fishing, I really didn't notice any issue with the balance point of the rod.

I did catch myself unscrewing the reel seat by accident once (just a little, and felt it twist in my hand). Being brand new, it hasn't gotten a lot of chance to "break in". I really am a 6'6 rod guy. The 6'9" UL version of the rod was just too long (the grip is a couple inches further back than I'm used to, so it makes the rod behave more like a 7' rod, IMHO. I never fished the 6'9". My fishing buddy is already scared I'm going to smack him with my 6'6" rods .

Casting performance seems okay, but I'm not yet accurate with it. I tend to side arm cast and I'm all over the place (I was casting in a creek maybe 4' wide and could vary by 2' from my intended target).

The rod is a bit stiffer than the Celilo.

If I had my choice, I'd prefer a TSS over the Panfish Elite, at least right now. The TSS is a 2-piece, they are discontinued, and I'm going to order some spare tips. That's the one good thing about 2 piece rods.

If I like the TSS so much, why not just buy the replacement TCB rod? Well, I feel "once bitten, twice shy". Perhaps the TSS rod has been out for a while and I just started buying them at their "end of life". I would buy 3 more of them if I knew they would still have replacement tips and wouldn't be discontinued.

The TCB has stainless guides and doesn't have the micro-wave or whatever they're called, big eye. I feel like it's a step-down from the TSS (from looking at the specs).

For those interested, I contacted B'n'M about the TCB rod. Here is the info I received:
TCB65 has dynaflo stainless insert guides
The tip is hollow
The blank is 98% graphite and 24 ton modulus

24 ton is fairly low on the strength scale when it comes to rod graphite fibers. I can't find information on the percentage of graphite in other rod blanks, such St. Croix or G. Loomis. However, if the blank is 98% graphite, that leaves 2% for fiberglass and/or resin.