Thread: Help me pick new bluegill UL rod

Originally Posted by Jakesdad

In the market for a new bluegill specific UL rod in the 6'-7' range. Leaning towards either the Cadence CR-5 or the Leland TSS. Both about the same money. Would like to stay in the $50-$70 range,less complaining from the CFO that way. What are your guys opinions/recommendation?

Not familiar with the Cadence rods. But doing some research their rods weigh much more than a TSS or B'n'M TCB. The TSS and TCB weigh only 2.45 ounces. They will in all likelihood be much more sensitive than the Cadence at a weight of 4 ounces.


Regards

Alphahawk how fragile are the tips on the TSS rods? I've read several instances where guys get them in the mail with broken tips. Anything will break if abused of course just curious if these tips were particularly fragile. I take care of my equipment but in and out of trucks you know how things go. Have heard their CS is top notch though.

What size line are you going to be using? What weight of jigs?

I've had a love/hate relationship with the TSS rods. First one arrived with a broken tip. Leland shipped me a replacement, no problem. The second one, the tip broke within a week. I asked for a replacement tip. They are out of them until "Fall". Instead, they offered me a complete replacement rod for $20. I took it, but I'm still a bit befuddled by "we will sell you a whole new rod for $20" instead of "making it right" (in my opinion, of course). I'd have bought every rod they had for $20 if I had the choice . So, I have a rod with about 2-3 inches missing from the tip. I had a local shop put a new tip eye on it, but it just doesn't perform the same -- as expected, since it has a fast tip. When they do get some more tips in, I'll be buying a few. I can replace the tip on the rod that was "fixed" and have a couple of spares. For some reason, the USPS takes a while to get the rods here. The first replacement rod and the other stuff I ordered left Leland the same day, but the little box got here almost a week before the rod. Again, not Leland's fault.

Now, let's talk about the TSS rods themselves. They are light. I hate EVA grips, but these are nice and dense (I still prefer cork). The two pieces of the rod connect firmly and tightly. Compared to the Okuma Celilo rods, the TSS have a much better "fit". The Okuma tip will twist a bit after a fish or two. No biggie, twist it back, but it shouldn't do that. I MUCH prefer one-piece rods, but oh well.

The guides are fine. I heard an odd noise on the TSS rod with the "fixed" tip and it was the sound of the line (mono) against the new tip guide. Needless to say, I like the guides on the TSS just fine.

The reel seat looks great, but I wish instead of that triangle type skeletonized area with cork underneath, that the seat fit directly against the blank and my thumb could touch the blank while retrieving (opposite the reel foot, not in front of the seat itself). However, the reel seat is much better than the Okuma. The TSS screws backward, whereas the Celilo screws forward. The nut comes loose on the Celilo from time to time.

The blank -- The Celilo is much more of a noodle. It flexes further down the blank than the TSS. I have an 8' Celilo and the casting distance is rather poor because of all of the flex of the blank (and how far down the blank the flex goes). I obviously get better hooksets with the TSS as well. Please do not take any of this to make it sound like the TSS is a stiff rod. It just has a fast action vs a medium action. The TSS is defintely ultralight as far as power goes -- it just has a bit more backbone.

Originally Posted by Jakesdad

Alphahawk how fragile are the tips on the TSS rods? I've read several instances where guys get them in the mail with broken tips. Anything will break if abused of course just curious if these tips were particularly fragile. I take care of my equipment but in and out of trucks you know how things go. Have heard their CS is top notch though.

Let me tell you about the TSS rods...and it may tick some folks off. Most have never fished with rods that have a high graphite content. They try to do a lot of things they have done with rod that have a lot more resin in them...such as yanking on the rod when the jig is hung...high sticking....boat lifting fish. The TSS rod is not going to be able to take that. It gives you great sensitivity. While any rod can break it is actually very rare for rods to break while fighting a fish. It is when all the other stuff folks do with a rod is when it breaks. The TCB rods will not hold up to that kind of abuse either. They arrive with broken tips due to the post office handling.....and I'll be the first to admit they should be shipped in a different box. But we are talking money here. Not a lot of profit made on a TSS rod....if any. Trout Magnet sells another rod that they have been selling for years....the Sore Lip Series. I used those rods for years and caught thousands of fish with them. But it is nowhere near as sensitive as a TSS rod..it has much more resin and it weighs considerably more...and thus can take more abuse. 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

Bass Pro Micro Lite is another good option in that price range.

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

They try to do a lot of things they have done with rod that have a lot more resin in them...such as yanking on the rod when the jig is hung...high sticking....boat lifting fish.... While any rod can break it is actually very rare for rods to break while fighting a fish. It is when all the other stuff folks do with a rod is when it breaks.

Very true.

If you treat your rod like it's unbreakable, you will soon be proven wrong.

I say build yourself something out of a fly rod blank.

Schmoopie I have 2 of the 6'6" okuma celilio ul now. Both with Shimano sienna 500 2lb SOS mono. One us set up with very small slip float and #8 Aberdeen for live bait. Other is used for jigs,all 1/32 or smaller. New rod will be fir jigs as well. Never had any issues with the okuma but they're the first rods I've had that weren't Shakespeare or Berkeley cherrywood.