TCX
- This topic has 17 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated Apr 8, 2009 at 10:35 pm by
.
-
Posts
-
I’ve had mine for almost half a year now. I have the 6wt. with the fighting butt, and love the rod. I bought it as my dedicated streamer rod. The funny think is that I have a 6wt. Z-axis that I used as my streamer rod and it has quickly replaced the rod as my favorite overall rod. I fish streamers 98% of the time and this rod is perfect. The best way to describe this rod is like having the power of God in your hand. If you really want to have fun with the rod put one of Rio’s Outbound Short on it, the rod is a cannon. As for picking a wt. I perfer the 6 over the 7. Matt brought up the mention of light saltwater use, but I use my 6wt. Z-axis a lot in salt for bonefish, and I’m not talking about those tiny Mexican bonefish, I’m talking about some nice 5-8 lb. Bahamas bones. The 6 will be fine for that. Also the rod has all the power you need in windy conditions. I fished the rod almost exclusively done in Patagonia last month, where the wind I experienced was at a constant 25 mph with gusts up to 40. No problem powering through the wind with this rod. Not to mention this rod is a made for fighting fish. This is my favorite rod of all of mine. I was pretty worried that was going to happen too. Guess my Z-axis is going to staying at home a lot more.
-Mike
I’m trying to decide between a 5 or a 6 myself..
Here’s a review I did for Flylife magazine on the 5 – with some comparison to the TCR.
http://www.flylife.com.au/library/tackrev/54/TCX5.htmlwww.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Jarrad,
The TCX is one of many excellent rods out there. Pick your favorite flavor.
But, if you are going to consistently be casting flies that large, and in wind, I’d suggest you consider thinking about using a heavier line weight. In either situation, the distance is related to momentum, which is a function of mass and velocity. For a given momentum, you can increase velocity to compensate for a lesser mass (lighter line weight), or have a heavier line moving at a lower speed.
Line velocity is somewhat a function of rod action, and somewhat dependent upon the energy input by the caster.
Bottom line, to move a fly that big a great distance, you can cast it with a lighter line, at a very high velocity (with more effort on your part), or cast a heavier line, with a lower velocity. The latter generally requires less effort on your part, as the heavier line, while moving more slowly initially, loses velocity more slowly than a lighter line.
While the 20-somethings can perhaps maintain a more powerful casting pace for a long day of fishing, the 50-somethings among the crowd typically find the heavier line-somewhat lower speed pace less tiresome.
But there again, that’s why there are so many choices.
Good luck with the selection!
Buzz
I’ll second Buzz…and I’m a 20 something.
Why not just fish an 8 weight and save your shoulder? I have put quite a few fish in the boat that have bent an 8wt to the cork while using flies just like the one you’re showing above.
I use a 9′ #8 S4 with a Rio Clouser 8 if it’s worth anything.
Jarrad, In my opinion that’s a big fly on a 6, I’d make it easier on yourself and get the 7. I had a good play with all the TCX’s at Denver and have the 5, 8, and 10, I got these because the 5 and 8 are the most popular sizes and I pass these around a good deal for people to try, and the I wanted a 10 to supersede the 10 TCR which is a weapon of wrist destruction – HOWEVER my favourite two at Denver were the 7 and the 9 which I’ll be getting next.
The 7 is a really lovely rod, light, fast and very sensitive in the tip (it has GREAT feel) – I never understood why they didn’t make a 9 footer in the TCR range. You’ll be able to sling those things all day.
Morsie
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.