TFO GTS Rods - Try it before you buy it!

[jsmoke222000]

I have some great news for anyone interested in the new TFO GTS rods. I just spoke to the powers that be in the TFO corporate office & they have offered to give BigLake411.com members a chance to try out the rods @ no cost to you! This is the same thing they did for us with the signature series rods, but this is going to be for the new GTS rods that TFO recently added.

There are 2 main reasons that TFO has offered to do this:

#1 - To get their rods in the hands of fisherman, the average joe, the weekend warriors, etc.

#2 - To get feedback (comments, suggestions, likes, dislikes, etc.) from customers & potential customers on the rods. TFO is very interested in what we (the consumer) have to say about their products & are looking forward to getting some feedback from us whether it is positive or negative.

We are probably looking at a handful of rods (3 or 4) that will be passed around between members for each of you to try them out for a week or so & then pass it on to the next man to try. Everyone participating in the program will be required to post a review of the rod they tested in this thread & will be responsible for passing the rod on to the next guy on the list or back to me. Most of us fish on Calcasieu Lake so it shouldn't be too much trouble to make a hand to hand transfer in most cases. Remember the reason they are doing this in the 1st place is to get some feedback on the rods. An honest revue of the rods is going to be much more helpful & appreciated than a line of crap from someone trying to get a free rod. If you don't like the rods, please be honest & say so. Explain what you dislike & make suggestions on how to improve them. Also, please post a photo either of you using the rod or the rod with your catch. After everyone has had a chance to try out the rods, we will review this thread & the members who posted the best pictures will win the demo rods.

I have started a poll @ the top of this thread to get a better idea of which rods you guys would be most interested in. Please vote on the poll so I can gauge the interest of this & also so I know which rods to ask them to send. Everyone who wants to participate in the program needs to choose the 3 rods they would most like to try. YOU SHOULD CHOOSE 3 OPTIONS WHEN YOU VOTE, not just 1.



I will add your names to the list below. I'll add names to the list for about a week & then make the call for the rods once we figure out what you guys wanna test.

Official try it before you buy it member list:

Ray
ramosrecon
Honky
gerald
JAdams
SaltyShaw
Mako241

[Ray]

I got so many rods, but willing to try new ones.

Tactical Series Spinning -GTS S734-1 7'3' M
Swimbait Rod -GTS BBC7116-1 7'11'' MAG H

[ramosrecon]

I would like to try the ones Ray listed with the addition of the crankbait rod

[Honky]

I'd like to try the following;

Tactical Series Casting GTSC734-1 7'-3" M
Pitch & Crank Bait Rod GTSCB704-1 7' M
Drop Shot Casting Rod GTSDSC733-1 7'-3" ML

[jsmoke222000]

Thanks for voting guys. Don't forget to post in this thread so I can add your name to the list.

[gerald]

If that is what TFO wants....... here are my coments. These coments are not ment to be anything but helpful suggestion.

First I would like to be added to the list to try out the TFO rods. I have a rod on order now.... from a different dealer.

Since I am not familar with the TFO rods.... I went to there web site.

I see that there are 2 "series" of rods offered. The second one "Signature" is shown in small letters above the table to be for Freshwater. The "Tactical" series does not say it is designed for salt water..... but if you read the discription of the rod guides....you can assume this rod is designed for saltwater.

To improve clarity..... suggest the name of the series be changed to Saltwater Tactical rods. Not to discrete Gary for his help in designing the rod, but suggest you use a name that will be more customer friendly.


In the discription the rod weight is discribed as an "Import" factor when desiging a rod. I agree. But as a customer, you don't show the weight in the "Table" so how are we to know how to compair rod weights?



For the Tactial rods....I see tables for 8 diferent rods. I can figure out some of them. A Surf casting rod is a long rod. Spinning rods have big diameter eyes.

But what are a "Drop Shot", Shakey, Swimbait rod? What is the differenct in a "Pitch & Crank bait" rod and "Drop shot"and "Shakey head"?


The web site talks about the action rating but does not explain what that means. Not being very knowledgeable on rod terms....I use to think Fast = lots of bend at the tip. Medium = not as much bend. When searching different rod web sites... I found this term means just to opposite.


I see a picture of 2 different rod handles on the Tactical web page..... no picture on the Signature page. When I clicked on the "More views" option, I get red X's.

Except for the picture, I don't see where a person is to know what handle come with each rod. This is a deal breaker with me.... I would not buy your rods unless I knew what type handle came with the rod.

[gerald]

As for my choice of rods to try.......

GTS C694-1 [I would like to try a ML power rod but it is not shown] Or....is your Medium rod about the same as other manufacture''s ML rod?]
GTS C734-1 [Same rod as above, but 6" longer]
GTS CB704-1

Jared...... We could try the rods out in that new boat you have!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JAdams]

need a 6'9 ml fast action to try

[SaltyShaw]

I had a Medium action TFO it was a nice rod i liked it alot but it broke on me . . . . . . . . Tempted to check out the Tactical Series
Put me down for the 6'9" ML as well as Jared

Capt. Kade Shaw

[jsmoke222000]