Temple Fork Outfitters - Post Season Assessment

If you’ve been following along then you know this is my first year with Temple Fork Outfitters - TFO Rods. It’s easy to say how great things are when you have a bunch of new gear to try out. But what happens after a year of heavy use? Did they live up to the hype, perform well, and hold up to the abuse? I try to provide some insight on on gear after it has been tested for a season. I did that with the Ultrex Quest and I’ll have one coming on the Humminbird Xplore and MEGA Live 2.

Zero broken rods. That says something right there and it’s not like I have 10 of them. There are probably 25 sitting in the boat right now. One thing that stands out to me is it isn’t just me using the rods. I know better than to high stick them, reel fish right to the tip, and let fish going on big runs under the boat bend the rods on the gunnels. But my kids, nephews, and other family members I took fishing this year don’t. We fished a bunch this year and as everyone gets older bigger fish are the deal. That means a ton of smallmouth bass up north and some tackle busting king salmon this fall. They are tangling in nets, reeling fish to the tip, and doing all sorts of crazy stuff because it is chaotic in the boat. Not one broken rod from all that and I have everything from the lightest drop shot rods to the heaviest flipping sticks. That includes cork/grip damage and the dreaded guide insert falling out. Durability test passed.

What about the lineup in general, are there holes in it? Sure there are a couple specialty rods I would like made and there is also some new stuff on the way. But overall I am really happy with what I have. I found the labeling system and actions to be accurate. For me it is important to be able to pick a rod based on the description if I am not going to have it in my hand. But the numbering system is simple, a C for casting or an S for spinning followed by a number. The first 2 digits being the rod length and the next being the rod power. For instance a 7’3” medium heavy rod would be a 735. The rod power can be anywhere from a Ultra light #1 to a heavy action #6. Easy to understand and easy for me to pick rods that suit my needs. I’ve also found a few really good all purpose rods that can be used for so many techniques and I’ll have a separate article on those and just how important it is to have several all purpose rods ready to go at all times.

It is no surprise that the higher end models of rods are more sensitive and feel nicer. I think that is true across every rod brand. That being said I have rods from a bunch of different series. If I’m spending big money on rods, I’m putting the most money on the rods that need to be the most sensitive. If I’m trying to decipher if I’m feeling a clump of weeds or a mushy feeling bass bite. I’d rather have a high end extremely sensitive Resolve Bass in my hands vs an Option Bass. However if I’m chucking and winding a swim jig or spinnerbait an Option Bass is what I’m reaching for. I’m also not suggesting the Option Bass isn’t sensitive because it is. I’m just making a point that rods used for bottom contact techniques should be the highest end ones in your lineup.

I also love the fact that there are rods for multi species fishing. Living here in the Great Lakes region means I’ve got a lot more than just bass fishing going on. The Steeldriver series of rods has been great for floating skein for salmon (and catfish). Those rods are going to get some time fishing various live and dead baits off the piers. The professional series is another great multi species setup. For fishing off the shore, long casts are a must and a 7’6” length helps get that done. The 7’6” medium action ( S 763) is a great overall rod for bombing off the piers with a variety of baits and for a variety of species. I’m not mad at having some walleye trolling rod option too. They are going to be great for walleyes and early season beach trolling.

I guess the moral of this story is that I am very happy with the rods. That’s coming from a year with a lot of fishing and a wide variety of it, everything from panfish to king salmon and a lot of bass fishing in between. I’ve got a good feel for the lineup now and am very comfortable recommending specific rods for specific jobs. So please reach out if you have any particular questions and I can get them answered!