Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Spinning rods - Clarus vs TFO vs St. Croix Triumph?

Looking especially at a 6'0 Light, of possible up go 6'6" or so in a ML. Reel - either a 8225 or 8230 Pflueger Surpreme MG I already own. Bulk with be 6/8# line respectively if Mono/FC, or 10/15 when Braid.

Thoughts on the top brands above?

BR one of the best buys in a spinning rod is the BPS graphite spining rod. I would buy the 6"6'. It runs just under $100 but worth every penny. Get the medium light or light...probably the ML. I don' know the # but it's their IM6 Bionic Blade. powdr

Thanks, I've been using a 6'9 Carbonlite ML, meshes well with the 8230, but wanting something a tad shorter, handled some today. Also just read a few reviews, seems the new white ones may not be the same as the old black ones like mine. The older ones did have a rap early on for breaking tips. Never broke mine in use. The 6.0 L did feel pretty good, but the tip may not be quite as snappy and sensitive as my black 6'9.

I have 2 Clarus, in 5.0 and 5'6 that are really sweet UL, they feel more like a light. Run well with the 20 and 25 series.

Local BPS stopped carrying the Clarus and TFO and no Triumph's.

Hammering bass the other day in the 1-4# range, so UL and L are plenty, and a ML is not out of place especially for throwing heavier lures.

Okuma SST.
I spent weeks going to every shop around, willing to spend 100 maybe 125.
Picked the best rod I found, it was only 50

Not the brands you asked about but what powdr said about the 6'6" ML BPS graphite spinning rods. Either the Bionic or Extreme are a good buy for under $100. I can't speak for the newer ones but I've got two of the Extreme models I bought in 1997 that have been used a lot with no problems.

The (new) clarus rods aren't as good as the the old ones. They now put really crap guides on them. Check the StCroix panfish series. Good guides, great actions and the price is pretty good considering the quality. The 7' light is a extra fast and is soft with lots of backbone. The 6'9 " is a ultralight and my friend has one, nice but I like the 7' light better. Can't comment on the others in the series.

Fenwick hmg and elite tech walleye rods are sweet. I have a 6'6" medium light fast action, love it. Tip is soft enuff for hefty Gill but it can handle bass too, really versitile rod.

Good stuff, thanks guys. Great info thanks.

I would go St. Croix premiere. Made in USA for a few bucks more than Triumph.

St croix ml is where its at if your looking to fish bass and would be pretty versatile the light would be good for trout and panfish.

I have a few St Croix, very nice rods, a bit spendy, but very well made. I also use redbone rods now. Maybe they are more an inshore saltwater rod, but with near identical feel and quality to the St Croix, and I cannot honestly tell them apart when fishing. For about 1/2 the price

I'd echo what was said about the new Clarus rods. I've always been a die hard Shimano fan, but recent rods have had issues and the warranty/service hasn't been what it once was.

My son picked up a Quantum Smoke, which has been good for him. His is a medium 6'3" one piece, which feels a little light. I picked up an Okuma Deadeye rod for walleye jigging and it seems good the few times I've used it. It has a good warranty as well and the price is reasonable.

Based on the choices you listed I would probably look at St. Croix. I heard that Gary Loomis went to TFO after Shimano bought G Loomis, but I haven't handled any of the new TFO rods to comment on the quality.

SS

Good info all - thanks.

If you like Shimano, take a peek at the G. Loomis line of rods. The TSR 7'2 4-8 is a heck of a finesse rod but I wouldn't use it anywhere a fish could get wrapped up in anything.

Thanks much Sir.

Best thing about the Clarus was the over counter lifetime warranty. They've done away with it.

I'd take a flyer on the TFO. Never used one, but they look pretty nice.

Hard to beat Loomis if you want to drop the coin.

Agree on those points. Loomis has a lower priced rod around 180 and Shimano has some new ones that seem nice, but they only have heavier models at our Bass Pro.

Anyone used the Browning Air Stream spinning rods? They have a good feel overall, the 5.5 and 6' - unique handle as well.

Not sure if a 2-piece gives up any sensitivity - comments on that?

I do own a 5 and 5.5 Clarus UL - both feel more like a Light, enough spine for larger fish, I like them. Also picked up a 6.0 Light in TFO like it as well.

Believe my next rods I will try are the St. Croix, perhaps a lower end Loomis, and may handle some Fenwicks when I get to a Cabela's. Pretty well covered for now but will have extra's for my boys when they can go.

Appreciate the feedback. Good info above by all, I will review again before my next trip to a Cabela's, for now my area only has a Bass Pro.

Thanks again.

Oh, my Pfluegers are much liked, President and Supreme MG, but looking at Shimano's just for curiosity, and wondering if they are worth the extra $$$. The newest model Stradic FK 1000 and 2500 look very nice. Good reviews. The 1000 has a 6 or 6.2 ratio, not common in a reel that size. Might be interesting. Pricey....thought they were made in Japan but looked on the box and it's Malaysia for this model. Must be the Stella's etc made in Japan.

I have a Pflueger Supreme XT 30-size that I thought was a decent reel until I hooked a decent-sized steelhead that took off down river like a shot. The spool clicker assembly located in the spool basically disintegrated. This is the part that "zings" when line is being run off against the drag.

It's hard to fight a steelhead on 6 lb. test leader without being able to hear the drag going out. Reeling against the drag is a no-no, and it sucked having to look at the spool instead of the fish during the fight.

I have two Shimano Stradic FJ 2500s that have fought similar-sized steelhead and have held up well. Had I not used the Pflueger for steelhead, it would probably hold up for my lifetime. The reel has been redesigned, and the original spool clicker part is no longer available. I ordered one of the newer parts hoping that it would work, and it doesn't.

A pic of the offender. The net's hoop, excluding handle, measures 23" long: