Breaking a TFO rod

[Alabamafisherman]

Any of you TRO rod owners had trouble with your TFO breaking while fighting fish.  I have a TFO Lefty Craig #7 wt that has now broken three times while fighting fish. One stripe bass in Alabama, one sockeye in Alaska and one king salmon in Michigan.  All three times at the furrel.  TRO has taken the rod back all three times and replaced it.  No problen, no questions asked. 

I have a TFO #10 wt and TFO #8 wt that have landed big fish without a problem.  Maybe I'm asking too much out of #7?

Any thoughts?

Alabamafisherman

[David L. Darnell]

never, and I fish them hard in the winter streamer fishing, are you checking the fit to make sure they don't work loose, every brand can and will at sometime come loose.

[Steve H]

Never had this problem with any of my TFO's. I agree with David, make sure your connections are snug and check them often while fishing.

[MikeA]

A little paraffin wax goes a long way preventing rods breaking at the ferrule. Still, I've had several clients break rods because they didn't pay attention to the signs that a ferrule was lose. When your cast isn't going as far or is dumping on you,,, check your ferrules. If you hook a hard fighting fish like a 20 pound Striper and you have a loose ferrule it's going to be a sad day for you.

Ferrules working lose is much more of an issue with the heavier sinking lines. Some go as far as to black tape the ferrules together to prevent them from working lose.

[Leo deMonbreun]

On TFO rods, when you put it together you need to have the alignment dots started at 90 degrees from each other and twist as you assemble them.  that will help the loosening that sometimes happens, and loosening will cause breakage on the best of rods.  Had a nice conversation with Mr. Pope about that very thing a couple of years ago when we had 3 of them break, 1 - 10 weight and 2 - 8 wts'.  One of those may have been Craigs if I am not mistaken, and I believe the 10 Wt was Mike Hills.

Of course their warranty is fantastic but it is annoying to have an issue like that with any piece of equipment.

Only time I have broken one was operator error.

[TWiles]

I have now broken the 6wt Axiom 5 times at the top ferrule.  Now granted, I have fished the absolute hell out of this rod, I believe the tip section is much more delicate than other rods I own (ex, the CPX Redington).
You can just tell how smooth the connection is that there is some weakness...even with Kevlar reinforcement.

I still love this rod, and I use it often.  SO far TFO has furnished me two brand new tip sections (one without even having to send the rod in) and an entire brand new rod last time.  Usually returned within a week.

Travis

[Alabamafisherman]

Thanks for the good ideas.  In retrospect I think the "loose ferrel" may be the cause of the problem.  I used to wax the ferrels on all my rods years ago, but I guess I got out of the habit.  I'll give it a try on the replacement.

Alabamafisherman

[Bfish]

It sounds to me like some are stressing the rod by taking the rod past vertical.  Either that or the female part of the ferrule is given way (compressing to an oval) and failing.  Could be a design flaw but I kind of doubt it.  With a loaded rod, don't take past vertical, and the breakage problem should go away.  

JMO.

What not to do:

[icthus]

I have broken my 9wt twice at the same feral.  The first time was two days before I was heading to Fl to go snook fishing and they sent the tip that evening express and the piece was at my house before I arrived the next evening.  The rod tip broke again the last night I was fishing.  I was pissed, because it was at the beginning of the night, but thats how it goes.  Called TFO told them what happened; they replaced the rod and didnt charge me anything.  To this day I have not had a problem with any of my TFO rods breaking.   Great rods and even better company.  

IF you feel that there is a problem with the rod, approach your fly shop and see what they can do to help you out, or call TFO yourself and tell them your opportunities.  This company will be around for a long time because they treat people the way they should be treated.

Blessings