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#Post#: 119--------------------------------------------------
TFO Axiom II Review
By: kjnengr Date: October 25, 2017, 8:53 am
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A couple of weeks ago, Tristan had a get together at the Olde
Towne Fly Shop for our typically scheduled fly tying meeting.
One of the guests that evening was Tom Jindra with a bunch of
fly rods in hand for test casting in the next door bank parking
lot before the official meeting got started.
I wasn't really shopping for a new 8 wt (or any other weight
for that matter), but I thought I would try it anyway especially
because Tristan had mentioned at a previous meeting how
impressed he was with the "new" Axiom. I remember the original
Axiom being pretty stiff and not really made for the distances I
typically fish. Why TFO decided to build off the original
Axiom's name, I have no idea. I think it should have a
completely new name and marketing scheme because this rod
deserves it.
Being that my main targets are redfish, I started off casting at
close distances trying to hit the bases of the crepe myrtle
trees in the parking lot. Although I typically like a rod with
a softer tip for close in work, I never had a problem staying
connected to the fly line and making every presentation I wanted
with only several feet of fly line out of the tip. I then moved
on to farther distances and the rod began to really impress me
the way it loaded and responded to my casting stroke. I was
really impressed at the distance I was able to get out of the
rod especially given my mediocre casting abilities.
I also liked the layout/appearance/hardware of the rod. The
cork was nice. This rod (in the 8 wt version) is only 0.3 oz
heavier than the BVK but has a much nicer large size composite
cork fighting butt and nice size easy to grab and adjust locking
rings as well as a carbon fiber reel seat. This is also the
first TFO rod that comes with a rod tube.
I may have to do some rearranging and selling of rods in the
current stable, but I can definitely see myself making room in
my lineup for this rod. Try one out and let me know your
thoughts......
HTML https://tforods.com/axiom-ii-fly-rods/
HTML https://tforods.com/axiom-ii-fly-rods/
#Post#: 120--------------------------------------------------
Re: TFO Axiom II Review
By: Catchcoma Date: October 25, 2017, 7:32 pm
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Kjengr, thanks for posting on the Axiom II.
I currently have this rod and have been fishing it for about a
month. While pre-fishing the Mission 6 fly tournament back in
June, I broke the tip on my beloved TFO TiCR 8wt rod. Shipped to
TFO. Jose at TFO told me they had no replacement tips since the
TiCr had been out of production for a few years. But that I
could get a different rod of choice. I'd have to pay the MSRP
difference, but that was no problemento.
Jose told me that TFO was coming out with a couple new rods at
ICAST. It was only a few weeks away, so I decided to wait. At
ICAST, Tom Jindra gave me the new Axiom 2 rod to test. I
compared it to the Mangrove and Clouser and decided on the A2 as
my replacement. I had to wait a month until the rods were
available.
Here's my analysis of the A2: it's like if BVK and Mangrove had
a love child. It has the light weight and thin profile of the
BVK, but as you noted, not so much. The butt section has a bit
more lifting power, but not as much as the Mangrove.
Casting: This rod is a bit faster than the TiCR was, but not
nearly as stiff as the old Axiom. It doesn't load up quite as
well with 15 feet of line like my TiCr did. That was an amazing
rod for the versatility of range. But it does do short casting
very well. And better than most saltwater rods in the
mid-priced range. Where it really excels is medium to long
distances. The recovery is superb! Making a 100-foot cast is no
problem!
I'd been holding it back for saltwater. Made a trip to
Calcasieu last week but the water was off-color and didn't get
but a couple of throwback trout on fly (rest were caught on
commie tackle). But I have used it for bass a few times the
last couple weeks and while I still prefer the "bass sticks" -
8-foot rods - if the only rods available for bass were all in
the 9-foot range, I'd have no hesitation in recommending the A2.
I'm sure the A2 will be a great redfish rod. Just need the wind
to lay down for a couple days....
#Post#: 121--------------------------------------------------
Re: TFO Axiom II Review
By: Sean-NOLA Date: October 26, 2017, 8:10 am
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The A2 is a sweet casting rod, for sure! I had the opportunity
to cast the 8wt. As well at this year's GCC expo in Ocean
Springs. As you guys have said, this rod casts well close in
and far out. I think this may be one of the smoothest casting
rods I've handled.
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