Albright XX vs. TFO TiCr or TiCrx

[El Bishop]

There is tons written about the TFOs but has anyone compared these three rods? Looking for a good all around 9 wt that can handle up to 350 grain sinking line.

THanks

[mr. bones]

TFO's have been known to break- I've read 4 or 5 reports over the last 2 months about TFO's breaking.

Albright is a good rod.

I bought a 9 weight about 2 months ago and did a comparison and chose a local company, Great Bay Rod Co. For the price they seemed to have the best solution which included titanium guides, an incredible reel seat and good action.
I went with the CTX series and have had no complaints.

[Potter]

guy who runs albright used to be the guy at reddington before they sold out to sage. i've cast their trout rods. good performance at a very good price fwiw.

[masssalt]

TFO makes some of the toughest rods in the business, and is very well documented as having excellent warranty and customer service as well.

Jay Horton
Advisory Staff TFO Fly Rods

[lowwall]

I own 5 TFO's ( 4,5,6,9,Lt Spin). Great customer service, rods are very forgiving and easy to cast. The 4,5,6 are great trout rods, the 9 is fine for 350gr and smallish flies. But really is not beefy enough as an all around striper rod. Get the 10WGHT and you will be hapier. I Lost a whole section of my 6 wght in a hike in pond reently, $25 and they replaced it!

[sweet+salt]

I think it is bit unfortunate that there is a natural tendency to compare these two brands. OK, they are both mfg. in Korea and are modestly priced. A blind test compaing them to some US built priemium priced rods is more to the point for me. I have done this with both 5 and 8 weight models and have been surprised that sometimes the price point generated by off-shore production does not translate into a lower level of performance...you don't always get what you pay for.

However, to stick to the point of this thread, I would personally select the Albright XX. I consider it a more robustly built rod with a more refined taper than the TFO. Were it not for your sinking line intentions, I would suggest you look for a discontinued EXS version which is a true joy to cast with a floating line.

[JimW]

I have nothing against the Albright and own a couple of the Reddingtons, which I like. I also had won a couple of the TFO's in raffles. I like the both manufacturers products, and have only broken the Reddingtons. The TFO's seem pretty solid to me. The reddington failures were probably my fault, high stickin' will break most any rod with a decent fish on.

[maineguideman]

Two tfo rods TICR 9wt 10wt exploded on schoolies within 10 min of each other I wouldnt buy one with your money. Trout rod sizes 7wt and less kick ass The steelhead below and about ten others that trip were caught on a 10ft 7wt Prof series awesome rod for 180.00 any thing they make higher than a 7 wt snaps like a twig

[Tarpon41]

There is tons written about the TFOs but has anyone compared these three rods? Looking for a good all around 9 wt that can handle up to 350 grain sinking line.

THanks

If it is price point then IMHO consider some of the "obsolete" or old models of sage in a 9 to 12 wt for example an RPLX or an RPLXi particularly in two piece or three piece

[Hoss]

This was a little homemeade comparison of a variety of different rods in that price range.

http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36608

[RogerStg]

any thing they make higher than a 7 wt snaps like a twig

Wow, pretty big statement:rolleyes:. FWIW I rarely use anything lighter than an 8 and have not had that problem. Lots of fish bigger than your ME schoolies too. --127-3-

[sweet+salt]

Let's remember, gentlemen, that back in the day of uncrowded water a generation ago, pioneering salts caught tarpon on bamboo rods. These rods where glued together with rabbit skin glue, had small guides that rusted in a nano-second and nickel silver reel seats. We are so spoiled by light weight, high performance rods and reels with smooth and powerfull drag systems..not to mention nylon cored vynel fly lines.

Our individual experience with breaking rods hardly constitutes the basis for a viable survey. However, I will tell of such an experience: I was fishing Islamorada with two friends and we experienced several days of tarpon intent on testing our tackle. Three #12 and one #14 rods where destroyed that week. Three of those four where of a brand discussed in the opening of this thread. Now we where towed by these fish, we where taken around concret abutments, we had fish under the boat with the rod up to the cork immersed trying to steer the unsteerable fish away from the motor, we banged into oneanother and various structural element of the skiff and, likely, we brought the rods to higher than desirable angles during the heat of battling silver leviathans in the sultry June Floridian temperatures. We, as is the case in 90+% of the time when a rod is broken while fighting a fish, made mistakes. But we had rods with us that survived our excitment and they shared a common characteristic: they where older, unstylish, discontinued large diameter, thick walled, fibergalss scrimmed rods.

Now we all like carbon-fiber srimmed, high-modulus rods - they are light weight and cast a tight loop. From trout to bonefish such modern rods are a delight to fish, making long accuarate presentations relativly easy to achieve. If you want to lift a cow bass off the bottom in Montauk's seething rip or put the screws to the Silver King though, consider a thick walled glass scrimed rod like an old Sage RPLX, a Scott "Heliply" or a Diamondback "Stu Apte" model. One currenttly produced special purpose rod which both casts well and is built for heavy lifting is the stout walled Albright XX inquired about above.

Most of us hope to learn somthing new every time we pursue a fish. The old timers where forced to refine their big fish fighting tecnique because of the obvious limitations of their tackle. Our contemporarty gear is far superior but is not a substitute for constantly trying to improve our angling skills.

[DoubleHaul Frau]

Although I may agree with your comments, it seems rather presumptuous to assume that only "gentlemen" are reading this; clearly, women love to fish, as well, and have experience with the tackle you discuss. I quote from Sparse Grey Hackle who stated long ago, "...Fly fishing is more a woman's than a man's game: women are often better than men in dexterity, coordination, reflexes, sensitive touch, keen eyesight, and close concentration - all attributes of the accomplished fly fisher". Clearly, he was one of the true "old timers".
I love my Albright 8wt which remains in the same 3 pieces as when I received it. I have been fortunate to land a few striped bass, blues, and bonefish over the past 5 years and hope to have some luck with Albies in the near future.

[Hoss]

Sooooooooo........????????? What were the rods you broke? I missed something. :confused:
Let's remember, gentlemen, that back in the day of uncrowded water a generation ago, pioneering salts caught tarpon on bamboo rods. These rods where glued together with rabbit skin glue, had small guides that rusted in a nano-second and nickel silver reel seats. We are so spoiled by light weight, high performance rods and reels with smooth and powerfull drag systems..not to mention nylon cored vynel fly lines.

Our individual experience with breaking rods hardly constitutes the basis for a viable survey. However, I will tell of such an experience: I was fishing Islamorada with two friends and we experienced several days of tarpon intent on testing our tackle. Three #12 and one #14 rods where destroyed that week. Three of those four where of a brand discussed in the opening of this thread. Now we where towed by these fish, we where taken around concret abutments, we had fish under the boat with the rod up to the cork immersed trying to steer the unsteerable fish away from the motor, we banged into oneanother and various structural element of the skiff and, likely, we brought the rods to higher than desirable angles during the heat of battling silver leviathans in the sultry June Floridian temperatures. We, as is the case in 90+% of the time when a rod is broken while fighting a fish, made mistakes. But we had rods with us that survived our excitment and they shared a common characteristic: they where older, unstylish, discontinued large diameter, thick walled, fibergalss scrimmed rods.

Now we all like carbon-fiber srimmed, high-modulus rods - they are light weight and cast a tight loop. From trout to bonefish such modern rods are a delight to fish, making long accuarate presentations relativly easy to achieve. If you want to lift a cow bass off the bottom in Montauk's seething rip or put the screws to the Silver King though, consider a thick walled glass scrimed rod like an old Sage RPLX, a Scott "Heliply" or a Diamondback "Stu Apte" model. One currenttly produced special purpose rod which both casts well and is built for heavy lifting is the stout walled Albright XX inquired about above.

Most of us hope to learn somthing new every time we pursue a fish. The old timers where forced to refine their big fish fighting tecnique because of the obvious limitations of their tackle. Our contemporarty gear is far superior but is not a substitute for constantly trying to improve our angling skills.

[Onshore]

Looking for a good all around 9 wt that can handle up to 350 grain sinking line.

THanks

I've been fishing a SAGE XP 4pc.9wt. for four years with a 350gr. line for Stripers, Blues, Snook and Trout. Handles it like a charm.

Bill

[sweet+salt]

As I was continuing the thread of the original question "Albright XX vs. TFO TiCr" and I suggested that, between those two I would personnaly recomend the XX, I figured all would infere what brand had failed us. Which is not to say that the discontinued models I and others have mentioned are not fine alteratives too. Great deals on older rods can be had, obviously without the over generous warranty one pays for with most new rods. Incedently, as terrific as some new Sage rods are, the Z-Axis series are brilliant trout rods, the only contemporary model (in my opinionated opinion) that compares with the grand old RPLX in the salt are the TCR's.

[GULFSTREAM]

I dont have anything to offer about the Albright rods. Im sure they are great rods. I have a ticr in 10 and 12 and they are good. However I snapped 4 tips over the past 2 years and the cork really is an issue at least with me. It was probably my error in the breakage but I dont think I was highsticking or hit the tips with a clouser "2 many times". Love the rods for a backup but I am starting to think it may be time to switch to another brand.

[LeeG]

Old thread, but I switched over to TICR's in 8 and 9 weights a couple years ago. I really like the 8 wt TICR and have a professional series as a back-up. No problems at all with the rods and the 9 weight throws a clouser fine and has handled some nice barracuda.

The sage rplx is still a cannon in my book though.

[Swalt]

Glad you brought this thread back up. I missed it first go around.
I have a TICR 9wt and a TICR-X 7wt and broke them both on a trip last fall.
The 7 made a nice bonefish rod but it broke when I was high sticking, to keep my line off mangrove shoots, with a nice bonefish on the other end. The 9 wt would just not hold up to the pressure of being stuck in a ceiling fan. It had held up fine to a 20lb + permit and 40 lb tarpon and a few false albacore but that fan whupped it.
So I sent them both off to Temple Fork and told them exactly how their rods failed me. They repaired both for their nominal fee and had them back to me in 2 weeks. So I have now added a 12 wt TICR-X. I can't wait to see how I break this one.

[sweet+salt]

Noticing the revival of this thread I am surprised and somehow impressed: never have I observed such widespread loyalty to a brand, TFO, where the majority of the respondents report breakage after breakage. What gives here? The casting quality of most salt water TFO's I've tried has been as clunky as their appearance. The two that accompanied my tarpon trip described above both broke into multiple fragments fighting fish not fans. Fine, the company replaced them but I like tackle I can rely on especially when I venture beyond the reach of my UPS man. As previously stated, there are some great deals on used high end discontinued rods plus there are the much superior Albright XX big game rods. I guess I am also surprised how little reference there is to those comparably priced but better performing rods.

[striperblues]

I have a 12wt XX and a 10 WT XX which were both sent to me to replace EXSs that had broken.

I caught bass from 25 to over 40lbs since on that 12wt. and have not had any issues with it. Seems like a rugged stick.

I also have a TiCR 8 wt. that casts a 200 grain line very well for me and use for albies and schoolies and have not had an issue.

I want to get my own set up for big blue fin tuna and picked up a 15wt. Cross Current on e-bay for $320 (brand new)....hope that can handle 75- 100lb. BFT. Now I am looking for a Abel or Tibor Reel to go with it.

[smcisaac]

On the basis of the discussion in this thread I just ordered an Albright XX 9 foot 9 weight. Albright is offering them for sale on their website at 40% off MSRP at the moment -- don't know how much longer that promotion will last.

Does anyone who has used an XX 9x9 have an opinon about whether it will perform as well on rivers with a WF9 for salmon and steelhead as it does in the salt with sinking lines?

[Butch Leone]

I use a TiCrX 9wt and have a 300 grain RIO's Deep Sea line that I use on it quite often. The rod throws that line like a champ. I am using it for Bluefin trevally off the end of the reef here on Aitutaki. These fish are in the 3 foot range.
Butch Leone

[cambrandt]

What about the upper end of the other Temple Fork lines? Anyone tried a Jim Teeny 10 or 12 wt?

[LeeG]

Just got back from 4 days of abusing the rods and no problems with the TICR's.

You asked about the difference between the ticr and the ticr-x. I cast both before I bought the ticr. I liked the med-fast action better. People who like fast action rods seem to like the ticr-x better. Figuring Lefty Kreh would be a good source if info on the topic, I asked him about the differences between the rods before I made a final choice. Specifically I asked if I was crazy for likeing the older version vs. the newer one. His answer came down to personal preference.

Use what you like and what you can afford. If they're not the same you're on your own! My only advice there is NOT to ask your wife for her opinion!

[catspaw]

I have a 9wt Jim Teeny, not quite as sweet as my T&T 9wt but at a third of the price it's a great value. I tried it on some slob albies with lots of pressure, no problems.