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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I've read too many good things about Jame's rods to not try one. Seems to be lots of guys comparing them to $300+ custom rods. Thinking I will probably go for the XH to use for double 10's, maybe 13's, and Mag Dawg, maybe up to 11" Curly Sue type baits.
Anyway, has anybody out there used Jame's split grip rods yet? I'm tempted to stick with the regular handle because I know it will work fine and I am always scared to spend money on an unknown. Then again, maybe $110 is a good price to try out a split grip rod rather than a $330 St. Croix.
Opinions?
curleytail |
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Posts: 567
| give one a try, i got the mag xxx hvy for poounders and i love it. gonna get another for dbl 10's etc. its great for throwing and awesome on the 8. i didn't have a split grip either, but this one will not be my last. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | I like the split grip myself and never thought I would.
For rods, Musky Tackle Online, Big Wood and myself will have them on special for $110 until Spring.
Thanks,
[email protected]
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Posts: 422
| I used one of his regular grips this summer a few times and then tried the split grip this fall. Didn't think I would care for the split grip, but after using it, I now prefer it over the regular grip....Don't think you can go wrong either way. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Thanks. I still haven't decided but am tempted to give a split grip a try. Pretty sure I will be going for the XH, but just how stiff is the XXH? Still haven't found the ideal Pounder rod... Good backbone for casting, ripping, and hooksetting, but still a little soft in the tip to stay bent when fighting fish.
If the XXH can do that I might need to think about getting one of them sometime too.
curleytail |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | If you try one of my rods and really really do not like it I will take care of you.... All I would ask is that you returned it to me in good shape with only minor use/time on the rod. Over 2000 rods sold and only one guy has asked for this so far but he wanted a 9' vs 8' so I traded it out for him.
James
PS-curleytail, My main rod is the XXH. I throw everythign with it but I like a stiffer rod myself. I just have to pay attention to adjusting the reel for each lure or I do get backlash with the lighter lures when I am using this rod. Anything over 5oz with the XXH though and it is not generally an issue. |
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Posts: 283
| Are these gonna be at the Milwaukee show? I wanna take a look at one |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | jkslayer135
Yes, if you go to the Milwaukee show the Top Predator booth will have both the Tackle Industries rods and lures there for sale.
Tackle Industries (me) will also be at the upcoming MI Musky Show Feb. 5th and 6th here:
http://www.michiganmuskieshow.com/
If you are going to the MI show send me an email to [email protected] and I will let you know what I will ahve there OR let me know which rod you want to look at so I can make sure I have it in stock. I will also be giving away a free $10 Super Cisco lure to all kids so bring your kids to my booth.
MI Musky Show:
Saturday February 5th, 2011
10:00am-7:00pm
Sunday February. 6th, 2011
10:00am-4:00pm
MB&T Expo Center
3775 S. Custer Rd.
Monroe, MI 48161
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| What's the best one for tens, XH or XXH? |
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| Will you be at the Ohio show? |
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Posts: 76
| On the question I personally dont care much for the split grips but thats just me. I am so used to the feel of the normal grip that It feels funny when I switch. 10 - 14 hours a day and 100+ days a year you find a comfort zone. I have both in the boat for my clients and it seems that when they try either they seem to pick up the split more often. That would point in the split direction as far as what people like.
On the rods the TI rods are the best I have seen in that price point hands down. I have used many different rods and these are way under priced for the quality. At $110 you cant go wrong.
We had them at the Chicago show and had great feed back. We will also have them at Milwaukee and the upcoming show in Ladysmith the same weekend as the MI show. Stop by and feel one and see how much you like them. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | IMO my XH Tackle Ind rods work better for double #10s vs the XXH. Sorry, no Ohio show but you can still get a rod delivered for $110 in Ohio from myself or Musky Tackle Online and also Big Wood Musky Lures. If you want to see one the show in Michigan on Feb. 5&6 may be a good option for you.
[email protected]
Thanks |
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Posts: 906
Location: Canada | Here's a few pics of my St.Croix LT next to the telescopic Tackle Industries rod:
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Posts: 709
Location: sun prairie,wi | i just reserved two telescopic Tackle Industries rods....to pick up at milwaukee show...they look like a really nice rod...
tyler
tylersbasementcreations.com |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | CU301DSV-What is your honest opinion on the two split grip designs for comfort? I had held a split grip St. Croix but I thought the handle needed to be just a little longer and the cork slightly fatter in front and also a little longer in length for each handle section. I have not had the opportunity to put mine side by side yet so thank you for posting the pictures! What power of rod is the 9' Tackle Industries and what power/length of rod is the St. Croix??? Weight wise mine are almost the same but in the picture it looks like the rods might be different power/length rods looking at the blank diameter. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Nice pictures CU301DSV. I think those made me lean towards the direction of the TI split grip. I have seen another rod or wo with split grips and didn't like the shape of the rear handle as much. The TI looks nice! |
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Posts: 906
Location: Canada | Tackle Industries - 1/22/2011 12:30 PM
CU301DSV-What is your honest opinion on the two split grip designs for comfort? I had held a split grip St. Croix but I thought the handle needed to be just a little longer and the cork slightly fatter in front and also a little longer in length for each handle section. I have not had the opportunity to put mine side by side yet so thank you for posting the pictures! What power of rod is the 9' Tackle Industries and what power/length of rod is the St. Croix??? Weight wise mine are almost the same but in the picture it looks like the rods might be different power/length rods looking at the blank diameter.
I like the fat cork and bigger grips of the Tackle Industries rod, it feels big and tough in your hands because of the way the whole handle section is built. The rod I have pictured is the 9' XXH and it's next to my St.Croix LT "The Jerk" which is XH and 7'6". I like the thinner cork and smaller grips of the St.Croix on this particular rod because I use it for jerk baits. The fatter cork and bigger grips I can already tell are going to be perfect because of the size of the rod and what I plan to use it for, big plastics and big Blades or cranks, these grips just feel right on the Tackle Industries rod.
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| I just ordered a camo 9' footer off ebay!! Very interested in giving it a shot... camo? Couldnt say no.. but not the split grip... has the butt add on piece... |
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Posts: 255
| I would like to throw my 2 cents in here as well. I have used a couple of the Tackle Industries rods for one season now and really like everything about the rods. I did have a problem with one of the rods where the butt end unscrews. Guess what, James took care of me immediately! I realize things happen and nothing is perfect. But when there is a problem, good businesses address the issue fast and properly. That is what James did for me. I went ahead and bought 2 more rods after that happened knowing that I was dealing with a good company and person. The only problem is now I probably have too many rods! I hope this helps, Tom |
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Posts: 76
| Thats one thing you can count on, is James standing behind what he sells. That is one of many reasons that we are selling his product at the shows this year. The Top Predator booth has the T I rods and a bunch of his baits. We have his rods for sale for $110 and you can feel them before you buy them. Once you get to feel one you will like it. We will have them at Milwaukee, Ladysmith and the MN expo for everyone to check out. If you are looking for a particular one let us know and we will make sure we have it for you to look at. |
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Posts: 56
Location: Southern MN | I just got a TI rod yesterday, not a split grip and I'm admittedly no expert but the rod looks and feels great. I really like dealing with a company you know cares about it's customers, I work for a small business and it's that personal service that makes the sale for me! Thanks James! |
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Posts: 107
Location: Plainfield, IL | I was gonna buy an Okuma, but this thread has made me rethink and I will be ordering a TI rod. |
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Posts: 906
Location: Canada | CantCatch'em - 1/25/2011 6:56 PM
I was gonna buy an Okuma, but this thread has made me rethink and I will be ordering a TI rod.
That's what I was going to do also as I use a couple of the 8' EVX trolling rods. PM me if you want to know more details as to why I am happy with going to the TI rod over the Okuma. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Last good point is that both Musky Tackle Online and myself have the Tackle Industries rods on sale for $110 delivered in the USA until Spring. I will have a new 9' solid one piece rod out in about 12 weeks too in MH, XH and XXH so watch for that one. Got some commercials out now too during Musky Hunter, Keys Outdoors and The Next Bite with the $110 offer on it so watch for my new cheesy TV commercial. Anyone seen it yet? I will have about 4000 30 second spots on over the next 3 months. Check out MTO if you want to read more on the rods. I also have the specs on my site.
James |
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | For what it's worth ... not everyone values "fat" cork on rod butt and rod fore-grips.
I might be the only one, but I get extremely fatigued casting with a rod that has "fat cork." I find it much more comfortable when the cork is somewhat thinner, even recessed/tapered toward the middle of the butt.
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Posts: 624
Location: S.W. WI | you're not alone cjrich |
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Posts: 146
Location: where the fish are... | guys im in northern IL i ordered a xxh 9' last tuesday and received it on thursday, I looked over the rod and so far am very inpressed, impressed so much i wrote a nice email thanking James, Also his super magD's are awesome. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | you could always try to sand the cork down to your liking. |
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | I'm a small framed guy and was leary on the fatter cork, after about 10 casts I forgot all about my concerns, my thinner handles now feel weird if I happen to pick one up. Many many hours and abuse I have put the TI rods and still impressed going into my 3rd season using them. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | While I have yet to have anyone complain about the fatter cork handles on my rods after they get one it is easy to sand them down in about 5-10 minutes to the diameter you like. My suggestion would be to use an electric hand sander and spin the rod while sanding to keep the "round" on it. Stop about every 10 seconds and check to make sure you are keeping a "round" on it. I have rebuilt a few handles for my own rods and this was the challenge I had when taking down a rebuilt handle with new cork rings. I actually now have a system using a belt sander and two small hydrolic lifts so I can tweak them down about 1mm and just let the rod spin on the belt sander. That works about as nice as a lathe and you can get a perfect round to the handles. Just my suggestion. |
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| James,
Will you have your rods an the Minnesota expo for $110. I sure would like to take a look at them. Also, is there any other place where I can look at them? I just don't like to buy sight unseen. Thanks |
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Posts: 39
| Will TI or any products be at the Madison Fishing Expo the 25th to the 27th? |
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Posts: 51
| Ever since I started fishing with rods that have "fatter" cork, I haven't picked up my other favorite rods with smaller diameter cork. I also prefer at least a 16' inch rear handle.
Now if only Shimano made a good left hand Trinidad like reel with a level wind, I would have thought I'm in heaven 
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | The rods will be at the MN Musky Expo in Kevin Cochran's booth and the Top Predator booth. Good time to look them over and feel them. If they do not have the action you are looking for again, both Musky Tackle Online and myself will have them for $110. Aaron (MTO) has all 15 of my rod lines available too plus all 1200+ SKUs of my lures on his website.
Sorry, I won't be at the Madison show.
James |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I had a custom rod with fat cork. Unfortunately it broke during the first season of use, but I loved the fat cork on it! I liked it so much I almost never picked up my stock rods with regular cork. Now I have 2 rods with "medium" thick cork, and another with pretty thin cork. The rod with thin cork feels strange when I use it, and doesn't feel as comfortable.
Like some others here have said, you can make a thick cork rod thinner a lot easier than go the other way. I'm sure there are people out there that prefer thinner cork, but I think most guys like thicker handles.
curleytail |
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Posts: 906
Location: Canada | If you click on the pic I posted showing the foregrip you'll see that it has some shape to it and it's NOT that much fatter than the grips on the LT, just longer. I have smaller hands, not gunna lie, and like the larger fat grips of this rod - again not that much "fatter" than those on the St.Croix just longer. I should take some pics of my Tackle Industries rod next to one of my EVX 8' trolling rods to compare the grips. |
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Posts: 574
| Tackle Industries
I will have a new 9' solid one piece rod out in about 12 weeks too in MH, XH and XXH so watch for that one
James
Whats the price on that one going to be? Assuming you $110 deal is over when they come out...
I like the non telescopic rods myself..
My rods can ride in the boat, or hang out the back of my truck |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Actually my $110 price will be good until June 1 and the new rods will be ready to ship about May 1. MTO (Musky Tackle Online) will have them up once they are ready too. I think these will sell very well. My testers in Fall loved them. Everyone of my pro testers said they felt as good or better than their $250-$400+ rods they have. Retail on them will not go over $150. I see no reason to overprice them. |
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Posts: 909
| My Boat is pretty full of the TI rods! Both the Fat Cork and the split grips! You CAN NOT go wrong with either! I too feel that these rods are underpriced, But I ain't complaining! I've said it before, James always keeps the "Working man in mind when he prices his products! "You will never find better customer Service than James at TI!" I don't even think its possible!
Brian |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | i fully agree with brian here. my boat is also full of jame's rods and lures, my clients and myself love the heck out of them.. and i have sold alot of them for him to clients and out of my booth at shows last year. . just this past weekend i have handed cards out to guys who were interested in them after feeling the ones i took into the show to show them off.. i have had croix's and g loomisis and i will not use them again.. these rods are much better than the high dollar ones...bill |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I'm sure these questions have been answered, but I did a quick search and didn't find the answer.
1.) The cork diameter on the split grips and the full length, fat cork handles is the same, isn't it? Or do the full length handles use thicker cork?
2.) The new, one piece, 9 foot rods coming out in the spring: Do they use the same blank as far as action, power, and material? Basically, will they feel the "same" regarding the cast, working lures, and fighting fish as the current rods do, or do they have a new blank design with material or action?
Thanks,
Tucker |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Hi Tucker:
1.) The cork diameter on the split grips and the full length, fat cork handles is the same, isn't it?
***Both are the same diameter but the split grips taper off too to give you a better grip point when casting.
2.) The new, one piece, 9 foot rods coming out in the spring: Do they use the same blank as far as action, power, and material? Basically, will they feel the "same" regarding the cast, working lures, and fighting fish as the current rods do, or do they have a new blank design with material or action?
***Same exact blank and my trade secret glues and materials to make them. Also the same pressure, cure heat and cure time used to make the blanks. Very important items when making rod blanks. Many use off the shelf blanks for mass produced rods. I do not. All blanks are made to my specifications with raw materials I specify for production including things I can not make but can buy like Fuji components.
***My new 9' rods will come out in MH (1-6oz lures), XH (3-12oz lures) and XXH (8-36oz lures) in both full and split grip handles. 6 new lines of rods.
Thanks,
James
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Thanks, again James. How many other companies will answer your question within 16 minutes of asking at 8:53PM? Looking forward to getting my hands on these. It's later than I promised earlier, but I will be let everyone know when I get them. Probably order them early March.
Tucker |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | My company rule is to answer all emails and any Qs I can find on the internet every night before I go to bed 7 days a week. Going on 6 years is getting a little old but I hate it when I email a company and never get a reply or it comes 10 days later and I have already bought something else. |
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Posts: 906
Location: Canada | I talked to a friend yesterday at the Toronto Fishing Show and through word of mouth, my friend asked me all kinds of questions about the 9' XXH rod I got, he passed along to his fishing partner who is now waiting for the 2 rods he ordered from James at Tackle Industries to show up at his house! |
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Posts: 1224
Location: Okoboji | ordered a mag heavy split grip tele yesterday from james...his communication is top notch...i am looking forward to using it,,and guess what i can throw some baits in a heated pond by my house lol!! i will have an update soon.
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