Orvis TLS vs. T3

Always a joy to read such informative responses.

I follow your tongue-in-cheek logic and feel the same way about this.
I just wanted to find out if I was missing something as to the price
difference. When I asked the Orvis sales rep to explain, he pointed
out slightly better hardware, a wood handle, etc. My reaction was that
those differences could not justify a $300 price difference. In
playing with the two rods, I did not feel much of a difference, if any,
other than the T3 was slightly lighter. The action appeared to be
virtually identical.

Ross
wrote:
On 20 Apr 2006 12:46:39 -0700, wrote:

I am looking to buy my first fly rod for an upcoming (May 4-9) trip to
Montana. Looked at the TLS and T3 today (about $300 price difference
between the two). Not sure I can appreciate the quality differences to
understand why one is worth $300 more. Can anyone explain? I don't
necessarily mind paying more -- I just don't want to pay more and not
get the value out of it.

Hmmm...lessee here...ah, OK...think of it like this:

If Jack buys the TLS and Suzy buys the T3, Jack will have spent:

a) more money than Suzy
b) less money than Suzy
c) the same as Suzy
d) none of the above
e) all of the above

Does that clear it up?

On 20 Apr 2006 15:01:06 -0700, wrote:

Always a joy to read such informative responses.

I follow your tongue-in-cheek logic

I glad you understood.

and feel the same way about this.

I doubt we do, but that's OK by me - that's why there's chocolate and
vanilla.

I just wanted to find out if I was missing something as to the price
difference. When I asked the Orvis sales rep to explain, he pointed
out slightly better hardware, a wood handle, etc. My reaction was that
those differences could not justify a $300 price difference. In
playing with the two rods, I did not feel much of a difference, if any,
other than the T3 was slightly lighter. The action appeared to be
virtually identical.

And here's why we don't feel the same way - It is EXTREMELY unlikely
that I would have been in an Orvis store (or reseller) looking at either
rod, and on the slim chance that I would have been doing all that, if I
hadn't been able to tell why one was more expensive, I wouldn't have
cared enough to ask. And yes, I realize that sounds a like an insult to
you, Orvis, or both, but it isn't intended to be so. About the only way
I'd pay $300 MORE for a (graphite) rod at Orvis (or anywhere else) is if
it included a good reel, at least 2 spools, a couple of lines,
etc....and the first rod was somewhere south of $5. IOW, there is not a
new graphite rod made worth even $300 _to me_ because I could finish the
exact rod I wanted and do so to my exact specs for less.

All that said, however, if someone else felt that whatever they paid for
a rod (or anything else) was worth it, then it was.

HTH,
R

Try as many rods as you desire and buy the one that puts the biggest
grin on your face. I do suggest that you get one with a good warranty
cause we all have either broken a rod or we are going to.

Big Dale

Tim J. wrote:

Wayne Knight probably has some rods he's
forgotten he owns and could sell cheap. ;-)


FYT

Where in MT are you going?

MT

We are taking a guided trip:

http://www.blueribbonflies.com/trips...ilmayfly.shtml

Ross

I've been looking at the Safe Launch rod/reel/line combo at Cabela's.
Great suggestion! Looks very good and at a much better price point
than the TLS/reel/line from Orvis. Both have lifetime warranties and
Cabela's is opening a large store in my area in 2007, which would be a
plus.

Casting rods is of little help to me. I'm a life long bait/spin
casting fisherman and am used to all types of rods -- I am very
flexible when it comes to rods. I am not overly picky, and am only
looking for a good rod with a good warranty (because I know it WILL
eventually break when I slam a door on it or one of my kids uses it).

Thanks very much for the suggestion!

Ross