Orvis TLS vs. T3

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.

I did cast the new Zero G -- felt pretty good, but more money than I
care to pay.

Thanks in advance.

Ross

typed:
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.

I did cast the new Zero G -- felt pretty good, but more money than I
care to pay.

First, just a question: Is this your first fly rod or just the first one
you're buying specifically for this trip?
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

First fly rod. I have fly fished only twice before (both were
rentals). I have enjoyed it a great deal and look forward to more. I
do have lots of experience bait/spin casting.

After this trip, we are taking a family vacation to Jackson, WY and I
plan to do lots of fishing there on the Snake and Yellowstone Rivers.

Ross

wrote in message
oups.com...
First fly rod. I have fly fished only twice before (both were
rentals). I have enjoyed it a great deal and look forward to more. I
do have lots of experience bait/spin casting.

After this trip, we are taking a family vacation to Jackson, WY and I
plan to do lots of fishing there on the Snake and Yellowstone Rivers.

Ross



Ross...


First off, it's your nickel (and/or collection thereof), so spend it as you
see fit. If you're someone who likes to spend cash, well, you've come to the
right sport. :-)

As someone who's only a couple years further along in FF than you seem to
be, I'll toss this recommendation out the Get an inexpensive, decent rod
somewhere in the neighborhood of a 8 or 9 foot five weight. Long enough to
cast, stout enough to cover a good variety of fishing, and not so cheap they
become frustrating to use and discourage you would be qualities I'd look
for. Specific rods to look at (IMVHO) would be:

http://tinyurl.com/owdch
(link to basspro.com I have two of these rods -- both gifts and both
enjoyable to fish.)

http://tinyurl.com/rvt38
(another to bps)

and

http://tinyurl.com/bdalh
(link to Orvi$)

Decent rods that will let you learn what you like and don't like before you
plunk down even more money.

I'm sure there are a million more opinions out there on which rod would be
perfect, but that's where I'd start.

YMMV, of course.

Dan

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.

I take it you've never been fly fishing before. If so, why such a
high-end rod. Orvis makes some good inexpensive rods (Clearwater),
and there are shops on the internet that can fix you up with an
inexpensive rig - rod, reel, backing, line, and leaders. I've know a
few people to buy into flyfishing with an expensive rod/reel, only to
find out it really isn't to their liking.

Buy an inexspensive outfit. If the bug bites you, you can always buy
a better rod/reel. And if it bites you like it has some in this nut
house called roff, you will be buying a new rod every year for a long
time.

Dave

wrote in message
ups.com...
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.

I did cast the new Zero G -- felt pretty good, but more money than I
care to pay.

Thanks in advance.

Ross


Ross, I spend a lot of time at Orvis. The T3 is an outstanding rod, I even
like it better than the Zero Gravity. The Mid flex is the best. 5, 6 or 7
wt.

OT: That said, I've cast just about all the current rods visiting San Jose
Fly-Shop and Orvis. For the money the Sage Launch ($200.oo with case) will
cast just as well as the top of the line Winston, Sage or Orvis. It all
boils down to your casting skills.
I have a friend who just had to have the top of the line Winston, terrible
caster, but he just had to have that Winston. Do cast the Sage Launch
before you buy, I have a 5wt. 4pc. it cast very smooth with a delicate
presentation.
fwiw to save you some money,
-tom

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

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. ...

If you can't tell the difference it's not worth the difference,
but conversely, if money is no object, if you can tell the
difference it *is* worth the difference.

Buy the best equipment you can afford and ignore those who would
tell you to buy a piece of crap because what the hell, you can
always call it your backup when you figure out what a piece of
crap you've bought.

Cast as many different fly rods as you can and buy the fly rod
that is the best piece of equipment for you. It may not be the
most expensive one you cast but it will almost certainly not be
the cheapest one you cast.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
om...
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. ...

If you can't tell the difference it's not worth the difference,
but conversely, if money is no object, if you can tell the
difference it *is* worth the difference.

Buy the best equipment you can afford and ignore those who would
tell you to buy a piece of crap because what the hell, you can
always call it your backup when you figure out what a piece of
crap you've bought.

Cast as many different fly rods as you can and buy the fly rod
that is the best piece of equipment for you. It may not be the
most expensive one you cast but it will almost certainly not be
the cheapest one you cast.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Here's what actually happened. A friend of mine was casting the $700.oo
Winston in the parking lot, when I grabbed the Sage Launch ($200.oo) laced
it up and handed it to him while he still had a good feel for the Winston.
He was putting out tighter loops with the Sage, and finally he asked me how
much the rod was? I didn't tell him right away, just told him to keep
casting, as he turned to me and said; "This is a beautiful rod, how much?
$500?" I shook my head no, "$400?", still shaking my head no, "It's got to
be more than $300???" still shaking my head no! When I told him it comes
with a beautiful case and lifetime warranty, he was floored.
-tom

Tom Nakashima wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
...
Buy the best equipment you can afford and ignore those who would
tell you to buy a piece of crap because what the hell, you can
always call it your backup when you figure out what a piece of
crap you've bought.

Cast as many different fly rods as you can and buy the fly rod
that is the best piece of equipment for you. ...

Here's what actually happened. A friend of mine was casting the $700.oo
Winston in the parking lot, when I grabbed the Sage Launch ($200.oo) laced
it up and handed it to him while he still had a good feel for the Winston.
He was putting out tighter loops with the Sage, and finally he asked me how
much the rod was? I didn't tell him right away, just told him to keep
casting, as he turned to me and said; "This is a beautiful rod, how much?
$500?" I shook my head no, "$400?", still shaking my head no, "It's got to
be more than $300???" still shaking my head no! When I told him it comes
with a beautiful case and lifetime warranty, he was floored.

I'm not familiar with the Sage Launch but I have two Sage rods
I like quite a bit, the 5wt RPL and the 4wt LL, both discontinued.
If your friend likes the Sage better than the Winston then the
Sage is the best piece of equipment for him.

--
Ken Fortenberry