Thorne brothers rods.

[Acemac]

I agree about those rods they are nice but I can catch hungry crappies just as well on less expensive rods. so I would echo you and ask whats the hype?

[Rope]

What HYPE,are you talking about? Thorne Bros. hype nothing that I know of.

[Walleye Guy]

What is the difference in performance between a Shimano Stradic and Sedona?

[Stick in Mud]

To step back a second, there is a real difference in quality between high-end, expensive rods and low-end, cheaper rods. But the experience of that difference, and what it's worth to all of us, will depend on how we use them...and on the size of our pocketbooks.

It seems that above a certain price level, you're getting better stuff, but it's hard to "need" that better stuff to catch fish. Do you need a Ranger 620 to catch 'eyes on Mille Lacs? Or the $400+ Loomis or St Croix to lindy rig? Or a TB Powernoodle and the cheap $6 rod at the local sporting goods store? I dunno. Now, if you've got the cash to get the nice stuff, great. It's as good as it gets. But it's tough to say you "need" it...and it's equally tough to say that any positive info about the high-end stuff is "just hype." Just my .02.

[Northlander]

I have several TB rods. They are all quite nice and I think they have put fish in the house that maybe another rod wouldnt have. They are all made the way I needed them and some times you cant find that on the shelf at your local stores. With that said I think prices have gone wild.

[castmaster]

OK what I like about my TB rods....each and every one is "handcrafted" and inspected prior to sale. You can be assured eyes are going to be properly aligned on the spine of the rod. Ties are going to be well done and finished nicely. Action of the blanks are going to be consistent from rod to rod within each style. Quality of cork eyes etc are great and one always has the option of upgrading to even better components.

I think its also important to remember that prior to tb rods there really weren't any readily available quality ice rods to be had. They pretty much created that market. IMO that was a big factor in the improvements we now see in more commercial rods.

I purchased 5 frabill rods on clearance 2 years ago. On sale 5 for $30 how could one go wrong as they were originally priced between $24.99 and $29.99 each. Figured they'd be nice for loaner rods when someone tags along without equipment. Long story short all 5 of those rods were terrible! Not a single one had the eyes properly aligned. Wraps on 2 rods started unraveling just during storage ..were never even used! After 1off seasons storage the cork on another rod was dissintegrating. I was unhappy with them at $6 a piece. Certainly would have been majorly dissapointed if I had paid full price.

Had a couple friends who have had issues with St crouch ice rods that were in the $40+ range.

Have yet to have a single issue with a TB rod!

[bobbymalone]

I think you get into splitting hairs if you compare the numbers of fish coming out of the hole between a $$$ TB rod and a $$ nicer mass production rod. Sure maybe a little better sensitivity makes a difference in some scenarios, but for the most part I can get to work if I drive my nice honda or my ferrari.

I build my own rods, but I use TB blanks and higher end components that fit my needs. If I'm making a rod for myself, I'm making a nice rod.

I also have some Big C brand, a JM, a Rapala, and a Croix rod. Funny thing is the cheapest one of those is IMO the best rod. And the most expensive one had the guides slip on it, it's junked out now.

[Myrt]

I don't see what all the "hype" is about Levi's either,

but I'm up to my arse in them.

Love my TB rods, like my store rods, the hype for me may not be the same for you, no biggie.

[OnIce]

wait..when did you get this rod? have you even used it? you are just eyeballing that its "just like a 20 dollar rod" ???

Was this ever answered?