The BEST Rods NOBODY Talks About! (TFO Tactical Elite Review) 

That definitely seems like the ultimate bank option for sure. Love these table top reviews! Anxious for your favorite combos and baits videos.

I started bass fishing last year in Nov using spinning gear and this past September I decided to get casting gear. After some research (watching RU-vid videos haha!) I came across the TFO rods. I purchased the TFO professional series in a 7' Med heavy and a 7'6" Heavy both paired with lews reels. Granted I have no experience with casting rods (I did fish with a friends Duckett rod to see what bait casting was like), I am very happy with the rods so far. They feel really good in hand, at least for me and I cant palm a basketball! Thanks for your videos, I enjoy the content you put out.

Perfect , I like all the video and close up splice clips , it helps and made the video more entertaining and visual .

TFO was started by Gary Loomis after he sold G Loomis to Shimano so he knows what he’s doing.

Thanks for the review Debo! Always great content.

Always enjoy the reviews on your equipment. Informative and honest. Haven’t used any of their stuff but if that $100 rod is similar I would be really interested. Keep up the great work 🎣🎣🔥🔥

One of the primary reasons for my subscription to Debo is the GREAT reviews. Love this rod review, and appreciate learning about new gear. Thx!

Love your videos excited about combo and bait review videos coming up.. happy holidays from Mt.pleasant Ia

Nice review Debo thank you for the info!

I’m glad to see you review TFO Rod. I started 6 years ago using TFO Flyrods designed by Lefty Kreh and they are an incredible value for the money. I know Joey Nania has been using TFO for a few years now and he just made it to the Elites. They are great with customer service and warranty with a lifetime warranty. I think the Tactical Elite is their top series and well worth the money. Smart buy on your part,and great review 👍💯🎣

Good to see a debo video. Never used a tfo rod bit have heard good stuff about them

Awesome video I can’t tell you put a lot of work great job and your video quality lately has been much better as well!

I remember at my state tournament, the first place prize was the skeeter collab version of this rod and they looked awesome! Great review!

Nice break down. Looking to invest in a few good rods and I feel TFO is where it's at.

I just picked up one of these rods in a heavy power and it is amazing! Great action and balance. High quality all around rod!

Great detailed review!

I use a couple Tactical Elite & a couple Tactical Bass rods from TFO. Fish mainly rivers "Susquehanna , Juniata and Potomac " no issues at all with them.

Great review. I’ll definitely be purchasing one these rods.

Thanks for the review Debo. I haven't used a TFO rod, but with so many good rods on the market, it's hard to buy them all. Looking forward to your best and worst of the year. ✌

💥😍👍🔥👏SUCH A UNDERRATED ROD..THANK YOU FOR THIS SUPER DETAILED REVIEW..OUTSTANDING!!

Never used a TFO rod but I believe you are correct as I know them as fly rod manufacturers

I have a couple of their fly rods and like them. I'll be looking into these for sure.

I have a couple of Tactical Bass rods and I love them. Elite series is a little too much diniero for me at this point.

I just bought that exact rod last week. My local tackle shop had them on sale for $125. When I heard that I wasn't walking out of the shop without it when they're normally $200. I was able to use it the day I purchased it and was very happy with how it performed. It seemed much more sensitive than the $100 rods I generally buy. I really like where the hook keeper is placed, I use rod sleeves so I find it very convenient now that I have a jerkbait tied on. I also own a TFO tactical bass series spinning rod in ML fast action. I love that rod as well. TFO is definitely a sleeper in the rod industry. Not to mention you can't beat their warranty.

Looks good debo. Like your insight to equipment. Helps us make informed decisions. Keep it up brother.

Great review, sweet looking rod. Nice reel also..

Hey Its Burly in Debo's basement lol awesome video Debo that tfo and the champ 734c are the next two rods I'd love to get

Looking forward to the top combos video. The only thing is those type of videos usually costs me a lot of money 😂!

I love my tfo tac inshore series rod! It's a 7'6" medium heavy power fast action, has Fuji K guides designed for braid, the reel seat is skeletonized so you can feel the exposed blank, the cork handle is great, the threads are hidden which I love! The color is a stunning ice blue 💙. I've caught redfish, snook, trout, ladyfish, and largemouth bass on it. The rod is incredible! I have it paired up with a Daiwa Fuego Lt 4000 spooled up with 30lb 8 strand slick v2 power pro braid (also in blue), and man, I couldn't ask for a better do it all rod! Definitely my favorite rod company

Just ordered my 8th rod started with professional and now got the glass bass all good rods have spinning and bait casting and you can’t beat the warranty.

Rod review right after Black Friday…. You a bad man! Lmao my girl didn’t say anything about the 4 reels and 3 rods…. 🤷🏾‍♂️ 🤦🏾‍♂️

Looks like a great rod. I for one like those type of wind grips. The hook keeper, take it or leave it. I have a couple Kastking Speed Demon rods and the grips and keeper are very similar and I like those. Thanks Debo. Keep the content rolling!!! P.S. I think the price point on that rod isn’t to bad but it’s always a plus to find $100 rods that perform like high end gear.

love the concept with the guides. i hate guide inserts ive bust so many.

I’ve been checking out the TFO pro series for a while trying to convince myself I need to buy a new rod. I should have pulled the trigger during the TW Black Friday deal. Would love to see your thoughts on that series if you get your hands on one.

YOOO FINALLY I have two tactical inshores and I love them both , I have a light and medium they are both blue and Gary made them so I feel cool lol I caught a 22inch striper on the light without any issues , right after catching a 20in on a medium st Croix avid and the fight on the TFO was way more fun

Thanks for the info

Good video looks like a rod I need to try. Thanks

First and only TFO I've used was a fly fishing setup in Alaska definitely lightweight and sensitive. Great price point

Sweet review. Your right the price maybe a little too much. Keep safe and like gramps would say make some memories one day at a time.

I have a pair of tfo rods I've been pretty impressed with them

The insert-less guides are great for alberto knots or even SC/FG braid to leader knots. I have the extra heavy TFO tact elite swimbait rod and love that there are no guides. I like to fish SC knot with 6' leaders to 30' top shots. When an SC knot goes through guides w/ inserts with a 5 oz swimbait, it is tough on those inserts. I have seen this happen on other bass/bay rods where I am fishing braid to floro.

Just got one for $106 stoked to use it!

I fly fish with TFO rods too. They are great rods. Buying myself this one as we speak! I want to see you do a review of the Shimano Curado 150 MGL Casting Reels

Awesome Vid great tip n enjoy the review 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

Thanks for the review DEBO! 🙏👊

That sounds like a real winner, and I do like the wingrips. It is pricey, but worth saving up some duckets for. (When was the last time you heard the word "duckets"?), haha. That length and action can be used with many lures, so it could very well become your workhorse rod.

Well it just so happens that I plan to order the professional series rod next week. Just not sure which one yet lol.

Please do a video on the batam mgl or any mgl reels

Like the Winn grips. Thanks for videos.

May have to get one of these!

I have a old 18 outfitters ambush rod and they have those type of guides. By the way great videos

I own 8 TFO rods, great product, paired with Shimano Curados

The TFO tactical elite bass is probably the best sleeper rod series out there right now. I don't bass fish very much, so I can't attest to the series' applicability to bass, but I have targeted SC red drum, trout, flounder, striper, and snook when I go to south FL. I don't have a garage full of sticks or an unlimited budget so it's not like I buy rods whenever I want one, so it should say something that this is the only series of rods I buy now. They're all incredible. The truly exceptional models are the 6'10" topwater model (my favorite non-fly rod stick I've ever held, owned, used or otherwise) which is amazing for everything lightish when accuracy and control are neccesary and so much fun throwing a 75 or 80 with, the 7'5" heavy, and the 7'6" ML spin rod for speckled trout and winter reds. I throw only braid fishing inshore and the guides are just as smooth and uniform after hundreds of hours on my 6'10" which was my first as when I picked it up. The guides are perfectly sized for an alberto when using a long leader and I don't want to tie an FG but also being small enough for the sensitivity aspect. I never fished Winn grips and wasn't crazy about them, but I love them now. By the way, the 6'9" through 6'10" TFO inshore baitcast rods are amazing too, I like the tactical elite better, but I'm sure they would perform real well for warmwater/bass fishing.

great rod! I would love to see a review on the SLX MGL and the Curado MGL! I am thinking of getting one for flippin

Debo, did you ever get a chance to try the professional series. It's closer to the $100 price point? Also did you find the power as advertised or are these rods a little softer than others in the industry?

TFO is also the designation for Toad Fish Outfitters who make a dang good inshore rod that I use for salt and fresh water here in South Florida. But I do want to eventually try the Temple Fork Outfitters deal.

I just almost bought one recently but I didn’t know if I ever saw anyone even use one. So I found a Lews (pro or something up from the speed stick) and it was a really suberb price and they allowed me to use a discount code so I got it for a few dollars more than half price!!! I don’t think it was this years model. You know it is hard to find a SHORT M rod with moderate action ⁉️YES I am vertically challenged but I’m need to find a jerk bait rod that I wasn’t beating to death on the bank! (And that’s why the sheriff called me. “Mosquito” And we ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU‼️ you make it easy because we sense how much you care about us. You need to be putting some of that money away for early retirement and those children! Not all of it on tackle and gear you buy to try out for we voyeurs. Sigh. You almost made me feel that rod!! And when you giggle it makes me feel better about myself and I need that. You are one ☝🏼 of a kind dude!!

As far as I remember TFO uses G. Loomis blanks and has their rods assembled in South Korea. Strangely enough I couldn't find TFO for sale in Korea.

I use a 5 wt. Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) professional series fly rod for trout and bass and it can handle the big flies and big fish with no problems. Super dependable and well made for the money!

Cliff pace told me tfo coming out with new rods in next mth or two. He said he like them lot better personally. You might want to check that series out when they hit.

Have a couple of their pro series. Love them awesome rods. No need to spend more than a $100 for a rod.

Can we see more of your lite to ultra lite rods

I use TLE almost exclusively and think they're great rods. If you don't like the Winn grips, get their TAC line that comes with cork grips. Great warranty - if you break one they'll replace it for cheap (free if it's defective) so I put them in the same category as Maui Jim Sunglasses and Vortex Optics when it comes to protecting your investment. A+ from me...

Hey not a gear review, but could you do a video about the pros and cons of mono?

Debo do u know anything about the doomsday tackle rods? I know they have 2 series the 47 and the JDAM but it’s hard to find any reviews on them.

I would like to see a review on your Okuma Serrano rod

Which reel do you like best with the TFO? Make and Model ?

Review the googan Go to rods I have heard so much about them but is it just hype?

They seem like solid rods and maybe eventually I'll give one a try

Unfortunately it seems like TFO has discontinued the Tactical and Tactical Elite series of rods. Was hoping to add a casting rod to go with the spinning outfit I already have.

Just seen these today on sale for $100 might have to go back and get it

Consider me a wind grip fan!

I've got a TFO Professional series rod - spinning, 7' ML for finesse - and I love it. The big difference is the grips - mine has a full cork handle and a cork locking nut which is great for those of us that hold above the reel. Other thing is it has normal sized guides which is so nice for leader knots.

I see these on sale right now. From the shimano line, I own Slx, Curado, and Zodias. Where would you put these TFO rods in comparison to those 3 models?

This guy rocking the Burly hat and talking TFO 🍿🍿🍿🍿

??? What would be the difference in a reel and rod from Wal-Mart that you can get at a sporting goods store??? Just wondering ur thoughts on that? 🎣🇺🇸🎣

Looks like a nice rod. The one thing I don't like about the position of the hook keeper is it isn't great for kayak rod holders. I spend enough time in a kayak that it gets annoying.

Winn grips are AWESOME!!! i play golf n that one of the best things ever invented!!!

Hey Debo, I have one of the $100 tfo spinning rods a 7' medium fast action I would be happy to send you to test and/or review.

Man I'm saving for a new reel and I want a Shimano I'm torn between the curado k, curado k dc, slx, slx150 dc if anyone has any suggestions or advice I'm all ears I want some honest feedback because $200 is a lot to me right now I want something forgiving because I'm going to be skipping with it and I'm kinda new to the baitcaster skipping I can do it but still backlash more than I like

I have not used a TFO rod, but I am looking for a rod right now. What are your thoughts for a rod to jig for walleyes in 120-160 feet of water with braided line.? I fish Lake Roosevelt and we use 1 oz jigs at that depth because of the current.

How do you think the shorter length rods in this line would feel? I fish out of a kayak and prefer sub-7’ or 7’ max rods. Love moderate fast action for most single-hook reactions baits as well.

The only time I use a $500 plus combo to bank fish is if I’m only taking that one combo…like if I know I’m only going to go throw a jerkbait I might grab a more expensive combo out of the boat. But if I’m going to be lugging 5 combos around, they will not be nice ones.

Do they make this in a 2 piece rod? Thanks

I have two rods that currently have the inserts chipped. I think no inserts would be good.

Would love to see the curado 150 mgl when you get a chance to fish it

TFO rods are definitely a bit softer than some other brands… the Mod-Fast is a more appropriate rating in my opinion for the TFO models I have tried previously.

Hey Deebo I’ve heard raves about the Shimano Xpride rods and how they feel and fish far above they’re price range, it would be awesome to hear your opinion on them, pretty high dollar rods though so I don’t know how you’d feel about buying one

I like stainless steel guides and inserts.

3.9 oz only? Is that accurate? That's crazy light for a 7'3 MH rod (and a non-high end rod at that). My 7'1 MH Kistler Helium weighs 4.13 oz. The 6'11 medium M Poison Adrena weighs 3.81 oz.

I should have made this part of my first post, but I'm wondering if this community could clear something up. I got involved in the audiophile community back in 77. It was the heyday of technology such as the DBX box that slipped inline of your devices and almost completely removed the scourge of every audiophile at that time. Tape hiss. But as that period in time came and went, headphones were the rage. Fast forward to today, and the competitive nature of that segment of the market. I own a few high end devices, both in ear and over ear headphones. What I noticed is that, today; you can pay 100.00 for an IEM and the difference between those and the much higher cost models, there is a definite Diminished Return. Do 500.00 IEMs sound better than my 100.00 set? Yeah, some; but no where near the 400.00 price difference. Are we seeing that in baitcasters and rods? and if so, at what pricepoint?

And why does st croix have the nut under the reel seat

I like how Debo kinda brags about palming a basketball but doesn't but really he does lol.

Debo..what rod's weight is suitable to fish for 1-5kg fish. Light? Medium light ? Medium ? Medium heavy?

Good looking rod but a little too pricey for me . Okuma , Halo and 13 Fishing rods have been working great for me ( all in that $100 range ) great video as always and Happy Holidays to you and the family

I would like to see a this or that. Meaning a rod or reel from Wal-Mart and from Dicks ECT. Are there any differences between the same product from different stores? I asked ur thoughts about this in another comment. 🎣🇺🇸🎣

Debo, would you recommend a TFO over the new St Croix BassX rods

Sup debo. Sry I've seen 3 tfo rods break between first 2 eyes. Could be something else but I'm in RI, don't see many broken rods unless closed in a door. Oh crap don't think they knew they would be replaced. Saw 1 thrown in dumpster would've grabbed it. I couldn't buy one lol

This rod is on sale for $150 did you t rig or jig with this rod

I do walmart rods---I have went higher for my fly fishing rods though.