In response to Michaels question and some others who have asked similar questions elsewhere, I shall try to present my opinion on something that fairly subjective.
During the winter I decided as it is my 50th year in 2024 that I would make myself some interesting rods for this season.
Some of them are either discontinued like the original yellow Mcfarland classics, some are hard to get like Kabuto's and some are like the holy grail, apparently. not only hard to find but bloody expensive when you do.
To say I was hesitant regarding the Tom Morgan Rodsmiths glass blanks would be an understatement. I spoke to a lot of my very good rod building buddies to see how they rated them. Some had built on them and some had not, the ones who had, told me I would not regret it and that they were something special. The ones who had not, warned me they were old school and might not be the kind of thing I like, which was what I have believed up till now. When the blanks cost more than my finished rods usually are then you can understand why I had reservations.
Anyway its a special year, so as Nico at Yamame fly rods is the European dealer for TMR and even he only gets a shipment once a year or even 2 years and he only gets a few blanks at a time
I thought id ask to see what he had in stock. he had an 8ft 5wt and a 7ft6" 3wt as well as a 7ft 3wt. So 805 is my usual goto size for the Don in spring and I like a 763 for summer fishing so I thought sod it. so I ordered both.
When they arrived I was gutted. They look beautiful and the colour is lovely, superb quality finish and a really nice ferrule complete with a nickel silver check all fitted. However on my initial wiggle test, they are both wibbly wobbly blanks, not noodley, as you could feel the power, but definitely not crisp like the rods I usually make. It was like all my fears had come to pass, ive dropped a load of cash on something I wont like and wont be able to sell. Anyway I had some special cork set aside, a special Bellinger reel seat with Amboyna insert and Struble Lava Agate so thought sod it, I'll build the 5wt the way I intended. It was a beautiful blank to wrap, very tactile and smooth to get nice wraps, however while it was turning with the epoxy I was watching the tip section move up and down and wobble away quite happily. I've never had a rod do this on the turners. They are only available 2 pc which doesn't help this, but I've made quite a few 2pc Steffens and they didn't move like this. it was re-inforcing my concerns about the action. The finished rod however turned out beautifully.
The moment of truth, loaded with my Perrin 3 3/8ths custom reel and the Troutstream prototype line i've been fishing for the last few years, it was time to cast it, balance was spot on.
Wow is the only way to say it
with a line on, the rod stabilises completely and becomes the smoothest casting rod i've ever used, to use the knife through hot butter analogy would not be wrong. Lots of power, very precise, effortless, the ideal rod that just goes where you point it and you don't need to think too much. I think the timing required to get it right is my own natural rhythm so I took to it immediately.
When I went down to the BFFI I got to play with a 7ft6" 5wt TMR that Nico had made for Alternative tackle. It felt even better, possibly, but the acid test would be on the water.
I snaffled the 765 and brought it home with me to run side by side with the 805 and see what, if any difference there was.
The first trip out on the river this year saw me take them along with some of my existing favourites to see. All the rods I have are fantastic to cast with, but these were another level. they Brought something extra to the party, something not very tangible, but definitely a feel good factor. The next trip saw just the two TMRs out and selection of lines, The 805 performed brilliantly with a 4" streamer and a 180grain sink tip, a 4mm tungsten bead nymph under an NZ style wool indicator as well as with the dry, it even managed to chuck the nymph rig in 40-50MPH of wind. The 765 has remained dryfly only and with the Troutstream line and a 14ft leader was hitting 4 out of 5 targets on the river in the same wind.
needless to say I now own the 765
and for my beats on the upper river it is perfect. Coupled with the Troutstream line in a WF5 and a 14ft tapered leader, I can present a fly correctly with just the leader out of the tip ring and keep increasing the distance right out to the whole head being in the air. The presentation stays as accurate and you do it without thinking, you just keep extending, the rod loads a little more each time but the stability remains, even once you start shooting the head to hit 50 or even 60ft it is controlled and easy. It throws mends and curves with ease. The 8ft rod performs the same way but I found I didn't need the extra reach on the upper river, however if I was fishing the middle river I would probably go for the 8ft as a first choice, it would be handy to have.
Playing the fish on Glass is always better than anything else, so they do this really well too, lots of low down power but a lovely soft tip so when those big boys make that lunge just as you try to net them on your own, the tippet doesn't pop
Both rods have been Christened but the 765 is already into the teens this season with fish over 16" on the dry
So yes they are very expensive, yes there are plenty of other glass rods from Kabuto, Mcfarland, Livingston, Ijuin, Steffen and even CTS that will do a similar Job and bring you a lot of joy, but the Tom Morgans do have something extra, wether its worth it, is entirely personal, but I can see a lot of my rods never seeing the light of day again now I have this Pair.
The 763 is not built yet as it will be for summer, but it feels a similar wibbly wobbly on a wiggle test, so here's hoping it behaves the same with the Line on.
I would say get one custom made though, it would be cheaper than direct and will be a much better build. Nico make a gorgeous rod
Keep an eye out for a few unused top end rods coming on the market in the not too distant future.
