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Review: Thomas & Thomas 11'9 5w DNA

8K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  J.James 
#1 · (Edited)
Some of you may find this helpful and others will no doubt have a vastly different experience

Performance: tippy, light weight, lots of power but the Rod is not a 6w, it's. A true 5w that inspires confidence. Excels with Scandi lines but will do just fine with skagit heads. Once you have a little time with the Rod, it's consistent and will deliver on demand all day

Materials: top notch, great aesthetics, downloading lock with double rings, nice touches all around, light weight, strong, simplistic, great amount of cork which I appreciate

Lines: This Rod will throw a 300 Scandi from my house to yours all day. It can land a large heavy clouser with delicacy. It rockets with little effort compared to deep flexing rods. Making the day less exhausting if you are out for hours on end

Complaints: price. I bought it new for $500 but it's retail is more than twice that. Aesthetics are simple but could be dolled up for those tat appreciate that type of craftsmanship.

This Rod is awesome. Just awesome. Ten inches bend the Rod plenty but you could summer steel just the same. It's really a great length and beauty of a stick. I'd buy it again and I will buy the 6w spey big brother. It will haul 100 feet no problem




It helps to have great fishing company
 

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#2 ·
My partner and I were involved with the initial prototype development and testing of that rod. It is awesome for a 5wt trout Spey,,,, Scandi lines from 300gr-330gr and Skagit 350gr+ really work well. Excellent, smooth casting rod.

Everyone who test casts the rod loves it,,, the only downside is the high retail $$.

Why spend the extra $$,, the finish is marine grade boat polymer (kiln heat process) that is exceptionally durable,,, the cork is excellent grade with minimum filler,,, reel seat is bar stock aluminum custom made in the USA,,, all of the guides are USA made of the highest quality.

I would rather have a rod that performs like the T&T 1195 DNA than any of the lower cost imports.

Regards,
FK
 
#3 ·
Just got the DNA 12'9" 5 wt in the mail yesterday. Got it out on a cold, windy day with ice around the edge of the pond. I was amazed at how well it punched out a smallish fly with a 400 gr Rio Skagit Short. That is the nearest line I've to what I've seen recommended for it. What other lines would folks suggest I try?
 
#4 ·
Hi Gene, congratulations on the new stick

I wrote a brief summary here


http://www.speypages.com/speyclave/59-rods/359649-sign-things-come.html


I’m not a fan of short skagits so I use Beulah’s spey tonics and for this rod I found 375 to work. T&Ts have much smaller grain windows than most rods as the design team is looking for a specific rod applications and design so they usually vary by 60 grains at most - for this rod they recommended 340-375 and given how light and fast it is, I’m going to be conservative although your experience may vary. I always prefer to shoot less grains than more unless the wind is really kicking or the water is so deep a t9 tip can’t do it

I used a Beulah and Snowbee 350 switch with 6-9ft of t7 and it sailed

Hope you’re having fun. Post some
Pics!

Best wishes,

J
 
#6 ·
Hi Brog


I recently looked into their new rods and they still have them. The XD is fuller flexing and the XF is super fast


If you want I can head to the factory and cast them and report back if there is something particular you want to know

I'd like to check out the XD as well as the 14'7 7w. Wish they made a 6w XD
 
#7 ·
Wouldn't ask you to make a special trip, so no worries. Let's see if anyone else has a point of view. I was at the NJ fishing show last week and T&T only had one XD rod there, and it wasn't identified as such until I asked. No XF rods. But the rods they had, the DNA were beautiful.
 
#8 ·
BB - I travel back and forth between NYC & VT and T&T is right on my way. I really like Joe John and Troy. The new owner seems very supportive of the culture there. I’ll pop in. With any luck Troy will be building another boo spey rod. They are so dreamy
 
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