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TF 07 90 4 BZ
Initial Thoughts
We fish for a lot of fish with stripes in Iowa, including white bass and hybrid striped bass x white bass (wipers). These fish are capable of blistering runs and crushing baitfish patterns with reckless abandon. They also will corral baitfish on or near the surface in a phenomena called a "blitz", and these feeding frenzies will often only last for a few seconds. The angler must have a setup that allows him to deliver a larger fly to these fish accurately and quickly. This is exactly what TFO designed their Blitz series rod to do.
Released in the fall of 2023, I wanted this rod to see how it handled these wicked hot fish, as well as adding a solid 7-weight streamer rod to my arsenal. When pulling the Blitz of the provided TFO tube, the color immediately stands out as unique. I like the color a lot, though I can also see how some people wouldn't be huge fans with the blend of a turquoise blue and deep blue thread wraps if you're picky about color combinations.
Physical Specifications
The four-piece design is a common fly rod design. It is always nice to have the little dots on the end of each rod section to align the rod correctly, which the Blitz has. At the same time, the dots aren't super visible unless you are looking for them, which makes them less of a distraction and eyesore on an otherwise attractive rod blank.
The rod weighs in at just 3.6 ounces in the 7-weight, 9 foot model, which stands as a comparable mass to other mid-level rods in the fly fishing industry. It comes with a rod sock and a rod tube from TFO.
The color of the blanks, according to TFO, are “deep turquoise”, so if you’re not a fan of anything other than a black, grey, or dark green blank, you might be in trouble.
Design
The guides include Recoil Guides by REC as well as “ultra-lightweight chromium-impregnated stainless-steel snake guides.”
The rod also includes TFO’s Axiom technology (used in their Axiom series of fly rods), which is a high-quality "double helix of Kevlar" that is integrated into the rod blank.
The double-locking reel seat is fully anodized aluminum and is a sleek and shiny silver color. The Blitz does not have a hook-keeper above the cork handle.
All of these components are saltwater-ready, making this a great option for those who are looking to chase fish like stripers, albies, jacks, or other fast-moving and schooling predatory fish in the ocean.
*NOTE: Be sure to always thoroughly rinse all of your gear after using in the saltwater to prevent corrosion.
Performance
The rod is smooth, and I’ve had people comment that “I expected a 7 weight to be heavier” than the rod actually feels, and yet this rod is a fast-action rod with the ability to send fly line and flies piercing through the wind. It has the ability to pick casts quickly and shoot your fly back onto the water quickly if fish are on the move.
The main species that I have tested this rod on include smallmouth bass and white bass/wipers. The rod shoots line like a dream, feels light in hand, and is really enjoyable to fight fish with. It has the strength to fight larger fish while maintaining the light physical weight to save your arm after a day of casting. The reel seat holds reels well, and the locking screws on the reel seat are smooth and secure the reel firmly to the reel seat without fear of coming loose.
If I were to try to describe how this rod feels while casting, the best word I can come up with is smooth. Every cast with the Blitz just feels pure, sharp, and clean. TFO uses the word "precision" to describe the motivation behind this rod, and that holds absolutely true.
Warranty
TFO charges a $60 fee with warranty and repair of their fly rods. They also have rod sections available to replace on the Blitz starting at $68.
Criticisms
As mentioned earlier, the color combination may be uncomfortable to look at for some. Some feel the hook keeper is necessary.
Summary
If you've always been someone who fishes with more entry-level rods, this is a great rod to take that next step. With a higher price point, you are also getting a lot higher performance and once you have fished a Blitz, it might be hard to go back to any other rod. A rod that will perform well in both fresh and saltwater, this fast-action rod is ready to quickly load and deliver streamers and other flies to fish when speed and precise casting is required.
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