I just bought an TFO Axiom 8 wt from a local guy...with a Lefty Kreh signature. It's my first TFO rod, though I have several other fly rods from various outfits. In researching this rod, and tossing it a bit, overloaded with a 9 wt line, it's pretty much want I wanted...stiff/fast. But most of the links I find are on the Axiom 2...much slower and softer. It puzzles me that so great a change happened between the 1 and 2 while still bearing the Axiom name. I would have thought TFO would have kept the rod characteristics similar. Anyone have some insights/history on this model? Not much on the Net comparing the two. Thanks.

The Axiom II-X is more similar in "feel" to the original Axiom than the Axiom II. I have no idea why the design was changed, but keep in mind that the original Axiom design was released to market almost 15 years ago and both materials and consumer preferences have changed over that length of time.

I have several Axiom's and have cast the A2 multiple times, but never owned an A2. Similar to you, I usually up-line one step when fishing an original Axiom, but I would not up-line an A2. In my opinion, the A2 is a fun rod to cast and fish.

I've been teaching with a 7 wt Axiom for over 10 years and it is also my primary practice rod. I have spent a lot of time casting that rod. At the Texas Fly Fishing and Brew Festival, I was finally able to spend some time casting an A2X and I ended up using the demo rod for a roll casting demo on the casting pond. I liked the A2X enough that I bought one of them a couple of weeks ago. I haven't fished the A2X yet, but I easily have over 4 hours of casting time with it. (This will probably become my primary instruction rod in the near future) When I find some time, I plan to write up a comparison of the A2X to the original Axiom.

The A2X definitely steps into the "rocket launcher" role for TFO and it would be my choice for a saltwater flats rod, but the A2 may be the better choice for many freshwater anglers. To me, they "feel" very different and for anyone in the market for a new rod, I'd recommend casting both of them and then picking the one you like best. The name is similar, but they are different rods.

As a side note, I picked the A2X because I been practicing the MCI instructor exam tasks and many of them require picking up and false casting 50 ft of line without hauling. That's a lot of line to move and the faster rod makes it easier to do.

Thanks for the reply. You could be right about both the need to change rod materials and public sentiment shifting toward a more forgiving Axiom. Seems like TFO backfilled with the A2X to offer a rod more like the original Axiom. I needed a different 8 wt to throw a shooting head better than my old St. Croix Imperial, and maybe I lucked out into a good rod for that.

A 6wt A2-X has been my primary freshwater rod for the past year. Its not fast all the way through, with a slower tip it still has a nice feel. You can really launch some big bugs with it.