i thought of something i didn't say and i wonder how the rest of you feel.

i won't by a rod that's not a a 4 piece rod anymore. and i mean FOUR pieces. not 3, not 5 or 7 or 9.

while i feel the fours cast as good or about the same as the twos, i don't feel that way about the 5's and up. just way too many parts of the blank that are stiffened. also i never understood why you would need more than four pieces (for a 9 foot rod anyway)... they are awfully small.

i remember seeing a couple years ago a rod you could put in a briefcase. it was 7 or 9 or 11 pieces or something. i mean it was absolutely ridiculous! i wonder if it's still around?

and the threes are out because i own a boat. boat lockers on bass boats are advertised as holding 7' rods mostly, but 7' is way too small for me for a fly rod, and even then, the 7' is a stretch in my "7 foot" lockers. so i like the 2 piece because it breaks evenly and can be stowed underdeck with a fly on it. threes can work that way but they just don't-- very well...

Dave, the only reason for multi-piece fly rods is for convenience and portability, and to achieve this requires creative engineering.
Fly rod blanks are a marvel of complex physical characteristics of composition and design.

To quote Lefty Kheh, �the butt section of a fly rod blank is for lifting, the mid-section for transporting the fly line, and the tip for presentation� � or something like that IIRC.

When this concept is applied to multi-piece fly rods, ferrules and guide placement play a major role.

IMO, engineering is the main factor in TFO�s success as a leading manufacturer of high quality affordable fly rods.

First consideration is butt section for lifting power, or in your case turning a big �golden bone�. For others horsing a big bucket mouth from heavy cover, or blue water fishermen hoisting a big fish from deep water.
Many fishermen use the term �backbone�.

Under stress a fly rod blank �ovals� and �high stick� breakage is the result.
TFO has solved this problem by a proprietary process of what they call �S� glass/carbon fiber hybrid, in the case of the Mini-Magnum, and Kevlar/carbon fiber composite in their Axiom series.

Ferrule and guide placement come into play, further complicating the process. The new TFO Mini-Magnum is a three-piece rod due to consideration of guide and ferrule placement to maximize strength.

But I�m with you on 2 pc fly rods, but I do like the convenience and portability of multi-piece rods � but I always keep my 4-piece rods rigged in 2 pc configuration.

Sorry for the rambles but for me this is a complex subject for an amateur such as myself.
George Glazener

Hey George.

Your TFO Mini-Mag made it to the gear guide section of the 12/08 issue of TPW Magazine.

I only use 2-pc fly rods.

I prefer a two piece rod myself. I have one 2 piece rod, and one 4 piece rod. The two piece is just better to me, but I don't travel on planes with my rods either. If I did a 4 piece would be better, but just for travel. The 2 piece assembles quicker, and disassembles quicker, that is enough for me.