I am wanting to get a 12 wt BVK for Tarpon in Port O Connor.
Have any of you fished the Bvk 12 wt for Tarpon? I am wondering about their back bone?
I have a 10 wt BVK but the guides say I need to fish with an 12 wt.
Thanks for your comment

Hi Gary, I haven�t fished the BVK 12 wt or even cast it but my tarpon fishing buddy in the Florida Keys swears by his - they seen to be catching on down there.

Here�s a good link - betcha could get some good info from these guys.
http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forumdisplay.php?191-On-the-Fly

Best,
George

i personally would pass on the BVK, it is rated pretty low by TFO for lifting power. I would go with the TICR-X

I had the 12 wt TICR-X but didn't like it. It was like throwing a broom stick. I sold it to Scott 300 who posts on this forum.
I was looking for a lighter rod.
I will check into the lifting power, thanks 2FlyFish4.

Gary, as we know, "lifting power" is also known as "high sticking" which will bust any fly except maybe a TFO Baby Bluewater .... I have been taught to fight big fish "sideways" - how 'bout you?
Good luck on your choice - so many choices these days.
George

I think this depends on how you set your drag. I'd rather fight up than side to side after losing a couple of reds this way over the weekend. When fighting side to side you can loosen the hook hole. I set my drag to as loose as I can without birdnesting my reel. You can always tighten, but rarely get a chance to lighten the drag before the fly line and leader come shooting back. I used a Sage Xi3 8wt with 16# leader btw.

i'd say lifting power is anytime you pull back on a fish.

fighting a fish with the rod tip up or to the side gives you the same angles during the fight. think about it

Yes Sir, but side to side pressure on a fish works for me w/o worry of rod breakage from "high sticking"... IMO

Whether sideways or stick up, the power of any rod is in the butt section rather than the tip. Over-flexing the rod takes the butt section out of the equation and greatly increases the risk of breaking the tip. It's best to fight with the butt section (less flex in the rod), right?

thats right wooly,
the reason you want to fight a fish (especially big fish) from the side is because you don't have to fight against gravity (the fishes own body weight). by keeping the rod tip low and pulling the fish from the side, you slide the fish towards you. the fish can't use its own body weight to hold its position as easily, it will have to use muscle to fight against you. when you keep your rod tip high, you are fighting against the fishes own body weight, all it has to do is let the power of gravity keep it in position. Think about a tuna, one of the hardest fighting fish there is. they are notorious of getting under the boat and just doing small circles. if you have a 200lb tuna, thats probably 30-40lbs of dead weight you have to fight, not to mention the muscle and power of the fish. obviously there are times you want to keep your rod tip high, like when a fish is taking line. you want to keep the tip high to lift your line out of the water to reduce slack and excessive resistance caused by the flyline being dragged through the water. or to keep the line out of the water to keep a bonefish or permit from dragging your line across some coral and cutting you off. i know i am rambling on, but one last thing if your a trout fisherman. if you have hooked a big trout/fish in the current and he is just hugging the bottom and not really moving. stick you rod tip under the water and pull from the side. you will be amazed how easily the fish will just slide towards you.

Agreed. I always cringe when I see someone pulling up and back on the rod. Good way to break a rod.

Gravity....if the fish is very near or directly under the boat. If he has you into the backing out away from the boat, you're fighting him sideways no matter how you hold the rod. Still not a good idea to try to pull a big bend in your rod. Use the butt section to put the heat on 'em, and pull in the opposite direction that they are trying to swim to wear on 'em.

Hey Guys � Sure, I agree with your major points, certainly you fight a big fish from the butt section � that�s to prevent rod breakage form what is commonly called �high stickjng�. I will continue to fight big fish from side angle if ever get another chance, reversing directing of fish run to disorient the fish and probably the fisherman LOL..

If I get another shot at Key's tarpon again this spring, I�ll go with my old veteran Keys tarpon fishing buddy's advice on technique, but I apprecialte all your input.
I don�t intend to land a tarpon if I ever get lucky enough � just a jump and break off for me!

When you youngsters get near 88 years old and still have tarpon fever � give thanks for the memories.

Have fun,
George

if you want to stick with tfo then the TiCrx is your rod but the 12wt is thick an sturdy an definatly has the pulling power over the bvk... like said above its almost broomstick like. its thick an fast action the 2 i have casted an played with but go with a feel you like an feel comfortable with

have you looked at ECHO ? i just bought a echo ion 10wt an it feels lighter then the TFO TiCRX 10wt its a fast action rod with some strength in it as well it feels great "to me" but maybe you can look at there 12wts an get a feel for something other than TFO. dont get me wrong those are awesome rods, but like everyone told me on here as well try them all out.