Hi my name is Jasper from the netherlands. Ive been searching a lot about the mini mag on the net and every time i came across this board. So there mist be a lot of knowlege about this rod.
So ive been fishing with a clouser 10weight rod for two seasons. I fish for pike only, unfortunately we don't have bass here.
Lately ive been looking into these shorter rods, like the mini mag or sage bass.
I really like tfo so the mini mag is a serious contenter. But the question is should the clouser be replaced?

I have SA pike taper (older version) and throw large pike flies, about 10-20cm. I really like the point and shoot type of casting. But with the clouser i normaly have to make 3-5 false casts in order to get the distance i want. Maybe i just a matter of updating the line to outbound short of rio pike taper to achieve this.

Also ive been reading this lengh is only suitable from the boat and not so good for fishing from the shore or bank. And i only fish from the bank, but there is no need for 80feet casts.
So would the mini mag a good replacement rod (and as a only rod) instead of the clouser?

Thanks, jasper

Jasper, we have several folks on here that fish Mini-Mag's regularly including George who helped test some of the prototypes. I'm sure some of them will be along soon.

I pretty much agree with Tom Jindra's comments on the other board, especially when he is commenting on differences in line tapers.

The Clouser and the Mini-Mag are very different rods. The Clouser is a traditional style fly rod and is probably the more versitle of the two rods. The Mini-Mag is not a traditional style fly rod. The Mini-Mag has more lifting power than most other fly rods.

My opinion the Mini-Mag excels in power situations where large flies and thick cover are in use. I like using a load and shoot style casting with this rod out to about 60 feet. I do not like false casting this rod. While I have cast one out to 100 feet, I don't like going past about 65 feet with it. I think it shines best at short to mid casting distances.

The shorter rods don't pick up long lengths of line from the water or mend as well as longer rods, but that is not really an issue when bass fishing and I don't think it will be for pike either. If you like fishing the the Clouser from the bank, I think you'll find the Mini-Mag performs about the same.

Good luck!

Jasper, it�s quite an honor to receive your post from the Netherlands and a big Texas welcome to you!

I expect a couple or so more TFO MiniMag enthusiasts will respond to your post but Rex has covered the subject pretty well, but I disagree on a couple of points. There is a lot of difference between testing a fly rod on the �grass� and testing on fish.
I have only cast the Clouser a couple of times on the �grass� so not qualified to respond, but fished the MiniMag prototypes hard and long for several months before production models were available.

IMO the MiniMag series is the MOST versatile fly rod and the most forgiving rod I have ever fished. I call it a �utility� rod in a complimentary sense, and my �go to� anywhere, anytime, for anything fly rod.

Check out this link for a prior discussion that may be of some help to you.
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/7754906/Re_TFO_MiniMag_fly_rods

As you know the MiniMag is a 3pc, 8ft fly rod that was developed by Nick Curcione for fishing Florida Mangroves and California Kelp beds. It is a downsized TFO Baby Bluewater, a salt-water rod engineered for strength and versatility for big saltwater game fish. IMO, the performance of this rod is due primarily to the components that give a smooth transmission of power from butt to tip.
The butt section is �S� glass, the mid section a hybrid �S� glass/carbon fiber, and the tip section high modulus carbon fiber.

I was privileged to test the first prototypes due to Nick, Lefty Kreh and other TFO experts were snowed in on the East coast that winter and lucky enough to fish the MiniMags hard and long all winter on fish of all sizes up to ~15 pounds.

It has amazing sensitivity and transmission of power, from feeling a headshake on a panfish to detecting a subtle strike of a big fish, and the ability to take out of nasty cover without fear of breakage.

As you know TFO has a no questions asked lifetime warranty on their fly rods.
They are an outstanding bunch of folks!

Hope this helps � good luck on your selection
George Glazener



As you

Jasper,
I agree that if your goal is to load and shoot and avoid false casting the Mini Mag is the rod for you. It is very capable (as stated by my two friends) of easily shooting 60-80 feet of line with little or no effort. It also has excellent strength for turning heads on big fish. I have caught and landed buffalo up to 33 pounds with the rod. The length is especially nice for me as well because I either bank fish or kayak fish and that has proven to be a big plus. You wouldn't want to spend a day false casting the thing because it is not the lightest rod TFO makes.
I fish a 7wt Clouser and the two rods are very different in performance.
I think I would add it to your quiver as opposed to replacing the Clouser (in my humble opinion).

Good Luck,
Jerry

Thanks for all the replies so far! It hard getting any reviews about this rod.
Its definately a long way from here to texas

It seems the rod is not that broomstick like, since the top part seems more sensitive?
60-70 feet casts is also quite nice. With the 8-10 i could keep the line i use now.

Jasper, I find that the MiniMag 8-10 works best for me with a WF-11-F bass taper fly line.
G/

Ok. Do you think the 6-8 model is more versitile?

Tough question - I have both 6-8 and 8-10 MiniMags. but if only one, my choice would be the 8-10.
Choice for me depends on how heavy fly/bug I am casting.
I have been asking TFO to come up with a 4-6.
I would call the 6-8 and 8 wt and the 8-10 a 10wt IMO.
G/

Ok a ten makes sense then for throwing pike flies.
Tough decisions!

I throw 11wt bass taper on mine but I think 10wt will work just fine.

I would buy a 4-6 if they made one

If i can sell my Clouser, im gonna bite the bullit and order it i think. I dont think i can test cast, but will try to arrange that.
But according to some reactions here, i wont be dissapointed

Found one 8-10 at an auction site for less than half price with reel and line. Hope the seller still got it so i can go check the rod out.
The two guide eyes are replaced with smaller ones, would this effect the rods action or i another way?

It would depend on how small. The stripper guides don't make a huge difference (unless you upgrade to the fancy ones George has). I wouldn't think that would effect the action but if you can cast it first that would be a really good thing.

Dont know which ones George has. But according to the seller they are from struble. Going to have a look tomorrow and test cast.