Lews TP-1 Speed Stik spinning opinion please

[KDW96]

I am looking at picking up one of these rods. 6ft7 M/L (1/16--1/4OZ).

 

I will be using it for the very light ned heads 1/16 an less, and for dropshot up to 1/4oz.

The guide system intrigues me, for use with 10-15pd braid. Just wanted to get your opinions on this particular rod.

 

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_TP-1_Speed_Stick_IM8_Spinning_Rods/descpage-TPI.html

 

Thank you

[fishnkamp]

Those microwave guides work extremely well. If you ever heard of Doug Hannon "The Bass Professor"  He was involved in the design.  Their purpose is to straighten the line as it comes off the reel thus allowing you to achieve a longer cast. They work well. I have a friend that is a custom rod builder and he has built several rods for my friends using those guides.   Each one loves the rods.

In addition to the guides on those TP-1 rods you get a cool set of Winn grips made of a special material.  I had my friend do a custom rebuild on two of my expensive G Loomis IMX rods. We chose those grips in "natural" color and the same American Tackle Comfort Grip reel seat.  I know the reel seat looks a little different than the normal rod out there, trust me they are the most comfortable seats I have ever used. As a package I fished my 6 foot ML IMX rod for days in April 2016. We were on Dale Hollow and caught the main spawning females just off their beds and hunkered down in grass flats on main lake. They were only there for several days before we arrived. The only bait they would eat were ned rigs. For 4 day we fished ned rigs practically all day. I doubt I have fished a spinning rod that much for decades.   However when that is what the 4 to 7 pound smallies want I give it to them. LOL   I am sure you will like that rod

 

Check out this webpage   http://www.americantackle.us/microwave_guides.html

Here are some p[ics on the before and after on my rod upgrades. We chose to eliminate the full cork handle and after all of the changes were made the rod is more comfortable and I think it is more sensitive. I know it is lighter.

[d-camarena]

Great rod but in all honestly id get that same rod but in the mach 2 series. I have both. They feel exactly the same. Exept the guides on the mach are actually straight. I have 2 tp1 rods and both have crooked guides

[KDW96]

6 hours ago, d-camarena said:

Great rod but in all honestly id get that same rod but in the mach 2 series. I have both. They feel exactly the same. Exept the guides on the mach are actually straight. I have 2 tp1 rods and both have crooked guides

 

Well crap. I got a tp1 coming thurs or friday. First thing gonna check the guides. If they arent straight, its goin back the next or same day. For the money theres no excuse for it. Thanks for the info sir

[fishnkamp]

I would expect you will be fine. I have not heard of any other complaints about this being an issue.

[KDW96]

Just now, fishnkamp said:

I would expect you will be fine. I have not heard of any other complaints about this being an issue.

I really hope so,looking forward to using it this weekend. Needing some thing that falls in that lure range. For the last 3 days, ive been slayin them on that ned,and a reins bubbling shaker. The rod i was using has developed a crack. That falcon has served me well.

[fishnkamp]

The NED rig is an amazing bait when they shut down on everything else.

My wife and I vacation in TN/KY on Dale Hollow as often as possible. In April 2016 ( our last trip) we encountered an unusual situation. Most of the time the bass come in in a specific schedule. Smallies, the Kentucky spots and then largies.  Well that winter the temps warmed up/cooled off/warmed up. This left all the bass ready to go at once and they all spawned together. We arrived as the big females were leaving the nests. The KY spots lingered in the creeks on the way out. We found big pods of largies and smallies spread out over  main lake grass beds in 20 feet of water and they refused to eat anything except NED rigs. I had just had a G Loomis rod modified with a set of Winn Grips, and a American Tackle Comfort reel seat. I fished that spinning rod almost all week.  Funny thing I was standing over top of 14 other rods in the rod box.  By late week they finally started eating swim jigs but should have been eating swimbaits and jerkbaits. The good news was were basically fishing to 4 to 8 pound bass as those big females were there by themselves. It was awesome!