Tsunami or Tica rods....Any Opinion???

[Mr. Sandman]

My tsunami story,

When the tsunami rep came into our local shop this Sept. I glanced at the rods and new lures he had. The lures looked really great (lifelike rubber and just the right size for finiky bonito) and I picked up a handful. The rods looked and felt nice and I asked the price and thought FOR THE MONEY they seemed pretty damn nice! At that time I was really looking for an 8' light surf rod to use from my boat for casting eels for big bass. He had something that was a little light for my needs but pretty close to what I wanted and I was desperate. I Then I noticed it was a two piece rod and said forgetaboutit, I hate two piece rods they never work right and they do break more often then single piece rods. I know a lot of guys have them and say they are fine...but my experience with them shows otherwise. Then the guy says...they have an OVER_THE_COUNTER_GUARANTEE on breakage FOR ANY REASON. He said "if you snap this off in the door on the way out of this shop, we would give you a new rod on the spot." I said REALLY? " No questions asked, you get a new rod." So I plopped down my 49 bucks (I think it was that, it might have been more...I remember is was really cheap) and walked away with the rod. Which comes in a nice silky soft cloth bag as well.

Made about 10 trips with it and it was working just GREAT! It was still a tad light and but it did the job. I landed dozens of big bass with it and a few chopper blues. It became my go-to rod, the rod I preferred to fish with. I had a Penn 4500 liveliner with 50# braid. It was a pleasure to case eels or lures and had perfect action, just a little light for the real big fish. I was really putting the boots to this rod I decided this was the length and type of rod I wanted and ordered a 2 more custom rods to be made just like this but single piece, sic guides and med-heavy lami blank but they would not be done in time for this season and. I kept using it every trip.

On one family surf-trip, the tsunami rod was in the truck and my 10 year old asked if he could use it. This was the perfect rod for his size and with the braid he was out casting some "big guys" next to him. He landed a nice size blue with it and he just loved it.

OK, now late October on one of my night trips I am in one of my island coves in the boat, working the rocks with eels and I had landed 3 bass in the 25-30# range with the rod. Then during a cast with an eel SNAP!! The rod had a NASTY splintered break at the joint. This was during a cast. I was bummed but I felt I got my $ out of it already as I really enjoyed fishing with it. I brought back the broken stick to my B&T shop and he handed me a new one in the case. I plan to let my kids use it next year in the surf, and I will use the 2 customs.

I tell you this is a good rod and well worth the money. I really pushed the limits with this rod, using it from a boat with 50#PP and wrestling big bass with it. The rods is rated for 20#. The bend a big fish puts on it is extreme when fishing from a boat and it is a blast to fish with. I know guys like fiberglass rods when fishing from a boat for that reason...I love the feel and stiffness of graphite. Under normal fishing conditions from the surf I think it would be fine. The unconditional breakage guarantee makes it more then worth the money. I broke a similar 7' St Croix that I used just for bones and albies a couple years ago that was 2 years old and cost 200+ bucks and the B&T says you have to deal with the factory…they basically said...forgetaboutit. I still love St. Croix (I have two of them) but tsunamis are a really great deal for the money IMO. I would buy several and keep them around. If you have the $ then get a custom rod made, they are ideal but if $ is an issue, then take a look at the tsunamis.