It seems that some retailers have started hefty discounts on the current line up, does anyone have any intel on the rods that are replacing them?

Cork grips with a black reel seat.  The blank is two tone silver to black fade. 

20 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Cork grips with a black reel seat.  The blank is two tone silver to black fade. 

Does anyone know if it's the same blank?

21 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Cork grips with a black reel seat.  The blank is two tone silver to black fade. 

I never liked the all silver/grey look. Great rods though.

Only certain models have cork, the remainder have EVA grips.  

1 hour ago, waymont said:

I never liked the all silver/grey look. Great rods though.

Same, I never bought any for that reason

11 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

Same, I never bought any for that reason

Agreed, but I could have lived with the silver, as I don't care about that as much as how much I dislike EVA foam. Combine the two and the decision was a no for me.

 

I much prefer cork!

11 hours ago, Brad_Coovert said:

Only certain models have cork, the remainder have EVA grips.  

Have you seen the rods already? I haven't been able to find anything about them.

Somebody left some rods out on deck for a photo shoot.  Looks like production type test mules that he forgot were top secret.  For those that are really bad a Where's Waldo the new rods are the cork grip rods with the silver blanks in the rod locker pic.  Also there is a spinning rod on deck with a silver to black fade that also has cork grips.

 

https://www.bassmaster.com/gear/slideshow/inside-elite-boats-cory-johnston/

I love my Tatula, I really think there's a strong argument that its the best all around value at its price point.  The elites felt really nice, but according to a Daiwa the blanks are the same and the elite represents and upgrade in the guide train and that goes for both elite models.  I would have gone for the Elite had they not been so hideous.  The prototypes look a little better, I like the flatter grey over the chrome silver of the current model, but the grey to black fade looks like something you would see on a rack at wal mart.

The cork helps a whole lot IMO.  I do wish they would have changed the reel seat on the casting models.  Im not a fan of how it bows out towards the rear grip .