Happy Birthday !! You picked up a nice rod and reel.

But..The guy talking about the TFO rods has no idea lol.

Those rods are made in Korea.

With Gary Loomis name on them.

I wouldn't be comparing them to a G.Loomis.

Thanks for clarifying this, I figured someone would have more info on that.  I picked it up and totally hated it.  I generally don't believe everything everyone says.

Happy Birthday. It sounds like you picked a nice setup.

If I'd been given that get whatever you want I'd have first asked if I could go to another store ... if not I'd have walked out with a new fully outfited Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident 13 angler edition in camo.

If they let me go to another store I'd have located one that had the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 8-)

Almost forgot,  info on TFO rods

"Combining the proven designs of legendary rod designer Gary Loomis with Temple Fork Outfitters' cutting-edge materials, the Temple Fork Outfitters Gary Loomis Signature Casting Rods deliver unparalleled performance at an unparalleled price." 

So Gary helped design them, but they use TFO blanks, not blanks from Gary's new North Fork Composits company.   Those $300 blanks are (to my knowledge) only being used in the new Kistler Z-Bone LE series rods and sold in blank form to custom rod builders.