First fishing trip with using Trout Master...I didn't get fish, so it was purely casting.
I cast 3 - 8 g lures. With 8 g Trout Master cast clearly longer than Ares. At 3 g difference in casting distance was slim. With my reel (ct Alphas), spool (K.T.F.) and line (0.10 mm Spiderwire Stealh Smoot 8) casting sweet spot was at 6 grams. (4 Grams was also very good.) So, Trout Master is slightly stiffer than Ares but difference is not that much. I'm not sure from where that stiffness comes. Because in my (un-accurate) bending tests there was not difference in practical. Maybe carbon in Trout Master just is faster, that makes same powered rod acting as 'stiffer'.
So, casting distances are good in Trout Master (because it casts longer than Ares, which is also very good). But this is not whole story. Ares somehow feels more precise tool than Ares. It just does everything more likely as caster wishes, and if backalsh occurs, it's more clear to understand what went wrong. And after cast, there is near zero wobble of rod tip. It dampens very fast...
And what is slightly surprising was Magforce settings. I have 2 settings which I use normally in BFS. Basic setting, in which casting is really easy and reliable and I must cast really bad to get backlash, and I use that also for pitching, (If I remember to turn it on). Another setting I use for maximum distance, and when casting in that setting, I must concentrate and cast carefully. But now I felt that use of that distance setting widens with Trout Master, it just was easier to cast with that setting. Maybe it's something with that, this Trout Master just feels more accurate and more precise tool...
At the ending of my fishing session I remembered to try underhand pitchings (because I arrived to a place where those were useful) with this new rod. Actually it went great! Surprisingly I might have progressed to master pitcher (which is not true) or this Trout Master is much better in pitching than Ares.
Trout Master handle I don't like much (yet) - I like more Ares handle. Trout Master handle forces to take some kind of palming grip. But that's not actually bad. It might be good if BFS fishers are forced to use palming grip also in casting
. It's possible that I turn to like very much of Trout Master handle. But fisherman who likes to take traditional baitcasting grip, I recommend not to buy Trout Master. What is strange in Trout Master handle, it made me felt like reel should be smaller (than ct Alphas). With Ares and Kuying Teton SUL I don't have even thought this. But smaller reel I need in any case...
- Grip I have used in BFS so far 1.JPG (71.79 KiB) Viewed 4128 times
- Grip I have used in BFS so far 2.JPG (64 KiB) Viewed 4128 times
- Grip which is comfy but how casting with this 1.JPG (72.03 KiB) Viewed 4128 times
- Traditional baitcasting style gip - very un-comfy with this rod.JPG (66.45 KiB) Viewed 4128 times
Rod tubes / cases. I like Ares tube more. I swapped Trout Master to Ares tube and Ares to Trout Master tube (because currently I like Trout Master more and I will use that). External pocket (in Ares tube) for rod butt is handy in my opinion. Because then I can keep reel in reel seat.
- Transport style I have liked.JPG (49.24 KiB) Viewed 4128 times
Overall differences from Ares to Trout Master are slim. But yes, in my opinion, Trout Master is slightly better basically in almost everything. If casting sub 3 grams, then Ares might be better. I haven't tried yet. Cost of rods: Ares prices has risen a lot and Trout Master is very expensive Aliexpress rod as it is 4'7". But I'm perfectly happy that I have bought both. I would buy again both if I wouldn't have both.
EDIT: Next day I tried casting 2 g and 1.2 g crankbaits. 2 g was castable and fishable, rod starts to work with that load and cast can be targeted. 1.2 g was not practically castable in my opinion. How to compare to Ares...I don't know because I have cast so few times these 1...2 g lures.