Thomas & Thomas Exocett Predator 450grain #11/12 - 9.4 ft fly rod

Thomas & Thomas rods have been handcrafted on American soil (Greenfield, MA) since 1969 and enjoy worldwide recognition for their high-end fly rods that have an absolutely perfect finish.

The Thomas & Thomas Exocett Predator is an extremely powerful rod designed specifically for fishing with heavy, large flies as well as sinking lines or ultra-compact floating lines. The focus of the rod is clearly on modern, very effective fishing with streamers for predators in fresh and, of course, salt water, using only the best, corrosion-resistant components such as aluminium reel seats and titanium guides with inserts. But above all, the rod's unique blank ensures that the SS is an absolute workhorse, both when casting with bushy streamers and during the fight!

The action of the rod is a fast fast-action action, with the blank working the full length and opening a little wider; this has the advantage that the Loop is opened up a little in the cast and the large flies, which are often a little unsteady in the cast, do not touch the rod tip. The rod allows an enormous speed in the line and enables extremely long casts. The power of the rod can be felt immediately and only a few empty casts are required to release the fly. In addition, the blank has been developed so that the rod works excellently with modern, compact fly lines, be it with poppers or large, weighted streamers.

Another impressive point is the enormous lifting power of the Excoett Predator. Several metres of sinking line can be lifted out of the water without any problems in order to cast the fly again. This power also pays off enormously when fishing for pike from a boat or belly boat. Boat anglers who use the latest technology, such as fishing with a Livescope, quickly appreciate the power of the rod. The Predator also has an extended fighing butt, which allows you to perform the Figure 8 manoeuvre if you have a large trailer.

The components used and the workmanship of the 9.4 ft rod are evidence of the highest quality and attention to detail. The titanium guides of the T&T rod are wound by hand with the utmost precision onto the dark blue, matt blank and painted immaculately. Each part of the 4-piece rod is marked with the number of the batch used, ensuring that each part is made from 100% of the same materials and will be remanufactured in the event of a warranty claim! The handle of the SS consists of a non-porous cork and a reinforced part made of a cork mixture, so that no inclusions are visible even after years of use. Two lock nuts ensure an extra secure hold of the reel on the aluminium reel seat, which can be tightened with a particularly good grip thanks to their milled recesses and ribbed sections.

The Exocett has long convinced us when fishing for peacock bass with large poppers, as well as in hemic streamer fishing for pike and catfish. It's not just the multi-module Strato-Therm blank of the Thomas & Thomas Exocett that can be put under extreme strain during the fight, the rod's components can also withstand the toughest loads - for years to come!

Thomas & Thomas technologies:

• Multi-module Strato-Therm blank
  The blank of the Exocett SS is a crisp, powerful blank that loads smoothly and has a very fast recovery. The powerful rear wheel is not even used for precise casts at close range. Only when it comes to shooting the flies through the wind at long distances does the rod draw on its full potential and transfer all its power to the fly line. In addition, the multi-module blank ensures that excessive shocks from heavy flies and sinking lines are absorbed to generate distance and accuracy with fewer empty casts.

• Proprietary binders
  The performance of graphite fibres depends on the quality of the binder that holds them together. Bonding technology has improved rapidly in recent years and T&T has worked with industry leaders to develop a proprietary resin that improves the performance of graphite materials. In this new resin, T&T uses nanoscale particles to eliminate microscopic voids in the graphite. Filling these tiny voids with this high performance resin improves the strength, durability and damping properties of the rod blank while reducing the overall weight.

• Ferrule Strengthening Process / FRP
  In fly rods, the connectors are the areas that are subjected to the most critical stresses. For this reason, T&T hand-rolls a strategic additional layer of high-strength graphite over these areas. In addition to reinforcing the ferrule, the process gives the fly rods a special detail.

• Optimal Blank Curing / OBC
  The performance qualities of the graphite blanks and the nanoparticle resins used depend heavily on the curing process. Changes in the curing process are immediately reflected in the performance of the blank. The curing process is taken very seriously at Thomas & Thomas and is only carried out using a regulated, precise temperature control process. The OBC helps T&T to maximise performance from graphite and binder and ensure strict quality control.

• Low Friction Finish / LFF
  Anyone who has ever held a T&T rod with the LFF will have noticed that the blank has a special feel. The Low Friction Finish utilises nanotechnology to create a smooth surface that repels water and removes the surface tension that causes drag on the fly line when casting. The LFF gives Thomas & Thomas rods a performance advantage when casting and shooting fly lines.

Details:

• Powerful single-handed rod with above-average lifting power for fresh and salt water
• Best characteristics for hunting predators with large flies and heavy lines such as sinking fly lines or packed floating lines
  
• Fast multi-module Strato-Therm blank with enormous power reserves
• Extended fighting butt for figure eight manoeuvres
• Matt, dark blue low friction finish for less friction of the fly line on the blank
• Optimised blank hardening for maximum graphite and resin performance (OBC)
• Reinforcement process of the connector for long-term use (FRP)
• Ceramic insert in the guide rings
• Aluminium reel seat with two lock nuts for a secure hold of the reel
• High-quality premium cork with cork mix as reinforcement
• Handmade fly rod from the USA

The grain specifications of the rods indicate an optimal line, the weight of which corresponds to the specifications of the rod for the first 9.14 metres (30 ft).