Admittedly, I am always a little hesitant when I hear that a company is revamping an already legendary lineup of rods. But in this case, I was intrigued when the news broke that Temple Fork Outfitters was updating their classic LK Legacy lineup associated with the great Lefty Kreh.
The previous LK Legacy lineup was a rod that almost any angler could pick up and feel comfortable with. It featured a fast action that still retained the feel needed to make shorter, accurate casts. This was often a rod I spoke very highly of during my time working retail in a fly shop, so I was eager to get the newest version out on the water. The new Legacy line features real changes, including an extra-fast carbon-fiber blank with a proprietary Kevlar weave, premium cork and components, and a new price tag of $399. So follow along to see how the new Legacy stacks up against the original.
Sizes
3-weight to 8-weight
Action
Extra-fast
MSRP
$399
Materials
Carbon fiber with Kevlar and graphene reinforcement
Pros
- Great sensitivity
- Thoughtful components/additions such as the hook keeper
- Competitive midrange price
Cons
- Extra-fast action might not suit all anglers
The Breakdown
The Cast
I was excited to test out both the 9ft 8wt and the 9ft 6wt (both featuring a fighting butt). These are my main go-to lengths and weights for fishing my local freshwater streams, lakes, and ponds. One site note that I was glad to see was the addition of a fighting butt on their 6-weight Legacy. I often find it reassuring to have that one more touch point when fighting heavier fish such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and carp.
The million-dollar question that everyone wants to know: how does it cast? Well, put simply, it casts great. I was a little worried when I saw that the freshwater Legacy lineup is now labeled as extra-fast, but was pleasantly surprised by how well the blank loaded and recovered. TFO states that “the Legacy blank is built on a matte grey carbon fiber foundation reinforced with TFO’s proprietary Kevlar weave. The Kevlar integration prevents the blank from ovaling under load—keeping the rod structurally stable and tracking true through the full casting stroke”. I can agree that these two rods do feel very stable under the load of light and heavy lines. The 8-weight handled the load of bigger poppers and baitfish patterns, while the 6-weight excelled with more appropriately sized streamers, jigs, and larger dry flies.
The distance I achieved out of the Legacy rods was more than adequate. The reality is that for most freshwater applications you aren’t going to be bombing 90-foot casts, but it is nice to have that backbone to pick up the line and recast without losing a bunch of power. The 6wt also lets you lay out stealthier casts to spooky, mud-flat lurking carp.
Sensitivity
When these two rods showed up on my doorstep, I did what any ADHD filled angler would. I immediately lined them and headed for the backyard. I first started with the 8wt and almost instantly felt the tip section of this rod was different from the previous LK Legacy. I was able to feel my line throughout the entire cast. On some low-mid tier rods, the blanks are so stiff that when you cast forward, it feels like you’re just dumping the weight of the fly line. This was different. I maintained the feel of the line through the entire cast, all the way to my fly landing.
The same sensitivity also translated equally to my time on the water. I could detect subtle bites from trout nipping at streamers and bass that tend to thump with more authority. I tend to believe that sensitivity in a fly rod is pretty closely correlated to accuracy, which I found to be quite dead on with this rod. Even when throwing larger 6-inch streamers, I was able to place them deep in pockets of root balls, overhangs, behind rocks, etc.
In Hand Feel
For me, the grip or cork on a fly rod is where my first impressions (and sometimes doubts) about a rod start to form. Needless to say, I’m pretty picky when it comes to grips. It’s your main point of contact with the rod, so if you don’t like how it feels, chances are you’re not going to reach for it in the quiver. The grip shape on the Legacy lineup is excellent. I found it very comfortable throughout long days on the water, even when throwing heavier grain lines and larger streamers. The cork feels great throughout, and there’s even a bit of granulated composite cork near the blank. In my case, that’s a nice touch that helps protect the grip when sliding the rod into a rod vault.
Moving back from the grip, we get to the reel seat. This is honestly one of my favorite changes to this lineup. It held my reel securely, and the locking rings are smooth and easy to tighten down. Another thing that stood out to me was just how light this rod felt. A lot of mid- to lower-priced rods tend to have beefier blanks that add extra weight, but the Legacy lineup was refreshingly light and comfortable to cast all day.
Final Words
After spending time with the new Legacy lineup, I can confidently say TFO has made some meaningful improvements to an already well-liked rod. The original LK Legacy earned its reputation by being an approachable, versatile rod that anglers of all skill levels could pick up and enjoy. While the new lineup takes a different direction with its extra-fast action, updated blank construction, and upgraded components, I think it still carries some of that original DNA.
The biggest difference I noticed was the added sensitivity and stability, without sacrificing the ability to load the rod and make accurate casts at shorter distances. At $399.95, the new Legacy sits in a competitive price range, but I think the performance and overall feel make it a strong option. Is it the same rod Lefty Kreh helped make famous? Not exactly. But I think TFO did a nice job bringing a classic lineup into a new generation, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend giving these rods a cast.
