Shimano TX9 Review
Last Updated on 28 September 2023 by James Bevan
Welcome to this comprehensive review of the Shimano TX9 carp rod. This popular product has garnered a loyal following among anglers in recent times.
In this review, I’ll explore the key features, performance, and overall value of the Shimano TX9 to help you make an informed decision on whether this rod is the right fit for your fishing needs.
Read on to discover how the Shimano TX9 stacks up against its competitors and whether it’s worth adding to your tackle collection.
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Comparison To Similar Rods
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Nash Scope Black Ops Carp Rod | 9.2 | from £345.99 |
| Nash Scope Black Ops Sawn Off | 8.6 | from £229.99 |
| Greys AirCurve Carp Rod | 9.1 | from £212.49 |
| Century C2 Mk2 Carp Rod | 9.2 | from £415.00 |
| Daiwa Infinity X45 | 9.4 | from £319.99 |
| Daiwa Basia X45X Carp Rod | 9.3 | from £595.00 |
| Century Stealth Graphene Carp Rod | 9.4 | from £459.00 |
| Harrison Torrix Carp Rod | 9.4 | from £374.00 |
| Free Spirit Hi-S Carp Rod | 9.3 | from £419.00 |
| Shimano TX-9 Carp Rod | 8.6 | from £309.99 |
| Daiwa Longbow X45 | 8.7 | from £239.99 |
| Korda Kaizen Platinum Carp Rod | 8.9 | from £409.99 |
How The Rod Compares To The Averages
Quick Summary
Featuring elite-level features and fittings, the TX9 certainly earns its price tag. However, I do have to point out that the TX7, also from the brand’s Tribal range, offers nearly comparable performance and features at a much more accessible price point.
Therefore I would suggest that anglers interested in the TX9 should maybe consider whether the TX7 would be sufficient for them before actually investing in their new rod.
This Shimano TX9 review will take you through all the details that you need to know so you can make an informed purchase of the rod.
Pros & Cons
I reviewed the TX9 over 2 three night sessions on a large big pit venue in Essex. Here’s what I found to be the benefits and drawbacks of the rod when testing it.
Pros
- It’s incredibly lightweight at just 421 grams, you barely notice the TX9 in the hand
- It has a 3K carbon wrap on the lower part of the blank which makes the rod feel powerful without weighing it down too much
- The TX9’s 3K woven carbon reel seat feels incredibly sturdy and reliable
- The single-leg guides at the top of the rod allow for faster, smoother casts
- The SIC K-type line guides are specially angled to prevent line frap
- The look and feel of the rod make it feel like it is made from quality materials.
Cons
- Costs a fair bit more than the Shimano TX7 without differing much in terms of features on offer
- I Would like to have seen a shorter version of the TX9 model
- The intensity version doesn’t seem to have a precise test curve as its between 3.5 and 3.75lb
A Bit About the Shimano TX9
The Shimano TX9 is one of the brand’s Tribal series of carp rods, which encompasses a range of both budget-friendly and higher-end offerings. As one of the Tribal series’ more expensive rods, the TX9 is clearly intended to be geared towards anglers in the market for a more high-performance model.
It does actually deliver this; with top-of-the-line parts and attachments, elite performance in many areas, and excellent build quality. The TX9 serves as an excellent counterpart to the Tribal Series’ more affordable, accessible models like the TX2.
Who’s it ideal for
The Shimano TX9 is best suited to experienced anglers on the market for a high-performance, reliable, and versatile carp rod, perhaps especially for fishing medium to larger-sized venues.
In particular, it’s likely to appeal to anglers searching for a strong, balanced rod that’s as lightweight as possible. Remarkably, the TX9 weighs in at just 421 grams, thanks in large part to the cutting-edge technology Shimano uses to assemble its blanks.
How Does the Shimano TX9 Differ from the Shimano TX2 and TX7
Anglers who have seen other rods from Shimano’s Tribal range may be wondering what distinguishes the TX9 from the TX2 and TX7, two of the series’ other more popular offerings.
In short, the TX2 is the most affordable option of the three, while the TX7 is a far more competitive model, being capable of doing just about anything the TX9 can.
To be honest, there isn’t much to set the TX7 and TX9 apart, and, personally, if I was tossing up between the two, I’d likely opt for the TX7 and save myself some money as a result.
I have reviewed all 3 of these models with the TX9 scoring an overall rating of 8.6, the TX7 scored 8.9 and the TX2 coming in at 8.6.
The Different Versions Of The TX9
Here is a table that details the different versions of the Shimano TX9, their average top casting distance with a 4oz lead and the best situations to use the rod in.
| Length | Test Curve | Ideal For | Max Cast Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 ft | 2.75lb | Small to medium sized venues, and close range fishing | 130 yds |
| 12 ft | 3lb | Small to medium venues. Good all-round rod | 135 yds |
| 12 ft | 3.25lb | Small to medium venues. Good all-round rod | 145 yds |
| 12 ft (intensity) | 3.5lb+ | Medium to Larger venue where distance casting is required | 165 yds |
| 13 ft (Intensity) | 3.5lb+ | Large venues for casting long distances | 175 yds |
The 5 Attributes The Rod Was Tested Against
As mentioned previously in the article, there are 5 key elements that carp anglers look for in the best rods. These are as follows:
- Features
- Appearance
- Casting & Feel
- Playing Fish
- Value For Money
For more detail on the review process please visit the designated review explanation page that outlines how products are reviewed on eTackle.
The Shimano TX9 Review
So having set the scene with where the rod came from and what criteria the rod was tested against let’s now get into how it performed.
Features & Specifications
The handle
The Shimano TX9 features a skinny, Duplon handle with a tribal-etched stainless steel butt cap. This handle feels nice and balanced in the hand and is comfortable and easy to grip.
The reel seat
Boasting a custom Shimano 3K woven carbon reel seat with gunsmoke fittings, you can rest assured that any reel you used with the TX9 will be kept firmly in place.
I was using my Daiwa Emblems when testing and they were kept rock solid in place for the entire session.
The eyes/guides
The TX9 comes with a beautiful-looking set of 40mm, Fuji stainless steel SIC K-type guides and a 16mm tip ring.
Towards the tip are three single-led guides which allow for faster, smoother casting, and the guides are also angled in such a way that they prevent line frap, despite measuring 40mm rather than 50mm.
This is a clever feature that keeps the rod nice and light while providing the angler with a fantastic casting experience overall.
The blank
Shimano uses a combination of HPC300 and Biofibre carbon to construct the blank on the TX9. Additionally, the lower part of the blank features a 3K carbon wrap, which keeps it strong and resilient.
The blank feels nice and balanced in the hand and delivers a tremendous amount of power where it’s reinforced by the 3K carbon wrap.
Features & Specifications Summary
- Available in 12 and 13-foot lengths
- Test curves include 3lb, 3.25lb and 3.75lb
- Weighs just 421g
- Made with a blend of HPC300 and Biofibre carbon with Nano Alloy technology
- Shimano 3K woven carbon Reel Seat
- Fuji stainless steel SIC K-type line guides
Appearance
One thing I especially like about the Shimano TX9 was how sleek and professional the rod looks. The 3K carbon wrap that the bulk of the blank features has a subtle beauty to it, and it complement’s the rod’s stainless steel and blue finishings perfectly. This rod looks every bit as high-end as its performance.
Check out this video that shows the Shimano TX9 in action:
Casting & Feel
I thought the Shimano TX9 felt best when used on mid-range or longer casts. The lightweight yet powerful feel to the rod just makes you want to cast a 4oz lead to the horizon with it.
The angle of the 40mm SIC K-type guides also eliminates line frap, which I really felt was a very handy feature to have and managed to get a few extra yards on the cast.
I mostly used the 3.25lb test curve version when testing the model and was casting to a spot 30 wraps out. The rod achieved this with relative ease.
Playing Fish
All in all, the TX9 is a beautiful rod to play fish with. Its tip feels very responsive, while the lower end of the rod allows you to apply plenty of pressure and generate lots of power, thanks to its 3K carbon wrap. The rod offers great sensitivity without feeling feeble or brittle and its lightweight nature allows you to feel every thump and turn.
Value For Money
If you’re in the market for a truly high-end rod, then it’s impossible to argue that the TX9 doesn’t score highly in the value for money category. This is a great carp rod that’s exceptionally well-made, features quality finishings and features, and, I expect, will simply last and last if you take proper care of it.
With that being said, I think it’s important to acknowledge that the TX9 fails to innovate significantly on the TX7, which is considerably more affordable. While the TX9 is certainly the higher-end of the two, I would almost find it hard to justify its price when the TX7 is very similar.
If you have the budget for the price point of the TX9 I would recommend you take a look at the Greys Aircurve carp rod as this scored very well when reviewed.
Final Thoughts & Conclusions
All in all, the Shimano TX9 is, undoubtedly, a great carp rod. It looks fantastic, performs well across the board, and is made using quality materials and parts. However, it isn’t substantially different from Shimano’s more affordable TX7 and I have reviewed better rods that cost the same as the TX9.
Maybe, if the price came down a tad, I would purchase a set as there were many things to like about it but for now, if you are looking to purchase a set of TX rods then I would recommend the Tribal TX7 model.
Thanks for reading.