REW - Loomis question

[Rapaleye]

REW - I follow this board quite often and have come to respect you opinions on different rods. You seem to put a lot of thought into building and testing different rod types.
On a recent post you mentioned that for rigging you liked the Loomis Spinning series. What do you think about about the SR782-1 in IMX graphite? It is rated a light with fast action, but like you mentioned in your other post the blank stays fairly narrow on the but end and flexes more like a moderate taper? I know a person often wants a longer rod, like 7' or 7'6", for rigging but I am hoping for double duty out of this rod and 6'6" is a better length.
Any insight you can provide is appreciated.
Jim

[Mattman]

I know you are looking for input from REW so I'll leave out my opinion of that particular rod for your needs.

What I do want to say is yes, the Spinning series is much more moderate than the Spin Jig series. What you have to keep in mind with Loomis is that their ratings are applicable only within that particular series. For example if I told you that I'm using a 7'6" Mag-Light (a step lighter than Ultra-Light) rod for Lindy's and spinner rigs you'd probably scoff. But the HS9000 is a Mag-Light rod, for a Salmon rod. 6 - 12 pound line and 1/4 - 1/2 ounce lures. That's a Medium by most standards, but a Mag-Light when comparing the Hot Shot series. Actions are much the same. The rod you are looking at is a fast action rod, for the Spinning series.

Looking forward to REW's reply to your question. Before I got the Hot Shot blank I was considering one from the Spinning series. Good luck.


Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[hawg]

before you spend the extra,dont rule out the loomis walleye series.

[custom rod builder]

I know you are looking for REW to respond, but just cant help but throw in my two cents.

The HS9000 is a 7'6" mag light one heck of a swell rod. Live bait, cranks, even jigs will respond with this rod with ease. Huge fish can be managed without difficulity. IMX is my choice for graphite. Have built and fish with many of these fine tools.

You will not be disappointed!

Fish On!

[Rapaleye]

Thanks to all of you who have input on this one. By posting for REW I didn't mean that others opinions aren't welcome. REW happens to be one of the folks I have come to know by name.
Thanks again for anyone who has an opinion on this one. I'll make sure to look at the HS9000. If I can't fit a 7'6" one piece in the rod box, how much do I loose by going to a 2 piece versus going with the spinning series and staying one piece.
Jim

[REW]

As I have said in the past - the HS9000 series rod is a great rod.
I do think, however, that in the IMX series - it is a bit stiff for lindy rigging. Spinners - yes, plain hook lindy rigging no.

However, the same rod - in the gl2 version is a fine lindy rigging rod. Much lighter action , all the way to the tip.

The spinning rod mentioned above will make a great lindy rig.

Bottom line - get a nice medium light action rod - good balance - and with moderate action.

Since a lindy rig - is a "visual" type of fishing - as opposed to a "feeling" type of fishing - I don't think that you need to pay a super premium for a rod.

As several have mentioned before - a lindy rod works better if it is longer than 6 feet. I prever a 7'6" rod or so for most of my lindy rigging. If it is really windy - then a 7 footer works better, because there isn't so much rod to catch the wind.

Another option to consider is the use of a bait caster for lindy rigging. One of my favorite lindy rigging rods, is a St. Croix Premier - 7'3" medium light spinning rod blank - that I built up with a bait casting handle and guides.

With a nice low profile bait caster - it is so easy to follow bottom contours, hit the flipping switch - if you feel or see a fish hit the bait - to feed line - and easy - winding the fish in.

Again, this was the standard St. Croix Premier medium light - that has a moderate action.

Another great rod is the 7'6" St. Croix - wild river trout rod. For the same reasons posted above.

-
In the Loomis lines - nearly any of the spinning series - in a medium light action work just fine. If you go too light - with a longer rod - it just seems that the tip and too far into the butt get "whippy"

Another of my favorite rods is a 7'10" Lamiglas Steel head rod. Plenty of length to run long snells, a super soft tip - to see the light bites, but plenty of beef - to set the hook.

take care
REW

[David Anderson]

I am a big fan of 1 pc rods. I am buying a fly rod and a spinning rod to take to Alaska this year and bent on a 2 pc minimum, and a short 1 pc for the spinning. Upon investigation most people are now getting 3 and 4 pcs fly rods, especially in the high end rods. The rod manufacturers at the shows told me that most 1 pc rods exist because that's what the public wants. Today a quality 2 pc rod is as good as a 1 pc. I'm not saying that I believe them as all of my rods are 1 pc including my favorite Loomis 9000. I did pick up an Avid 2 pc 8'6" and have used it last week for rigging. Aside from being alittle long, it performs like a 1 pc.

[hawg]

rew- how can you possibly say lindy rigging is a visual form of fishing, in fact it is the ultimate form of feel fishing.

[Rapaleye]

REW and the others, thanks for the replies. I will find the HS9000 in the GL2 and compare it to the Spinning SR782. I know there will be a big difference in length, but I want this rod to double as a panfish bobber rod and therefore was leaning towards the Spinning series.
Thanks again for the ideas.
Jim

[WAeyes]

Hey Rapaleye,

I remember you posting a while back on the increased weight of the G-Loomis rod you bought compared to their catalog weight. Did you ever get the scoop on that? Did they raise the weights on all of their rods or just that model or what?

[Rapaleye]

WAeyes you have a good memory. I never really got a straight answer from Loomis. Here is what I believe is happening. If you notice on their web site and their new catalog they no longer publish rod weights.
The customer service people dodge the question of rod weights with comments like "there is variability in the guides groups year to year, variability in the blank weight and the handles. The combination of these can lead to wide swings in rod weight" He claimed that such variability creats a lot of questions with the consumers and therefore they are not going to publish that information anymore. I am no statitician but it would seem that if you can claim a difference of .15 grams from one rod to the next (IMX vs GLX etc) in one rod series you can't have too much standard deviation around the average and still claim you can tell the difference.
My belief is that over time Loomis has felt the cost of replacing broken rods made with very thin/light graphite and are likely making the blanks thicker to lower the breaking frequency. I have no data to prove that, other than my rod weighing about 25% more than published. If I could weigh several rods of each size/make I would have more data for such a theory, but I doubt a rod store would want me walking in with my digital scale and weighing their rods.
The bottom line is I have been out fishing with my two new rods several times now and am very surprised by their sensitivity as compared to my other rods. I would say they are easily the most sensitive rods in my boat. If my theory is right the extra weight still leaves it a very sensitive rod (and hopefully a more durable rod).
That is the story. If anyone has anymore information I would love to hear it.
Jim

[REW]

I use this term - if you are using a very light tipped rod.
With a very light tipped rod - it is likely that you are going to see the rod moving at the same time as you feel anything.
Often, depending on how the fish are biting - it is easier to "see" the light tipped rod bend - as opposed to feeling any thing in the butt of the rod.

I do agree - that when Lindy rigging - if any thing "at all" feels "different" I typically drop the line. This may or may not have been - with any tip movement. Often there is an Eye hanging on the end of the line - after this "different" feeling.

Bottom line - the light tipped rod - with a parabolic action - gives the fisherman "more forgivness" with respect to not pulling the hook out of the fishes mouth.

Take care
REW

[Mattman]

David & Rapaleye - Today's graphite and ferrule technology make multi-piece rods much more sensitive than the rods of many years ago. The ferrules are made to flex with the rod. The graphite and ferrule (graphite also) marry together quite well and allow maximum sensitivity. There really is just a slight difference in weight. Another complaint of the two-piece has been the two pieces coming apart while fishing. If you put your rod together correctly that won't happen. Snug the ferrule assembly up and twist it until the guides line up. Don't let a two-piece rod scare you off. I still prefer a one-piece when I can get it, but I won't not consider a two-piece if conditions warrant it.

The HS9000 is a great rod for Lindy's. REW advised me well on that. Do a search for HS9000. I just built the rod a few weeks ago. I think it will make a good, although a bit heavy, panfish bobber rod. I think it will perform much better for a Walleye bobber rod. The HS9000 is very similar to my SJ782. With the exception that the rod is 1 foot longer and all of the extra foot is in the tip. The HS9000 is rated for 1/4 - 1/2 ounce weights. On my first, and only, so far, outing with the rod I was surprised at how much a 3/8 No-Snag would flex the tip of the rod. I was surpised at how much bow even a 12" Walleye could put in the rod. Can't imagine light Salmon work. Great feel, great action, great rod. I outfished my two partners by quite a margin. I can't say it was the rod, but I caught 7 more fish than the next highest catch rate. No fish to brag about, but I got a good feel for the rod. And I love it! I think it will be great for pitching small jigs a long distance too, as REW suggested. When I was test casting the rod while setting the guide spacing my jaw dropped when I saw how far I could wing a big split shot.

Another Spinning series rod to look at would be the 842. That's Doug Stange's favorite all around Panfish rod. I laughed when I read that a few issues ago because I've been thinking that would be a rod I'd really like for slip bobbering Crappies and throwing mini cranks and light jig/minnow combos.


Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[Mattman]

REW - Did you set up your baitcaster in a spiral wrap? When I built my HS9000 I did one for my brother-in-law too as a spiral wrapped baitcasting setup. Works out really well! I don't build baitcasters 'guides on top' any more. Spiral outperforms in every way.


Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[WAeyes]

I would bet your theory on replacement costs from too many broken rods is a pretty good theory in my opinion.