This past winter I upgraded my rod and decided, maybe wrongly, on a Loomis GL2 STR1265C (10.5').

Most of my fishing with this rod will be casting from the beach (salt) with salmon or steelhead set-ups, using an Abu C-4 5601 reel.

What has me questioning my purchase is: I think I read on a couple different posts now that the newer loomis rods are not as good as they use to be. Did I make the wrong decision? I had not discovered this site then, but did talk with both Ted's in Lynwood and John's in Everett bofore making the purchase.

Let me know what you think. I am also thinking about another L hand casting reel and would appreciate recommendations in (almost) all price ranges.