Originally Posted By: Needeep
Wow...now I want one of each after all the posts..especially Karry's.

Let me ask this...If I get the 1264 will I feel "over gunned" for an 8lb steelhead? In other words does it need to be a 15lb fish to get a good fight out of it?

I fish the cowlitz a lot ..most of the standard winter steel seem to be around 8 but 15+ is a deffinate possiblity.

Also..I am a bank fisher and don't always have the room nor the ability to chase fish.

Thanks for all the help so far...much appreciated.

Matters what your fishing for. I personally prefer a lighter rod on bigger fish because you get to play them out more, and really get to test your rods limits. I hook 25-30 pound spring chinook on the Yakima river every year with my XST1263 and its a hoot. The only downside fishing a lighter rod is that if your fishing for native fish that have to be released, then you need to get them in as quickly as possible. And that's where using a heavier rod like the XST1264 would come in handy... It has the necessary backbone to put the sticks to the fish and turn him when you need to, so you can get it in quickly and release it. You can do it with a lighter rod (I do it all the time), but you risk breaking it...

Now in your case fishing the Cowlitz for winter steelhead, lighter all the way dude... The steelhead in there are 98.99 percent hatchery brats and you can play them out all you want...XST1263 gets my vote.
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