Earlier this year I linked up with the G Loomis Rep and had the opportunity to fish a couple rods that I had high interest seeing built into the line up for Northwest Steelhead and Salmon fishing. I have the pleasure of fishing with Kiely Brehm on a local stream, from what I recall we changed plans due too blustering wind and sideways rain is never a good combination.

That morning I swung by to pick up Kiley and notice he had some new Prototypes that needed some river time.  That morning grab 1 rod, it was the new 1264c IMX. I've hassled him with no remorse to have this rod built into a casting rod when it was debuted as a spinning rod. This rod was very light in the hands, it had a crisp moderate action and knew that it would be a an interesting fun day matching it up with one on my infamous direct drive reels. We loaded up our gear and hit the road not with out stopping at Safeway to get the much needed and delicious breakfast burrito. By this time it was about 9am.... late start meh... no worries!

We arrive at our first location and get suited and booted, we also realize fishing conditions are not primo and we had find a more secluded covered area where the weather wouldn't effect our fishing  techniques. So we back tracked to a small little tributary and worked our way through the next few runs with no success. We move the truck downstream, and proceeded to walk into the next hole. this is where I really got to feel the true action of this rod. The river widened up quite a bit. I was able to make some nice longs casts with this new 1264c IMX. I was quite amazed how effortlessly and smooth this rod delivered. So smooth I even landed my spoon in a tree across the river resulting in a $5 donation to the Squirrels.

We fished one more run, I absolutely knew there was fish for us to play with in this run. I tried on a lighter spoon it started at the top of the run working my way down through it. I got about half way down in the hole just about the heart of the run absolutely crushed at the end of my swing at the hang down just before I was going to reel on and make a new cast. This rod loaded up nice as my line tightened up and the fish took off running down stream. As the rod loaded it up I could feel how much power this Rod actually. I lift the rod tip straight up ever so slowly and leaned back into it. This fish didn't stand a chance with the combination of the 1264c & 14lb mono. This fish takes a few more runs and  jumps, then gives up within a couple minutes. Kiley tails the fish for me which was a nice late wild coho about 8-9lbs. We safely release it, and fish that pocket for a few more casts. There was one more small groove I wanted a fish that was about 75 yards down river. I made about a half a dozen cash before I got tagged on my spoon. I mention to Kiley that I think I just got hit by something decent. I made the same cast, wham.... STEELHEAD! Comes flying out of the water screaming down stream and again this fish was no match for the powerful 1264c IMX. I get this fish to the bank relatively quickly and it's a hatchery fish so it was maditory we bonked it.
So the first outing with this rod was quite a success even though we covered a decent amount of ground to find these fish.

The 1264c IMX has a crisp slow smooth rebound with each spoon thump as I made each swing through the hole. I'd was pleasantly surprised  how much I liked it. I'd rate this rod a 10 -17lb with no hesitation. I highly recommend this rod for all purposes of fishing. From hardware to bobber fishing and even some drift fishing,  this rod will do it all!