i've really gotten into bobber fishing with spinning rods in the last year, i've got several bobber rods, but i've found a new one i think i have to have, so i've told my wife. what i'm looking at is a g-loomis str 1173s-sk, it's 9'9" medium, 6-12lb, in a GL3, i'm curious as to weather anyone has one of these rods or has tried one, and what they thought of it. thanks in advance for your advice.

seems a bit short....I got a Lami 10'6" Certified Pro 8 -12 for $136. Great rod for drifting eggs with a split shot or floating a bobber....

You might think about a str 1261 GL3 which is 10 1/2 feet long and should be light enough for your needs. Try calling Greg's custom rods in Lake Stevens for some less expensive alternatives like a Rainshadow blank.

Beezer

[ 10-25-2001: Message edited by: Beezer ]

If money is not issue go with the loomis, I personally beleive they are the best and that's for there whole line of rods. But I would recommend considering a Rogue Rod. They're coming out with an assortment of rods that are being built by the loomis's under a different name. After Gary sold Loomis to shimano, his nephew and another guy by the name of Vern Dollar have started the Rogue Rods. I'm not sure if they have a catolog yet but I know they're in mass production of the rods. We had fished one of the bobber rods a few weeks back on the quinalt for chinook and I was impressed, extremely impressed.
Keith

keith,
i don't know if you saw my previous post, but i asked about those rods earlier in the week, yes they do have a catolog, i just picked one up on monday. there is a whole selection of them in a sporting goods store up here. I was really interested in them. they had one bobber rod that i did like, but they didn't have a full selection of them. and the bobber rod they did have was only a 9ft rod, and i already have a couple 9fters. I might go and take a second look at them, but i really liked the feel of the loomis i picked up, and once i pick up a rod that feels just right it is hard to sway my decision, but i will look at those rods again. thanks for the info!

Chum,
You've got a good feel my friend.. I feel the same way when I pick up a loomis, it just does something funny to you! There's no doubt in my mind Loomis's are second to none. You will love the 1173, my buddy james has one and it's an awesome rod as well as Loomis's whole line of rods. I've never tried the 1271 like beezer suggested, I for some reason just don't like rods that are over 9'6". No matter the type of rod they just lose sensetivity once you get longer than that, they start to feel like a rubberband. But a 10'6" rod does have it's advantages if you are a diehard bobber dude, being able to mend line like you're flatlining off a 15 foot cliff. I'd rather driftfish with a 9 footer though my 1084 is my favorite, they're long enough to feel everything and short enough to flat bury the hook when needed, and protect line just fine.
Keith
Keith

[ 10-24-2001: Message edited by: stlhdr1 ]

keith, i couldn't agree with you more, i've tried several 10' plus rods, and i have a hard time with them,now i'm not bashing 10'+ rods i just can't get used to them, i also realize when bobber fishing you don't need a sensitive rod but, i like to throw spinners and spoons, and just plain eggs with no weight also, so the sesitivity is still an issue.
on another note, this rod has a very short handel on the end, my dad has a lamiglass rod with the same style of handle and added a small section to the end, which makes it perfect! if i end up getting this rod, i will probably do the same thing.

we have built a few.. It is almost the same blank as the 1143.. except for the handle kit.. we have actually put a few of those handle kits (10" fore cork, 5" rear cork) on the 1143 and they fish really well.
In my opinion, I wouldn't spend the money on the Loomis, I'd buy a Rainshadow.... there are a few board members that you could ask...... the'd say the same thing.. I have yet to find someone that disagrees..

TH www.thcustomrods.com

[ 10-24-2001: Message edited by: TH ]

I'll never buy another Loomis again when there's an Allstar Elite out there. 1263c 10.5' Allstar Elite float rod. All the perfomance of a GL3 at a fraction of the cost.

Regardless, don't get anything below 10.5'. You'll be making a big mistake and will regret it later.

Parker

Hey I just caught this link, and I reallllly don't want to sound stupid, but, what is different about a 'bobber rod' verses a fly rod or casting rod? I just have not heard of one before. Thanks.

let me clarify a little more here, a lot of people are saying i'll be sorry if i don't buy a longer rod, so i'll elaborate a little more here. i already have a 10 1/2' rod, it's not a very good one but i do have one, so i don't really want another one because i don't use the one i have. the main river i fish is a pretty small river and the holes i fish aren't real big so i'm not to worried about not haveing a long enough rod to keep line off the water. i guess what i was really looking for was people who had or have fished with the rod and what they thought of it, ie: how sensitive it was, how it handeled the fish, etc..., but thank you to everyone else for giving there opinions, and i will keep them in mind if (or should i say when) i decide to take a leep into a quality double digit rod!

thomas jacobs, sorry i forgot to reply to you, so i'll reply to ya now. there isn't really anything different about a bobber rod, it's just a technique of fishing that has become increasingly popular. normally when people describe a bobber rod they are farily long in length, this has a lot to do with keeping your line off the water. other than that they are really no different than a standard salmon/steelhead casting rod. hope this clears things up for ya.

TH is right! The Rainshadows are an excellent rod! I have 3 of them and would put them up against Loomis any day.

Rainshadow all the way. I have a 1141 and a 1084 You get all that a GL-3 can offer and more. Ive even put it next to the IMX and cant tell the difference is sensitivity. One thing I can say is that the Rainshadow rods are tuff. Ive beat the hell out of my 1084.

I wish they made a 1143 blank.

Do you guys find a big difference between Rainshadow and Loomis rods of supposedly the same power rating? I looked at a couple the other day at R&R Marine, I think they were both 1084's, one was Rainshodow, one was Loomis, the Loomis seemed heavier, less sensitive, but more powerful... like it should have been rated a 1085 not a 1084... anyone done any head to head comparisons?

-N.

[ 10-24-2001: Message edited by: StorminN ]

I have a 1173, and I like it just fine with the exception of the short back handle. The SK or Skamania series rods were designed to be Michigan style grip, which would be the equivalent of choking up on a bat, your hand above the reel, if that is your preference. You could extend the rear handle or put on a counter balance in back to overcome the tip heavy feel I get with a Shimano Spirex 2000 attached. I have fished some of the Allstar rods and they are excellent, although I didn't fish one with comparable specs. The 1173 has good sensitivity and plenty of back bone to turn a large fish if neccisary, due to the nature of the stiffness of the GL3 graphite. I know, I've had to do it. Yet it does have a light enough tip to "circle" or flip cast a small spoon or spinner in tight situations, where long rods could prove problematic. If cost is a consideration, I would go with the Rain Shadow, If not and you prefer a Blue Lable manufacturer, the Loomis is a good choice.

Hmm, these Rainshadow rods sound interesting. Where can I get more info on them, and who carries them?

D&E Rods (One of Loomis's few blank distributors now) custom built a buch of rods on Loomis blanks.

Rods built included STR and SAR 1265 built with the BC Mooching handles, 1143's built up as spin rods and a couple of the SK style rods such as the 1085 and I believe the 1173 built with standard spind handles. Call around and you might be able to find one.

Hey Rich, Rainshadow does make a 1143 now.. I bugged them enough last summer, that they developed one.... I received samples earlier this fall and should receive a large shippment of them (1143) in early Nov.
It is identical to the GL3 1143....
we also carry the ful line of Raishadow blanks...
Rich you need an 1143 to match the other two we have built for you...

Lets talk more aboutthe 8wt fly rod...
NICE COHO.........

TH
www.thcustomrods.com

[ 10-25-2001: Message edited by: TH ]

O.K. Here I go again, I feel foolish, I know about 'bobber' fishing from being a kid, are you referring to a different method? If so where can I get more information on this. I am always eager to learn an alternative way of fishing, especially if they are not biting on what I am doing!