This is not a debate of what the best rod is, but more of a question about which rod to buy. I have been looking for quite some time, and have narrowed the choices down quite a bit. This rod will be mainly a drift fishing rod for steelhead and salmon, but might be used for some bobber fishing. I have decided on a rod similiar to a 1025C. Biggest question is should I get this rod in an 8'6" or 9'. It is kind of a toss up, so I'd like to have more opinions. I'd also like to keep price under $200. That means no gloomis imx, but probably an rainshadow or st. croix. So, guys, let's hear the opinions...

Matt

THE 1025 IS AN OUTSTANDING ROD, IF YOU GO 9' I WOULD GO WITH THE 1084, ST CROIX MAKES GREAT RODS, BUT FOR A TWO PEACE SALMON AND STEELHEAD ROD I WOULD STICK WITH RAINSHADOW.

If you want a less (than Loomis) expensive rod, check out Lamiglas as well. I have few Lamis that I like. By the way we were due for a Loomi vs. Lami vs. ... thread

I'd go with the 9' I have never wished I had a shorter rod but I have wished I had a longer one.
Talk to rc I built him a 1084 Rainshadow maybe he can tell you how it fishes.

I have a 8'6 lamiglas cert. pro 8-17lb test works great for most anything i want to fish for in rivers, kings, coho, caught my first steelhead on it too.. i believe it was about 130 at sportco

OWTH hey check out an allstar....best value on the market. I can hear it now but.....ack out of here.

I picked up a 8-6 lamiglas casting 15-25 for 79$ at walmart, and a all star bass flippen stick 6-6 casting rod for 11 $. but that lami is a hell nice rod. there probly more of them at the port orchard walmart. Ben

GL3 1263C AWESOME spend the $$$$$$ you will not regrett it.

if you want a 1025 for under 2 bills buy a 1025 GL2, great all around rod

Unless you are on a small river (where you don't need a really long float rod) you should keep your float rod seperate from your drift rod. You should buy a Rainshadow 1025 and a Rainshadow 1263. Then just pack both rods with you and you are rigged up with 2 different rigs.

~ Dr Pepper

Read below and you'll find all that you need to know!
Tyler

I was thinking St. Croix or Rainshadow because of the sensitivity... I've been told they equal a gl3-gl4. I've also been told the gl2 just doesn't have the sensitivity... I know I can get any of these for under $200.

Rainshadow:
8'6" 1025C
Med-Heavy
Fast Action
8-17 lb. 3/8-1oz

9' 1084C
Medium
Fast Action
8-12 lb. 3/8-3/4oz

St. Croix:
Med-Heavy
Fast Action
8-17 lb. 3/8-1 1/4oz
9' AVID/AC90MHF2

If I go 9', it would probably be the St. Croix because of the line rating and lure weight meaning extra power. If I hook a big chinook, I'd like the power... Any more thoughts? Any other rods I should consider? Thanks for the help so far.

Matt

Rip, they stopped saying that now.....wonder why?

Check out the Lamiglas certified pro series
X 86 LC-T if you want light action.
X 86 MCT med action with ex-fast tip.
They only make a 9'in heavy action, if you plan on using bobers or floats alot go to a 9'6" or 10'you'll want the extra length for keeping the slack out of your line.I have the 9'6" med action
nice rod paid 150 for it no complaints.

Most Likely I should not even be posting this,
But you would be krazy to not go with a Rainshadow or an Allstar.
Best rods for the money spent hands down!!!
Peace Superfly

and there speaks Uncle Joe...listen to him. I got the Allstars and may be going for some rainshadow custom rods. Got several Lamis...nice rods but not a favorite anymore...the cheapest aren't as good as the allstars. Loomis?...are ya going to get support if ya bust one? St. Croix...nice but I've seen spline problems. In that price range theres too much overlap in qualities...flip a coin.

Hook and rod debates on here lately. I'll add my 2 cents worth.

Hooks:

I haven't even read the recent Vision hook threads. But I was told of some complaints about certain batches by some guys and others saying they've never had problems with them. The swivels were said to be great. Joe knows I tell it like I see it, and usually appreciates it. Anyway, I've used a lot of Vision hooks and never broke any of them. I have found a few in a large box of them that were not needle sharp, but those are in the small minority and easily sharpened - making them a good value for the price. As for the many Vision swivels I've used I broke 2 of their snapswivels at the flap catch. But they were really small size 12's that I got for summer steelie's in low water. I broke 1 on a large silver in medium water flow and 1 on a snag. I think the 12 lb. leaders should have broken first; but I also should have used size 10 or 8's in those conditions; and I've never had a prob with those bigger Vision swivels. As for other brand hooks in the last few months, I have broken 1 Gamigatsu 3/0 at the bend while fighting a fall chinook (usually use 4/0 or 5/0, but it shouldn't have broken), and I bent out 1 mustad that cost me a flotilla fish at the net without pulling overly hard on it. No hook failures with Owners or Visions (or the few Eagle Laser sharps I had left and used). The best hook in my opinion is unquestionably the Owner hooks - they are great, but expensive.

Rods:

I agree with Joe about the Rainshadow and All Star Elite rods. The blanks are really consistently well built and have a very sensative high modulous - better than the Loomis GL2's or like priced Lami's, and in the ball park with the GL3's. If you spend a little more than the factory Lamiglass and All Star rods you can get the great Rainshadow blanks excellently custom built by TH Custom Rods. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, I'd recommend the Lami Titanium rod or the Loomis GL3 over their IMX - you'd have a hard time recognizing a sensativity difference, but the GL3's are more durable than the mega priced HMX's. ... The last 6 rods I've bought are 2 All Stars, 1 Buzz Ramsey IM7 new 'Lightning' version, and 3 TH Customs with Rainshadow blanks. The last 2 were the recent TH custom sized 9'6" rated for 8 to 17 lb. line - 1 casting and 1 spinning. I got them to use for mid-Feb. to mid-April large nate C&R fishing, May/June combo of spring 'nooks and summer steelies when in a river at the same time, and likewise when the fall salmon and winter steelies overlap for a few weeks. If I had to choose one all-around river rod, these would be it! Light and sensative enough for low water steelheading, yet plenty strong to land large Kings using 15 lb. UG leader. They are a bit light for backbouncing much weight or for fighting large 'nooks in in places such as snaggy Tillamook tidewater. Just like the modern chemcially sharpened hooks, the rods today are a big improvement in recent years - IMHO.

RT - Ooops, rambled out 3 cents worth again.

for floatfishing i personally use long rods from 13' to 15' but i guess your not looking for that. just my 2 cents........

tight lines......wayne........

Well, I could always use that extra cent!

I know this decision has been a tough one so far, and will continue to be hard. In the end, no matter if I go 8'6" or 9', I should be happy with my choice.
Since I don't plan on putting in an order for some time, what do you think about the "new" 57 million module rainshadow blanks. I've heard they're suppose to be great based upon the number, but I don't think anyone has ever tested them. The last I heard they were coming out in June, and a custom would be worth about $210? Should I consider these as well?

As it was stated, it is a toss up, and that's why I'm looking for opinions.

Matt

Gee RT we agree on the Owners.

Allstar also carries a Titanium rod. Worth checking out.

Rip - Since you live in Battleground, take a quick run to Woodland to the Lamiglass Factory store (east side of I-5 on the on-ramp going north). I've bought several rods there over the past several years. I use strictly Lamiglass now. The Cert Pro is a great rod and at the factory store runs about $120. The G1000 series runs about $80.

If you're doing alot of drifting, I would go with an 8.5 foot G1000. If you do alot of jig fishing, go with a 9 footer or higher. I prefer a longer rod when jigging to keep the line off the water. Good luck.

If the answer to the question was simple, I wouldn't own 8 steelhead rods (not to mention the two I just sold).

Someone has to stick up for St. Croix...

One of my first salmon/steelhead rods I picked up in WA was a 8.5 8-17 Wild River St. Croix caster. I have since collected many other rods, including Lami esprits, loomis's, and fenwick techna av's- yet I can't seem to get rid of the St. Croix. Great all conditions/fish rod, a little beefy (maybe should have a 20# rating)yet respectably sensitive and light. For $100, hell of a rod (even had the company swap it no problem when I buddy borrowed it and slammed it in his trunk).
Peace.
-JF

Matt, Matt, Matt .... Listen to the old guy .... We have been trying to make you a jig fisherman .... Buy a 10-10.5 foot rod, perhaps a Lami Certified Pro, counterbalance it and live your life happily slaying fish.

Actually thumper, I was thinking about taking one of those old yellow rods with the metal ferruls and using them for my jig rod. I have a 10', and because of the metal ferruls the braided line wouldn't cut grooves (as I've heard of happening). The rods don't have the sensitivity as a new-day rod, but should be fine for jig fishing since your watching the bobber.

Like I said, I'm looking for more of a drift rod, since I really don't have something with that much sensitivity. If I do have a custom rod made, do metal furruls even exist? Are their upsides and downsides to having ferrules made out of different materials? Maybe TH would like to step in and give me more information on the rainshadow products...

Matt

It is my understanding that the braided lines will only wear grooves in cheap rod eyes. A good rod should have good eyes so that shouldn't be a problem.

You can buy a Loomis for under $200 and have the best rod made, or you can save some money and buy one of those other pieces of #@$%. That's a pretty easy choice.

Well, it's been decided! Ripalip says that Loomis is the best, period. Glad that's settled. Any insight on hooks?

Oh, only cheap eyelets. Okay, that's a little more comforting knowing I'm paying a hefty price with my budget...

Has anyone here ever tried the new titanium lamiglass rods? Aren't they like $500 or so? I wonder how they would compare to a loomis. it's not like I'm going to buy one, but I am curious.

Matt

I never fished one, but i did hold it.. and i had my dad blow on the tip, and i poop you not.. i could feel it...

My favorite two rods are both lamis. A 10'6" pro cert 8-12 and my newest 9'6" 8-12 love them both could float without them. Also have a 1025 that just sits there.

Tight lines

Kevin

By the way looking for a new springer/King rod 10' or so what do ya suggest?

For those of you experts out there doing moduluos counts I would consult the manufacturer.
First of all I don't think anyone is making a 57 million modulous blank or rod. And then if they were they would most likely not be telling the general public there specs.
I think You have been hittin the peace pipe way to long and dreaming of the greatest rods.
Peace Superfly

Kevin's full of $hit! I let him use oneof my 1143 GL3's for a few months and dam near had to kick his a$$ to get it back

Don't let him blow smoke about Lami bein his fav. cuz he just isn't tellin ya the truth.

TM-out

If the Loomis rods carried the same warranty as the Lami's do, it would be a perfect world.

Sorry for being gone so long.. all that late winter/ early spring steelie fishing is wearing me out.

Lets talk rods... in my opinion the best blank on the market is the Rainshadow blank. with our new pricing as of 4-2-02 you'll be able to get it for under $130 in the 1025 model. You can't find another rod with this quality for $130 anywhere!

Loomis makes a good rod, they always have, but... for years all we had to choose from was Loomis or Lamiglas.. Now we have choices, and for me its not worth the extra $100 to have a Loomis decal anymore. Every blank manufacture has to have a competive warranty, must use high end compoents etc. They are all good.
But.. the Rainshadow blank is straighter, has fewer cosmetic flaws, very sensitive and is priced way under the other rods.. plus you can only get one if you build it yourself of have someone build it for you, which is going to give you a better built rod.

51 million modulus blanks from Rainshadow... probably the end of the summer. They should be as light and sensitive as anything on the market! IMX, Lamiglas Ti etc. and again have the RAinshadow quaity behind them.

As for guides, I have never seen braided line chew up a hailoy guide... but with the cost of SicTi guides so cheap these days, its worth $20 extra dollars to have them.

Please check out our new pricing on Rainshadow rods.. you will be shocked! Batson Ent. has really done some wondeful things with their product development and pricing and lead the industry in customer service!! Great people!

We now have choices.. and aren't required to spend $250 on a high end rod... thank goodness.

gooose and lead thrower seem to have warranty questions about Loomis, heres my .02 cents
This is from G.LOOMIS 2002-2003 rod catalog.
G.LOOMIS LIMITED WARRANTY
"Every G.Loomis rod, rodblank and Syncrotech reel
is covered by a limited warranty against defects in workmanship and materials for the lifetime of the original owner.Adventure fly reels and our fly rod kits are covered aginst defects in workmanship and materials for one year from date of purchase. Should dammage occure due to defict, G.Loomis will, at the companys's discretion,either repair or replace the product at no charge.Damage resulting from accident,
neglect, or normal wear and tear,at the company's
discretion, be repaired or replaced for a nominal fee.Naturally, you will receive a complete estimate before any repairs are preformed."

G.LOOMIS XPEDITOR SERVICE
"A broken rod will never have to keep you off the water again.With the G.Loomis Xpedditor service you can get a brand new rod to replace a broken one, delivered to your doorstep in just two days.Even if your on a trip away from home(any where in the U.S.).No questions asked, no waiting around for warranty claims. this saves you the usual hassle and expense of packaging, insuring and mailing your broken rod. Plus, you avoid any and all warranty fees for the rod repair.

Here's how it works. Contact our service department and request the G.Loomis Xpeditor Service. Pending stock availability, we will ship
you a current replacement rod via UPS 2nd Day delivery.Then, when you receive your new rod, simply remove it from the shipping tube, place the broken rod into the shipping tube, and affix the pre-paid UPS shipping label provided. Once you hand off the package to UPS, you're done and back on the water. The cost: $50.00 charged to your credit card. Demo rods are excluded from this program. This service is faster, cheaper and more " user-friendly" than any other option available (Except maybe avoiding breakage altogether)".

I don't know what lami's, or alstar or rainshadow's warranty are, but this is G.Loomis
and it's a good one......great service too

My mistake, 51 million, not 57 million. So the rainshadow blanks for $130 are the exact same inclusing quality as previously rods sold for $160 without shipping?

Matt

YES.
As of 4/2/02 we will be offering a totally new price structure for all of our Rainshadow rods.
standard and SicTi models.

I have both Loomis and Allstar. I like the Loomis rods for drift fishing. Allstar is fine for me while plugging, floating, or spinning.

I pretty much fish with the following throughout the year:

(Not in any order or preference)

1024c
1025c
1086c
1143c
1263c

And for plugging:

HSR901
HSR964c

Got have some spinning gear:

1083s
1141s

As of late, the 1143, 1263, 1083, and 901 have been my work horses.