I bank fish on the wynoochee. Its not too wide but I want to have better control in those little niches that always seem to be across the river. Seems to me if I could just get my rod tip a little higher I could keep the current from grabing my line and pulling my liure out of the "sweet spot" for an extra second or two. I know about float fishing with long rods, but Im new to this addiction and want to perfect my drift fishing skills this year. So far my reasurch has brought up a 365$ Loomis 13.4 and 15' float / spinning rod. Since this would completely wipe out all the vast industrial wealth in my retirment fund, is there a less expensive choice in a 13' plus rod that I can spin with . I also have a Curado that my X wife gave me. Could I use this casting reel on a rod that long with very good results? Sorry for all the newbee questions, and I appreciate all the help Ive recieved so far.. Dan out.

The longer rod will certainly help you overcome the drag issue.

But be prepared to learn how to fight and beach fish in a different way with the longer stick.

If you haven't subscribed to the discipline of keeping that rod tip low and to the side during the battle, fishing with the extra long rod will certainly hammer the point home.

okuma guide select 13' 4-8lb. fishes 8lb line nicely. the rod is softer but has tons of backbone and fishes wonderfully.

and its only $110 at sportco in fife.

also the rod is very light wieght. alot lighter then the loomis 13' 4-8 bobber rod. though the actions are alot different. the loomis is alot stiffer.

okuma rods have a tendency to shatter easily.

st. croix makes a couple spinning rods in the 13' range that aren't too expensive and have a lifetime warranty.

I only fish lamis and loomis's and have always been happy with both. I don't know too much about st croix but roomer has it they make a damn fine stick too. Check out lamiglas.com and go to there salmon and steelhead rods and then click on certified pro. they have a 13' spinning pole rated for 6-10 pound test. don't be discouraged by msrp price as they usually tend to be about a hundred bucks less than what there list price is. ask your local tackle shop if they could order it for you. If your not experienced with casting reels I would suggest going with a spinning reel insted and also braided line cause with a rod that long a limber the no stretch will help you drive the hook home a lot easier, and it also floats making it easier to mend and pick up slack line. with all honesty it seems as though you have your heart set on that loomis and if thats what you really want any other rod you get will never be good enough. thats my two sense.

I have that 13.4 Loomis float stick built with a spinning reel seat. I wouldn't wish drift fishing with that rod upon anybody. It's really tip heavy. You'll build up some serious Popeye forearms if you try. Personally I like a shorter stick in the 9-10 foot range to drift fish with. Alternatively you could bobber fish with the longer rod, but with drift gear below it. . .I've heard that works for some jokers,

fb

i know 5 gusy who have my same rod and none of them have ever had a problem with it.

another company to check it is Raven rods. They are made in Ontario and have quite a following over here. I have a few and love them, you can get a 12'9" 4-10lb for 130 bucks. Its an odd length have no clue why, but mine has taken heavy abuse and has held up well...

http://www.raventackle.com

i had that okuma rod as well and it was a great rod for the price. It also had a liftime warranty and the tip broke once when i high sticked a fish but they replaced it over the counter. Now that i think about it i have no idea what i did with that rod

if i remember correctly you were the first guy i ever seen using that rod. i think on the upper sky by the intake. only reason i say that is because after you walked away another guy came up and started fishing and we were talking about that rod and the guy knew you and told me your handle on here. hmmm maybe it was or maybe is wasnt. all i know is i went out and baught one that very next day.

hmmm very well could have been

looks like Ill try the Okuma first. Price is right and if it wont spin fish Ill save it for floats . I have a curado reel for bait casting and I dont have any trouble casting accuratly with it. I just like the sportyness of a light spinning reel. It seems to crank easier or more balanced than the bait caster. Maybe it reels in faster . I wont miss the line twist when I start using the Curado soon because of the chance of hooking a native steelhead. I havent used braided line before. Does it work equaly well with both types of reels. I use the greenish yellow Izorline right now as Im nearly blind from old age or bad habits. Does braided line come in colors I can see. I can hardly tie a knot in most plain leaders like maxima ect. your help is appreciated, Dan out.

Dan:

Braided line comes in a "hi-vis yellow".....It is my line of choice because it is so easy to see. The major problem with "old age" and braided line is that it is so "limp" that it is sometime hard to get the "tag end" thur a small loop to complete a knot. After fishing with braided line for the past 6-7 years.....I have made adjustments....just make all my loops larger so the tag end with go thur easier.

My "bobber/jig" rod the past 2 years has been the 3-piece Lamiglas 13', it works very well for me.......can be a pain if fishing alone in a boat to try and get a fish close enough to net so for that reason it doesn't get used when I'm alone in the boat.

I looked at both the Okuma 13' and 15' but then used the "trade up" policy at Lamiglas to get my current rod.

Should contact me....can show you what I have and what I use......even know a guy that can tie some of the best jigs for our local rivers.

Heck if you're going to go 13 feet why not go 16 or 18 foot? You could really cover some water then.........

Keith

hey drifter wa, could you tell me a bit about the trade up policy from lamiglass?

2 ways to geet lass drag on those long range holes. try useing lighter line with a longer rod to match it. Or just a longer rod. I have a 13' TH custom rainshadow for fishing salmon. I love it but don't use it often as not many rivers have enough room and a I mostly fish from a boat. 13' of rod in a boat is no fun for landing fish!!!

you might be surprised how an 11' rod will help you and still be useable on more rivers.

I have many rods from 11' up to 13' and use to spend allot of time noodle rod fishing. now that I run a sled I don't take as much time to play with the long sticks.

any questions just send me a pm.

Kris

Lamiglas....has a trade up policy......if you have a rod that is in need of repair....reel seat loose, guides broken, rod broken....you can trade that rod in for another rod of your choice.....now you do have to pay a "charge" but its not close to what a new rod would cost you....

In my case....I had a G1000 G1310-T, 10 -20, 8.5' that had a guide broken, and was as rod that wouldn't be used by me.....even it was was perfect, so I called to "get a price on fixing this rod", so I could sell it...and in the conversation, I happen to ask about trade in/trade up for something that would be more useable for me. The person told me that Lamiglas had this policy, and then asked if I had some kind of rod in mind....and I did.....Certified Pro X13LS, 3 piece, 13', 6-10#......and that the price would be $140.00 plus WA tax........that same rod, now is less in price cause I called for a friend of mine....

$340.00 rod for $140.00...and something I would use....good deal for me!!!!!

Loomis does not have/ or didn't have, this kind of "deal" for fishermen...

I'd call...just to make sure..... 1-800-325-9436......Might be a Merry Christmas for some of you...looking to "up-grade"

Might check the following web site....all of the fish, caught by me.....were with this 13' rod.......fun, fun, and more fun....... http://www.bradsjigs.com/ I'm the old fart, holding the 17# but that is my boat shown on the opening page......

lami's trade up policy isn't bad all things considered, but it's nowhere near as good as it used to be. they used to take condition of your rod as a factor and give some really good deals.

i had a 10'6 G1000 rod a few years back, i used the thing a half dozen times and it sat in a corner gathering dust. i cleaned up the cork really well and brought it in, they traded me for a X96JC for $40. i think the going rate now is something like $80 for the same grade that your rod already is, more if you're trading up to a higher grade.

This is an interesting topic. Ilove to drift bait for summer steel. When the water gets down to 2-3 hundred cfs. you have to use split shot or no lead. impossible to cast with bait caster still hard with spinnig reel. I like bait caster to be able to extend drift. Colgrove reel only solution, I've found. only problem is they are impossible to find any one have any solutions. subtitute for colgrove reel, or rod reel combo the might suffice.

whats a colgrove reel? is that one of those funky center pins for a baitcasting rod. If so i have been looking hard for one of them. thanks for the info on the trade in policy drifter wa.