Whatever happened to LCI ?

Was dusting off my rod collection and noticed a couple of LCI rod's. Whatever happened to this outfit? Think I bought these at a sportsman show 15-20 years ago, one is a cute little 1 pc. ultra-lite trout number with an old shimano mlz-10 reel on it. The other I remember buying for salmon jigging its a real stick 9' striker II graphite lure wt. 2-6 oz. The blanks look like lamiglass g-1000's in that charcoal grey

Maybe I am wrong but werent those the origonal G Loomis rods in that LCI is acronym for Loomis Composites Corporation? Thats what I've heard so take it with a grain of salt!

I was told the factory burned down and they didn't rebuild, I 2 "had" a couple LCI's that were nice rods but were stolen out of my truck a few years back.

Sparkey's got it. LCI = Loomis Composites. I had heard that the first company went feet in the air, and that Loomis Rods was the second time around.

I have an LCI stick that is my favorite plug rod.

Gary Loomis worked for Lamiglass at one time right? That whould explain the blanks looking the same as a lamiglass product, the 1st g.loomis rods were those dark red IM-6's if my memory serves me.

LCI was sold by blank and rod designer Don Mook around 1990/91. It was at the very beginning known as Osprey, and has been the Talon Factory for quite some time now.
Don Mook left around 1992/93, and then built the Tridon Factory that is now Shikari in Oklahoma. He moved back to Longview in 1994, and built the Cascade Graphite Factory for Pacific Bay. In 1997, the new owners of Pacific Bay decided to close it down, and sold off the equipment.
Don has been the GM and blank designer at All Star for the last four years. I believe that he is looking forward to sometime moving back to his home in the Northwest.
I have used Don as a supplier of rod blanks through all of these years, as he is one of the top designers in the country.
We are fortunate to have very good blank designers in this country (especially the Northwest), that are also experienced in composite materials and resin systems.
I hope this answered your question about what ever happened to LCI.

Aww man, here I'm thinking I've got some high buck vintage loomis sticks, and your telling me thier just run of the mill mooking rods?! Oh well at least I can't seem to break em, as the warrenty Is most likey no good anymore

I purchased about a dozen of the 8'6' heavy LCI rods for the Kenai and 6 of the 9' heavy ones when LCI went out of business and they all were a peice of junk. All broken now. Talon replaced a few of them but they also broke.

Pretty sure it's Loomis Composite Industries

But, the the good side, I also have 4 SSTR865 LCI that I use for plugging for Silvers and Steelhead and they have worked very good. They must be 18 years old and I still use them when I have to plug.fp

I'm scratching on this one, but it seems to me I recall Gary Loomis started Loomis Composites Ind./Inc. way back. Then he left the company and sold the LCI name with it. While LCI took a 'budget' rod tack from that point, Gary started up the presently Shimano owned G. Loomis Rod Co. Of course that company went the other direction to become the top notch rods. I still have one old LCI rod of 8'6" length at 12-25 lb. line rating. It has the black hard foam handles. It was one of the better earlier ones and has caught a lot of chinooks - and still is a good backup rod.

RT

I have a 9' 6 to 12. Very light action. Great for rainbows, but a little to light for Steelhead. Nice rod.

GutZ

RT

I thought that Shimano is just an investor approx %25 ownership in G. Loomis. Not the full owner.

Well whatever ownerwhip percentage Shimano is, they sure as Hell are in the process of making THE rod into only an average rod.

I don't know the %, but I heard it is a majority to total ownership. I also heard Gary has stayed invovled as a consultant. ... And heard that Gary's son has started his own rod company, but I forget the name of them offhand. ... Anyone know the real poop about this stuff?

Hey Chrome22,

I know the rod you are talking about StrikerII 9' very heavy rod. I ahve one and would love another. It is my fall bobber rod, not good for much else, but a good bobber rod. Strong enough to pull the big pigs out of the stumps. Would you be willing to trade? FB

Gary's son's company is D&E Rods out of Woodland, Wa.

Fishbait, yea I'd listen to trade-bait.This rod has'nt been used much, needs someone to take it fishing. It did just get back from Cabo San Lucas thought (it let me come along) Used it live bait fishing for roosterfish with a ambassadeur 6500c & 200 yds. of 17 lb.mono and man those things can pull! E-mail me and we'll see where it goes. Chrome

[ 12-25-2001: Message edited by: chrome/22 ]

Gary's son is not the owner of D&E out of battle ground!!!

Chrome, check your e-mail

Steve

Don't know who the owner of D and E is but they are a great place to deal with. They have a discount page for discontinued blanks that is excellent but they go fast. D and E rods

It was what I had been told...my apologies.

D & E Rods is owned by Verne Dollar (great guy), and has been in the rod assembly, private label, and custom rod business for years. They are a top notch outfit, with an experienced and helpful staff.
Bobby, Gary's Nephew, went to work with D & E after he left G. Loomis earlier this year.
Good group of folks.