Gettin' a new rod. Opinions???

[Harley]

I am looking at buying a new rod. I love G.Loomis rods and will probably go that route. Most of my casting rods are med-heavy. I think I have 1 medium that I never use. I'm planning on throwing more jigs than I have in the past. Would you guys recommend going with a Heavy action rod?

Here are the ones I was looking at?

Mag Bass model - MBR844C
Model Length Line Weight Lure Weight Action Power
IMX 7' 12 - 20 1/4 - 1 Fast Heavy

Crankbait model - CBR847C. I thought it may give more versatility.
Model Length Line Weight Lure Weight Action Power
Crankbait 7' 12 - 25 1/2 - 1 3/8 Mod-Fast Heavy

[SmallmouthChaserGLX]

Of those two rods I would definitely recommend the 1/4-1 hvy 7 footer. It would definitely be a better jig rod than the crankbait model with the moderate-fast action. That slower action crank model is designed for dd-22's and other big cranks where the MBR is more of an all purpose jig/worm/spinnerbait rod.

I would recommend the IMX 1/4-3/4 MBR843C. For an all purpose rod it cant be beat. If this is your first Loomis get this one, as it can be used for anything in your box short of fishing a pitching or flipping jig 30 ft deep which should never be done anyway. As long as hooks aren't too big on your casting jigs this rod will handle them with ease as I have used it for this purpose for years along with any other method you want to try including the dd-22s that that crank model is designed for. Once again, no one rod is going to do everything equally well but the MBR843C is just about as close as you can get to a perfect rod. The MBR844C which I have also owned is great jig rod but not much for anything else in my opinion. Just remember that Loomis tends to run about a weight stiffer than most other rods and the jig and worm rods are about a weight stiffer than that. For example a 1/4 to 3/4 Loomis is stiffer than a 1/4-3/4 shimano and a 1/4-5/8 jig and worm is about as stiff if not a little stiffer in use than a 1/4-3/4 MBR. Use the line rating to determine what you need other than the weights.

P.S. If you want a jig only rod, get the 1/4 to 1 jig and worm GLX model. Then you can set that pitching jig 30 ft + if need be or haul a 5 lb green carp through or with the tree its wrapped around to the boat, line depending.

[MsgMills]

Could only recommend one custom rod builder and tat would be Tim's Custom Rods. There light as a feather as far as weight goes and sensitive as you'd want it to be in feeling those light strikes from fish. I would recommend either the 6'6" model or the 7' MH model he makes for jig fishin..... So give Tim a call at 502-553-1101, believe me once you try one of these rods he makes, you'll never buy anything else......

P.S. All Tim's rods come with a full 1 year warranty and all have titanium line guides on them.

[Harley]

Thanks for the help guys. I went by Anglers Outpost since I was in NichVegas and looked at about four different models. I ended up going with the BCR853-GLX. You are right Chaser, the GLX's are stiffer than the other Med-Heavy ones. It is just as stiff as my Heavy action Lamiglass rod but it is 7 inches longer and has a faster tip. I figured it was time to stop drooling over the GLX's and just get one. I can't wait to try it out in the next few weeks. Thank you GW for the Tax rebate check. Isn't there something wrong about me thanking him for giving me back my money.

[ryan_ekubass]

i have owned loomis rods for along time i have 6 glx rods, 2 gl3's and a gl2 and a bronze back and last month i successfully broke 4 of them.... i got them replaced at a cost of course..... i was mad and have used st croix rods before but they only have a 2 year warranty on their premier rods and what not... but st croix has a avid series rod out with a lifetime warranty and easy to replace if broken and a better policy than loomis in my opinion... but i recenly bought 2 7foot medium heavy and 1 6' 6'' medium heavy rods and i love em i wouldnt trade them for nothign i think they are as sensitve as a loomis but they are they arent as fragile as a loomis if u set the hook at the wrong place on a loomis its going to break... the weight of th st croix is comparable and i can tell u i wont be buying no 350 dollar rods anymore i can by 2 st croix avids for that price... i think if u went with the st croix u would be fully impressed and i like loomis rods dont get me wrong but for the money and everything the better deal is with a st croix and i am comparing the st croix to the glx loomis too...

[BanditMan]

Thanks for the help guys. I went by Anglers Outpost since I was in NichVegas and looked at about four different models. I ended up going with the BCR853-GLX. You are right Chaser, the GLX's are stiffer than the other Med-Heavy ones. It is just as stiff as my Heavy action Lamiglass rod but it is 7 inches longer and has a faster tip. I figured it was time to stop drooling over the GLX's and just get one. I can't wait to try it out in the next few weeks. Thank you GW for the Tax rebate check. Isn't there something wrong about me thanking him for giving me back my money.

You mean Thank you China for a loan of our money back!!! The Glx is awesome and you will love it. Go Fish.

[Harley]

You mean Thank you China for a loan of our money back!!! The Glx is awesome and you will love it. Go Fish.

I started to say that but couldn't bring myself to type that phrase even though it is true. How sad is that!!!

[Jbyrd]

You mean Thank you China for a loan of our money back!!! The Glx is awesome and you will love it. Go Fish.

Ok this will make some people made . But G loomis's are junk. Now wait. YES they are sensitive and feel good but for what you have to pay they break way too easy. If you paid the top of the line price for a spinner bait and it fell apart would you keep doing it NO>>>> same with a car ,boat anything . Well the dealers say we will replace them yea for 25 -50 bucks depending on where you send them to . Shimano or castaway or even the old allstar rods hold up much better . Yes you may loose some sensitivety on CERTAIN models but they still work better than a hand full of splintered graphite (the g-loomis. Just call back waters or lake cumberland outdoors and speak to one of the sales clerks NOT THE OWNERS ask which rod is brought back more often broken !!!!!! G_LOOMIS !10 -1)

[davidsa]

I don't have any stats on GLoomis breaking issue but have 7 that I own with absolutely no issues.

A few years ago down at Laural, I broke off a 6'6 M IMX in the door of my truck. When my new rod arrived to replace my 7 year old rod, I tried to break the old rod witht the broken tip. Well, I bent that rod every which way I could other then crease it in a door and could not break it.

Rods that break in the first 6 months of use are frequently quality issues with the blank. After the rod is used if it breaks, the reason is generaly some damage that was done before the rod hit the water.

I'm not a fan of Gloomis prices and am forced to buy them on ebay but love the product and service.

[TBONE]

I love G-Loomis rods I use them for everything except jigs, 7' heavy fast action wasn't stiff enough for me I like a broom stick when I'm jig fishn' especially football jigs.

[davidsa]

Thanks for the help guys. I went by Anglers Outpost since I was in NichVegas and looked at about four different models. I ended up going with the BCR853-GLX. You are right Chaser, the GLX's are stiffer than the other Med-Heavy ones. It is just as stiff as my Heavy action Lamiglass rod but it is 7 inches longer and has a faster tip. I figured it was time to stop drooling over the GLX's and just get one. I can't wait to try it out in the next few weeks. Thank you GW for the Tax rebate check. Isn't there something wrong about me thanking him for giving me back my money.

You made an outstanding and best joice for jigs and t-rigs. The BCR series GLX rods are faster actions then the MBR GLX series and more sensitive. They are not very good for anything but plastics and jigs but they do plastics to an incredible level. The 3 power BCR series is very close in actual power to the MBR 844. This was actually measured and posted on the tackletour.com site just last week in a rod review they did. I own the BCR803 and after three years am still smiling about this rod. I'd recommend a 17# pure FC line. Bass pro FC would be fine.

The MBR844 is a fine jig rod but my primary purpose is C-Rigs and Chatterbaits. The MBR843 is a more veritle rod but you already mentioned you had a bunch of 7MH rods. Loomis power ratings are consitant with Shimano, Daiwa and most BPS rods. The St. Croix is the rod where a MH is equivalent to a MBR844.

I have a custom version of the CBR847. Great deep cranking rod and heavy lipless crank rod. Anything fast moving above 1/2oz in weight weight works well with this rod.

Enjoy your new rod and try it with a C-Rig some day

[cra97]

I called Tim today and MAN what a GREAT GUY!! He said he has some non-coustom rods (at a price I can work with) for me to try out to see what "I like" and "fits my style of fishing" best, before I spend a money on one of his. I know, basically because he said so, that he doesn't make much if anything on these and he STILL suggested the idea. To me, it takes one heck of an honest guy to suggest going a route that he doesn't make money on to insure you get the "right" pole for you. I would suggest anyone looking give him a call, especially after talking to the man for over 1/2 hour on the phone, I can't believe you would not be happy with him or his services. Thanks for the contact.

Rob