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.

[lburgbasstracker]

mbr843c I know it sounds silly but I also fish loomis and have a 7 footer heavy action and to be honest i cant see the benifet. I fish the woods of t-ville and cedar creek and never had issues with yanking anything out of the woods with the med-heavy action.

[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...

[Harley]

I have a St Croix that I bought years ago and it is a nice rod. I bought the three G.loomis spinning rods (2 bronzebacks 1 GL2) from Backwaters and they have always said that if you buy from them and break it, they will swap it out with the same rod off the rack so you won't have to pay the return fee. I don't know what Angler's Outpost does. I'll be asking AJ that when he gets back in town. So I guess it matters where you buy it, but you are correct that you can buy 2 Avids for 1 G.Loomis and they are nice rods.

[Harley]

mbr843c I know it sounds silly but I also fish loomis and have a 7 footer heavy action and to be honest i cant see the benifet. I fish the woods of t-ville and cedar creek and never had issues with yanking anything out of the woods with the med-heavy action.

I thought that may be the case and when Chaser said the GLX would be a bit stiffer, that is what pushed me to just get the BCR853-GLX Med-Heavy. I figured it would be just about right. Of course now this creates a whole new problem. Now I have a lonely BPS Bionic Blade Medium action rod with no reel and that's not fair.

[Col Forbin]

You can't beat the Shimanon Cumara for bottom bouncing and jigs. They are more sensitive than the GLX loomis. I like the st. croix too. Although I have fished several times with the cumara and it is unbelieveable.

[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.

[R19]

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.

I have also been thinking about buying a G Loomis (GL3). I want the rod for one reason and one reason only...pitchin to cover. 90% of the time it will be in 10 ft of water or less. My primary bait will be a texas rig 1/4 and 5/16 or a 1/4 and 3/8 jig. I spool up 20 lb floro line in water below 60* and 20 lb Big Game mono in warmer water with that being said... in your opinion which blank will be the best for that set up.

If my memory is correct the GL3 883 blank is 7' MH (1/4 - 3/4 or mabey 1oz?) with a line rating of 12-17 lbs...all I use is 20lb line. All of my other 7 ft MH rods have a line rating up to 20 lbs in fact Lommis is the only rod I can think of that has a line rating of 12-17 on a 7' MH pitchin rod.

The GL3 844 blank 7' H (1/4 -1 oz maybe 1 1/4?) but has a line rating 12-20.

I have never owned a Heavy action rod before but looking at the line rating on Lommis that is what I need? I was going to order the rod online. I might be better off going to a store and compare the two rods before I make an order 843 or 844?

[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!!!