I find anything over 9.6 very hard to drift fish with. That is not to say I do not do it once and a while, it is just difficult for me.

BBoy & Jerry Garcia -
I will keep an eye out this summer for a post and come down and meet you at Keystone.

Long drive from Auburn BB, but you could camp at Casey or S. Whidbey State Park and get 2 full days of fishng in. (8 fish this year!)

Jerry- How much lead do you use when fishing herring and bobber? Have you found a bobber that can float more than 1 oz? I would like to start using a little more weight . Or maybe not? What's your opinion? anyone?

I will say this. The new ABU's aren't the workhorses of yesteryear. You really need to stay on your toes with them. Especially in the salt. Make sure you thoroughly clean, dry, and relube after every trip. I only use older 5001 and 6001c's. Easy upkeep and parts fail under alot of rougher use. I know I have a couple that are well over 20 years old and still going strong (I've owned since day one) and only had to lube/clean. No parts change.

I got rid of all my new ABU's. I had to put way too much work into them to keep them running. Especially in the salt. So, keep them clean.

I use 3 different outfits

1) 1 1/2 ozs. and a large styrofoam[sp] float
2) 1 oz. and a small styrofoam float
3) 3/4 or 1 oz. and a dink float

This is a message to all who might have some concerns about G.Loomis rod's . The reason we buy Loomis rod's is because they are the best, they are the best because; the Graphite we use is a Proprietory Blend that we have built for us. We use Fuji components because they are consistent and redily available We don't copy other rod companies. We certainely don't copy Rod Model Numbers, Blend of Graphite description or color. We would'nt be considered original otherwise. Shimano and G.Loomis will continue to lead, were others will follow.

sincerely, Mike Perusse

Reiter, from reading your post, do you work for Loomis? I was only curious because the way you posted, was as if you worked there (we do this and we do that). Loomis wasn't the original, but he did build his company off what he learned from other companies. Their rods are one of the best because the expanded and pushed their rod making to the edge of envelope.

I know the scientist who formulated the original graphite and mandral process for Lamiglas when one of the Loomis's (can't remember if he said it was the dad or son) worked there. Sounds like to this day he's still friends with them. They saw all the transition work it took to make a good rod with graphite mixing the proper factors to make a good rod. He told me all about problems of mixing graphite/glass and so on. But each rod company over the years has helped build the next one in one way or another. Most of the makers have either worked, or studied how the rods were built and refined/bettered them. Problem is, alot of companies have a tendancy to backwards slide on a buyout. I just hope loomis doesn't. I have a few of their rods and all are great. Hope shimano doesn't ruin them.

69- Yes he does work for Loomis, his name is Mike Perusse and he is the Loomis Rep. He just happened to post it under Reiterrats moniker...........

AH, ok. Was wondering. Thought Reiter worked somewhere else. LOL.

Should've known it was a rep from a response like that. I know enough reps from enough companies (not just fishing, but those I deal with through my job) and it's usually the same. Which is a good thing. You should have pride and be able to defend your product. Just thought it was odd that it was Reiter posting like he was Mr. Loomis himself.

I've been fishing Loomis rods exclusively for as long as I can remember and wouldn't fish anything else. They have a model for about any kind of fishing you can imagine and have always performed well. I field tested a number of the new float rods coming out including the 13'4'' model. It's a sweet rod though personally I don't care for the Skamania handle (long foregrip and short butt section). My fav is the 1474 (12'3" 8-15lbs line). They are all spinning rods and they're all IMX.

I did fish G. loomis rods (1025c, 1082s and 1084c ) till they went to crap. Now I fish my old G.loomis imx's and new Lamiglass, sage or rainshadow as it suits me. I've got the bucks to fish what I feel is the best rod and in most cases loomis isn't it...........

You can get a sweet custom rainshadow from
a great rod builder like TH or others out there for damn near half the price of a new loomis. They do build fine rods but they are just to proud of them when it comes to pricing.