Here's one that is sure to stir some controversy! First, a little history from the Hawk.

In the Midwest, we typically fish fairly small rivers, and the conditions are usually high water, crowded with guys, and the fish are very spooky. In order to negotiate the holding cover for the fish, we will use a fly rod blank that is set up as a "drift rod" which has spinning guides on it. For the most part, guys use 9 foot 8 weight, or 9 weight rods (Sage or Loomis). We will spool a fly reel (Martin 72 multiplier) with monofilament(6 or 8 pound Ultragreen), and strip out pre-measured units of line to work a run. When you want to fish a different segment of your drift, you either reel in a short length, or meter out more line. By laying out a grid for the run, you can insure that you have covered every inch a fish could lay in. Now the question.

I am looking at a Lamiglas Rod, but Loomis or Sage is also fine with me. I could handle a rod with a baitcaster handle, or centerpin set up. I would like a rod that is about 10'that is light to medium light with a fast action. It needs to be sensitive enough to feel a fish fart while holding in a riffle. I would use primarily as a float rod, but may drift with it when I head to the Zipper for my annual spring trip to catch and release native metalheads (121 days to go until I'm there). OK BOYS, start firing out the opinions.

Lamiglass has a new blank specially made for floats. I had one but sold it because it was a bit much for as often as I fish floats. It's not on their web site but if you email them they can tell you all about it.

The one I had was a GSH 132 2M. It was an 11' rod set up for baitcasting. Very sensitive with a lot of backbone but it sounds like you may be looking for something with a little faster action. This one was had a fairly limp tip but a hell of a backbone.

Good luck. I'll be back in your neck of the woods (Chicago) visiting inlaws soon. Can't wait to feel that Chicago breeze while waiting on the Blue line.

Bruce

The only rod I've purchased since the Sage chuck-n-duck RPL+ 996 you turned me on to in June is a 10.5' GL3 STR1263C rated for 6-12lb line. I picked this up in November and fished it for a few days in Northern Cal. I'm very happy with how the rod fishes, and was casting 6lb mono and light weights w/o problem. But I don't think it's quite as sensitive as the Sage -- those blanks are 'IMX-plus' sensitive. As I'm going to use it to boondog jigs under floats most of the time, I'm not that fussed.

If you're willing to sacrifice stopping power, Loomis also make an identical rod to the one I bought only lighter (4-10lb) -- it's the GL3 STR1261C. That's probably your ticket to Midwest steelhead methane detection.

Both rods list for $290-$295. TH (on this board) can build you a clone for less.

[This message has been edited by Snagly (edited 12-16-1999).]

take a look at Loomis' 1141 spinning rod...better yet, have you fished Fenwick's new tech AV? look for AVS96MF2, IT'S ONLY 9'6" BUT MORE SENSITIVE AND LIGHT THAN ANY STICK I'VE EVER SEEN

If you need a little more backbone then the GL3 ll41, try the new Lamiglass Herzog-Canadian Series of longer lighter rods. They're made from the Certified Pro series of graphite. The MCT1002 (??) (built the rod, so the model number is not staring me in the face all the time) is the 10 foot, 6-10lb test, light action. I use it as a float rod during the winter and as my primary summer-run rod during the summer. Its fast and sensitive, but forgiving enough for a 6 lb leader. I think Lamiglass makes it only as a casting rod, but I built it using match-spin spinning guides (the long light guides that the 1141 uses) so the rod wouldn't have that top heavy feel that a lot of longer rods have.

Its a great all around small stream rod. Good Luck.

I have to agree with Obsessed on the Lamiglas Herzog rod. I have the 10' 6-10 lb lighter rod and love it for fishing floats. I fish it on the Sol Duc in the spring and it is awesome. Sensitive and enough in the rump for steelhead and silvers.