Stasher1

While I've never owned any of the GL series, just about everything I've read about them over the past few years said that there are much better rods available in their price ranges and you're pretty much just paying for the Loomis name. It's like buying the cheapest Mercedes instead of a comparably priced Honda, even though the Honda offers better features, performance, and reliability.

I have owned both, but sold the President XT and kept the Supremes. The XT is a nice reel, but the weight difference alone is enough of a reason to choose the Supreme over the XT, imho.

It really depends on the braking system of the reel. I have a "bullwhip" style of casting, and I find that I have no problem at all with centrifugal braking. Magnetic braking requires me to use a more fluid cast, though.

I've never owned or even used the 7' MF, but I did have a 6'6" MF for a while and feel that it was underpowered compared to similar rods from some of the other manufacturers. If you're going to limit its use to open water, or very light (almost nonexistant) cover, it might be fine. The lure weight range that Shimano has marked on the rod should be heeded. Anything over 3/8 oz (which is roughly a 7" worm, 3/0 ewg, and 1/8 oz wt) is going to overload the rod, and it'll feel like the tip is going to snap off.

Here ya go. Pick your reel size and rod length/power/action. I'd suggest the 9235 and the 6'8" MXF. http://www.basspro.com/Pflueger-Supreme-XT/Bass-Pro-Shops-CarbonLite-Rod-Spinning-Combos/product/10210619/-1763171

I have left negative reviews which never got posted, and some of the ones that did get posted were somehow "lost" during the refreshing of their site...yet some of the older positive reviews remained. Sounds like filtering to me.

Does it really matter?

X2 I'd also recommend taking a look at the Pflueger Arbor in either the 7430 or 7435 size. The 30 has a spool diameter comparable to a 2500-series Shimano and the body roughly the size of a 1000 Daiwa. Very compact and lightweight...but I think it would be a bit too light to balance your Premier so I'd suggest the 35.

My local Walmart has all of their Presidents in the clearance bin for ~$35, along with a bunch of Shimano Sonoras for about the same price and some Pflueger Trion GX-7s for ~$30. If you really like it, you may want to check your local WM to see if they're doing the same. If so, you could take yours back to BPS and get two from WM instead.

There are some on TT who seem to know what they're talking about, but there's a LOT of brand snobbery on there. Generally, if it's not Daiwa or Shimano it's considered inferior and/or substandard. I think a lot of this bias carries over into their product reviews, as well.

The wife's new car... Was looking at used xB's and managed to find a brand new left-over 2010 RS 7.0 model for about the same price. It's #1846 of 2000

The same can be said abou their rod reviews. I can't tell you how many reviews I've read just like this... "I just got back from my picking this rod up at my local BPS and it's gotta be the best rod ever made. I haven't tried casting with it yet, but it feels great and looks fantastic with my reel on it. I can't wait until the snow and ice melt so I can try it out on the water. I give it five stars!" It might break on their first trip out, but they still felt compelled to give it five stars.

Wow, it's good to be back. It doesn't take long for the attitude at some of the other forums to get old.

This ^^^ You also need to be realistic in your expectations and honest with yourself. If you fish a dozen times a year, do you really need tournament-grade gear? I usually fish at least once a week, sometimes two or three times if I'm not too busy, and I've found that I'm perfectly content with ~$100 rods and ~$100 spinning reels. I prefer slightly more expensive casting reels though, and rarely look at models that retail for less than ~$175-200.

I think any reviews that you read on retailers' sites can be immediately dismissed. BPS has been known to "filter" their reviews to skew a product's ratings. What's left are a bunch of reviews from people who haven't even used their new reel(s), but feel compelled to leave a positive review anyway. :

http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/index.php (look for the warm water section) http://www.warmfly.com/smf/ http://www.southeastflyfishingforum.com/forum/

7' MF BPS Carbonlite casting rod 7' MHF BPS Carbonlite casting rod (with micros) 6'8" MXF BPS Carbonlite spinning rod US Reel Effortless Supercaster 700X US Reel Hibdon Supercaster 800SX Ryobi Zauber 1000 spinning reel (2) 1/8 oz Strike King tungsten worm weights (2) 5/16 oz Strike King tungsten worm weights (2) 1/8 oz Gambler Giggy Heads (5/0) (2) Berkley 5" Power Shaky Worms (2) Northland Slurpies Shaky Worms (1) Gambler Giggy Stick (2) Netbait Tiny Paca Chunks (3) 3/8 oz Terminator Top Secret jigs Aluminum knobs for a Revo (to replace the EVA knob on my Supreme XT) (4) 1/4 oz Luck-e-Strike football jigs I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch, but that's what immediately comes to mind without going down to the shop...

IBTL ;D

I would hit customer service first. At the Atlanta BPS, the customer service reps have computers with internet access and they'll verify the price on the website and write out a little ticket with the corrected price that you can take to the register when you're ready to check out.

Very true. Regardless which type you choose, it's going to open up a lot of water that you'd never reach from the shore. It'll also allow you to paddle into place that larger boat owners can't.

I haven't fished with them, but from handling them in the store I can tell you that the only thing they have in common with GLoomis rods is the name. They're much, much heavier than I expected and the level fit/finish definitely isn't very impressive at all. Based on what I've seen/felt, there are much better rods out there in the same price range.

Stand and fish, comfortably. That's more of by-product of hull design, though. The cockpit on my 'yak is HUGE and one could easily stand in it, if it was more stable. There are also a great number of sit-ons that aren't stable enough to stand on.

Casting cranks and fishing from the shore.

I've owned at least 6 Saharas, 3 Symetres, a President XT, and 3 Supremes (along with a few more) and the only ones that remain are the Supremes. Overall, I find the Supreme to be smoother, lighter, and better looking than the Symetre or Sahara.