Hulkster

ok thats good to know. i was in the tackle store on the weekend and the classic Avid's still feel nicer than the Victory series at least to me. the full cork handles and the exposed blank cut away on the baitcasting models make the Avids seem more slim and possibly lighter. the foam at the reel seat is thick and makes the reel seat seem chunky. Also, whichever fuji reel seat they chose has a really short trigger piece, its like a little nub. I dunno maybe its just me. Im so used to the ECS (??) reel seat used on my Loomis rods.

pro tip: dont try to double your line first and then feed it through the eye of your hook/leader etc. pass it through and then double back on itself through again. then continue as normal: make your overhand knot with the doubled line, leaving a big loop, pass the hook/leader/lure etc back through the big loop then wet and pull tight. once you get the hang of it it really is the easiest knot to tie. Stevie Wonder could tie it. and its super strong for braid: make two overhand knots then continue as normal.

I use suffix Siege on all my setups both spinning and casting. its the best mono I have ever used. I use 10 on regular spinning gear and 12 on baitcasting gear.

I havent found anything stronger than the Palomar knot for mono.

it sounds like you aren't threading the handle on properly or it is being cross threaded? rotate the handle away from you to tighten it down as it threads on to the body.. this has the screw in handle correct? I just got the 1000FC and there is no play at all, it is solid.

how much more is the Loomis GCX than those rods?

I would think the new Curado K 300 would be best bang for the buck for a heavy duty reel

I don't own an IMX Pro yet, but i am getting the MBR903C soon that being said I have looked into several models and one spinning rod I would love to own is the SJR901S. its a 7'6 light power spinning rod that might fit that bill perfectly?? but I'm not sure.

So my first generation Saros 1000F reel died. it had the screw in handle, and I think the gear broke off inside the handle while still attached to the body of the reel. I could turn the handle and nothing moved. I couldnt' even get the handle off the reel...soooo...it was either send it in for repair somewhere (would probably take months) or.... ORDER A NEW REEL! so I ordered a Nasci FC 1000. Ironically it also has the screw in handle (but I love this feature) any reviews? I use it on my classic 18 year old G. Loomis SJR700 GL3 rod. thanks!

Unreal. some people should not be running a business. What they fail to see is by treating you badly they not only lose your business but other business as well. this was a high dollar reel and they should have looked after you. terrible treatment of the customer in this case. this wasn't a $20 reel.

I used to be a big game user, but then i found Sufix Siege and fell in love, its just as strong and abrasion resistant but the difference is it handles 100x better, casts better and is limp. you can use it on spinning gear with no issues, you really can't with Big Game unless its maybe the 8 pound. the only draw back of course, its the price of Siege compared to Big Game, its vastly more expensive. but I just eat the cost knowing its by far my favorite mono.

awesome! good to know if it ever breaks I can get a SJR721 to replace it. thanks!

Sufix Siege is the best mono i have ever used and ive used them all at one time or another. its super strong (with a palomar knot) and casts very well. its also limp enough to use on both casting and spinning gear, which is rare.

Although it is not a casting rod, one of the coolest rods I own is a no longer made G. Loomis GL3 SJR700 its a 5'10 "mag light" spinning rod with an extra fast taper, which has a very light tip but a bit of a backbone at the base. I believe the old school Loomis rods were the only ones with this type of taper. the rod is almost 20 years old now and I still use it regularly with a shimano 1000 size spinning reel and 6 pound Sufix Seige mono. its awesome. I don't know what a modern equivalent rod would be?? god forbid it ever breaks on me

I also use the rod glove ones, but I only put them on when they go into my plano rod tube for car travel on long trips. I cover them all, then bundle with pipe cleaners. then they all go into my big Plano tube. reels separate.

Loomis rods are all still made in the USA along with St. Croix premier line and up. no idea about reels though. I think Penn reels were made in the states for many years but not sure if they still are. their reels were too??

so your review was based on turning the handle? got it.

Loomis still makes lots of 6'6 M F rods I believe. I too though have graduated to longer rods. Over the last few years i have switched my rods to 7'6 baitcasting and 7'5 spinning rods (both Loomis E6X). My muskie rod is 8 foot lol I like the longer rods for longer casting from shore (I dont own a boat) just checked the loomis site, GCX has 6'6 MF casting rod (MBR taper). would be perfect:

12 pound Sufix Siege for me

I use 20 pound test Sufix Siege for throwing 1.5 oz musky baits like Mepps Giant Killers and Large jointed rapala shad raps which I think are 1 5/8 oz and its perfect. this is on a tranx 400

Ive been using sufix Siege line for last several years on all my setups both spinning and baitcasting. its the best overall mono I have ever used. with a palomar knot you can't break the stuff and it casts very well. its awesome

I think it sucks that SC replaced a classic rod line like the Avid (with full cork handles) with rods that have covered EVA foam handle instead of an exposed blank reel seat on the casting models. That is something you find on an Ugly Stik. Not a good St. Croix rod. that is a huge step backwards if you ask me.

I love 8 or 10 pound Sufix Siege on spinning gear. I think Flouro will be too stiff on spinning gear no matter what.

I've moved to 7'5 and 7'6 rods for everything where i can. I really like the extra casting distance over the 7 foot and especially 6'6 rods.

one trout rod you may want to check out is the G. Loomis Trout Series rods (TSR rods). they are a true fast action UL rod. I have the TSR791 paired with a sustain 1000 and its an amazing combo.