EDIT: Guess I should have looked on G Loomis official site instead of just TW, found what I'm looking for.

 

I'm currently using a Loomis GL2 802s for my dedicated ned rig rod, but really looking to get something new and want to either go with a Loomis or St. Croix rod and delegate the GL2 as a weightless Senko rod or backup finesse rod. Why doesn't Loomis make any ML action rods in any series?

 

Am I wasting my money by wanting to get a new rod? Should I stick with the 802s for my ned rig rod? St. Croix offers quite a bit of ML options throughout their lineup, so If I go with St. Corix I'm looking at the Avids as I love all my Avid casting rods I own. Or, maybe the Avid X or even step up to a Legend Elite.

Look for a G Loomis SJR 781.  6'6", Medium Light action spinning.  Very nice rod.

I have two of the Loomis MagLight/XF spinning rods and imho they are about the prefect power and action for the Ned or really any “small plastics on a jighead” fishing. 

1 hour ago, fishwizzard said:

I have two of the Loomis MagLight/XF spinning rods and imho they are about the prefect power and action for the Ned or really any “small plastics on a jighead” fishing. 

X2!!! I have a spinning rod from their walleye series. WPJR 821s GLX. This is a mag-light power, XF action rod. It's specifically designed to "pitch" (means "cast" in the walleye world) a small plastic on a jig head. With 10# braid I can't imagine a more sensitive finesse spinning rod. Seriously........

18 minutes ago, Steveo-1969 said:

X2!!! I have a spinning rod from their walleye series. WPJR 821s GLX. This is a mag-light power, XF action rod. It's specifically designed to "pitch" (means "cast" in the walleye world) a small plastic on a jig head. With 10# braid I can't imagine a more sensitive finesse spinning rod. Seriously........

Man, my two are IMXs and at times I want to sell them both and step up to a GLX model.  The weight ratings on both of mine are way off, especially the SJR6400.  It’s top end is listed at 1/8oz but imho that is where the rod just starts loading.   The SJR720 is listed at 1/4oz at the top end, but it casts and fishes a 3/16 ds weight plus a 6” robo like a dream.  

 

Whats keeping me from splurging on the GLX is the reel seat. I am an “entire hand infront of the stem” guy and the Loomis sests are not great for that.  

The WPJR 821s GLX is rated 1/16-5/16 and that seems about right. With a 1/4 ounce jig head and plastic I can cast the bait farther than I can set the hook.

 

I also hold a spinning rod with my entire hand in front of the reel stem and my index finger on the rod blank and I find it very comfortable to hold like this. Maybe the walleye series has a different reel seat?

It does look like the Walleye GLX rods do have a different seat/grip then the bass ones do, I never even though to look at walleye rods until recently.  

On ‎9‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 12:59 PM, fishwizzard said:

I have two of the Loomis MagLight/XF spinning rods and imho they are about the prefect power and action for the Ned or really any “small plastics on a jighead” fishing. 

yes! I have the GL3 SJR700 Mag Light X Fast rod and its a gem of a little rod.

Most of my casting rods are Loomis GL3's and IMX. I just don't care for the reel seats on the spinning series.  Very uncomfortable to me. They basically haven't changed for many years.

6 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Most of my casting rods are Loomis GL3's and IMX. I just don't care for the reel seats on the spinning series.  Very uncomfortable to me. They basically haven't changed for many years.

Give the new E6X rod a look, I like it far more than any of the other Loomis spinning rods I have handled.  

7 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

Give the new E6X rod a look, I like it far more than any of the other Loomis spinning rods I have handled.  

It caught my interest but in reality I'm real happy with my Cabela's house brand rods.  I'm sure I would have had all Loomis if they had better ergos. I think it was @fishnkampthat showed a custom handle redo on one. It had Winn Grips and a palm swell reel seat.

Yes my friend and amazing rod builder redid two G Loomis IMX and GL3 rods exactly the same. One was out of necessity as it came with a plastic locking hood and nut that tended on loosening up. We chose to replace it before it just broke.  Tom showed me the Aero Comfort finish seat and we chose the Natural colored Winn Grips.  We also changed from a complete one piece handle to a split grip setup. The rods feel lighter and better in my hand. Here is a picture of one.  Your hand just sorta becomes one with the rod,  Best of all it looks like it came that way from the factory.

That is amazing.  About how much does work like that run?  

Loomis blanks are no longer available to the rod builder though. a few years ago Shimano stopped making them available. So they may be hard to find now and would be in high demand?

If I understand correctly, the custom above was built on a factory rod, not a blank.

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

If I understand correctly, the custom above was built on a factory rod, not a blank.

nice!

Yes that was a factory rod. For years I owned a GL-3 SJR-721 and a SJR-722 in IM6. Both had the full cork handles and a metal reel seat with a metal hood and rings.  I broke the 722. It was totally my fault it got caught on something on my boat that I did not see until it was too late. I used the companies no questions warranty which means I went to my local dealer and turned in my rod and the replacement cost and would have walked out with the new rod. I paid another fee to upgrade to a IMX because of the uplocking reel seat on the newer style GL-3s.  The IMX is a really nice rod visually and to fish with.  Unfortunately the reel hood and locking reel are plastic and kept loosening up. I decided something needed to be done with it or it would break.  So I gave it to my friend. The parts were not expensive at all.

The reel seat cost roughly $16.  The Winn Grips ran maybe $25 I do not remember. All I know is he removed all the old from the rear so no guides had to be redone.  It came out fantastic. I went on vacation to Dale Hollow and by the time I returned home I had him alster the perfectly good rod.  To check more of his work take a look at Tom'a Custom Rods. Take a look at the pics ion his repair and build galleries. He is a magician or artist for sure. 

Cabela's brand rod looks just like the rod you had fixed, super nice rods for the money.  

I did a similar search last spring and tested quite a few.

I settled on an Addermine. It was a little more than I wanted to pay but it does everything well given its a ML.  Many say they never go on sale, but that is not the case

I have been using a 6' ML Fast St. Croix Avid and a 6'8'' M X-fast Avid and both have worked pretty well so far.  I have also use a 7'4'' ML X-fast Fenwick Elite Tech.  I generally use this rod for weightless senkos and live bait for Crappy. It gets the job done for Ned Rigs but it's just not as good as the Avids. My favorite set up for the Ned rig though, is 7' Fast M Abu Garcia Fantasia Registra and a Abu Garcia AL-X with 8lb FC.  I was just experimenting with this setup and at first glance it would not be my go to for the Ned rig but for whatever reason, this set up just brings in the fish.  Both the rod and reel seem perfect for this set up.   

 

If was going to pick my ideal rod for this technique, I would go with a St. Croix Legend Elite 6'10'' ML X-fast.