Hey all,

So, I've been looking at ICAST and decided I want to create an exclusive setup for jigs. Here's the dilemma I'm having, I have a St. croix Avid and a legend tournament absolutely love them. Saw the new St. Croix Rage coming out and said that's awesome, jig rod... but then I saw that Loomis re-did the GL2 series and I have been wanting to break into the Loomis rods but couldn't understand why they charge that much for their rods. Granted I have some expensive stuff, but I could usually find it cheaper, but not so much with the Loomis gear (it seems to hold its value). Anyways, off of the tangent, I guess my question is, should I go with the new St. Croix? which I am pretty used to working with, or the new GL2? which will be something different.

Being as both of these are new to the market, I would try to get my hands on both and see what you think then. Or, if you can wait, see what reviews come out on both as time goes on.

In this case I would stay with the St. Croix brand over the gl2 , which I think is one of loomis's crappiest rods. JMO

I have to agree with some of the other posters. Stick with what you know. I use St Croix rods I know what to expect in performance and sensitivity. I have one Loomis rod that stays in my rod box most of the time.

The Rage rods are built on St Croix's SCIII blanks, same as the Avid line. These are a better blank IMO than the GL2.

may want to just stick with the avid series, though, unless you love the new handle material, they have better guides than the rage series, and the smae blank at around the same price.

im excited to see the rage series, i just wish they would have stayed with the alconites on them instead of pacbay, i dont think the alconites would raise the price of the rod that much =/

I would seriously consider the Loomis but AT LEAST the IMX. I have 5 G.Loomis rods (1nrx,3glx,1crank)and one St.Criox ES70MF the G.Loomis is much better,IMHO, no question about it. but i agree the gl2 isn't much of a rod.

Personally, I think I'd pass on both. St Croix's SCIII blank is pretty good, but I think the guides are a bit lower quality than I'd expect in that price range and I also have my doubts about the durability of the Rage's heat-shrink grip skin.

The GL2 is Loomis' entry-level rod, but that's definitely not reflected in its $180-250 suggested retail price. The previous generation of GL2 rods received less than stellar reviews, with the general consensus being that there are much better options in the same price range. I highly doubt that adding a split grip and more application-specific models is going to change that.

In this case I would stay with the St. Croix brand over the gl2 , which I think is one of loomis's crappiest rods. JMO

I would seriously consider the Loomis but AT LEAST the IMX. I have 5 G.Loomis rods (1nrx,3glx,1crank)and one St.Criox ES70MF the G.Loomis is much better,IMHO, no question about it. but i agree the gl2 isn't much of a rod.

Personally, I think I'd pass on both. St Croix's SCIII blank is pretty good, but I think the guides are a bit lower quality than I'd expect in that price range and I also have my doubts about the durability of the Rage's heat-shrink grip skin.

The GL2 is Loomis' entry-level rod, but that's definitely not reflected in its $180-250 suggested retail price. The previous generation of GL2 rods received less than stellar reviews, with the general consensus being that there are much better options in the same price range. I highly doubt that adding a split grip and more application-specific models is going to change that.

But isn't this the reason that they have rebuilt the GL2 series from scratch, because of the original GL2 being so mediocre. I'm not looking at getting them any time soon, have to go on a mandatory vacation to a sandbox first, but when I come back I was looking at getting one, might just stretch and go for a used GLX. Any other thoughts?

It's still an entry-level rod with lower quality components than many other rods in its price range, like the Fuji aluminum-oxide guides which are a step below the Fuji Hardloys that have been used on many ~$100 rods for the past several years...like the Shimano Compre.

It's still an entry-level rod with lower quality components than many other rods in its price range, like the Fuji aluminum-oxide guides which are a step below the Fuji Hardloys that have been used on many ~$100 rods for the past several years...like the Shimano Compre.

quote from a rod builder: "Hardloy is just a slightly better-grade aluminum oxide, and the difference in performance between the two is small. If you like the looks of aluminum oxide, by all means use it, because you won't notice any performance difference between it and Hardloy." Plus, since i'm making a jig setup, i'm probably going to use braid. I have heard, Aluminum oxide guides will stand up to braid just fine. So, what's going to be the difference here is the feel in the hand and the sensitivity between the two rods. Since they aren't in stores yet, can't really try them out in the hand, as for sensitivity I know SCIII makes a great blank, but only a handful of people are going to know what the new GL2 blank is like.

True, the difference is small...but there is still a difference. Loomis chose to use one of Fuji's lowest grade guides for their new GL2, yet still place it in the same price range as the Cumara (Fuji SiC), Daiwa Zillion (Fuji SiC), Dobyns Champion (Kigen SiC), St Croix LTB (Fuji Alconite), Kistler Helium LTA (Fuji Alconite), etc.

That blank better be one bad mofo, because the competition in that price range is pretty tough.

True, the difference is small...but there is still a difference. Loomis chose to use one of Fuji's lowest grade guides for their new GL2, yet still place it in the same price range as the Cumara (Fuji SiC), Daiwa Zillion (Fuji SiC), Dobyns Champion (Kigen SiC), St Croix LTB (Fuji Alconite), Kistler Helium LTA (Fuji Alconite), etc.

That blank better be one bad mofo, because the competition in that price range is pretty tough.

that's awesome, I guess we will see when someone grabs one up. I was surprised to see that it still pulled Best of show freshwater rod even with the lower grade guides.