It's not the name behind the blank that matters. Rather it is the technology
that goes into the blank that makes the difference. G. Loomis production
rods are really no better than any other production rod. I don't care what
any mass
manufacturer tries to sell you with their hype. If you are producing
thousands of rods you are cutting corners. It's the only way they can sell a
rod for the price they do.

They can try to tell you that they spine check blanks, but in reality they
"might" check one in a hundred. As for aligning guides to the spine, forget
it. If you want to fish a rod that was built for your specific fishing needs
then spend the money, find a rodbuilder in your area. And you
will see & "feel" the advantages of a custom built rod.

JMHO! Course opinions are like! Well you all know the rest.

--
"The Shadow"
Millennium Rods
"Illinois Fisherman" wrote in message
om...
Well then, by who's rating can you justify any materials used in any rod.
To
me the IM rating indicates how much more Graphite being used in the blank.
The IM6 material has less graphite and is more flexible, softer and more
forgiving, than an IM8 material. The IM6 Rating to me means that it will
not
break as easily as the IM8.

Personally, I don't believe that a $250.00 rod that just catches Bass is
the
answer to catching fish. Then again I go for Musky, Pike, Walleye, Bass,
Cats, and Carp. Include stripers and lake trout. I find that no one rod
catches all types of fish. I need rods that I do not have to coddle. If
all
you fish for in life is Bass you may have tunnel vision about fishing.

I read all the tournament wins etc. I don't see to many G. Loomis rods
mentioned, seems the Pro's use there sponsors product and still manage to
win, imagine that they win despite having inferior rods. No offense to
those
who make rods for a living. I know you guys put your heart in everything
you
make.

Sometimes Craig and his "I can't fish without a G. Loomis and neither can
you attitude" is just too much.


"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:m%48c.78065$Cb.1017352@attbi_s51...
I.F. wrote: "The Clarus is a decent rod and will give good service. The
graphite material used in the construction is IM7 on that rod, so it has
good sensitivity and a little give."

Please folks, IM6, IM7, IM8 materials, made by the Hexcel Corporation
have
not been produced in over 10 years. The labels rods manufacturers are
putting on rods, such as IM6, IM7, and IM8 are just that, LABELS. They
are
MEANINGLESS! A rod identified as IM8 is not better or worse than one
identified as an IM6, because these identifiers are not identifying
anything, they are MEANINGLESS!

Modulus ratings by themselves tell you very little to nothing about the
rod's overall construction, the material, and its quality. A
manufacturer
can tell you they are using 58-Million Modulus material. Ok, what does
that
say about the quality of that material used or the quality of the rod,
or
its sensitivity. Absolutely Nothing! Now, if the rod said 54 or even
33-million Hexcel Corporation's Hercules fibers material used, at least
you
would know the raw graphite (really known as pan carbon fiber) was top
notch.

But even then, you don't really know, because G.Loomis is known to sell
their rejected materials to other rod manufacturers. Now what does that
say
about labels and identifiers, because Hexcel's Hercules fibers is the
standard all other companies strive to match. So, G.Loomis rejects a
batch
of Hexcel's material, and then sells this rejected material to another
rod
company who can now say they are using Hexcel's Hercules fiber without
lying. Rejected material, but the legal right to say they are using the
world's best material.

High end rods cost so much, because the companies or individuals
producing
them have very high quality standards, which means they pay more for all
the
raw materials, and spend a great deal of money developing a rod series
(R&D)
to ensure the rod will perform well for years to come.

--
Craig Baugher
Be Confident, Focused, but most of all Have FUN!