Casting rod salmon/steelhead

[ingi]

So I have a couple decent rods, nothing too fancy, I graduate from college soon and my mom asked what do I want. First I said nothing then I was I was like hey why not a better rod, I'm primarily a bankie and was looking for something for drifting corkies & yarn, eggs, etc. any favorites or suggestions? Fetha Styx look nice but never tried em, any comparisons with them and say lamiglass or any other higher end rod, also I remember reading some of the companies ( forgot which one(s)) no longer honoring the warranties or they are but it's quite of bit of money to have fixed. Thanks for any and all help- ingi

[Bodofish]

If money is no object, get an XRods from Jim Mercer. He'll make you a dandy!

[jens]

How much is your budget? I've only played with a Spinning Rod by Xrodz, but I did like it, very spendy. Jim is one heck of a nice guy.

I know a few of us on here use the Lamiglas XMG 50 10ft( I have 2) but I also have a GL2 Loomis 1084C 9ft that I strictly use for spoons.

For me it boiled down to how the rod felt in my hands. It was love at first sight for me with the XMG. I've handled some big boot Kings/Chums with zero problems. The sensitivity on it is the best I have felt.

You can find a cheaper stick for under $100, keep an eye on Craigslist, I see them all the time. My buddy scored a Lamiglas Certified Pro 10ft with a Diawa Zillion reel for $180

Good luck.

[ingi]

I was thinking around 300

[flinginpooh]

Im always looking for good deals myself. My favorite of all my rods is my lami cert pro 9'6" Its a good size for most rivers really light and very sensitive. I pair it up with a pflueger low profile baitcaster. I personally fish alot of hours on the river and prefer the lightest setup possible. Comfort is good when pulling off 15 hours of fishing. Best thing to do though is to get your hands on as many different rods as you can and see how they feel to you.

[akochman09]

I just got a fetha styx homewater steelhead 8-15lb rated medium action steelhead rod, casting model. 9 ft 2. Its very very nice. I love it. I like the 9 2 because its a bottom bouncing/side drifting rod but its also long enough for me to fish a bobber. I would also check out the lamiglas certified pro because those are sweet. Also fishenfreak has the red lamiglas and it is really nice too. ill let him tell you about it.

[RiverChromeGS]

Yea its hard to miss on the lamiglas rack at the stores. Its the G-Series they switched from black to red, super sensitive but strong at the same time. Best rod i've ever had for steelhead and salmon other than chinook. Caught all 63 steelhead this year on it. Goes for 200-250. Oh and Lami certified pro is hella sick too. Good call Pooh, I want one of those too

[ingi]

alright, I think i will check them all out and see what feels right for me, thanks for all the advice

[Toni]

If I had maybe $300 to spend on a rod I would talk with Don of Don's Custom Rods and have him make me one.

[Matt]

If I was gunna shell out a ton of money on a new custom rod I would go with anything built on a Rainshadow blank.

[flinginpooh]

The one thing to remember about custom rods is that the warranty is not covered through the manufactuer its the builder. I mean the blank it self is covered and can be replaced but then youll have to have rod built again. I had bought a loomis spinning rod. There was no indication that the rod was custom built. It looked factory. I lost about an inch or so on it and tried to get my new top section they told me that its a blank and they cant send me one already worked with eyes and all. I can upgrade to a production rod and spend more money. I just repaired the tip myself and called it good. Ive got many steelhead on that rod. Even 2 Kings but really its kinda light for that type of fishing. It is fun sometimes to use a rod that is way under powered just to fight the fish. Ill be using an ultra light trout rod most of the time on the puyallup when the pinks are in. Its fun stuff.

[jens]

The one thing to remember about custom rods is that the warranty is not covered through the manufactuer its the builder. I mean the blank it self is covered and can be replaced but then youll have to have rod built again. I had bought a loomis spinning rod. There was no indication that the rod was custom built. It looked factory. I lost about an inch or so on it and tried to get my new top section they told me that its a blank and they cant send me one already worked with eyes and all. I can upgrade to a production rod and spend more money. I just repaired the tip myself and called it good. Ive got many steelhead on that rod. Even 2 Kings but really its kinda light for that type of fishing. It is fun sometimes to use a rod that is way under powered just to fight the fish. Ill be using an ultra light trout rod most of the time on the puyallup when the pinks are in. Its fun stuff.

You lost about an inch on your rod? Kinda hard to drive a hard hookset with a small dysfunctional rod IMO.

[Matt]

a small dysfunctional rod IMO.

[Camron]

i just bought a stell head rod off of craigslist i have no idea what it is but hey its a rod i dont care i use it for trout and bass fishing it doesnt matter right a rods a rods

[flinginpooh]

i just bought a stell head rod off of craigslist i have no idea what it is but hey its a rod i dont care i use it for trout and bass fishing it doesnt matter right a rods a rods

Sure a rods a rod until you know how to fish, what to fish for, what your fishing for, how your fishing for that type of fish. Ive seen your other posts. When you start to care what your doing youll learn that a pole is not a pole and a fish isnt just a fish.

[Camron]

I have been fishing non stop since i was four and i have caught maybe 20 fish and non them were very big. So thats why i think a fish is a fish cuz im lucky to catch anything i think a pole is a pole cuz wel ican catch a fish on a stick if i wanted to. Actyally i have. I am very very serious bout fishing fishing is the only thing i do when its season. So dont try to tell me im not serious bout fishing! And that idont know how to fish

[RiverChromeGS]

You've been fishing since u were 4, fish all the time during season, and have caught 20 fish? Hahahahaha wow bro. i'd like to see you pull in a salmon or steelhead on a stick, or ever get one to bite, or fish the right river in the first place. What kind of Zebco do you use on your barbie pole?

[kzoo]

Every brand seems to have their high end rods and perform somewhat the same.

Best advice I can give is to listen around to warranties. St. Croix's has a decent warranty policy, shipping there and back and additional cost comes out to 35 to 40 bucks. Turn around time is around 3 to 4 weeks.

I've heard GLoomis has an okay warranty, the total cost is more expensive than the St.Croix.

Buddy told me Lamiglas gave them the runaround for warranty work and he'll never buy from them again. They apparently did have a great warranty, but they crackdown on it.

Personally I use Okumas 9'6" Ceilos for steelheading, I fish on the bank and my rods go through a lot of punishment from sitting in my truck; walking through a trail in the forest to get to a spot; to setting my pole on rocks while landing a fish. I've broken 3 rods for the past 5 years, due to my fault, not the manufacturer, each one costing me 40 bucks. I have yet to break one from a fish or snag.

[flinginpooh]

Personally I use Okumas 9'6" Ceilos for steelheading, I fish on the bank and my rods go through a lot of punishment from sitting in my truck; walking through a trail in the forest to get to a spot; to setting my pole on rocks while landing a fish. I've broken 3 rods for the past 5 years, due to my fault, not the manufacturer, each one costing me 40 bucks. I have yet to break one from a fish or snag.

Kzoo, I just noticed this entry. If your snapping celios on accident and paying 40 bucks a pop buy a guide select from okuma. You can get them on sale for 60-85 bucks from most places and they carry a lifetime warranty. You cut a peice of the butt section that shows the model number and serial number and send it in with a check or money order for 14.99 and they send you a whole new rod. They dont ask questions or give you run arounds. I snapped the tip off one when I had a chum get me wrapped around a tree after it shot under a log. I know it sounds wacky but it was at the skok and water was high. Crazy things happen there. Anyhow after horsing that thing around for 5 mins I ended up snappin the top 2 inches off of it. I ended up running into the okuma rep at the sportsman show and he had it replaced right there and then. I also had another one that I set down and took pics of my fish next to it. I turned and put my fish in the cooler and turned around to grab my rod. Well I stepped right on it instead. 14.99 and a piece of the rod and a new one was delivered. Gr8 warrenty and awesome rod for the price.

[natetreat]

Personally I use Okumas 9'6" Ceilos for steelheading, I fish on the bank and my rods go through a lot of punishment from sitting in my truck; walking through a trail in the forest to get to a spot; to setting my pole on rocks while landing a fish. I've broken 3 rods for the past 5 years, due to my fault, not the manufacturer, each one costing me 40 bucks. I have yet to break one from a fish or snag.

Kzoo, I just noticed this entry. If your snapping celios on accident and paying 40 bucks a pop buy a guide select from okuma. You can get them on sale for 60-85 bucks from most places and they carry a lifetime warranty. You cut a peice of the butt section that shows the model number and serial number and send it in with a check or money order for 14.99 and they send you a whole new rod. They dont ask questions or give you run arounds. I snapped the tip off one when I had a chum get me wrapped around a tree after it shot under a log. I know it sounds wacky but it was at the skok and water was high. Crazy things happen there. Anyhow after horsing that thing around for 5 mins I ended up snappin the top 2 inches off of it. I ended up running into the okuma rep at the sportsman show and he had it replaced right there and then. I also had another one that I set down and took pics of my fish next to it. I turned and put my fish in the cooler and turned around to grab my rod. Well I stepped right on it instead. 14.99 and a piece of the rod and a new one was delivered. Gr8 warrenty and awesome rod for the price.

My father and I have fished the guide select rods, and the warranty service is as pooh says it is, prompt and no questions asked. They are well made and fish decently. Good rods for the price for sure. As long as the rods aren't out of production you can even swap them out at the retailer you purchased them at.