BasserJim

Honestly if it doesn’t I’d be shocked. There’s only a couple of mass production rods that don’t have rampant issues with this.

For a regular 4-5 inch finesse worm, a 1/0 hook is WAY big.

I go with 20# Daiwa Samurai

Yes, those are the MSRP prices. Heaven is us owning an incredibly light, sensitive rod and my favorite, incredibly flawless reel. The Conquest comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty just like the rest of the Loomis brand, and is eligible for the no questions asked expiditor program. The spool oil on the 2500 HGS is REALLY shallow. Plus, this reel is the same frame. I primarily wanted the upgraded drag and higher gear ratio.

It’s about perfect for how I like to hold my spinning rods (3 fingers in front of the frame/foot of the reelseat). That’s the bad part with a rod company trying to balance things from the factory, everyone prefers somethingba but different.

Steve, the rod is pretty incredible. This was with my Stella 2500FE before the FI arrived. You can see the balance point.

My review without fishing it is that it is a bad rod. Super light and sensitive, and the spiral x wrapping gives the blank a really awesome and distinctive look

Thanks so much to Gary and Brian at The Tackle Trap for getting my little slice of rod and reel heaven on earth shipped my way this week. 843s SJR and a C3000XG. Can't wait to test this thing out on some smallies!

Yakn, I was speaking strictly of my local USPS delivery people only. The system as a whole..... well my momma taught me that if you can’t say anything nice....

Scrapped them for parts. Made new knobs.

When you find the boneyard from the “reel knob experimentation” in the bottom of one of your reel boxes.

I've got a rod coming tomorrow that I had to pre-order that I didn't even pay MSRP for!

Never pay MSRP for anything!

I really don’t believe in bribing someone to get them to complete their most basic job functions. If you have a driver willing to go the extra mile and leave packages in a nonstandard location, put them inside for you, etc by all means show some appreciation. My USPS, UPS, and FedEx Express drivers are all fantastic. That FedEx ground driver left A LOT to be desired on more than one occasion. The new guy that has the route seems pretty good though.

So I always have packages sent to my office, so that someone can sign for them. Last time I was waiting I checked the tracking later in the day and it said: "Delivery Exception: No one to sign or business closed" or something like that.... I called FedEx, got through to the local supervisor, and was raising holy hell. He was taking his driver's side saying we must have been out to lunch, didn't open the door, etc..... I confirmed the time of attempted delivery and asked the supervisor if he had an email address. He said of course I do, why. Told him I was going to send him 16 different timestamped security footage angles of an open office with 3 people in it and a FedEx truck never even coming within a block of the property within any direction. About half an hour later a very angry driver showed up with my package

The last time I was waiting for something from FedEx the delivery driver got in some deep doo-doo

Hi guys, my name's Jim, and I've been a tackle addict for many years now. I'm currently sitting at my desk shaking like a junkie in need of a fix, waiting for FedEx to show up with my new rod!!!! And it's not even supposed to be here until tomorrow! What's worse is that my new girlfriend to mount on it isn't scheduled to be here until FRIDAY! I don't think I can hold out that long without my fix! Who else is like a kid waiting for Christmas when you know you've got goodies on the way?

@npl_texas you’re very welcome. Like I said, I was out of packing peanuts and couldn’t let that nice reel just bounce all around in the box. It was some stuff I had laying around that doesn’t really any longer suit the type of fishing I prefer to do (I’d much rather be finesse fishing). I’ve had many random acts of kindness gifted upon me over the years, and I try and pay that forward as often as possible. Both because I’m able to do so, and because I have a 2 year old little boy who I’m trying to lead by example. He’s still a little young to catch on, but I’m trying to stay in good practice. Hope you enjoy the reel and the baits and have a great holiday season.

The real issue here, is that being sponsored is seen as just as much as a status symbol as anything. Therefore, guys are willing to give themselves away for nothing, just to be able to have that "badge of honor" if you will of being able to say that they are "good enough" to be a sponsored fisherman.

Inshore VS FW blanks is just because without the different designations they would need 15 different powers. I think you'll be fine, the rods are the same, its all marketing.

I am incredibly, immensely offended. You should immediately offer me a craft beer and a back seat on your boat for a day on Champlain to make up for this egregious error!!!! Its all good!

I don't know who this Jim fella you speak of is, but he seems like quite the doofus. To this day, I don't know how I stayed 'in the boat'. I was waist deep in the water, upside down. Center of mass and the laws of gravity say I was going for a swim and re-entering the boat via boarding ladder/climbing the engine (I don't think you had the ladder installed yet at that point??). I guess the human body is capable of some amazing things when you see $$$$ worth of brand new rod and reel sinking to the bottom the first time you use it!

Anything for feel you're going to want the high end - now Conquest

Oh contraire, this is my beautiful wife of 3 years and my 2 year old fishing buddy and tackle thief. She doesn’t say anything about my tackle purchasing habits. I don’t smoke, got out to bars or drink excessively or hardly at all, I don’t do drugs or cheat. She figures if spending money on fishing tackle that brings me great enjoyment is the worst habit I’ve got she’s got it pretty lucky. I don’t buy anything I know we can’t afford, and I don’t have to have an excuse or ask permission. On the same token, she has a closet full of dozens of pairs of shoes, lularoe leggings, Coach purses, and the like.... which she doesn’t need an excuse or permission for either.

They’re actually up to $800 now.