Will G.loomis Ever Make $100-150 Range Rod?!

[IAY]

 I'm just glad I don't fly fish, I just saw a hand crafted cane rod made in Japan that retails for $3,250, talk about diminishing returns.

 

That's assuming that enthusiast people don't find it as a collector's item, and it is not exquisitely made, and it is easily replaceable,  but ok...

[thehooligan]

My only experience with loomis is handling the gl2 series, a few glx models, and the nrx. Gl2 is overpriced, didnt like the styling of the glx, and the nrx was sweet. Would try a nrx at the rep sample price, but at msrp i would most likely go jdm and try evergreen/megabass... 

[warpath58]

Forget G Loomis and their over priced rods. Pick up a Duckett and you'll never look back. I picked one up last year and now I have replaced everyone of my rods with Ducketts. Nothing over $200 and a great warranty.  

[Raul]

They made the old GL2 series, 120 - 140 depending upon length, I have several of them, but there were a lot of good rods for that price back then. I still have them and use them on a regular basis, they are now relegated to the less glamorous chores like spinnerbaiting and crankbaiting but still I wouldn't sell or give away, I like those rods.

[Tywithay]

Very labor intensive and made here which makes them more expensive. Yes, the GL2 is heavy and it would be ok at $100-$115, same category as a Dobyns Saavy, not too good at the current price point but at that same deal wouldn't be bad. Before you bash me and tell me the Saavy is cheaper, well it should be as it is made overseas, in fact every rod in their line up uses Kigan guides and is made overseas which means they are way over priced. I agree with Loomis rods, GL2 is over priced but they use Fuji guides even is the inserts are basic aluminum oxide which is plenty good for bass fishing, and they are made here with much higher labor costs. I have older MBR rods in the IMX series and they are really good rods, I also have a CR721 in a GLX which isn't made anymore, that rod, when it was made, was far superior than what was available up to about 2008 or 2009, that seem like the time everyone else learned how to make blanks. Seriously, I'm not a young guy and I've been at this since the mid 80s and when the IMX came out it was incredible, and it was the first rod to dethrone the Fenwick Iron Feather rods but it didn't stop there, the GLX was introduced and there was nothing even close as far as sensitivity or weight was concerned, in fact that is the rod that spawned the "weight weenies" , you know, guys that have to have light rods and reels like myself...LOL. Actually the Revo Premier 2nd generation is what turned me into that but anyway, there wasn't anything close until recently. I will also say Abu Garcia spawned the cheap rod wars by making the Vendetta, they made a decent rod that was cheap for what you got, and trust me, a rod that was that good in the mid 90s wasn't around, well at least that was affordable to the masses as we don't realize it but we are the fishing minority, most casual anglers would tell us $80 is pretty expensive for a fishing rod. I'm just glad I don't fly fish, I just saw a hand crafted cane rod made in Japan that retails for $3,250, talk about diminishing returns.

There are other companies made in the USA that offer a superior product at a lower price point. Loomis, you're primarily paying a premium for the name. They started the whole thing wwhen Gary introduced the IMX and GLX. That was light years ahead of the competition. Today, technology has caught up to the Loomis brand and those techniques are the industry standard. Loomis is no longer at the forefront, but rather the middle of the pack.

[aavery2]

Zbone, Edge (the original price, it went up, but will be reduced again at the end of this year), Megabass X4 is pretty close.

Kind of cool, the NRX bears his name, and Zbone and Edge are his blanks.   I think the Edge would be the one that I would like to try except for the spiral wrapped guides, I understand the concept but I am not a fan.     With the Zbone I have spoke with a lot of people who own both it and the NRX,  many have told me that they like the Zbone overall but they still give the NRX the edge in terms of sensitivity.  I have handled the X4 series rods  and they look to have very good build quality and feel great in hand, this will be one on the next rods I own.  Some solid suggestions, thanks.

[Dwight Hottle]

Better yet buy a real Gary Loomis Edge rod for $150 or four for $500.

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/58394716/edge-first-strike-bass-rods-by-gary-loomis

[*Hootie]

According to everything I am reading, the reason loomis don't build a sub $200.00 rod, is, they don't know how. Will someone volunteer to show them?

Hootie

[*Hootie]

they charge $150 just for the name "g. Loomis" on their other rods.

Found out that they don't charge $150 just for the name. Bought a G LOOMIS decal for $2.00...so they only charge $2.00 for the name. I don't know what the rest of the money is for.

Hootie

[ColdSVT]

The old blue gl2 used to be around 150...like ten years ago. I have two of em. One for deep cranks and other for squarebills. The work nice and i feel they are better than the current gl2

[Coherence]

Better yet buy a real Gary Loomis Edge rod for $150 or four for $500.

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/58394716/edge-first-strike-bass-rods-by-gary-loomis

 

d**n...Dwight beat me here!

[WRB]

Temple Fork Outfitter makes a Gary Loomis Tactical series bass rods in your price range.

Tom

[tomustang]

Found out that they don't charge $150 just for the name. Bought a G LOOMIS decal for $2.00...so they only charge $2.00 for the name. I don't know what the rest of the money is for.

Hootie

$148 for the label to be installed, you know we all have to keep Americans labor force working

[irnwrkr]

I've got a TFO Gary Loomis rod I jig fish with. Like it a lot.was right in the $150 range.

[ABW]

G Loomis is like the Beats by Dre of fishing rods

[Greeneye8181]

G Loomis is like the Beats by Dre of fishing rods

 

I disagree. Honestly that statement is ridiculous. The NRX is a perfect rod.

So is the Legend Xtreme overpriced also? I own both by the way.

[aavery2]

G Loomis is like the Beats by Dre of fishing rods

I respect your opinion, but I want to know do you own a G. Loomis rod?   I am not asking if you have used, borrowed or even fished with one, I want to know if you have ever laid your own hard earned cash down for one.

[Tywithay]

G Loomis is like the Beats by Dre of fishing rods

I think Bose would be a closer representation. Bose makes a very fine piece of audio equipment, but it's just way overpriced. Loomis isn't much different. They make a pretty good rod, especially the NRX. You'd be hard pressed to find a more sensitive rod than the NRX, though a few are right on its heels for less money. If you want the best, you gotta pay. The problem is more with the lower tier rods from the IMX down. They all offer subpar components and don't offer nearly as much performance as rods that cost a lot less, then expect you to pay just because it says Loomis on the side. I don't agree with that at all. When I can get an Avid, LTB, or KLX, made in the USA, with Fuji alconite guides, for $50-$150 less than an IMX with similar (or even better) performance; it's easy to see where I'll put my money. The Legend Elite/Extreme are every bit of the rod the GLX is and costs $100 less, with the same components. I just don't see how they justify the cost anymore when others are doing it better and cheaper.

[Master Bait'r]

Not the new model IMX. I bought one for a hair over $200, and even at that price it was a big rip off. You can do a whole lot better for half as much money. I would say the GLX is where Loomis starts to shine. The NRX is the only rod that truly blew my mind out of the bunch.

In the $200ish range, I feel like the 13 *** rods blow just about everything out of the water. It's scary how similar to the NRX they are at a fraction of the cost. I own both in XF, really like recoil guides, and the similarities are staggering given the price difference. I got a smokin deal on my NRX used and it was still substantially more than the *** which is ~95% of the rod the NRX is to be completely honest.

As for loomis making a $150 rod... No way, and even if they did you wouldn't want it.

[Tywithay]

In the $200ish range, the 13 *** rods blow just about everything out of the water. It's scary how similar to the NRX they are at a fraction of the cost.

Totally agree. They're not in the same class, as far as build quality. The performance far exceeds most rods in that price range, and several that cost much more. Same goes for the Orochi XX at $300. I'll pick up my XX rods 9/10 times before I use my GLX, because they just feel better.

 

I'm really interested to see what these Edge EFX rods do to change the game. They have a "real"  Made in the USA Loomis IM blank for $200....has to be a scary thought for all the other manufacturers out there, if he can get across to the mainstream with the funky handles.

[Master Bait'r]

Totally agree. They're not in the same class, as far as build quality. The performance far exceeds most rods in that price range, and several that cost much more. Same goes for the Orochi XX at $300. I'll pick up my XX rods 9/10 times before I use my GLX, because they just feel better.

I'm really interested to see what these Edge EFX rods do to change the game. They have a "real" Made in the USA Loomis IM blank for $200....has to be a scary thought for all the other manufacturers out there, if he can get across to the mainstream with the funky handles.

I slightly modified that post so I could elaborate a bit, but I agree wholeheartedly with you. The small details in the loomis are nice, but the blanks and components in the *** rods give a killer performance at a very reasonable comparative cost.

Also agreed that if I was looking to spend $300 I'd go megabass before loomis unless I was getting another used NRX + wildcard haha

[ABW]

I disagree. Honestly that statement is ridiculous. The NRX is a perfect rod.

So is the Legend Xtreme overpriced also? I own both by the way.

 

I was just making a comparison. When you look at fishing rods and you look at the top brands, G-Loomis is up there with them. Like how Beats by Dre are popular. 

[ABW]

I respect your opinion, but I want to know do you own a G. Loomis rod?   I am not asking if you have used, borrowed or even fished with one, I want to know if you have ever laid your own hard earned cash down for one.

 

Reading the first couple pages of this thread, it doesn't seem like their lower end rods are very good. Didn't say anything about the higher end ones. I don't own one. I know its very naive of me to say something like that but that's the general consensus. I didn't mean they are "bad" when compared them to Beats, I was just saying they are the more popular ones, like how Beats are popular for the brand name.

[F14A-B]

Totally agree. They're not in the same class, as far as build quality. The performance far exceeds most rods in that price range, and several that cost much more. Same goes for the Orochi XX at $300. I'll pick up my XX rods 9/10 times before I use my GLX, because they just feel better.

I'm really interested to see what these Edge EFX rods do to change the game. They have a "real" Made in the USA Loomis IM blank for $200....has to be a scary thought for all the other manufacturers out there, if he can get across to the mainstream with the funky handles.

Yes the handles are already not appealing to me, but I would at least like to handle one a few times before final decision, that said... I have already mostly decided against it.

[Sam]

Go to college.

Start a career.

Save your money.

And buy all of the G. Loomis rods you want before you get married.