ALX Zolo Sensitivity

[tim_kovar]

Hi guys, I am not familiar with ALX rods at all but was contemplating adding one of the rods from the ZOLO lineup rods to my arsenal.  I am wondering how they stack up to other brands, particularly sensitivity wise.  I am pretty familiar with g loomis, dobyns, st. croix, etc.  If you have any experience with them for comparison purposes  I would really appreciate it.

[CountryboyinDC]

I have 2 ALX Zolos - the Trickster, which is a light/finesse spinning model, and the Brawler, which is a pretty brawny jig rod, some might call a flipping stick.  It's hard to say with the Brawler for me, I don't really have a good Loomis or St. Croix comparison.  But the Trickster, which I just got less than a year ago has become a favorite.  I've been using it for small plastics on a light jighead mostly (Nikko helgrammites on a 1/8 oz jig).  I'd say it compares favorably with a St. Croix Avid, maybe not quite as sensitive as a IMX Loomis.  Components are good, I'm not crazy about the grips but they don't bother me.  Although this looks a lot like an Ikos rod of their's, I think this is a much better line.  I have the Shake and it's fine but not great; it gets left at home a lot.  The 2 Zolos I would buy again.

[5by3]

CountryboyinDC offered a pretty fair assessment. I’d say that they are more sensitive than the champion XP rods I used to have, but not as sensitive as a high end loomis (GLX and above). I’d agree that they are probably slightly below an IMX - but they’re also $100 less.

 

If you are going for sensitivity, the enox blank is a noticeable upgrade. You can get them on sale sometimes for about $60 more than what a Zolo costs. I’d put them above an IMX and headed towards GLX territory. G Loomis is still the standard for sensitivity for a reason.

[Revival]

I have 5 Zolos and they are plenty sensitive for me.  I never fished G. Loomis rods so I have no comparison to them.  I love my Zolos but I’m just a weekend warrior.

 

ALX usually have their 3 bundle rod sale this time of the year too.

 

 

[newapti5]

I have one Maestro spinning model, and one Deputy casting model.  The Maestro's sensitivity is just superb for me. I don't use spinning rods much, so no Loomis or St. Croix to compare it to. But I would say it's definitely the most sensitive one among the $200+ spinning rods that I've used, such as abu's villian, 12+1 fishing's envy, fewick's world class, etc. I especially like its "medium light+" action for smallmouth finesse fishing. 

 

About the Deputy, it's a bit disappointing since I got it after the great experience with the Maestro, hoping it'll be great for football jigs. It's still a good rod, solid backbone, soft tip, etc., but not as sensitive as the Maestro. It's about the sensitivity level of my Champion XP, but definitely less so than the Legend X.  And it's a little tip heavy. 

[GReb]

My Zolo, Champion, and Zodias are all pretty close in sensitivity. I really have no complaints. However other rods in my arsenal such as Cara, Expert, and Helium are more sensitive in my hands.

[WRB]

Sensitivity is a subjective topic and seems to me connected to how much the angler is invested.

The blind test is your best judge. If you can identify a difference in the dark without knowing what rod you fishing you are being objective,

ALX has excellent customer service. Ask about  trail period. 
Tom

[Michigander]

18 hours ago, WRB said:

Sensitivity is a subjective topic and seems to me connected to how much the angler is invested.

I totally agree that this term is subjective, but I've been wondering lately if it could become objective. I think attaching a vibrometer to the reel seat and measuring vibration transmission from controlled inputs would give an objective comparison between two rods.

[WRB]

So what created feedback to the angler?

Answer is the line movements.

The doesn’t vibrate and attenuate line movements it dampens them. What you call sensitivity is felt by the anglers skill to interpret difference in line movement transferred to rod guides. The angler can eliminate the rod dampening line movements by touching the line directly.

The lighter the rod reel combo and higher the rods modulus reduces line dampening with everything else being equal. 
It’s the angler that interpreters line movements or changes to line resistance. Your brain is the only meter that matters. Sensitivity is always subjective.

Tom 
 

[Michigander]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

So what created feedback to the angler?

Answer is the line movements.

The doesn’t vibrate and attenuate line movements it dampens them. What you call sensitivity is felt by the anglers skill to interpret difference in line movement transferred to rod guides. The angler can eliminate the rod dampening line movements by touching the line directly.

The lighter the rod reel combo and higher the rods modulus reduces line dampening with everything else being equal. 
It’s the angler that interpreters line movements or changes to line resistance. Your brain is the only meter that matters. Sensitivity is slays subjective.

Tom 
 

Ok, so then measuring the vibration of the line at the point where a finger could touch it would give you comparative data on if Rod A dampens more than Rod B, would it not? 

[WRB]

It isn’t line vibration it’s line movements. Vibrations have amplitude and frequency whereas line moments are  pulling or slack no movement or force by whatever is on the end of the line. 
Line doesn’t vibrate like a guitar string underwater, the water dampens it.

your guides are very very smooth to reduce line drag  so very little is transferred to the rod blank. Sensitivity is your ability to feel movements, no line no sensitivity.

Tom 

[JLeon77]

Never had a Loomis, but ALX are up there with the best rods I have owned.  I have 5 and just ordered 3 more as they have a great sale going on...Their customer service is great as mentioned!