Loomis MBR 783/4 and 843/4 owners, please yap at me....

[The Yankee Fist]

Okay, got the GLX Bronzeback spin, handles 1/8-3/8.  Now I want a casting rod to handle alll other shore related duties.....stumps, weeds, hell, maybe a striper or Pike, heavier cranks, spinner baits, jigs, C and T rigs...you know...everything

Remember, I have no boat and believe it or not a couple of inches makes a HUGE difference when that bramble and foliage starts too overtake the area in the summer.

Primary uses: largemouth, smallmouth, Pike and again, maybe a striper trip this year.

Would you get a 6'6" or 7' and why?

Would you get a 3 or 4 power and why?

There was a GREAT post on Loomis power ratings by the dude with the Darth Vader avatar but I can't find it anywhere.

I am VERY Tempted to go to the 4 power due to the fact that it will fish down to a 1/4 and up to one oz and the spin is everything below 3/8 just about.

I know RW prefers a 4 power and I am totally understanding why in a casting rod.

[Aaron]

I use the 782 (shallow cranks) and 783 (plastics and light jigs) for almost all of my bass casting.  I really like the 783 and it would be the rod I kept if I  had to get rid of all the others.  Although I haven't used a 4 power loomis, if it can go down to a 1/4 oz I would probably get it as a stand alone casting rod, especially if you are planning on using it for stripers.

I am also confined to the shore when I fish and I prefer a 6'6" rod because I tend to hit too much stuff with the 7 footers.

[flechero]

I've used all 4 rods on your list... I think the 843 is great & might have been my recommendation but since you seem to have carefully considered your water and the fact that you want the heavier side of versatility, go with the 844. (especially since you have the spinning rod for lighter stuff) I also like the 784 a lot but for a shore bound angler with a vegetation issue, that extra 6" will come in handy, not to mention the 844 is much more versatile.

[roadwarrior]

I've used all 4 rods on your list... I think the 843 is great & might have been my recommendation but since you seem to have carefully considered your water and the fact that you want the heavier side of versatility, go with the 844. (especially since you have the spinning rod for lighter stuff) I also like the 784 a lot but for a shore bound angler with a vegetation issue, that extra 6" will come in handy, not to mention the 844 is much more versatile.

Just to add more confusion to the discussion, an alternative to the

MBR844C is the BCR854 which I recently acquired. The difference

is the X Fast tip on the BCR. I think the MBR844C might be more

versatile, but as a dedicated jig rod, I'm very impressed with the

BCR.

8-)

[Raul]

MBR785 IMX, think of it as the Chuck Norris of  vegetation, wood and teethy toothy critters like pike.

[The Yankee Fist]

Wow, thanks guys...Okay the 5 power is even an option? Can I crank with that? Jerkbaits?

BCR854 GLX? Good for all of the above too?

Sorry guys, just not "up" on the power ratings...

[Raul]

Wow, thanks guys...Okay the 5 power is even an option? Can I crank with that? Jerkbaits?

BCR854 GLX? Good for all of the above too?

Sorry guys, just not "up" on the power ratings...

Nope, I wouldn 't recommend the MBR785C for cranks, it has the subtle softness of a pool cue. But for everything else you mentioned it 's a bomb. For cranks I would go with a CBR783-785C just because of the action.

[The Yankee Fist]

Wow, thanks guys...Okay the 5 power is even an option? Can I crank with that? Jerkbaits?

BCR854 GLX? Good for all of the above too?

Sorry guys, just not "up" on the power ratings...

Nope, I wouldn 't recommend the MBR785C for cranks, it has the subtle softness of a pool cue.

;D ;D ;D

Hmmm..thanks Raul, I'll have to check that one out....that may work well! I'm not proud, no fish biting I can always go logging!

I have a 6' 15 year old Falcon CB rod that is still working just fine. Just doesn't handle the big baits.

[djmax22]

My vote is for the 844.

[flechero]

I also had a 785...  it's not what you want.  (it's a fabulous rod but not for your stated needs.)

As for the BCR that roadwarrior mentioned, it's probably a fantastic rod (I haven't used that one) but I think the XF action is less versatile given the range of uses CT wants this rod to fill.  But RW is right, it would make a super, dedicated jig rod.

[The Yankee Fist]

Okay, I think the 844 may be the one. You guys think the 6'6" is too short?

[Raul]

Okay, I think the 844 may be the one. You guys think the 6'6" is too short?

Depends on who you ask, I fish with 5 '6" to 6'6" and most of the time with 6'. 7 ft rods do not fit with where I 'm fishing, with the closeness and density of cover, they are also 6 inches closer to the biggest animal in the lake ( my compadre ) when we fish from the tub, or are a foot or a foot and a half too long when I 'm fishing from the bank, and so on, I select the length of my rods to the conditions of the environment I 'm in and not the other way around.

[The Yankee Fist]

Okay, the 6'10" is as much as I think my conditions will permit. Maybe I'll go 6'6"...I do have a...brace yourselves...an old Hank Parker Berkeley Carolina rig Rod 7' and that's a pain in the cover...seems every tree is just in that range... ;D

[fathom]

and, just to muddy things up further, there's always the bcr804.  8-)

would probably just go with the 784 tho...based on your replies.

[The Yankee Fist]

and, just to muddy things up further, there's always the bcr804. 8-)

would probably just go with the 784 tho...based on your replies.

;D

I just can't believe the choices today. Im glad you guys are here to help.

Funny thing is, when I used to go out on my bud's boat I would have, a 5'6" MH Cast, 6' Crank, 6.5ft ML spin and the 7' Hank Parker rod and I would be set. This area has always been a "finesse" area...light tackle most times gets bigger fish until you want to go after the lunkers in the stump/weed/bush lands.

[old bassman]

For fishing the shore, I would go with the 7' MBR843. The 844 is very stiff and good for horsing hogs out of weeds. The 843 a more all around rod. I use both for different situations. I also have a 783 which I use for worms and other plastics from the bass boat.

[The Yankee Fist]

Interesting...okay, how much "more power Captain" do i get with a 4 over a 3 and since i have the 2 power in spinning will 3 be "enough"?

Thanks for your patience and help guys. I really appreciate it.