Steelhead Rods: XP/GLX Roll Cast/Mend Qualities

[Gadfly]

I am looking for opinions on the characteristics of the rods below and am guessing the West Coast Forum may be the best place to ask these questions.

Generally, I fish Sage XP's in freshwater and Crosscurrent GLX in Saltwater, so am generally familiar with the actions of those rods. I want to buy a #7 & a #8 rod to use specifically for rollcasting nymphs and wet flies on a couple of the larger rivers in New Zealand and also for Steelhead or Light Salmon in the US Northwest & BC. Which rods below, the XP or the Loomis, are likely be better suited to the applications I noted? Can I get some feedback on the Loomis Rods from those who have fished them with these specs? ?

I've had access to the Sage rods below, but not these particular Loomis rods. Would I be correct in guessing the Loomis rods may have slightly more backbone?

Sage 796-4 XP, Length: 9' 6", Line: #7 Wgt, 4 Pieces
Sage 8100-4 XP, Length: 10', Line: #8 Wgt, 4 Pieces
------------------------ OR ----------------------------------
Loomis GLX FR1147-4, Length: 9' 6", Line: #7, 4 Pieces
Loomis GLX*FR1208-4, Length: 10', ** Line: #8, 4 Pieces

[fishfilmmaker]

I fish a lot of steelhead here in Ontario and inNorthern B.C. where i do some guiding as well.. I have landed steelies over 30 pounds and have had many 15 plus days. In B.C. in big fast water often deep, I use SAGE 1008XP 4 piece, A SAGE rplxi 9.6/9 3piece, a T&T 8 and 9 wts helix(10 ft and 9.6) ( the best rods for steelies up here) I also use for back up, my scott heliply 9 wt, for the NAS river system, I sometimes use a 9 foot 10 wt horizon 2,

the longer rods 9.6 and 10 foot are excellent roll casting rods, the XP is the nicest feeling in the hand of all of them, but iI have broken it on 25 pound plus steelies in fast water.. probably my fault. Ifi had to choose one it would be the 9.6 8wt helix or the 9wt helix.

In oNtario I fish with a 9.6 7wt thomas and thomas Horizon, the sage xp 8, and sometimes the 9.6 8 wt helix. there are video reviews of these rods on my site.. if u want to see them let me know and i will send the address, don't want to get in trouble for soliciting..

good luck.

P.s. I like the glx's i fish a 13 mega where i guide in mexico, but honest to god the XP is awesome but if you pick up the helix 8 you will fall in love i think...

[Gadfly]

Thanks. Yeah, very hard to beat the feel of the XP. Only concern is their strength down low on bigger fish - you noted you broke a rod. I am sure they would be strong enough for New Zealand fish in the 4-10 pound range, however, up in northern BC the Loomis may have the edge in the backbone category. Only trying them out in hand will tell, so I ordered the #7 & 8 GLX's a short time ago and will try them first. If they don't fit my casting style, I can order the XP's to compare with the GLX rods. In the meantime, I am going to see if I can get a look at the T&T.

[Tie-Dye-Fly-Guy]

t+t vector 10 ft 8w for all salmon/large steelie water5. plenty of backbone. landed 35 lb + chinnookie as well.

sage rplxi 9ft 7w. my fav all around rod for stripers steelies. less backbone than xp but nice tippy sensitivity for the 4lb test needed in winter steelies in pulaski

sage 14 ft 7w euro for the big water out west. huge rod that honestly fishes like a 9w, even with the windcutter line.

my 2 cents

going to BC first week of september on a cheapo camping fish till you drop 10 day bonanza. wahooooo! i cannot wait

[fleshfly]

Tye-Dye

Quit surfing the web when you should be hitting them books...
.

FishFilmMaker-

Is 10' as big as you go up in BC? Do you Spey at all? Currently I have

[fishfilmmaker]

there is a lot of spey fishing in BC espeically northern BC where we actually have BIG native wild steelhead still.. they mostly use 13-15 foot rods and toss heavy lead core sink tips,and dredge. the more serious fishermen use t a floating line and swing flies in the tail outs and along the bank.

the great myth about fast water stellhead fishing is that you have to cast far. like all anadromous fish they prefer to hug banks and any place where the current allows them to settle... so i usually find a lot of fish in shallow water, along banks, shores and in pocket water where a spey rod is unnecessary...

that being said.... sometimes a spey rod is what you need ESPECIALLY IF YOu CANT BACK CAST...

I dont spey simply because I haven't needed to. There is a great deal of water to choose. however, i STRONGLY reccomend a spey rod to anyone seriously interested in steelhead in broad powerful rivers...

a lot of guys use thew SAGE 14 foot 9 wt, some guys use the T&T version... I do know a couple of world class spey fishermen who would probably answer any questions you have.. if you want me to give you the names and contact info, let me know... i will give it to you. I have sampled the new St Croix and Loomis spey offerings and they feel nice but i havent fished them..

I have fished with the T&T 11 foot 7 Wt which is a great steelhead rod. It is a mini spey and has many of the features of the full spey, but I ended up fishing it as a single hand...

a very good friend of mine fishes Ontario Steelies on an 11 foot 5 weight. In BC they would snap it in half...For BC steelies, s especially inthe north and cohos ( when the northerns are in) a seven weight is not enough rod to be fair to the fish and the gear. an eight is a minimum. Just to reiterate onmy site there is a video or two of mne landing a 20 pound doe on an 8 wt. And there is a photo of a 30 pound plus fish in the net. An hour before i landed the 30+ i Lost another of the same size because i was using the 8 weight and it DID NOT have the backbone to control the steelie in fast water.
The nine weight did and even then it took over 40 mins toland it. what an absolute pig!!!

tosum up use the 8 wt XP or the T&T helix ( 10 foots or 9.6)
or go to a 9 wt in the same.

if yo want a spey start with a 13 foot 8.

good luck...



p.s. why do you say i should hit the books?

[Gadfly]

I haven't ordered it yet, but I will be ordering a Loomis 8/9 Greased Line rod soon with Rio Windcutter line, etc. I looked at many reviews and this combination seemed to be the combo that some cast best and most comfortably. I could have moved up to a 9/10 Greased Line or Dredger model (and I guess I always can) like some I am reading about in the Northwest US. But I decided if I had a Spey I could cast comfortably and the two one-hand rods above that I have on the way, I'd have a rounded package for both Northern BC and New Zealand (where I've fished a nmber of times and where Speys are really not needed). I thought I'd at least start with the 8/9l, since a 9/10 Spey may not be as pleasant to cast a long length of line and I have to enjoy what I'm doing out there because invariably, I always find myself reverting back to the outfits I enjoy. What are your thoughts and what are you seeing is popular up there in BC?

In reading your other comments on heavier-weight rods/outfits, I have a set of Loomis Crosscurrent GLX rods that are real strong rods for handling heavy lines and big fish in currents. They cast well yet have plenty of backbone down low. While they are all 9', I still think the 9, 10 and maybe even 11 weight rods are going to have a place up there in some cases.

I wish I could get my hands on the T&T's you both mentioned, but am currently visiting the folks on Cape Cod where there just are none of these available nearby. Are there any dealers you guys deal with who would not be averse to my ordering them to my simply looking them over and who would not argue about taking them back if I don't like them?

In any case, I both appreciate and have absorbed your advice on both T&T's and will seek them out. I may not make it up this year, but have been doing a lot of research on the Skeena/Babine/Kispiox area and am looking forward to going up when time permits.

If you've been up there, could you tell me if going up further into the headwaters of these rivers there are any hiking trails along the streams/rivers that go way in, or is there alot of brush-busting to get back in the areas where autos cannot go? I ask because when I go to New Zealand I go back in the bush on my own with a buddy. We maintain the right gear for it and the trails systems there are extensive, and if one is willing to walk hard for a full day or two, the fishing is like Disneyland, with many large, untouched fish. Even then, with many trails, we often hike a full 8 hour day in the streams and rivers, only occasionally getting up on the trail. That's the kind of fishing I'd like to do in northern BC (time of year permitting of course). Maybe set up camp in Terrace and then hike or bushwack back in with a full pack and a light tent.

Lastly, is there a good source I can go to to tell me about weather and temps in that area at given times of the year? Again, thanks for the replies and am enjoying the discussion. I usually get online once or sometimes twice a day, but look forward to further discussion with you guys.

[fleshfly]

GadFly Where do you live? I believe First Light Anglers on the North Shore, deals T&T? I may be mistaken.

What have you been using for your research for the Skeena/River in BC that you mentioned? I fished there for the first time last year. More of a do it type self trip.

[Gadfly]

Flesh, I found bcadventure.com was an interesting website. It has alot of good links and has some interesting info about the rivers and about the greater Terrace area. It doesn't talk about trails along the rivers, but then again this area is enormous. I am hoping to get up there in Sept or Oct. Would like to hear back on any helpful info either on trails along the rivers or about any well-run campgrounds.

I'm on Cape Cod at the moment and have solved the Thomas & Thomas issue. I called them and am driving up to their shop in Greenfield early next week to try the Helix series that film maker and tye-dye recommended. T&T is in process of building a showroom for the public but they aren't finished yet. However, they invited me to come and try the rods out back. Didn't take much convincing since I love the Amherst region, beautiful area. They don't retail the rods there but no problem to order one elsewhere.

[fishfilmmaker]

email me and i will tell you about the skeena and tribs. iam an associate guide for one ofthe lodges there and ( though i will miss it this year-- will be guiding in mexico) i can help u out a bit. there is info and links on my site as well, videos and pics...

[fleshfly]

Nice photos/clips on your site. Thanks for info. be in touch

[fishfilmmaker]

just to let yo know i just had a nightmarish experience with loomis over a warranty repair.. so they are not in my good books right now... ewmail me when you have a chance will tel yuo more

also the steelies are starting to show up on the skeena.

[Gadfly]

Not to worry. I just came back from a drive to Maine and then T&T in Greenfield, Mass. I was able to try the Loomis GLX Salmon rods in Maine and did not like them anywhere as much as their GLX Crosscurrent relative.

When I went to T&T I absolutely loved the Helix. I cast a number of them in different weights and lengths and they were the most versatile rods I have found. They cast very well, very smooth, very comfortable. Very powerful - they had plenty of backbone but not too much. The #7-10 rods in 9'6" are perfectly designed for steelhead and salmon yet are very well suited for Stripers or bonefish (or anything else) in respective weights. (I personally cast that length better than I did the 10 footers so I decided the rod control was worth more than the extra 6 inches).

I also tried a #5 Helix that they put a Saltwater reel seat on that had perfect balance and I liked it better than the freshatwer reel seat model they also make. I threw the line off that rod like there was no tomorrow. It is a real rocket - that #5 was possibly the nicest rod I have ever cast. My #5 XP is going in the closet for awhile. I have just ordered the #5 through the #10 weight rods in the Helix, with the #5 & 6 being 9-foot length and the #7 thru #10 all in 9'6". All were ordered with the saltwater reel seat.

If I had to choose between my Crosscurrents and these or if I had to recommend one rod series to someone, I would have to say the T&T Helix is the best all-around rod. The GLX CC may have the slight edge in the Salt with its slightly greater power to fight large fish, but T&T is more versatile and it is smoother and a bit less stiff.

With the Helix, I can now go to New Zealand with only the #5 in 9' and the #7 in 9'6", because the 5 is enough of a light rod but also has the backbone to handle the 6 pound fish we commonly find in the backwoods while. The 7 weight has all the muscle needed for the 10-12 pound (or larger) fish we find in the Tongariro or similar rivers. I won't need an 8 weight any longer down there if I don't want to take it. As far as the #7 thru #10 being used in BC, all I can say is I can't wait. With the #9 and #10, you feel as if you are casting a #8, they are light and well designed.

Very good call on the Helix. With that model and my Crosscurent GLX's, that rounds out my fly rod needs. I think one other reel timer who loves the Crosscurrent ("Count"), also thought very highly of the Helix as well. Please drop me a PM when you can on how things are on the Skeena...