At 02:50 PM 3/12/2004 -0800, you wrote:
Ginger, The week before I arrived at Loreto, Baja, two years ago, seven rods were broken by different fly fisherman- all hauling in fish. There was a serious shortage of rods going on there. These rods were of just about all makes and in the 7 to 12 wt bracket. I haven't heard so far down there of any one rod that has more breaking problems that others, although there a few that stand out as having less breakage problems. I talked with my guide-buddy and he said his favorite against breakage was St. Croix, and his worst was Sage- but that was his personal experience- yours may vary- all disclaimers apply.
I'm sure you're not new to the techniques of 'lifting' heavy fish, but for those who are not, there's a good article in Bob Marriot's catalog of a couple years ago on this matter. All of the rods mentioned above were broken while 'hi-lifting' the fish, as one would do for a trout while protecting the tippet. The article in Marriot's catalog instructs in the proper lifting techniques for heavy fish, the main one being never lifting your rod over the horizon. The key is to the the pressure in the butt section of the rod, and out of the middle section. That's why many 'fighting' fly rods have boron butt sections, which is very durable for high stress applications. My 12wt Winston and my 14wt Abel are both constructed this way. 'Low-hauling' is the way no save your rod, especially when bringing up a sounded fish. And you actually tire a fish out much faster this way, as you're actually exerting much more pressure on it using the butt to lift rather than the mid-section.
It's also possible that the rod may have been nicked during the daily abuse that a saltater rod experiences. A falling cast may have hook-nicked the rod and it didn't give out until it was under stress.
I'm not saying that the failure was not due to the rod, but Loomis makes some darn fine rods, and I used my 5wt Loomis in the surf at Pensacola and caught jacks, reds, trout, and bluefish on it. I just feel that he should look at technique first, and if he knows the correct technique, to check for a ding that could have caused the failure.
Hope this helps, DonO
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ginger Allen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >G Loomis ? > > A Florida guide told me there was a rod that was famous for breaking and now > my brother in law has broken his Loomis rod while trying to haul in a fish. > Is this the brand with the flaws? > > What brand is your favorite? > > > Ginger M. Allen
Ginger M. Allen Sr. Biological Scientist Florida Master Naturalist Program Coordinator www.MasterNaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu www.MasterNaturalist.org Department of Wildlife & Ecology Conservation UF/IFAS 2686 SR 29 N Immokalee, FL 34142-9515 PH (239) 658-3409 (suncom974-3400) Fax (239) 658-3469 (suncomfax974-3469)
