I might direct this more to those that have fished with me and also have experience in building. I'll be honest, if I never had to leave the comfort of the bow of my boat, I don't think I'd need anything new. I am however enjoying the get togethers and fishing with some new friends and that means shore fishing at times. First let me say I still have a desire to fish primarily my same style, my same baits, with maybe some modifications to the weight or going to jig heads to gain some distance. I don't want heavy blanks, because for me to fish my baits correctly, it means slack line and I need a sensitive blank to work in junction with the spiderwire so I feel strikes immediately.

Having said that, let me start with the blank I used for a long time, a Lamiglass GLB841M. Although it was sufficient, in retrospect the recommendation to use it was wrong, simply because it was a moderate action. The 3/4 to 2-1/4 oz lure weight and 20# line rating were fine, but the moderate action isn't really what I should have been using. That said, I switched to a Lamiglass GW84ML, which was rated for 10-17 line and lures from 3/8 to 3/4 oz. I think the key for me is the 6 tip and .535 butt as I look longer. That's been my weapon of choice for the last couple of years. Now I'm looking for something that will get me some more distance off the beach, jetty or canal but not give up too much sensitivity. Obviously, I'm talking longer and with more backbone for what I hope might be better fish and possibly heavier current. What I don't want to build is a "canal" or "chunking" or a "light plugging" stick, but something that might get me by at all three.

Remember, I'm not likely to use this except for the spring and fall. It's got to be a "jack of all trades" stick, so I don't feel so undergunned at some of these flings, but I still want my light weight, fast action and sensitive graphite. I'm looking at a few and wonder if anyone has any experience with any of the following.

Lami GLB961M, 8 foot, fast action, 3-4-2 1/4, .615 butt/6 tip
Lami GLB1021MH, 8.5 foot, fast action, 3/4-3, .676 butt/7 tip
Lami Ron Arra XRA1083, 9 foot, ??? action, 3/8 to 2 1/4, .730 butt/7 tip
Loomis Magnum Taper Hot Shot Series HS1021GL2, 8.17 feet, 3/8-4 oz, X-fast action, .620 butt/5 tip
Loomis ditto above but 2 piece, HS1023GL2, 8.5 feet, 1/2-5 oz, X-fast actoin, .630 butt/5.5 tip

I'm curious what guys think. Like something I can fish my plastics with and still pick up a soft strike with some slack line out, but still be versitle enough to maybe throw on a 3 oz smiling bill and chuck out into the canal with Slipknot some night or a live eel at one of our tournaments.

I think the hardest of the three to include for you would like is the chunking part. That is going to have the biggest difference in needs of the three styles. Chunking with 3+oz bait plus 3oz weight is going to require more beef than what will throw the light stuff. I'm enjoying my 8' St Croix SCIII and I know a couple sharpies with 10' SCIVs for light weights that get incredible distance so something in the middle should be possible. Check their page too as I prefer the 8' Loomis (I have limited experience with those blanks) to all other St Croixs I've had except that new one. If you could allow yourself 2 rods, you'd be ok. You can get an Ugly Stick or glass lami cheap enough for a chunk stick. I don't even use my Batson 1089 for chunking - I use the Arra 1205 (blaspemy - I know)

Saltheart - what about that light 2 piece Allstar?

Where are you getting Loomis blanks from? I can't find them anywhere. The rumor is, Shimano bought Loomis out and stopped selling blanks but that you can find a few purcashed pre-take over.

Good luck on whatever you choose.

Bob - At first I was going to mention a Calstar, but then you switche dup your tone to a chunking rod, which I have no experiance with. Sorry I cannot help you out.

Shimano has owned Loomis for a while now. They are undergoing major changes in the distribution of blanks, which is why you may have had a hard time finding them. As of March this year, there are only 5 distributers of Loomis blanks: Clemens, D&E, Custom Tackle, Cabelas, and one more in Canada. They haev changed a lot, and I believe next month they will unvail there new plan. They will not carry all the blanks they have in the past. not sure what is getting dropped, but I do know there will be better availability of what they do have. I also heard they are coming back out with IMX fly blanks, as well as new finish on the rods.

For more info, go to clemenstackle.com and click on teh Rodcrafters logo. Go to the general message board and just scroll through.

Billy

I do believe Loomis blanks are no more. I found one of the greatest blanks this summer, it is by far the most all-around blank I've ever used. I've used the rod at Qounny Breachway, from the beach, and from my boat. I've cast eels, bombers and sluggos with the thing. The blank an All-Star 8' 1-3oz exact model I need to check on. Moderate/fast action with some serious bottom end.

Got Stripers,

You might want to look at the St Croix SS100M2. St Croix rates this rod at Up to three oz, 6-20lb test. Of course these ratings are off a little. The rod ratings are more like 12-20lb test and 1-2.5 oz. If you went along those lines, then the next blank up might be right for you. It's an 11 footer but you could cut it down to what you want if 11 is too long.

I think that might be the blank you want. St. Croix has it listed at 158 smackers labeled GS110M2. Rated up to 4 oz.
The cheapest price I have found for this blank is.... 146 bucks from Customtackle.com.
I checked MikeCC's shop at CustomTackle.com but he didn't have those blanks listed but looking at his prices of the smaller SCII rods, those are much cheaper then any of the internet competitors. I can't comment on what his prices would be if you decided on that rod but I think you could guesstimate. Plus he's a board sponser!

The GS100M2 is listed at 101 bucks from St. Croix. About 96 from a bunch of sites.

John your right and I should have substituted metal maybe for chunking, because chunking to me is like trolling :(....hate to do both. My primary goal is to get my baits out further, maybe weighted heavier or on jig heads, plus still feel them. The other purpose would be to have a rod that would get me by at say the ditch. My elbow would take anything over 9 foot and I don't believe I need one that long. I forgot all about Loomis and those number did come out of the Clemens catalog, so I might give them a call. If they are discontinuing some blanks and have some in stock cheep, maybe a discontinued Loomis might end up being the best and the cheepest :).

You can get Loomis rods still. They just are limiting who gets to sell them. Clemens Tackle has them.

A good all around rod blank is a Loomis SU1266/2. The extra length will help you cast easier so that will save , not hurt your elbow. Its a light blank and it will throw down to 1OZ but better at 2 and will throw 3 OZ jigs at the canal real well. I jigged the Ditch with mine a lot when I broke my canal stick last summer. I bought it for throwing eels. Its great for that. Its super sensitive too. fats action graphite. Anyway , unlike most rods which will throw3 to 4 well , this one will throw 1OZ OK too. It rated by Loomis for 1-4 OZ and that's pretty accurate. I've thrown bombers with a teaser with it too. Mine is built conventional. As a spinner , I think you could throw 1 OZ well.

The allstar 1266 is a little heavier but similar. There is also a lighter Allstar 1265/2 which is like a 3/4 to 3 OZ type rod. Much lighter than either of the 1266's I mentioned.

I believe you'd like the loomis better for what you describe.

Interesting, maybe I need to get with you to take a few casts with my baits on the end of the line. Let me know, because I'm not dead set against that long, just figured 9 foot to be a good length. Which leads me to this question, have you any experience with the Loomis SU1084GL2, which has the same weight 1-4 as the stick you mentioned, but it has the same tip 6 size as my rod which might give me the action at the forward part I'm looking for. If anyone has one of those built, I'd love to take a few casts with it, let me know.

Now that youv'e got me thinking longer, what about the Lami GSB1081L or GSB1081M, both 9 footers and each with a 7 tip. The light is rated for 1/2-2 1/2 and the medium 1-3, anyone comment?

I have a SU965 :D

I have the allstar #1266. Saltheart recomended that this would be a good alround rod for the ditch and on the beach. I beleave it is rated for 2oz-5oz. To cast anything smaller like bommers or yo-zuris you lose alot. Low profile stuf 3/4 & 1oz. jigs with plastic it's ok.

GS,
I have the Allstar 1265/2 ( the light two piece John mentioned) and the Allstar 1266/2. I like them both, but for lighter weights prefer the 1265. They are both 10 1/2 feet long. The 1265 is rated from 3/4 to 3 oz it will cast <1 but is happiest around 2 and the 1266 is rated from 2-5 happiest around 3. I was fishing a Mambo Minnow on the 1266 this weekend and really had to lob it out there compared to the lighter rod. You are more than welcome to try both rods next time we get together. I'm not far off your path to the Thames if you want to swing by when you are on your way there.

The allstar 1265 is nice for plugging and eeling but I wouldn't use it in The Ditch. Too light and too nice to risk and also tough to land a big fish in the current with that rod.

Another interesting rod would be a Lami 1201L. suppose to throw much lighter than its rated for. You could ask Mike P or Tim S about that rod. They both own one I think. Not fast action though but versatile.

Of course there is another aspect or two to consider:

First off: GS is loaded, one of the richest guys on the south shore ;) so he can afford to build 2 rods over the winter if he were to chose to do so.

Second: As mentioned above - GS, you build rods, you could do 2 rods to suit those needs and have fun doing it. I just don't see how you could get those three distinct needs handled well with just one rod. With 2, no problem or one if you drop the chunking bit. But the Ditch regulars can answer better than me, you need a real sturdy rig to chunk or jig the canal...

OK, I've got an idea. Since it appears GS probably should have 2 rods for use from shore, how about I trade you one of mine for one of your rubba tossing sticks? :) I can use a more sensative rod for throwing those things , and I think I will get more oppurtunity next season or in the near future. So what do ya say? Then you still only have to build 1 rod over the winter since you seem to have a small forest of those boat sticks.

Ok I'm listening, a trade might be in order, depends on what your offering. We talking complete outfit, rod & reel? We talking new construction or existing gear? If existing I'd be offering up a GLB841M with a Shimano Baitrunner 3500, so what would be coming in trade? I'll have to give this some thought, because that extra gear is the stuff I usually have my guests fish with, when their beat their head against the wall long enough with their 8-9 foot meat sticks :). I had to thin out my stuff too much, you'd be surprised how little gear I've actually got. I'd bet I'd win the award for the "least" amount of gear on this board.

To prove that point, and maybe have an interesting side thread, I'll start a new thread who's winning/loosing that contest.

OK GS, maybe you'd be better off making 2 sticks for the surf after all. I didn't realize you were at the minimum :)

Fischer 8708,ohhhhhh what a blank! Too bad ya cant get em any more, unless DaveS sells ya one. :D