An introduction: During a past conversation with Mike Perusse of G. Loomis, I found myself giddy as a little kid when finding out that Loomis was in the process of developing a new series of "sticks" as Perusse calls them, designed specifically to target steelhead.

After years of field testing and gathering input from top guides and consumers alike, the new series of rods were to be lighter, stronger and more sensitive than any other rod on the market.

They're here!!!: Several months have gone by when I get a phone call from Perusse... "They're Here!" Oh boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy!. I feel like Steve Martin in the movie The Jerk, running around proclaiming "The new phone books are here, the new phone books are here!".

The Steelhead Series: G. Loomis released twelve new models and they are ALL designed for steelhead. Ask any steelhead fisherman and they'll tell you the reason they target and commit so much to steelhead fishing is for one reason, there's simply no other fish like them, they're in a class of their own. Enter the Steelhead Series by G. Loomis. Just like the species they're designed to target, this series of rods are truly in a class of their own!

So many choices: Oh my! A dozen new models that all get my heart pumping. How in the world do I choose a single rod to test? Well... I don't. I was able to narrow it down to two choices and I plan on putting them through the trials. When I'm done, I'll report back on each and hopefully I'll have found my new favorite rod. By the look and feel of them, no doubt if they live up to their name, I'll have done that.

The Rods:

First, I chose the STR1163s - 9' 8" rated for 6 - 12lbs. The claim is this rod can handle bigger water with modern techniques for steelhead, but is also great for coho, chum, and even chinook. My plan is to catch all four species with this rod. Because of the time of year, I should be able to see what this rod is all about and report back shortly.

Second is the STR1044s - 8' 8" rated for 8 - 12lbs. When the early winter runs start in late November and December I plan on being all over this rod. The feel, weight and balance of this rod is mind boggling. I'm already dreaming of hooking up with a bright chrome slime rocket and seeing what this rod is made of. Odds are, this will be not only mine, but many steelhead fisherman's new best friend. G. Loomis has labeled this rod it's new best all-around steelhead rod... I'm going to find out!

  Part 2 | Part 3