Lamiglas GH Series (Graphite Handle) Certified Pro

For 2005 Lamiglas has introduced six models of their Certified Pro salmon and steelhead rods with an all-new graphite handle.  I’ve had two of the prototypes for six months now, built on the X 80 MPC plug rods. 

Why graphite instead of cork?  Durability and cleanliness.  Cork handles look their best in the store, but all the nifty fillers  that make cork look impeccable come out pretty much on your first trip to the water.  Eggs, shrimp and rod holders take their toll also, the bait crusting over a good cork handle, while rod holders take their toll over time. Graphite handles clean amazingly easy, look good for the life of the rod, while operating in and out of rod holders with ease.

Graphite handles are not a new endeavor.  Many guides in the Columbia basin had G. Loomis rods with graphite handles in the early to mid-nineties.   Upstart Rogue Rods offered similar handle configurations before going bankrupt this year.  In comparison to the other makers, Lamiglas’ approach is unique. 

On both the G. Loomis and Rogue rods, the graphite handle was a complete unit.  The foregrip was threaded and was the upper portion of the reel seat.  The design was nicely finished, but heavy, instantly noticeable upon picking up the rod. Lamiglas’ graphite models use a standard reel seat, while replacing the cork grips with unsanded graphite tubes, finished with rubber caps.  Their weight, or lack of, is incredible, complimenting the ultra-light, agile nature of the Certified Pro blanks. 

I’d admired the graphite handled rods I’d seen and fished in the past, and love the ones I now own.  At first sight, you may question the grip offered by graphite, but rest assured, it’s very positive, even when wet.  The six models chosen by Lamiglas are targeted at boat rods.  There’s good reason for this.  Although the un-sanded graphite provides an exceptional grip, the comfort level is not as high as cork for all-day casting of a drift rod. In terms of function, the two X 80 MPC’s have been flawless as my primary plug and diver/bait rods, although admittedly, there’s not a lot to go wrong in a rod handle.

Lamiglas graphite handled models come with a $40.00 up charge.  While less expensive than the $60.00 Rogue Rods asked for, it’s enough that you probably won’t see these handles in every boat. Another way to look at it is that Certified Pro models are already one of the singular best values in high-performance rods, and with a $40.00 up charge for graphite handles they’re still less expensive than many comparable rods.