[Leprechaun]

So I was always big on the Calstar GX-7 as the ultimate ocean fluking rod. I still love that rod, but . . .

I've found something considerably better.

Now its probably not any stronger physically, I doubt any rod is much stronger than a Calstar Graphiter. After all, those things are built to take pelagics, but this new rod has a nicer action for using my "Lep's B&B Rig" than even the GX-7.

Its a Loomis muskie blank with a set of the new Korean TiCH/SIC guides that D&E rods out in Washington is selling. This particular blank I've found has been discontinued by Loomis - the new Loomis muskie rods are now a part of thier "Obsidion" line, but this old blank is just what we need here for our ocean fluke jiggin'.

About 15% stiffer than the GX-7, with the same med/fast, almost parabolic taper, plus with much more hook-setting speed and power - this is what you are looking for if you are considering having a special rod made up for this type fishing.

And the best part? The blank is on "Closeout" right now - a $79 blank for only $23.71.

Add in the S.I.C. guides from D&E and blank and guides with the shipping and handling comes to $62. A freakin' steal.

Mark the Shark Flynn here in Wantagh wrapped it up, added a 12.5" rear EVA grip, a size 17 trigger grip and a 6" EVA foregrip plus a Fuji buttcap, and charged my $150.

So the entire rod, built the way I like it would set you back $212 - and I gotta tell ya, this thing just blows away any factory Loomis I've ever seen, and for less money.

Light as feather and powerful enough to double up as a back-bay bass chumming rod, its just the best I've ever seen for the ocean flukies. . . and I've seen and gone thru plenty of different rods for this application.

Like I said - if you are thinking about a rod for this app and do not like any of the factory stuff you have seen . . . then this is the one must-have rod for you.

Here are the parts to order from D&E:

blank - Loomis MU785

guides - TBSG 20, 16, 12, 2 x 10, 3 x 8 and a PacBay tip # CPST 08.

Then you would need the EVA grips and Fugi #17 trigger seat and a buttcap. . . which you can get from any good rodbuilder, like my friend Mark.

Oh - I like my boat rods less than 6.5', which is what this blank is, so I took 3" off the butt end for a nice to handle 6'2" length. You might like it a bit longer, but I have no need for any extra length, being Sicilian and all.

There were only 50 pcs left of those blanks in stock at D&E and I'm buying 2 more setups - so be advised when they're gone, that's it.

here's D&E's site for you perusal:

D&E Rods Site

This rod is much more money than the Lep Stick, but it makes up into just a gorgeous piece. Trust me, made up the way I did it, its a rod that is worth about 50% more than you will be paying.

A major score on a beautiful custom Loomis rod.

rgds, Leprechaun

(This post edited by Leprechaun on 04/19/2003)

 

[Captneilf]

Hi Lep,

Man, are you in trouble. You sound like some of my shipmates long ago. Ohhhhhhhh I met the perfect girl last night! That is until the next liberty port!

Same thing with fishing rods. The PUUURFECT ROD only lasts till the next one comes along.

Does anyone out there believe that Lep won't find a better ocean fluke rod sometime in the future????????


Seriously Lep, sounds like you have yourself a fine tool. With Mark building it you will be in rod heaven when the fluke arrive (if the ocean ever warms up).

Gary Loomis says,"Would you rather have a rod that is 10% more sensitive OR 10% more durable"?

That statement says alot about the Loomis blanks while he owned the company, SENSITIVITY!

If you are tought on your rods, hi stick fish, have drags locked and use synthetic line buy a rod/blank that is 10% more durable and stay away from graphite. Buy Composite blanks/rods!!

 

[MIKE TUNA]

Lep Sticks now this ! Give it 2 months you'll change your mind again . I can see it now Bass Pro shops with a record number of returns from the Metro area . auy vay This is the best .. no this is the best .. no this is the best .. Your worst then me !! LOL How many Fluke have you caught on this stick so far ?

MT

 

[skatemaster]

Lep is a veddy, veddy bad man.

"wicked, tricksy, false! No! Yes, precious. False. ... They don?t care about us. They?re wicked, tricksy, false! No!"

I have just turned all my Lami rods into tomato stakes, will use the Fuji guides for mulch and am awaiting the next coded transmission from Long Island

Seriously, $20 for a Loomis blank???, hand me a credit card and an 800 number, that doesn't even get you a XXXL T-shirt, whatadealo!

I actually do need a rod for fishing 4oz Skippy torpedos with trailer hook in 80' of water on a quarter moon on a sunny day with a 10kt Westerly breeze within sight of the needle on a private boat with gold rocket launchers on a Sunday in early June. Yes, this will be it, da fluke Kevorkian.

Or should I stay with the Ugly Stick ?????

How is that Loomis on pulling skates anyway

(This post edited by skatemaster on 04/19/2003)

 

[Leprechaun]

Boy, you guys are hot stuff . . .

Here I am, giving you guys the heads up on a very special rod that is just the bee's knee's for this app, one that I myself took a chance on and spent my own "Gelt" for the "Developmental" costs and all you can do is break my cojones?

Hmmm.

A prophet in his own time is never recognized. A **** inconvenience, for sure.

Of course something better will come along - I have no doubts about it. And when it does, and I can afford it, of course I will own it. I'll make the necessary sacrifice on something else if I have to. That's how it works for me. That's how its always worked for most things in life for all of us not-rich guys.

Otherwise we'd all be fishing with Penn 77's on a steel blanked, two-eyed rod.

But for the here and now, this new stick will be "It" for ocean fluking. Mark my words, those that are smart and brave enough to take me up on my recommendation will be profuse in their appreciative thanks.

And my sharp judgement and piercing rod-selecting ability will again make me the envy of all who know me and the desire of all the ladies - who don't know me. (Naturally).

Capt. Neil - tut, tut, a man of your stature and rod-bulding acumen surely knows that a Loomis muskie blank is a composite. Of sorts.

Oh and Mikie - its "Oy Vey!"

Puleeeze, mit the ethic, already!

It will NOT be two months till I find something better, trust me on this. I doubt much better currently exists out there right now. Maybe somewhere down the line Cape Fear will smarten up and offer blanks that we here on Long Island can actually use, but till then, I'm stickin' with my old standbye GX-7s and my new "best buddy" Loomis MU785s. How many fluke have I caught on these new rods? Come on man, hundreds. In my head.

But anybody that takes your suggestion and returns a "Lep Stick" to buy this rod, might want to rethink the whole thing and maybe take up golf. Two different rods for two very different applications.

I dunno. Maybe I should join Megs for a while . . .

I thought this new find would be of interest to those of discrimating taste. Maybe not.

Sorry I brought it up, I guess,

Leprechaun

 

[skatemaster]

As we post, I am frantically trying to decipher D&E's discount pricing policy (they seem to have shared a math class with the folks that determine commercial fluke regs), so that I can place the MOAO (mother of all orders).

 

[waver]

I must admit, Mr Leprechaun, you do have quite a way with words. I was feelin' pretty prepared for this upcoming season, especially in the fluke department, after spending a few hundred bucks in tackle upgrades over the winter, including my new magic lep-stick. Then I'm reading the above, and thinking, 'wow, that loomis stick sounds really sweet! I gottta look into this'! But then I thought, hmmm... maybe I ought to at least take the plastic wrap and tags off the lep-stick before I consider getting another rod - one that cost ten times as much. Your description does pique the curiosity though.

 

[addict]

I've been Lepped again!

Lep,

I urge you to continue what you've been doing with your equipment posts. I have two Lep rods for $40. I will be buying the loomis blank for $23.71. Simple math works for me. With the money I have saved I can now look for a decent reel or two! The quality/price ratios on all your reccomendations are undeniable. Even as backups, these are great buys and I for one have benefitted tremendously.

If I'm misreading this thread, my apologies, I thought perhaps there was a hint of seriousness mixed in with the joking around.

Vince

 

[Leprechaun]

Addict - you're right there was just "a hint of seriousness" mixed in there. Maybe unwarranted, I'm not really sure.

Look, the shipping is as much as the blank, that's why I recommend you buy the guides from D&E as well, because of the excellent value of those guides, the shipping charge is more than offset, versus what you would pay locally for Fuji SIC. And still not get the TiCH coating on the frames.

Just to be clear, the blank, guides, tip and shipping came to $62.

I find that just outstanding.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[Billy40]

Leprewhore. looool.

Appreciate the head's up. Perfect, Schmrefect - you guys don't get it - everything is perfect in it's own way. The only way to know what you find perfect, is to buy it, try it (triet?) and make a decision on your own.

Anyway, D&E is out of stock on these blanks. But you can order through me for $45 each (haha)

Lep - side note - Got the IGMNSG's (3 size 10's to match up with the IGLCSG's), sweeties. I also now am one of teh few in the States with a copy of teh Fuji Japan catalouge. Teh US sux when it comes to tackle selection. Skate, you gotta check some of this stuff out, there are 3 different 2-piece reel seats, + other assorted goodies.

Anyone wanna be the Crash Test Dummy for me? Go buy the Amtak Holographic guides, put them on a Salt-y rod, and beat teh heck out of 'em for me. Let me know in December how they held up. Thanx.

 

[addict]

**** - thought I got away with another <$30 gem.

Billy - You bought 'em ALL? ****!
Oh, calling me a ho? dayam, imagine if we weren't on the same team. ;p

 

[Leprechaun]

Billy - oh great, are you freakin' serious?

I give you a head's up on this months ago and you went cleaned them out?

After you questioned them to me? Maaaaaaan . . . you are hot stuff.

You better come across with one, you hound and at the "Right" price too.

I just ordered another from D&E tonite too. . .nice.

I hope you're only playin' with me.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[Captneilf]

Hi Lep,

The truth be told, I have very little knowledge of Loomis rods/blanks.

The interview of Gary Loomis chased me away. As a small business I can not take the chance of guys breaking rods and wanting new ones. I did build some SW 84-16's and the guys love their sensitivity on sea bass and porgys. I'm sure they use them for fluke also and do a great job.

It makes one feel good when they find a new fine tool to go fishing with.

Too bad you can't get these guys to buy the blanks and have Mark do the building for them. I am sure he would appreciate that.

I buy blanks that I think might do a specific job. Many times I have not seen the blank but still buy it so I can play with it. Now I have many blanks that I really wish I could sell and get rid of them.

Keep up the good work.

 

[skatemaster]

All rod builders with excess blanks.....

If you have blanks that you wish to get rid of, why not list them for sale. At a price representing your desire to rid yourself of them soon. Many of us wish to store them in our basements instead, without paying horrendous shipping charges One man's dust collector is another man's treasure.

Speaking as one who missed out on $75 Arra seconds at Mudhole (among other bargains), I would enjoy a second shot at the steals and deals that you couldn't pass up.

Ya Billy, I want 2-piece reel seats, I must have them, wanna tempt me with a description of the heaviest duty of them all? Got scanner? And break the prices to me gently please.

(This post edited by skatemaster on 04/19/2003)

 

[Billy40]

Lep - I'm kidding, I didn't buy any, and if I did, I wouln't jerk people around on the prices. I hope they have some left though, I "need" another blank.

Skate - there are no such thing as excess blanks. We NEED them all. Mudhole had the best deal going - I picked up a few of my favorite Inshore Fluke rods, the Certified Pro's (XC84 M, MH, H)

No scanner, and I just glanced through the catty, I'll let you know after I figure out how to read Japanese.

 

[Leprechaun]

Whew.

Otherwise I'da hada "Play Santa" wid ya.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[loonzter]

Hey Lep, you keep posting those deals you find, it helps justify a new rod to the significant other if I can say I got a super deal on it! I do have a question on the posted 'Lep sticks' I ordered a couple from BPS and recall you said your using them for Blacks/Seabass. What would you say is the max lead you would use with that stick? Also how else might you use it other than Blacks/seabass? Perhaps bellying at the bridges for Bass?? Keep up the good info, you haven't let anyone down yet!

 

[614668]

Is it just me or are there others out there that question the justifiability (real word) of a $200 pole? I will gladly spend significant money for a reel. I am currently contemplating buying an Avet reel but am content with an off the shelf pole from Sports Authority. Am I missing out on anything. Boat fishing in 80' of water with a $30-$40 pole will not result in less of a fight, lost fish, missed hook ups etc... Or will it? I respect everything that Lep has to write, expecially at fishtheclassic, and am tempted by his post to drop some money for that perfect fluke rod but $200 and change. That hurts.

p.s. Please see my other post regarding interline rods.

Frank B

 

[Savvy18]

MikeTuna,

Do you run a 44' Henriques out of Wantagh?

 

[Leprechaun]

loonzter - It depends on which Lep stick you bought. The last-year models were graphite composites and I like to use them with 6 or 8oz sinkers and they work well in that range. 10 oz will also work in a pinch, but its taxing the blank a bit.

The new rods - which I have not yet seen - are reported to be a bit beefier and sound as though a 10oz is well within their range.

And they certainly are excellent for the blackfish/seabass thing - in fact though I own rods worth many times what the Lep stick cost me, I reach for the L/S first for seabass drifting. Its great in that app. Plus if a 20lb Springtime monster doggie grabs your bait and does that twistie/turnie thing that they love to do when you get them next to the boat, the Lep Stick will take that abuse in stride. I dread to think the beating that a more sensitive, more delicate blank would take in that situation.

My crew does like their L/S's for back-bay bellying - a bit too stiff for that app for my taste, but there's no denying that these rods are about the most versatile rods around.

FrankB - don't get me wrong, $20-50 rods have their place, no doubt about it. In fact they represent the overwhelming majority of rods sold. I have my share of those rods and enjoy using them, where appropriate as illustrated above. I am not a rod-snob, despite the conclusions you may have drawn from my posts lately. And clearly a $200, $300 or even $500 rod is certainly not for everybody.

If you fish with a Lep Stick at 17 for the morning and then pick up my custom Cape Fear "Tog Killer" to finish out the day, the difference will just blow you away. It is incredibly more sensitive, waaay lighter in the hand and far better balanced. All these factors, taken together in one rod are not easy to accomplish and are really quite pricey to pay for. But once you fish a rod like that, it stays in your mind and will eventually force you to reconsider your current tackle. It becomes a sickness, almost. At least for me, that is.

Here's an example - I brought a well known Noreast Reports Board contributor with me down to 17 last late November for some of my hog tog fishin'. So as it turns out, it was the perfect trip. Calm seas, huge fish and they showed a willingness to bite, albeit lightly.

His tackle was a $50 whippy-tipped Shakespeare Tigerstick with an old creaky Penn 140, filled with YoZuri mono. Its his inshore "Standby" that he does quite well with. Inshore. My rig was my custom Cape Fear "Tog Killer", tweeked-out Newell 220 filled with 30lb Gorilla Braid and my 17 Fathom-specific hand-tied tog rigs. In total, a setup tailored by me specifically to the conditions commonly encountered down there.

We limited out that day nice and early, final score was 15 fish for me, 5 for him. It wasn't just a "Hot hand" or luck of the draw on my part. That dude's an accomplished tog fisherman. Rather it was a studious approach using carefully selected tackle, purposely integrated into what I believe to be the finest small-boat tog setup I can currently buy. And past performances by that rod and terminal gear gave me the confidence I need to push that rig to its limit - sensitivity-wise as well as fish fighting-wise.

My setup compared to his was as a surgical scalpel to a butter knife. Both will cut bread, but which is better suited to finessing your appendix out of your abdomen? I think I'd take the scalpel.

That's the difference. Or put another way, its the old Porsche to Camaro comparison. Now a Camaro was and is a fine car. But it cannot hold a candle to an $80K Porsche, despite the thinking of an old Chevy guy like me. The Porsche just performs on a higher plane. But you have to pay for that performance, and it ain't cheap. The Camaro will get you from A to B in fine fashion and do it reliably for 100K miles. The Porsche will too, albeit with more attention to fastidious maintenace, but it will delivery that performance on a level that just blows away a camaro. (This is killing me as I'm a life-long Corvette admirer as well as a Classic Vette owner, so this is a bit painful.)

Anyway, same deal with a custom rod. That rod can be as uniquely "Nichey" or generally useful as you care to make it. Grips of a material you select, fitted to your hands, and the proper length for your arms and frame. Guides and wraps of your choice. Blank selected to whatever criterion you want, trimmed if necessary to your needs.

All this cost money. Usually big money. And that doesn't count the charge for labor to put it all together, make it pretty and offer you some kind of warranty if you screw up and make it go boom.

That's why when my endless research reveals an outstanding buy like the Loomis fluking stick that I started this
thread out describing, I like to share the info, pass it on to others that have similar tastes. Or to those that want to upgrade to something better than an off-the-rack rod, but really have no idea where to go or are hesitant to make such an expensive move without an iron-clad recommendation.

And thats why I got a bit testy earlier in this thread. I took some ribbing up above from guys that themselves are accomplished rod builders and are fully aware what extra performance can mean to your end results.

If you question the difference (Or need) between a $20 rod and a $200+ custom rod, you need to try them out back-to-back and the difference should and would be immediately apparent.

Otherwise all these custom builders we love to read about are just playin' us.

Not the case, Frank. Not the case.

Would a Leprechaun lie?

rgds,

Lep

(This post edited by Leprechaun on 04/22/2003)