Loomis quality question

[Commando]

So went looking at the g loomis imx today than found out they sold out to shimano. My question is are the g loomis rods still as good as they used to be now they are made by shimano? Or should I give up on getting a imx and look into getting a north fork custom or lamiglass?

[Crunchy]

Loomis is stil a top contender, still the same blanks if i recall.  The old owner now works for North Fork rods, which is probably just as nice.  Nothing wrong with lami either.  If I were buying
1. North Fork
2. Loomis
3. Lami

[Stein]

They are not the rod they once were, but are still a top rod.

[Crunchy]

St. Croix makes a nice rod also. I have 3 of them, a loomis, a couple Lamis.  All hold up well.

[hollymaster]

Okuma, can’t beat the price.  (yes I still own many loomis and lami’s).

[Commando]

Thanks guys. I've got a old loomis and a older glass rod. Both of which I love and the old loomis is the reason I wanted to go loomis again. Since Gary is working at north fork I think I'll look more into them.

Anyone know what one of there rods would be comparable to the imx?

[TheHunt]

Loomis is stil a top contender, still the same blanks if i recall.  The old owner now works for North Fork rods, which is probably just as nice.  Nothing wrong with lami either.  If I were buying
1. North Fork
2. Loomis
3. Lami

I like the list...  There is another very small business called North West Rods  http://www.nwrods.com/  He uses Gary's rod blanks from North Fork.  I have two of his rods. 

[Houndhunter]

Check out Prolite Rod Technology 

[Antlershed]

Gary owns North Fork Composites. It’s the company he started after he sold G Loomis to Shimano. He wasn’t allowed to sell complete rods, which is why he just sells blanks. Plenty of builders are using the blanks though...NW Rods, North Fork Custom Rods, Edge, etc. They are great blanks, but spendy.

[h2ofowlr]

Gary sold G-Loomis to Shimano back in the 90's.  So, you shouldn't have any issues with them.  Still pretty much the same great quality.  New innovations have improved some of the rod lines as well.

[BigGoonTuna]

Gary sold G-Loomis to Shimano back in the 90's.  So, you shouldn't have any issues with them.  Still pretty much the same great quality.  New innovations have improved some of the rod lines as well.

if you remember the ill fated loomis golf division, that's why he sold out(it almost sunk the company).

they're making a nicer rod than lamiglas these days.  i've considered steering my new rod purchases to loomis(if i ever need any more, i just don't fish that more), lamiglas doesn't make anything that blows wind up my skirt any more, and you can't even get cork grips on their nicer stuff now.

st. croix is a great rod, but they aren't the bargain they once were.  wasn't that long ago that avid series was under $200, and blanks were just over $100.  they're up there with the local companies in price now it seems.

[Commando]

I didn't realize he sold back in the 90s. For some reason I thought it was more resent than that. That answers that than. I'm gonna get the imx. I've wanted that rod for a long time. I'll probably get a north fork customs later down the line to. I was doing some looking at those and really like them as well

[Commando]

If I wanted to get a blank from Gary and have some one make it up that's near my house which one would be comparable to the imx?

[Antlershed]

If I wanted to get a blank from Gary and have some one make it up that's near my house which one would be comparable to the imx?

I believe you would want one of the HM models (high modulus). Talk to a rod builder before ordering the blank. I’ve had a couple built and what my builder charges for the blank isnt nearly what the blanks are listed for on the NFC website.

[h2ofowlr]

Gary sold G-Loomis to Shimano back in the 90's.  So, you shouldn't have any issues with them.  Still pretty much the same great quality.  New innovations have improved some of the rod lines as well.

if you remember the ill fated loomis golf division, that's why he sold out(it almost sunk the company).

they're making a nicer rod than lamiglas these days.  i've considered steering my new rod purchases to loomis(if i ever need any more, i just don't fish that more), lamiglas doesn't make anything that blows wind up my skirt any more, and you can't even get cork grips on their nicer stuff now.

st. croix is a great rod, but they aren't the bargain they once were.  wasn't that long ago that avid series was under $200, and blanks were just over $100.  they're up there with the local companies in price now it seems.

I was part of the golf division from 93'-96', so I remember it well.  I still have a few sets of G-Loomis shafts.  Graphit / Boron mix.  They sold the golf division back in 96' to Aldila.  Jeff Meyer was running that division back when I was involved.  I believe Jeff is still involved in the Loomis graphite shaft market.  G-Loomis went back to focusing on fishing rods, what they were very good at.  Gary sold the company when he was battling cancer and had a poor diagnosis.  He made it through the treatments and selling the company was probably one of his biggest regrets.