Description
Great Lakes anglers on both side of the border have been steelhead fishing with floats for years and now it is also becoming one of the more successful techniques in the Northwest. The G. Loomis float rods are unequaled in maximizing this technique, allowing your bait to reach the correct depth and stay in the zone longer, enabling you to cover a drift more efficiently than ever before. The extra length offers the ability to mend your line behind the float for a drag-free drift and provides additional hook-setting power to pick up the slack line without lifting your rod.
All of these models have a genuine Fuji reel seat. Four of the models have the reel seat in the traditional spinning reel location with a longer butt grip, and the 13′ 4″ rod, model STFR1601S-SK has a Skamania or Michigan-drift style configuration with a short butt grip. Although these rods were designed primarily for use with traditional spinning reels, they can also be used with center-pin reels.
Like many of the G. Loomis rods, these rods are blends of the traditional G. Loomis blank materials (GL2, GL3, IMX and GLX) and are formulated specifically for float fishing. The four shorter two-piece rods are burgundy in color. The STFR1601S-SK three piece rod is built of primarily IMX graphite and is the IMX flat grey color.
Specific Rod Details
STFR1262S – This is a float rod designed to fish small to mid-sized rivers where shoreline cover is an issue or it has a lot of twists and turns where you don’t necessarily need to extend your drifts very far. It will handle larger water and big fish when necessary, but for the most part, it’s designed to fish smaller rivers in close quarters.
STFR1321S – This float rod is designed to fish really clear rivers or low-water situations where you need to downsize both the baits and the line size to be effective. Smaller floats are implemented to keep from spooking fish and many times, rather than using bait, just a yarn fly or yarn fly combined with a small corky or other bait imitator will be used. Even though it is considered light power, it can handle surprisingly large steelhead. A great rod when the bite gets really tough due to overfished water.
STFR1363S – This rod is designed to fish medium to large rivers where water conditions allow you to fish mid-range line, jigs and bait rigs as well as medium-sized floats. It will handle large steelhead and the smaller salmon species. A great rod when the bite is on and the fish are fresh.
STFR1474S – A powerful all-purpose float rod for large rivers and big steelhead. Designed for winter drift fishing, but it will work equally well for summer-runs and the smaller salmon species. The extra length gives you excellent line and float control to allow extra long drifts. It’s your best choice for deep, technical water where slower, line-dragging water doesn’t allow your float and rig to drift naturally because of the different currents.
STFR1601S-SK – Designed for big, clear rivers where you need to downsize your line, float and rigs to catch those spooky steelhead, but you still need to cover a lot of water. It gives you uncanny ability to adjust your drift and reposition the float with minimal effort and will protect really light line. You’ll be surprised when you see just how fast this long, soft rod will whip a fish. It’s a lot of fun and extremely effective. The “SK” signifies the Skamania-style handle. The fore grip is long to help balance the rod and keep your hands in a positive position to react quickly. This is the more traditional concept in float fishing.
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