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Hey lads,

In summary:
Overall: Can the G Loomis GL3 9' #8 rod suit a beginner on med size river & lakes fishing for trout initially but moving to salmon and sea trout as soon as I can????? I would go for a #6/7 weight line only for this rod is going for a bargain price from a close friend.


I suppose you get these the whole time but id really appreciate ur help here big time, ive no mates that are into fishing and have to rely on tackle shops which are all saying different things.

Background:
I do plent of spinning/bait and sea fishing and now after years of neglecting fly fishing im back!!

My local fishing area:
Boyne river in Ireland (med size 20'-45'wide)...caters for lage brownies 4-5lbs and large Sea trout, and Salmon to 17lbs.
There are also a few resovoirs beside this river which i also fish.

Which rod?

I am thinking for these rivers & resovoirs of getting a G Loomis GL3 9' #8 Am i right?(my friend is selling it to me for a real bargain...otherwise id go with a 9' #5 would i be a fool to let this pass?)I have not fly fished in years but ill get back into it im sure if i put the effort in, i really dont want to buy this rod and then have to buy a new one in a year or two to do the same job,
DOES THIS ROD SUIT MY FISHING AREA (MED RIVER AND RESOVOIR)

And will it handle Salmon if I get up to that level in a year or 2

Is this the right rod or should I go with the Lochmor version which I see alot of u like also...whats the difference? Or a totally new brand alltogether??

Is the 6-8 weight line the right choice also

Sorry about all the questions im really eager to start and fairly confused with all the fly-lingo.....

Thanks to everyone in advance for any help whatsoever, hope someday I can return the favours.....happy fishin!!
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JM

The GL3 8 wt is a good rod, I have one and use a 9 wt line on it to get it to load.
I have other 8 wts I like better and they are not as expencive as the GL3
I would not underline this rod. You will get very poor results.
I am NEVER one to pass up a bargain. If indeed you will later use the rod for bigger things, go ahead.
I have bought a couple of Gatti IM6 rods recently - very, very good rods for the price. I am particularly impressed with the 7 wt... it is a very strong caster and really smooth

You've asked for advise. The salmon I've fished require a 10 weight (some would argue you can go lighter...I wouldn't). A 9' 5 wt. as you stated is good for trout. An 8 weight isn't either. Too light for big salmon and too heavy for trout. There are $100 rods on the market now that would out perform the premium rods made a decade ago. A fairly descent trout rod could be had for even less! If I had only $50 to spend on a trout rod, I'd grab a Cabela's Three Forks, and have a great cheap rod! I'd look for something a bit better and stiffer for the salmon. One last pearl; it's ain't no bargain if it's ain't what you need.

FWIW, I own the easy casting GL-3 8 weight which is light and weighs only 3.65 ounces which I purchased for redfish and snook. Because of the rod's lightness, it is a good crossover rod for bass. But for serious saltwater fishing, I'd opt for something like the Powell AXS or the Sage RPLxi, or rods with more backbone and power. HTH.
Nimrod

Boyne,

If I were in your shoes, I'd get that #8 and then move up to heavier rods in the future.

[P.S. If "Big Dummie" replies to your topic: Don't do what he says!]

Boyne,

I have fished the G3 9' rod in salt water and caught some large snook and jacks with it. I use a 8/9 wt rod for salmon in the size range you mentioned. In summery, that rod will handle the salmon you are fishing for without any problem. It will be a little heavy for your 5 lb trout however. If it is a good deal get it (you will regret it later if you do not)

Get the rod...some people might tell you that it's too big for this and not big enough for that, but that's relative at best. On the Kenai river Alaska in September they use 8wts for trout fishing because the trout are hugh (10-12lbs) and in fast water. The Oklahoma state record brown trout 9.5lbs was caught on the exact rod you are considering, swinging large streamers. On the North platte 7-8wts are used frequently to swing large streamers for large trout. On the other hand the west coast of Michigan (where I grew up) 8wts are used for Salmon quite extensively and for steelhead too, the salmon average 15-25lbs. Now if you're fishing on the pacific coast where the salmon average 25-50lbs a 10 weight, as suggested, is your rod. The GL3 8wt is definately not your ideal trout rod, nor your ideal big salmon rod, and probably not the best saltwater rod either, but depending on how good the deal is it might be worth adding to your collection. As already mentioned the GL3's are great casting very light rods. Once you have the 8wt buy a 5wt later and you'll be covered for 80% of flyfishing.

Nehil!

I like ur style my man! u talk alot of sense! The trout around here are around 4.5lb AT MOST, and ave about 1-2lbs so there no way as big as ur area...but lets see what happens ill let you guys know...thanks everyone for posting so far

Hi Boyne....

My advice won't surprise you.
Get the GL3 ! You won't "outgrow it".

Best,

got the GL3.... i dont know if anyones interested but ill let you guys know what i think of it soon...(havent got it in my hands yet.....)

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