Salmon rods: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

I have obtained many rods over the years as well as reels and whatever. I go fishing almost half the weekends out of the year and also have a few "traditional trips" that can last a week or longer. In my younger fishing days I spent many dollars prospecting for a better rod for "the job" and have collected quite a few. What I can tell you from my experience is this.
My answer to the original question is the Loomis 1265 GL2. I use this rod almost exclusively for fishing large chinook from the bank in many rivers from here to BC to Alaska. I also use it for plunking for chinook and winter steelhead. Before I owned this rod I had an ALLSTAR 1265. The rating is identical but the loomis has MUCH more backbone. The Allstar is now my float rod of choice since it is also a bit lighter.
I have about seven different Steelhead rods, including Lami cert pros (2) Loomis (2) a shimano convergence (10 footer) and a couple of others. When I go to the river I usually bring a few rods with me but when I get out of my truck and reach for a tool the rod that ends up in my hands 90 percent of the time is my Loomis IMX 1143c. I cannot explain why other than it is the lightest most comfortable rod in my hands and also the fact that it has some backbone to turn big Steelies. I would bet cash that I could land a fish faster with that rod than the same fish with with any other rod of similar rating. My experience tell me this.
My only complaint is I wish I would have got it with the GL2 type grip with the cutout for your finger on the blank. My Summer run rod is a 1083C GL2 for all the same reasons and the GL2's are not that expensive.

I was not partial to Loomis until I owned a few. There are better rods for other types of fishing like say, bottomfishing (Lamiglass, uglystick) but asfar as I am concerned Loomis has designed and built the best river rods you can buy. One issue I take with lami rods is the fact that they put so called "PRO's" names on them. No offense Dave but if I could pay Lamiglass to silk on MY name I would own thier float rod in an instance. Seems like a great rod but I dont need a great fishermans name on it to prove it to me. Too commercial. I know what some of you are thinking but G Loomis is also the name of the guy who built the company that makes the rods so put that one to bed.

So anyway, again my answer to the original question is the 1265 GL2. You would not be disapointed.

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"Should of been here yesterday"