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Premium rod performance even when you travel!
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Date: |
8/8/01 |
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Tackle type: |
Rod |
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Manufacturer: |
GLoomis |
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Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.5
Introduction: The GLoomis brand name and high quality are basically
synonymous. When Anglers are willing to fork out top dollar for GLoomis rods
they expect….no, demand the highest quality and performance a rod has to offer.
In the past traveling Anglers have either had to lug around huge rod cases or
make due with lousy extension or poorly made multi piece rods. GLoomis produces
the SR-842-3S travel rod for Angler’s who demand the same performance from their
travel outfit as they do from their standard gear.
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Gary
Loomis SR-842-3S Specifications |
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Material |
Modulus Graphite (GL3) |
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Length |
7ft. |
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Weight |
3.26oz |
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Rating |
Light |
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Colors |
Matte Black |
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Action |
Fast |
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Recommended Line |
4-8lb |
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Lure Handling wt. Range |
1/16-5/16oz |
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MSRP |
$281.00 |
Impressions:
First things first, this
is not a cheap rod. The rod alone is $281. The rod comes neatly wrapped in the
traditional felt GLoomis rodsock but also is encased in a durable, and
attractive, cordura covered rod case that is light enough to carry on a pack but
also durable enough to ship or carry with luggage when traveling.
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The SR842-3S
comes with a rodsock and cordura covered rodcase |
The SR842-3 utilizes the traditional black matte Loomis GL3 graphite blank. The
rod quickly breaks down into 3 pieces and is very lightweight. The 7 foot length
does a much better job of protecting light line then the usual 6'6" travel rods.
Real World Test:
To really put the SR842-3S
through the paces it was necessary to test the rod in a real environment. So I
packed the rod along with my backpacking gear and set out on a 3 day trip to
Glen Aulin area, deep in the Yosemite backcountry. Glen Aulin is a breeding
ground for many species of trout, and small to medium brookies are abundant. To
minimize weight I carried a very small box of lures which mainly consisted of
Blue Fox spinners, Mepps tube jigs, and my favorite….Acme Kastmasters.
While packing for the trip
I found the Loomis rod tube a bit too large and cumbersome to strap onto my pack
and instead opted to bring the rod in the rodsock alone. The rod fit nicely on
the pack in the same area designed to hold tent poles. I felt this was enough
protection for the small rod and it minimized the weight.
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The Sustain
1000 fit snugly in the recessed rod seat |
I paired
the SR842-3 with a small Shimano Sustain 1000. This combo not only looked great
but felt like a match made in heaven since the Sustain 1000 is one of the
lightest reels around at only 8.9oz. (making the total combo wt only
12.16oz!)
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Complete Rig for
SR842-3S
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Rod |
GLoomis SR842-3 |
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Reel |
Shimano Sustain 1000 |
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Line |
6lb Trilene XL |
After I
trekked out to Waterwheel Falls in the Glen Aulin area I found plenty of deep
pools on top of scenic cascading falls. In these pools I could spot trout
hovering in pockets, but whenever I got close to the edge they spooked and swam
for cover. At seven feet the SR842-3 is a good length for casting over shore
brush or from farther back on shore, this allowed me to place the lures in the
strike zone without spooking the fish. The rod tip was extremely fast and the
top 30% of the rod taper was so quick that it was possible to cast even the
smallest 1/12oz Kastmasters a good 20-30ft. The other thing I noticed about the
rod was the even taper bend distribution that I was getting on every cast. My
experience with lesser travel rods is the sloppy response you get when casting,
due to flex inconstancy in the shaft. This was definitely not the case with the
SR842-3S, and many times I completely forgot I was using a travel rod.
After 3 days of continuous use I was very impressed. On this trip I had landed
over 20 good sized trout and the SR842-3S handled each fight with ease, but the
sensitivity of the rod enabled me to savor each fight to the fullest.
The SR842-3S is definitely designed for Trout. While it doesn't have a huge
amount of power in the base does it makes up for this with a very fast and
accurate taper. This results in a great experience casting tiny lures. The 7ft
SR842-3S is small enough that I had no trouble maneuvering the rod even in hairy
situations where I found myself basically hanging off the edge of rocky
outcroppings pitching over cascading falls.
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The cork
handle and recessed rod seat made extensive casting easy |
Service: On
a subsequent trip I actually used the SR842-3S with light spinning gear to go
bass fishing. While using my casting gear I backed my boat into some thick brush
and unknowingly caught the tip of the SR842-3S and snapped the top of the rod
right off! I called the GLoomis customer service center and they handled my case
very quickly. To make a long story short in less then 10 days I had a brand new
rod in my hand. In addition when Angler’s cannot wait and absolutely must have a
replacement rod in time for the next trip, Loomis also has a $75 dollar instant
replacement policy. No questions asked GLoomis will ship same day a replacement
rod in a large PVC tube. When you receive the new rod in 24 hours simply put the
broken rod into the tube and affix the return labels GLoomis provides. GLoomis
is famous for excellent service and support after the sale, and the lifetime
warranty that comes with every Loomis is definitely something that adds value to
their offering.
Ratings:
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GLoomis
SR842-3S Ratings (?/10) |
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Construction/Quality |
Excellent materials and the quality you would
expect from a Gloomis GL3 rod |
9.5 |
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Performance |
Works so well you forget you are using a
travel rod, especially a 3pc rod. Very fast taper makes for flexible lure
capability but reduced power |
8.5 |
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Price |
This is an expensive rod. There are many other
travel rod options out there more cheaper and still offer good performance |
6 |
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Features |
The fact that Gloomis goes the extra mile and
provides a rod sock and durable case solution is a big plus |
9 |
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Design (Ergonomics) |
Great design that lives up to the GLoomis
brand name. The choice of a recessed rod seat makes for much more
comfortable long term casting, and does a great job of holding most reels |
9 |
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Application |
Imagine having a rod with you all the time. It
is really possible with this 3pc rod as it is small enough to carry on a
backpack or in a trunk...all the time! |
9 |
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Total Score |
8.5 |
Pluses and Minuses:
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Plus
Minus |
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J Great
construction |
L
Pricey rod |
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J
Very good for light lures |
L
Lower power for big fish |
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J
Born to tackle trout |
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J
Great post sale service |
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Conclusion: The SR842-3S is a extremely well built rod...and can be
likened to the BMW of travel rods. It handles light tackle and hard hitting
backcountry trout with ease and looks simply beautiful on any Angler's rod rack.
The fact that GLoomis provides both a rodsock and cordura hard case allow
Anglers the ability to bring this rod anywhere. Definitely made for Tackle
connoisseurs that demand top of the line performance even from their travel
tackle, the SR842-3S truly is a worthy premium performer for those willing to
pay for it!
Looking for a Loomis rod?
Check out the G.Loomis Superstore at
Monster Tackle
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