The extra long butt is great for
leverage and was nice to brace against when lobbing heavy lures
The guides are purposefully
spread closely together to more equally distribute the weight on the line should
a bruiser snatch up your bait. The blank is very responsive and after fishing
this rod I can imagine that the spinning versions have the perfect attributes
for plugging for stripers or getting fish to chase Shimano Butterfly jigs.
A deck full of fish and the
Pro-Blue was ready for more
Applications:
Though G.Loomis has designed the Pro-Blue for a specific application, rods like
our test PBR844C can do so much more. This rod can easily take on Albacore Tuna,
Big Reds, and even be used to fish for Salmon. While the name of the rod
specifies salt, freshwater anglers can also use this rod for certain
applications as well. This includes fishing double jointed plugs for Muskies or
tossing mammoth swimbaits for largemouth. This rod has plenty of muscle to chuck
out those baits, but also the sensitivity to allow you to fish certain
freshwater applications effectively.
Under the sun
the rod's graphite weave is clearly visible under the clear gloss coat
Price: G.Loomis spent
months talking to guides, serious anglers, and shop owners around the country
when they designed this new series and when it comes to price this is one Loomis
rod that I think is positioned spot on. The PBR844C will set you back $240.00,
which is the same as a normal Loomis bass rod.
You’re getting a lot of
rod for the money with the Pro-Blue series, and the ability to fish them for
such a wide range of species makes them a practical choice for many anglers that
enjoy fishing saltwater on a regular basis.
Finally Zander gets into some
Lings which start testing the rods true lifting capabilities
|
G.Loomis
Pro-Blue PBR844C
Ratings (?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
The
Pro-Blue is built with the very best components. The rod doesn't have a hook
hanger, which makes sense for such a robust rod, but still a feature we
would like to see since the rod has such a wide range of capabilities.
Overall build quality is excellent |
9 |
| Performance |
This
rod performed very well in all our tests and we really didn't tap into the
full range of the rods power curve. This rod has excellent sensitivity and
muscle and is certainly capable of accurate casts and hauling monsters up
from the deep |
9 |
| Price |
While not cheap this is a reasonable price for a rod of this caliber. The
rod is priced like a bass rod and bang for the buck is excellent with this
well rounded package |
8.5 |
| Features |
The
rod doesn't sport any real features other than the actual performance
characteristics. Like most Loomis rods the emphasis is on performance and a
clean reliable design |
8 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
Overall ergonomics are excellent on this rod. It is lightweight and easy to
manage weighing in at only 7.7oz. This is considerably lighter than a
similarly sized glass rod |
9 |
| Application |
This rod may be designed for serious stand up salt applications but it also
can be used for tossing giant freshwater swimbaits and plugs |
9 |
|
Total Score |
8.75 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
| J
Graphite sensitivity |
L
No hookhanger...yes we know its
nitpicking..this rod is pretty solid |
| J
Glass like power |
|
| J
Lightweight versus glass |
|
| J
Multiple applications |
|
| J
Reasonable price |
|
Conclusion: It’s going
to be a rare day that anglers will get into a fish that really tests the full
capabilities of the PBR844C, but it is good to know that when that day comes the
rod will be more than up to the challenge. These rods make saltwater fishing
even more entertaining, and allow anglers to get creative with the way they fish
artificial baits. The series offers more accuracy, sensitivity, and lighter
weight than fiberglass and hybrid rods, but most impressive of all, they do not
ask you to make all the sacrifices when it comes to concerns about lack of power
and durability. The bottom line…when everyone else is either simply winching up
fish on a dead feeling glass rod, or find themselves pinned to the rail with an
outclassed inshore stick, the Pro-Blue rods will have you savoring the fight as
you reel in the biggest of fish without even breaking a sweat.
Looking for a Loomis rod?
Check out the G.Loomis Superstore at
Monster Tackle
