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Lamiglas
Norwest Special N379BC Specifications |
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Material |
Modulus Graphite |
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Length |
7'9" |
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Sections |
1 |
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Line Weight |
10-25lb |
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Lure Weight |
1-6oz |
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Rating |
Medium |
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Colors |
Pearl Blue |
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Action |
Fast |
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MSRP |
$174.00 |
Impressions: The Norwest Special is the entry level Salmon rod from
Lamiglas. Lamiglas boasts one of the largest and most diverse Salmon/Steelhead
rod lines in terms of material variation. This family starts from the G500 graphite
Norwest Specials, like the one we tested, to high modulus graphite, fiberglass,
pro graphite, and even $480.00 titanium rods!
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The Lamiglas
G500 graphite is tightly wrapped increasing sensitivity |
The 379 Norwest Special we tested is a perfect length for salmon mooching.
Though using entry level graphite blanks the quality of the wrap is still quite
impressive. In the sunlight the pearl blue rod shows off the tightly knit
graphite fibers beneath its gloss coat. When holding the rod in the lab it
already felt quite comfortable thanks to use of high quality Portuguese cork in
its extended handle. The handle was long enough to hold and tuck under your arm,
just as you would on the water during extended periods of waiting.
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Complete Rig for Lamiglas Norwest Special N379BC |
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Rod |
Lamiglas N379BC |
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Reel |
Shimano Calcutta 400 |
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Line |
20lb Trilene Big Game |
Not only were we eager to catch some Salmon but we were interested to see how
this rod performed under real world conditions. From our initial observations
the rod looked very solid and attention to detail was quite good.
Real World Test:
We put the Norwest Special to the test on two
different trips out to Monterey bay to intercept the seasonal salmon run. We got plenty
of action and was able to draw a number of conclusions in regards to the Norwest
Special.
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The Norwest
Special's contoured cork handle helps reduce fatigue |
Casting: Most Salmon fishing done off charter boats doesn't entail
a lot of intense casting. We spent the majority of our time trolling and
mooching. This isn't to say that you can't cast with the Norwest Special. In
fact the NWS (as we like to call it) casts lures and baits quite well. While the
hardloy guides the NWS employs are not the smoothest, they certainly are
tough, and handle 20-25lb line with ease. The NWS is quite comfortable with a
graphite seat from Pacific Bay, and a shaped cork handle that is contoured
larger by the reel seat to fit your palm. The Calcutta fit nicely on the reel
seat and was held in place firmly.
Sensitivity: The NWS is surprisingly sensitive for an entry level series
rod. the Lamiglas G500 graphite does a good job of transferring subtle bites
even from depths of 100ft and beyond. When your mooching for salmon on the West
Coast barbless circle hooks are the law, so losing fish due to poor hook sets is
common. The NWS helps you avoid this by allowing the angler to set the fish when
he knows the bait has been taken. Soft taps are followed by a stronger tug when
the salmon finally takes the bait, and all this sensory information transfers
through the graphite quite nicely.
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The Norwest
Special uses a Pacific bay reel seat that holds reels firmly and is quite
comfortable in your hand |
Power: The one area we felt the NWS was flawed was in the power
department. Once the fish is set, bringing a salmon in that weighs 10-15lbs the NWS feels solid and confident, however anything over this size begins to stress
the rod. While you will have no fear of the rod snapping, it simply lacks backbone in
which to muscle fish with control. In many cases when a fish broke the surface
or got close enough to net we found that we would have to hold the NWS very
high and back to compensate for the flex. More backbone in the butt and rigidity further
up the blank would allow fish to be brought back to the boat quicker....and
trust me when you see a hungry sea lion torpedoing towards your fish you want
all the fighting muscle you and your rod can muster.
Ratings:
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Lamiglas
Norwest Special N379BC Ratings (?/10) |
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Construction/Quality |
Lamiglas has put together a solid package and
their G500 graphite is surprisingly sensitive |
8.5 |
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Performance |
Excellent sensitivity but needs more power to
fight larger salmon if you enjoy fishing in the open ocean |
8 |
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Price |
A decent price, but just average in terms of
the competition's offerings |
8 |
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Features |
The best feature of all is the use of the G500
graphite, other then that the NWS doesn't make use of many new and cutting
edge components |
7 |
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Design (Ergonomics) |
Good ergonomics in handle design, and the
Pacific bay reel seat is strong and comfortable |
8 |
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Application |
Good for mooching, not as much so for trolling
as the sheer stress on the rod makes you desire more backbone in the butt. |
8 |
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Total Score |
7.83 |
Pluses and Minuses:
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Plus
Minus |
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J Detailed construction |
L
Less costly components |
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J
Great Sensitivity |
L
Sheer power |
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J
High quality cork handle |
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Conclusion: The
NWS is a good rod that is able to provide reliable performance at a price that
won't break the bank because it uses some less costly components (guides and
reel seat). While the NWS is a good value based on performance versus cost it
faces some real competition from manufacturers like St. Croix and GLoomis, that
also deliver similar graphite rods with higher end components at competitive
pricing. While some will
want more power in their salmon rods, others will find the Norwest Special a
blast to fish with. The Lamiglas Norwest Special has proven to be a solid rod
that performs well, and is surprisingly sensitive...but you would do well to
check out the competition as well, and pick a salmon rod that you would be happy
fishing with for years.
Until next time....Tight Lines!
