AT editors Kirk Deeter and Tim Romano were recently given an inside tour of the G.Loomis factory in Woodland, Washington. The processes employed by the company to develop and manufacture fishing rods were impressive indeed (especially the equipment they use to systematically break rods to test tolerances). But the most striking impression was the sheer volume and variety of rods in the G.Loomis inventory. Sure they make fly rods of all weights and actions. But the real girth is on the conventional side. G.Loomis makes well over 500 different rod models, some designed for highly-specific applications. The bass angler, for example, can utilize one model for crankbaits, another for throwing tube jigs… yet another for drop-shotting… and another for casting spinnerbaits… and so on. Of course, all of these specialties are further divided by line weight, action, length and more factors. Apparently, the bass nation is thirsty enough for the specific diversity to support all these SKUs (so much for Bubba lacking buying sophistication).
Granted we’re seeing some of this on the fly rod side (from G.Loomis and many others , with rods specifically intended for Czech nymphing, Spey casting in different styles, delicate presentation of dry flies, throwing streamers (e.g. St. Croix’s “Bank Robber” and so on… but the fly world is nowhere near as technique specific as in the conventional arena.
Question is, do retailers think that’s a direction this industry can or should pursue more vigorously? Or does to beauty of fly rodding rest in its versatility and simplicity? You tell us…
