I am seeking feedback on the G. Loomis GL2 rods and the St. Croix Tournament Legend Rod. I am also looking at the Falcon Bucoo rod with Microguides.. I like the bait caster with Microguides, but have yet to have a sissy stick with the micro guides.

Main things I am looking for
1. Made in the USA..... So for those to state I should try a different rod, if it is not made in the USA, I am out.
2. Fast tip
3. Warranty

Appreciate the responses

Mo

Since u want one made here, just have Ron at Reel Time Rods make you exactly what you want.

Kind of fond of St Croix . Since I broke one that was 10 years old that I bought used and they replaced it for 50 dollars.

I fish a drop shot alot and Ron at Reel Time rods builds mine. He also has a new blank out now that is super light and super sensative. He will build the rod to your specs with a great warranty. Give him a call @ 903-450-6400.

+1 The drop shot rod Ron built me has the microwave guides. It has a very light tip which really helps to avoid the fish feeling the rod. When you hook up it has the backbone to handle the big ones if needed. I coupled mine with a Okuma spinning reel and 8lb Nanofil that is super light.

I have a falcon 7' bucoo MH with micro guides I use for dropshotting and I've been happy with it, but it is tippier than the ducketts I've used, and less tippy than the high-end BPS rods I've used. This isn't much of an issue but if I'm underhanding at stick ups when the wind is up I do like more backbone through and through. But what Eddie said above about a good light blank from Ron sounds really appealing, I may be looking in to that myself.

I only use bait casters when drop shotting. I might can help you out a bit.
If you go with GLoomis, go with the 822c. Not the GL2. I don't know much about the St.Croix.
But in my honest opinion, the best action and sensitivity is in the Duckett 7'M Crank bait rod.
Another good one to look at is the Dobyns Champion Extreme 701.

Sorry Mo, didn't see your comment about made in the USA. That takes out a couple of the ones I mentioned! lol.

Get a used dsr822 and have the best rod made to dropshot with.

Please consider Dave Settle's Custom Angle Rods Whackee Rod in this mix. Dave hand builds his custom rods at Lake Fork shop by Oak Ridge Marina. I have 2 of these particular rods because I don't ever wanna be on the water without one.

Don't even bother looking up his website, (www.customanglerods.com). Just call Dave at 903-440-0044 and schedule a time to go demo one. The Custom Angle Rod I use for dropshot, wacky rig, weightless, and shakey head is the 6'10" MH Whackee Rod. Its a bait casting rod, not a spinning rod. He utilizes a reverse wrap and has mastered the parabolic bend for sensitivity, power, and subtlety.

I guarantee you will love his Whackee Rod!! Especially at $140. If you buy it and for some crazy reason fall out love with it, call me and I will give her a new home.

Here's a couple of pics of fish that have been landed on guide trips with me in Central Texas.

[img]http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums...~original[/img]

[img]http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums...~original[/img]

Ban-D is correct. A used G Loomis BSR 822s drop shot rod is so much better than anything else out there and a great value. I've been on the hunt for the best drop shot rod for three years. My fishing buddy wears me out on the drop shot. He's 20 and I'm 60 and that's what I thought it was until the first day I used the bsr822s. Now I keep up with him and even get the better of him occasionally. He's at front of the boat so that's part of it, but I am amazed how I could now tell that I have a small bit of weeds on my DS, or that the worm got pulled off by the fish. I can feel everything! Until you try it you won't believe it.

Here's some of the rods I have tried until I found bsr822s:

St Croix Premier 7' 6" Medium Lite - Too Long - no feel
Shimano Crucial 6' 10" - drop shot - broke it twice
Shimano Compre 7' 2" - drop shot - no feel
Shimano Compre 7' 0" Medium fast action - too stiff

I can feel everything with this G Loomis rod. It is amazing! Feel is critical and so is having a very light tip that bends easily when you get that bite.

Do yourself a favor and find a used one on eBay or a local fishing forum or BBC Boards classifieds.

I love my power tackle spinning rod. Put it this way...I never....NEVER fished with a spinning rod. I decided one day that I wanted a nice spinning setup...that way I only had myself to blame. Last trip to Del Rio, if was the FIRST rod I picked up.

You can literally send pics of me with a spinning rod in my hand to almost all of my fishing buddies and they'd faint. Pricey, yes, but made in Texas, and Tim and Judy are as good as they come.

If you're on budget go with the Bucoo. However, it's hard to beat the GL2, I love those rods

Call me, brotha!

Kistler Rods
http://www.kistlerrods.com/
Not just made in USA, Made in Texas