Greetings, brand new here, & what a great site. My question to all?
MATRIX RODS? Need your opinion as to the quality of Matrix? Also using them? Are these GOOD rods? Naturally not as good as Loomis, St. Croix, but? Your input would be great,
Thanks, Nik.R.

Why would you say that these are not as good as Loomis or St. Croix? I've built six or seven of them now and every one of them has been straight, light, powerful and very nicely finished. I don't have any complaints and none of my customers do either. IMO these are GREAT rod blanks.

Nik,
I wouldn't take them,Lamiglas, Rainshadow, and the other sponsored blanks out of the category of being as nice as the blanks you listed. I've found nice blanks from just about every blank maker, they couldn't stay in business if they were sub-standard in any way.
You've read to much hype and not spent enough time with different rods in your hands. When you go fishing, don't be afraid to ask to fish and talk about other peoples gear, there's a wealth of knowledge and good and bad experiences out there to be had. Also keep a journal so you don't forget what you learned.

I've built several for customers and a couple for myself. They aren't the absolutest lightest blanks out there but they're not excessively heavy either. All those customers and I love the rods built on the Matrix blanks, in fact my favorite worm rod is built on a Matrix 783 blank and I couldn't ask for a better worming rod, very sensitive. Factor in the reasonable cost and you can't go wrong.

David

Very good blanks! Don't fall for the marketing game and get hung up with brands. Their are many makes/models of blanks out there that are the equal or superior to many of the "big guns" out there. I think that it would be a mistake to base an opinion based on brand name. There are many manufacturer's out there that are pretty much unknown to the fishing public because they make no rods for sale and spend no money on advertising to them.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Actually, just based on the specs, the matrix rods do seem quite heavy with a mag bass 7-0 mf rated for 10-17# line and 1/4-3/4 oz lures weighing in at 2.9 oz compared to 2.6 oz for the st. croix ScII blank.

Dean:
I also strive to build the lightest rods possible, but 3 tenths of an oz on 7 ft mag. rod is not that much. If you are an experienced builder you might want to go that direction, but if you are pretty new at it. You will most likely up grade your rods as your skills get better. So going with the cheaper blanks just might be a smart choice. I don't even use the rods I learn on any more. They just kind of sit around and stare at me from the corner of my tackle room. I would give them away, but I'm to embarrassed about my early thread and finish work

I want to THANK EVERYONE for their input. VERY HELPFULL!
Thanks, Nik



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2006 07:50PM by Nik Reikalas.

Spencer Phipps Wrote:
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> Nik,
> Also keep a journal so you don't forget
> what you learned.
_______________________________

AH, "WORDS OF WISDOM HERE"

Will do.
Thanks, Nik