9130 Grey
okay, used this rod a lot on the Dean for overhead, underhand and underhand/spey casting with Adapted shooting heads, the Cortland 444 Change-A-Tip Spey Line (9/10) and a 9/10 MidSpey.
this rod is very cool. Loop's ad-copy talks about a "deep progressive action while at the same time delivering lightning-fast recovery." I wasn't really sure what this meant until I cast the rod. Essentially, the rod feels like a cross between the Loop Yellow and the Green--you can really feel the rod load because it bends well into the blank, yet it recovers very quickly for high line speed and tight loops. It kind of reminds me of a slingshot--you can ease into the forward cast if you want to, but once you stop the rod the blank snaps out the cast with authority. It really shines with the heads of course, but is great with the MidSpey-style lines as well. Plus it is LIGHT and DURABLE--shhhh, don't tell anyone, but I hooked a big pink salmon that got under a rock and then headed downstream. I thought I could stop it by putting the lumber to it...until the boys on the beach said "uh, Dana, don't break the rod...!" I really pushed it past anything acceptable and it performed flawlessly.
Goran says "These are rods that follow thought" and I can see what he means--you just kinda move 'em around a little bit and out goes the line. He told me back in March that he has been working on these rods his whole life, and this one is definitely a crowning achievement. The Green 9132-4 used to be my favorite 13ft rod, but this Grey tops it.
I'll try a few long belly lines on it too and report back.
I'm keen to try the 15 footer this fall!