BWC StR 964-2

Designed for winter steelhead, where you need a little more backbone due to the larger weights required to fish high water conditions, the StR 865-2 has sufficient power to fish Chinook salmon. But it is actually best suited for silvers and chums. Because it has the power to move fish and bring them boat-side without a chase, this is a good choice for both boat and bank fishing. Additionally, it is a good alternative rod for stripers, blues and other medium-size saltwater species. 

The original Gary Loomis plug rod, designed to fish Hot Shots, Wiggle Warts and other deep-diving steelhead lures. Built with a really fast taper and a magnum-power butt, this rod works well for light-duty backbouncing as well. But the place it really shines is in cross-over duties on the hunt for stripers and small sturgeon. It casts lures of up to a couple ounces no problem, and will handle up to 4 ounces in a trolling/mooching situation. The long rear grip and trigger reel seat give you total control. 

As you travel north through steelhead country, rod lengths gradually increase (by the time you get to Canada, you’re up to 12 feet or more), but when you look at the techniques involved it is easy to see why. Float fishing requires long rods to handle the floats and long leaders, while the smaller, brushy rivers of Northern California require shorter, lighter rods for success. By the time you get to the Cowlitz River in west central Washington - just up the road from Edge - you’ve hit 9-foot country, and that is where this rod shines. It handles the long leaders and light leads required for the low, clear water of summer, and the heavier gear necessary to fish the high, emerald-green water of December. The graphite is HM, because sensitivity is the name of the game and overall weight is an important factor, especially in a longer rod. 

The ultimate light-line steelhead drift rod. It has the perfect action to handle 6-pound line and a subtle power, much like a fly rod, that tires fish quickly. We originally designed this rod for the western technique known as boondogging, where the angler lets his boat drift the same speed as the river. This allows the bait to maintain a drag-free drift beside the boat. The technique requires a more forgiving rod, because the fish will drop the bait the minute it feels any resistance. Consequently, this rod is soft enough to let you “see” the strike before the fish has time to react. It works well for both winter and summer-run fish. This style of rod has become a favorite for those anglers that are side drifting.  Other applications include still-fishing bait for big trout and casting small spinners and spoons from shore.