G Loomis E6X Spinning Rod Review

The G. Loomis E6X series of rods exude the essence of quality and push the boundaries of manufacturing technology to provide that legendary G.Loomis performance.

However, some of the finest fishing rods don’t come at a comfortable price, especially since this expensive series affords you an incredible fishing experience.

But is this expensive series worth the cost for a piece of fishing equipment when there are so many other fishing equipment items available at an affordable price?

That’s what this independent review aims to find out by breaking down both the inshore saltwater series as well as the freshwater version and see if you should be bringing spin casting rods on your next fishing trip.

Pros

• Multi-Taper blank technology
• Grade cork handle
•  Extremely durable build

 

Cons

• Not amazing sensitivity
•  Comes at premium prices
• Technique-specific rod design

Review

Construction (craftsmanship, make quality)

The E6x rod blanks use multi-taper blank technology which affords the perfect balance between durability and a crisp action for high-end performance.

On top of that, these fishing spinning poles also come with a buffblank finish that reduces the need to sand down the blank and further increases this model’s impressive durability.

While not “technically” a manufacturing process, it’s still worth noting that each of the different models– of which, there are many– corresponds to a specific type of fishing, from freshwater fishing to inshore fishing.

This means that while there is a myriad of different configurations, each G. Loomis E6X is designed for a style of fishing and no more.

That’s not to say you can’t cross-class a bit, especially if you’re dealing with a similar type of fishing, but be very aware of the pole’s indicated use.

Causing damage to this pole by using it outside of the suggested fishing situations can lead G. Loomis to deny a warranty claim.

The cork grip handle features a slightly tapered design to improve ergonomics and give the butt a bit more surface area to maintain leverage when fighting fish.

It also doesn’t hurt that most fishermen generally prefer cork handles over their high-density EVA foam alternatives

Length

The G. Loomis E6X provides a broad choice of options to help you zero in on the proper casting range to fish in situations particularly suited to specific waters and species.

Regardless, this lineup has some models longer than 7′ which provide improved casting distance, though the inshore models only have three different sizes.

Material

The G. Loomis E6X places a focus on weight, making sure that its rods are as light as possible without sacrificing the necessary oomph to provide exceptional backbone.

Keep in mind that the high-modulus carbon graphite fibers aren’t the most sensitive material but are a huge part of what makes this series so durable.

The Fuji aluminum-oxide guides ensure that you don’t have to worry about the line, but check the brands for fishing lines you use when employing braided lines.

That said, this pole’s guides tend to be stronger than your average aluminum-oxide rings.

Thankfully, the excellent Fuji VSS reel seat is made entirely out of graphite fibers which are not only durable but also help transfer vibrations to the angler’s palm.

That said, don’t expect miracles, but at least most inshore species are large and aggressive enough that you shouldn’t have to worry about light nibbles escaping your notice.

Action

G. Loomis E6X technically comes in three different actions, moderate fast, fast, and extra-fast, but the multi-taper technology changes how they work.

For the pole’s standards in sensitivity, this design is a significant improvement over most of the competition, allowing for a crisper, more sensitive tip without sacrificing power.

However, the fact that this series provides actions outside of the fast setting allows you to refine which aspect you want to focus on: distance casting or accuracy and sensitivity.

The moderate-fast action gives you a slight bump in casting distance while the extra-fast action provides a notable increase in rod sensitivity and casting accuracy.

Power

G. Loomis E6X boasts surprising power, regardless of which of the power options you choose, though the inshore fishing action comes in three different settings.

However, there are a couple spinning rods, like the drop shot rod, which have magnum, or “mag,” power options that offer additional backbone to help you land those huge fish.

Thankfully, whichever spinning version you choose, whatever your price range, the G. Loomis E6X’s approach to pushing the boundaries of manufacturing technology ensures that you receive high-end fishing tools.

Still, your bait setup on either spinning version heavily impacts the angler experience for these specialized rods.

Taper

Normally, you’d look for a discussion about the taper in the action section, but the G. Loomis’ Multi-Taper Technology forces this issue a bit.

That’s because the G. Loomis’ Multi-Taper Technology takes a completely different approach to find the proper balance of these spinning series rods graduated along the blank.

This means that the Gary Loomis sacrifices its reasonable price to provide more strength at the base of this fishing pole without losing any of its casting capabilities to provide one of the best rods for anglers, price-wise.

Whether an inshore spinning casting model or the steelhead/salmon fishing version, these quality rods boast both plenty of backbone and a crisp action.

Rod Guides

G. Loomis E6X can’t use cheap guides and still claim to be one of the best rods for anglers, though neither does this series provide the nearly indestructible guides made of stainless steel.

Instead, this salt water rod opts for FUJI Fishing Rod Components that see aluminum oxide guides that can actually withstand the punishment of braided lines.

Keep in mind that this rod generally isn’t designed with the most complicated inshore bait setup in mind and using braided line is just as much about the brand of fishing line you use as anything else.

However, the reduced guide sizing combined with the aluminum-oxide finish afford one of the smoothest casting options for an effortless angler experience.

Handle (material, shape, etc)

G. Loomis E6X comes with a premium grade A cork grip handle with extended rear grips and a modest taper to improve its ergonomics.

Of course, price-wise, this is really the only option that a hot shot rod can justify with even composite cork not cutting the mustard if these bass rods don’t come in at an affordable price.

Granted, even with a light weight build and balanced weight ratios, these poles aren’t going to be quite as comfortable as some of the high-density EVA foam options available.

However, the added durability combined with the barrel cork design allows this salt water rod to stand up to the punishment of otherwise corrosive conditions.

Uses (Who is this good for)

G. Loomis E6X series of rods offers superior performance through a perfect balance between durability and strength, though it’s not setting the world on fire with its standards in sensitivity.

However, inshore saltwater anglers should have no trouble bay fishing for large inshore species including a nurse shark which was recorded caught by this pole.

That said, the mainstream angler is looking for more than inshore success, and these models hew more to a specific style of fishing than others.

This means that your G. Loomis E6X drop shot rod likely won’t translate as well when you take to other water to catch a completely different species of fish.

It should go without saying that when you combine the fact that this spin casting pole doesn’t come at an angler-friendly price with its uber-specialized approach, this is not an option for beginners.

That this is a spinning pole doesn’t matter since the fisherman still needs to know the fine nuances of their craft to get the most out of this model.

Reel and Real Seat Compatibility

G. Loomis E6X employs a streamlined spinning reel seat that should work with virtually any conventional casting reel arrangement.

This pole uses a Fuji VSS reel seat which is one of the brand’s most popular options available and imparts some of its own unique benefits that can help account for some of the rod’s weaknesses.

For instance, this reel seat is made out of carbon fiber graphite which not only makes it more durable than some of the competition but helps improve the rod’s sensitivity too.

However, as if that were not enough, this reel seat also includes a “collar” that secures it firmer through the rod and offers a bit more leverage.

Conclusion (Wrap Up)

The G. Loomis E6X series of rods may not be the brand’s flagship series, but the improved technologies make for a superior performance and one of the finest fishing rods in its price range.

Granted, not everyone is comfortable with this kind of fishing gear investment, and you likely should be an experienced angler if you use this pole.

But there might not be a single piece of fishing equipment that has a bigger impact on your results outside of fishing reels.

Whether a drop shot rod or any of the other specialized designs, you won’t find a rod that can fish in situations other models don’t dare to tread like this one anywhere else on the market.