Reviewing the G. Loomis IMX-PRO 51111 ShortSpey fly rod

The use of two handed rods for smallmouth bass is becoming increasingly more popular, so here's a review of the IMX-PRO ShortSpey 5 wt. while chasing some Grand River smallies.
The rod demonstrated that it could cast some impressive distances, chuck sinktips and larger streamers with no difficulty, yet was certainly a fun rod with a smaller fish.
So if you're looking for a good smallie two-hander, consider the IMX-PRO 51111 ShortSpey.

[@liefroebuck2071]

I also have this rod and have been fishing it on the Bow river and other western rivers for large trout etc. I have the 360 scout as well but have been experimenting with integrated lines that have longer shooting heads ( Airflo switch streamer 360 is ok going to try 390 next chinook) and personally prefer the longer head. I regularly throw T-8 and occasionally T-11 but that's pushing it. Definitely would handle fish well beyond 5 pounds, but lands 20"+ rainbows beautifully.
Great rod but not the best scandi chucker although Rio scandi short does fly well off it!
Thank you Peter for this great channel, I love the fly tying inspiration!!!

[@hooked4lifeca]

if you want to cast this rod with a Scandi setup, use Goren Andersson's casting technique and the rod will put a smile on your face. ;)

[@alfieflanagan8528]

Hi Peter.
Great video. I can get my hands on a g loomis 6 wt imx pro short spey . I was thinking this rod for summer Atlantic salmon fishing . Fish of about 3 to 4 lb weight. Cant see any 7 weights for sale unless you want to sell me your one😂 . Do you think the 6 weight would be ok with this .
Regards Alfie

[@hooked4lifeca]

A 6 wt. will have no issues with 3 to 4 lb. fish. Cheers

[@alfieflanagan8528]

Thanks Peter 👍

[@consuelo1441]

Hi Peter, as you get to try out a lot of rods I was wondering if you have a recommendation for the FFF Master´s exam. It needs to throw a six weight 90 feet comfortably, be accurate at distance and in close and be able to spey cast well too. Was just curious if you had a recommendation.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Rod or line? I have a video on my first impressions of the Asquith 6 wt. it it wasn't a problem to hit up to a 100' with it. I was using an Airflo Distance Pro 6 wt. line which worked well and is ideal for single hand Spey casting as well. However, I passed my C.C.I. using the Rio equivalent as this was before my pro staff days and I had been given the Rio line. Either line will do the job as the tapers are quite similar. I like the Asquith for distance casting as it wasn't fussy. The action is a bit more moderate so it gives us a margin for error. I wouldn't want to go for my masters with a stiff, fussy rod. Stiff makes distance easier, but less tolerant.

[@consuelo1441]

@@hooked4lifeca Thanks for the reply. It was the rod that I was primarily picking your brains over, but rod and line combinations are pretty much the same thing, as you more than anyone would know it would make little sense to buy a performance rod and line it with something sub-optimal. The test gives the option to use a different line for the spey section, and I believe many choose the Rio single handed spey. So the Asquith would be your recommendation. I had thought about the Asquith. I had kind of decided the Igniter would be too stiff for some tasks. The other contenders would be the new Scott Centric or maybe the Douglas Sky which was up there with the Asquith in the Yellowstone shootout review. As it will be the weapon of choice and no doubt become a familiar friend I wanted a couple of educated opinions on the issue. Many thanks for the great videos. I enjoy watching them.

[@hooked4lifeca]

@@consuelo1441 The nice thing about the 6 wt. Asquith is that it's a forgiving rod. It's a real fishing tool, not a parking lot rod. In my "First Impressions" video I cast an AFTMA standard WF-5-F on it just to see what it would do with a light line and it handled it quite well. We could actually fish that combination as a finesse setup. I hit about 100' with my best cast using an Airflo Distance Pro WF-6-F. For the single hand Spey, consider the Airflo 40+ 6 wt. as it's a beast of a line for Spey casting.

[@consuelo1441]

@@hooked4lifeca Thanks Peter. I´ll certainly put the Asquith in the mix with a couple of other rods. The recoil guides on my NRX burnt through pretty quickly with double hauling and barbel streaming up the river. They were noticeable grooved after just one season. Have you experienced similar? I think companies should go the titanium tortzite route maybe. More and more people can double haul well now, and I think the blanks are now not matched well to the guides.

[@hooked4lifeca]

@@consuelo1441 The Asquith guides are not recoil type guides, instead they're using torzite guides on these blanks. Personally I've not had any grooving issues with recoil guides.

[@salinastrong602]

What real are you using? It sounds like a Hardy Reel, if so, is it the perfect taupo?

[@hooked4lifeca]

It's a Danielsson LW 6nine.