Anyone use Berkley® Air™ IM8 Salmon/Steelhead Spinning?

I'm thinking about picking up the 9'0" MH Berkley® Air™ IM8 Salmon/Steelhead Spinning

Anyone have experience with these poles?  I'd love to pick up a Loomis in this size, but that would cost me ~$350 and these are $99, and I'm going to be abusing it.

I have the Air IM7 spinning (9'6" ML) and I love it. It was my most used rod last year. 

I use a Air IM7 9'6" spinning rod for steelhead and I love it. Haven't caught many, but I attribute that to my newbieness. 
With the few fish that I have hooked, it worked great. Even though mine is only rated for 8-12 lb. line, it has plenty of backbone. It's a great rod for the price IMO.

In general, I'd say that there are plenty of decent graphite rods in the sub $100 price range and the Berkley Air in  one of them.  I don't know about this year, but last year you could get the IM-7s on sale for about $40.  I have a few of the Shimano Clarus rods in the same price range and I think they're great.  In the end, I suppose the decision to buy a $90 rod or a $350 rod depends on a few key criteria.  

1.) Do you like really nice things?  In other words do you where an expensive watch when a $3 watch would tell you the time just as well.  Some times it's nice to own nice things.

2.) The warranty on the Loomis rod is probably going to be much better than the Berkley.  Think of the Loomis as a potential one time purchase versus the possibility of having to purchase a few of the berkley rods throughout your life.  The life time price might be similar.

3.) How are you going to fish with it?   If you plan on drift fishing for steelhead and you need to feel every bump and twitch of your lead ticking the bottom, the nicer rod is probably going to be a better bet.  If you simply want to float fish (bobber and jig) for steelhead or salmon, you really don't need the extra sensitivity (you're not feeling the bite, rather you're watching the bobber).


Brian

I like nice things.  BUT, I don't want to have to treat a fishing rod like an eggshell.  I want to use it and its going to take at least SOME abuse.

The Loomis pole doesn't actually have a lifetime guarantee.  It has a LIMITED guarantee.  "Every G.Loomis rod is covered by a limited warranty against defects in workmanship and material for the lifetime of the original owner. Should damage occur due to defect, G.Loomis will, at the company's discretion, either repair or replace the product at no charge." 

The Berkley rod has a limited guarantee that only lasts 1 year "Berkley warrants to the original purchaser that its rod products are free from defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase." 

If there is a defect in material or workmanship, it should show up within the first year.  If the rod breaks, its going to be from something like a kid sitting on it, or getting caught in a car door or trunk - in which case, neither warranty would cover me. 

I plan on using it for everything, just to see how it works out.  I'll definitely be drift fishing the rivers, probably bank fishing a lake or two, or plunking a river.  Perhaps jig some lakes, and I'm definitely going to troll Cle Elum or Chelan for Lake Trout/Chinook.  Somewhere closer if I find it (Mayfield???)  I know its not the proper application of the pole, but I'm looking to feel every little tug with braided line and a really long pole.

Sounds like the Berkley Air might just be the better choice for you. 

Brian

Sounds like the Berkley Air might just be the better choice for you. 

Brian

When I get a couple promotions I'll move up to the high dollar Loomis poles. 

By the way, that picture is 100% win.

I had an 8'6" Berkley Air IM7 medium spinning rod.  I broke the tip off and cut it back and now it is 8' and I like it even better.  I have a 9' IM7 and an 8'6" IM8 both Extra Heavy casting rods and like them, particularly the 8'6".  These Berkley rods are a fair value. 

I like 2 piece rods, but it is hard to find them less than 8' long.

I have a 9'6" M spinning IM7. For what I've paid for it, I'm pretty satisfied with it's performance.  Plus I'm not afraid to fish with it without a leash or abuse it.  With a Loomis, I would baby it and never fish it without a leash.  In my experience, when I've taken equipment out in the field or on the water that I had to baby, I enjoyed my time out a lot less. 

Thanks for the input guys.  Picked one up last night.  Won't get to try it out until Thursday or Friday though.

Tried out the new pole last night.  No fish, but I could tell just from the drifting how sensitive the pole is.  I like it.

Tried out the new pole last night.  No fish, but I could tell just from the drifting how sensitive the pole is.  I like it.

What did you get?

I got the Medium Heavy 9 Foot AIR IM8.  Caught a few pinks on it over the weekend.  Fun to use.  My girlfriend decided on the 8'6" Medium and she pulled in a 10 pound silver on it.  Fish TOOK OFF, peeling off a good 100-150 foot of line before she started getting line back.  Best damn fight I've seen all year. 

I grew up fishing salt water in the southeast, and when I first saw these 8 feet and longer poles I thought they were rediculous, but I see the light now   

I got the Medium Heavy 9 Foot AIR IM8.  Caught a few pinks on it over the weekend.  Fun to use.  My girlfriend decided on the 8'6" Medium and she pulled in a 10 pound silver on it.  Fish TOOK OFF, peeling off a good 100-150 foot of line before she started getting line back.  Best damn fight I've seen all year. 

I grew up fishing salt water in the southeast, and when I first saw these 8 feet and longer poles I thought they were ridiculous, but I see the light now   

Nice catches! 

Spinning or casting?

Spinning.  The threat of encountering the rat's nest effect scares me, so I haven't tried casting reels yet (except for trolling... they look like casters)