He started fishing in 1964 after getting out of the Navy. Found out that if he used lighter line he can catch more Steelhead. Problem was that the line kept breaking so to compensate he created his first rod by stripping down a few guides from a fly rod and replacing them with spinning rod guides. The result was his first 10 foot light line Steelhead rod and the beginning of the G Loomis name.
The interview with Gary Loomis in the attached video is very interesting and shows how he goes through the design process of creating rod blanks at North Fork Composites. Lets face it, fishing rods are blanks with accessories. If you get the blank design and creation process right, you’re 90 percent there. The interview is slightly long but well worth a look. Hope you enjoy.
