G. Loomis 20 Weight

Heavy-duty rods like the Colton Leviathan XS 17+, Cam Sigler 14 weight, G. Loomis CrossCurrent 15 weight, and Temple Fork Bluewater SG 13–15 and 16+ give fly anglers the ability to confidently target the largest saltwater species. Can rods go even heavier? Apparently, the answer is yes, as G. Loomis appears to have crafted a handful of 20-weight fly rods years back! I had no idea these rods even existed until stumbling upon a theflyfishingforum.com post which can be viewed RIGHT HERE.

G. Loomis NRX+ T2S

Most anyone will tell you that a one-piece fly rod casts better and is lighter than any multi-piece rod. Despite the awesome performance, a long one-piece fly rod is not very practical to transport or ship.

However, G. Loomis NRX+ T2S fly rods offer an interesting compromise. These two-piece rods feature a special "grip ferrule" which places the single joint down the rod close to the logo area. G. Loomis says this results in "...one-piece weight and performance with the added benefit of easy transportability."

NRX+ T2S rods are 8'10" each and come in 8–12 weight sizes at a price of $895 each.

Shop for your NRX+ T2S rod RIGHT HERE.

Temple Fork Bluewater SG "BABY"

TFO's Bluewater SG "Baby" is a 9'0" 8–10 weight rod rated for 300–400 grains that sports a unique fighting grip above the main grip. Not only is the broad line rating unique, but so is the handle design—dual grips like this are typically found on rods rated for about 12 weight and up. Although you'll generate the most power by pulling from the main grip, a fighting grip can make for a nice spot to stretch your arm a bit during a long fight.

On a side note, years back, Albright (now out of business) made a 10 weight in their XX lineup that had the same dual grip style. That rod was heavy, stiff, and carried a robust line rating of 450–500 grains. In my opinion, it was more like a 12 weight!

Find your TFO Bluewater SG rod HERE.

Loop 7X Fly Rods

Like the name implies, Loop 7X rods feature heptagonal blanks (7-sided) rather than traditional round blanks. Among the various benefits, Loop says, "Featuring the world’s first heptagonal (7-sided) blank design, the 7X is both lighter and stronger than conventional circular fly rod construction – with ultra efficient energy transmission resulting in unbeatable accuracy, presentation, performance and versatility for all levels of angler." I really like the looks of these rods and have heard a few great comments about them, but I haven't had the opportunity to try one yet...hint, hint, Loop!

7X rods are available in single-handed or two-handed/switch versions. Lengths range from 8'8"–15'0" and weights from 3–12. Prices span from $950–$1,475.00.

Buy your single-handed Loop 7X rod HERE or your two-handed/switch rod HERE.

Epic Fly Fishing Studio 12wt Boca Grande

Fiberglass fly rods have gained a lot more attention in recent years, most notably in the freshwater realm. However, that is not to say the saltwater folks—even those chasing big game—have been ignored. For those anglers that desire a unique weapon for hunting species like tarpon, tuna, and billfish, Epic's fiberglass 12-weight Boca Grande looks like an ideal match. Finished in a beautiful "seafoam aqua" color scheme and outfitted with premium components, the $1,095.00 price tag might startle some folks, but it certainly looks like a million bucks!

Find your 12-weight Boca Grande HERE.

Sage TXL-F 000 Weight

Yep, you read that right, this 7'10" rod is rated for a 000-weight line! If a 0 or a 1 weight just isn't light enough for you, then Sage's TXL-F 000710-4 should fill the void nicely. According to a post by our our friends at Trident Fly Fishing, this little four-piece stick had a medium to medium-fast action and weighed just 1.4 ounces! I imagine a rod this light wasn't super popular due to its extremely limited application, however, it would've been a blast to use on small trout or farm pond bluegill. Though all TXL rods are discontinued, this particular model carried a price tag of $625.

Diamondback Clout

I'm willing to bet you've never seen a grip like this before! Although these rods have been out for several years now, I don't think the existence of them is too widely known. Diamondback gives these rods what they call a "LINK GRIP" which is said to allow better feel of the rod's flex. After personally casting one of these, I can say that is indeed true, but the grip obviously did feel a little weird to me.

Diamondback Clout rods come in 8 or 9 foot lengths, in weights 4–6, and in your choice of medium or medium-fast action. The currently (and oddly) discounted prices range from $263.20–$291.20.

Check out Diamondback Clout rods HERE.

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