I'm looking for an approximate original retail price for the IM6 G Loomis 11'6" noodle blank, I believe it's the 1-4lb line model. Just a ballpark figure.

Is there a blank number on it?

From what I can determine from old records, is that these rods sold for $150-$200 when new.

However, as Randy pointed out, there could be differences based on the blank and or model number on the rod.

Be safe

I don't have the model number, I've lost the original card stock tag and plastic sleeve a while back. I was hoping someone might have an old retail catalog from one of the retailers from that era that might show one for sale. If I recall correctly there were only four choices and 11'6" and 1-4lb line would identify a single model in the IM6.

I'm new here, so forgive me, but what would an 11'6" rod rated for 1-4 lb test be used for?

Catching big steel head in the rivers.
The line needs to be light to avoid spooking the fish. The rod needs to be long and flexible to have a lot of give in the fish catching system, when the big steel head make their runs.

Ezra, it will take you a lot of time to fight a good steelhead on a noodle rod, there is no horsing them in on 2# test line.

The 1986 LCI catalog that I have lists 3 11'6" Noodle rod blanks.
2#, 4#, and 4-8 # test line.

Sorry I don't have a price list, but I believe they went for between $125 and $150.

LCI and G.Loomis were two different companies.

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It started as one or the other either G.Loomis and evolved into LCI ( Loomis Composites Inc) or vise-versa.

No. LCI began in 1976 with several investors. LCI remains in business today and is known as Talon.

G. Loomis was founded in 1982 after Gary Loomis returned from the Loomis/Franklin business in the orient. It also remains in business. The two have always been separate.

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Loomis Composites and G. Loomis were not only both in Woodland, WA., but checking the tag on a G. Loomis blank and the address on the back of the 1986 LCI catalog, both have the same exact PO Box #907 in that town.

I sent an e-mail to a Loomis supplier, asking the question. This was their response:

"Unfortunately I do not have the price sheets of those, but after checking w/ my other department they went from 110-200 in price range."

I just dug up my 1991 Shoff's Tackle Supply catalog and there are two G Loomis noodle rod blanks listed, as Follows: Maybe it will help you tell which one you have.

N1381 IGFa -4 1/16-3/8 OZ Lure Wt TIP SIZE 4 BUTT .365 BLANK WT. 1 7/8 OZ.

N 1384 4-8 OZ LURE WT. TIP SIZE 5 BUTT .465 BLANK WT. 2 5/8 OZ. Both were IM6 blanks and were $81 and $82.20 respectively wholesale price.

They were not and are not the same company. Never were. Absolutely not. LCI was at PO Box 907, while G. Loomis was PO Box E.

Both were, and still are, operating independently. They are not now, nor ever were the same company.

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Sorry Tom, You are wrong, I will send you a copy of the LCI blank catalog, and the Tag on the G. Loomis blank. Both are identical.

The companies were never related in any way, shape or form.

I have all the LCI and G.Loomis catalogs from the outset of both.

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As entertaining as this could get, here is an excerpt from an interview with Gary Loomis, by Terry Battisti:


“When I left I never wanted to compete against Lamiglas in the rod business,” he said. “But I couldn’t get the arrow company going so in 1980 I started Loomis Composites. Then, in 1981 the U.S. government said to the manufacturing industries that we need to start training our preferred nations and begin joint manufacturing ventures with them. That’s when I started a joint venture with Taiwan Tackle and began Loomis Franklin – a rod manufacturer. Shortly after that started, I bowed out of that venture and Loomis Composites all together.”

At that point, he had the time to sit down, collect his thoughts and determine the future of blank manufacturing. Enter G.Loomis.

“The beginning of G.Loomis is quite a remarkable story,” he said. “At the time I was working as a machinist at Sherman Machines. One day I went home and told my wife I needed her to sit down because I wanted to talk with her. She asked, ‘what do you want to talk about?’ I told her I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life but it would require that we sell everything we had accumulated over our lifetime and take the knowledge I’d acquired over the years and start a new rod company.

Thank you Chris!!