if you have the option and can afford it, the IMX will run circles around the EX6.

 

Have no experience with the E6X but do have a pre Shimano 1084c IMX that I can feel a fish burp with. Out of those two, the IMX would be my recommendation. Now, if you want to check out some other hypersensitive rods, take a look at Edge, might be just what you're looking for.

 

I would spend the extra money for the sensitivity. It's a critical part of your equipment.

 

Seriously consider an Okuma X rod.
I recently purchased a XC 932 M 8-15 LB.
I like it better than my IMX, as well as my Edge, and the Okuma warranty is the best in the business.
I don't necessarily like all the models of X rods, but this model is awesome.

 

That Okuma X 932 is crazy light, weighs 5.8 ounces for a 9'3" rod. Can't find the weight of the Loomis 9' Imx Pro listed anywhere. Could you shed any light please, since you've both?

 

I think this wind rods are the best rods made but it e6x’s are great For the price.

 

I run an older Loomis 1084c IMX. Best drift rod ever made. It was expensive back then and it’s second to none. The sensitivity is insane. 🇺🇲 I also run a couple of Okuma Guide Select Pros. For the money nothing is better in my opinion.

 

I have two of the e6x rods. I believe they are a great compromise between weight and durability walking in through the brush.

 

If the IMX is the same as older IMX rods in the carbon used, it is 40+ year old material they are using. The Lamiglas IM700 was the same stuff and when was the last time one of those was made? I have no idea what is in the E6X they have kept everything close to the chest a longtime. The new carbons are nothing like the old, it's not just the carbon modulus anymore, this is where NFC is working, the new carbons are a different fiber size. the old ones had a fiber size of 160, Gary Loomis had the his supplier try to improve this, GLX was a fiber size of 100, making them smaller, this would allow more fibers packed more densely with less heavy prepeg between them. The modulus and weight can change if you don't change anything else if you decrease the prepeg ratio to the fiber amount, prepeg has a very low modulus. Anyway, Gary is playing with some new stuff with a fiber of 8, imagine the difference this can make. Just use a quarter to draw a triangle of circles, do the same with a nickel and a dime to illustrate the difference in gaps that had to be filled by the heavy prepeg. IMX after it was brought back had a glass scrim to improve hoop strength, old IMX were carbon paper scrim, the new fibers and resins make this unnecessary increasing the modulus again, again ratio to scrim and the modulus of the scrim matter in the final product. We were always told the modulus of the fiber, not the modulus of the final product our rods were made into. Gary built a ST962-2 (HM) that weighed only 4.7 oz. officially weighted near 15 years ago, imagine what the new ones are now if we tried as hard.

 

If you know what a Steelhead hit feels like, sensitivity is over rated. 90% of the time, I could darn near tell a Steelhead was hitting my offering if I was fishing a broomstick. I can count on one hand the number of times I thought to myself after hooking a fish “I would’ve missed that fish were it not for my super sensitive rod.” That said, I fish IMX rods because they are light weight and that makes it a rod I can fish all day without fatigue, and it does enhance the feel. In addition to the e6X and IMX Pro, you may want to look at the new GCX Steelhead rods that are replacing the e6X - they have some new line weight/actions that seem good. I always say if there’s one rod to splurge on it’s a drift rod.

 

Man my steelhead must hit different. Situation depended it’s very common for a steelhead to pick something up with a light tap tap.

In have a IMX hot shot that’s the best rod I have ever held. Unfortunately g loomis doesn’t make them any more. I have caught a lot of fish with that rod.

 

G Loomis has made their hot shot rods out of IMX and GLX, the problem is you can't get a guide within ten miles of them, first the tips are to stiff to maximize plug action and second they blow up much more readily. Same goes for the GL3 STR 1141 S compared to them. My HSR 9000 C and HSR 821 Cs are both GL3 all my G Loomis steelhead/salmon rods I use except three are GL3, my GLX 9000-3 travel rod and a ST 1141 IMX I built before I found out they were identical in use but not durability and a GL2 Musky rod I built.

 

G Loomis has made their hot shot rods out of IMX and GLX, the problem is you can't get a guide within ten miles of them, first the tips are to stiff to maximize plug action and second they blow up much more readily. Same goes for the GL3 STR 1141 S compared to them. My HSR 9000 C and HSR 821 Cs are both GL3.

HSR 1021c IMX is an amazing drift rod for Chinook. Nice light tip, great “magnum” backbone, and great feel. Probably the one rod I’d keep if I was forced to sell all but one drift rod.

 

I was in Bi-mart the other day and picked up a few steelhead rods, all under $100. I'm actually amazed at the light weight and responsiveness of these rods. Todays tackle is light years better then my old brown glass Fenwick and Mitchell 300. I caught plenty of steelhead drift fishing back then on this gear and when Fenwick came out with their HMG graphite, I caught even more fish. I'm in agreement with Nor Cal Drifter, that newer high dollar rods today don't necessarily lead to more fish. There's not an equal return on investment in spending more. But I do like lighter rods, it's more enjoyable casting all day with light weight gear. If I were buying a new rod today, I would look at something in the middle of the pack for better value. Get a few rods in your hand, see what feels best to you. Good luck!

 

Nor Cal, I agree whole heartedly, I gave mine to a friend in GL3 when I left AK. When I got back here, and decided I needed more, Loomis wasn't selling blanks so I bought a bunch of the Cascade Composites, (US made Rainshadows). They are not the same numbering system so you have to get a 1023 to get the same power. I have some of the 8 1/2 ft., 8 power Rogue hotshot rods that were my first heavy lead rods when blanks weren't really as heavy as today.