I got a new rod/reel for my birthday over the weekend. A Lew's Mach Speed Spool baitcaster with a Waterloo Phantom rod. I had never seen or heard of these rods before. Does anyone have experience with Waterloo rods? Good / Bad??

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Posted by Drunken Crawfish

Member since Apr 2017

3822 posts

Posted on 7/9/18 at 9:20 am to Boo yee

A few of the guides on Big Lake swear by them for trout. I personally haven't thrown one, though.

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Posted by KemoSabe65

70605

Member since Mar 2018

5126 posts

Posted on 7/9/18 at 10:24 am to Boo yee

Have one, they are the budget waterloo rods made in china with most of the same components as their high price rods.
Waterloo likes to use the "made in the USA" mantra but that should be assembled in the USA. Many of the rods mfg's are just as good as the so called highend brands at half the cost; concept, falcon, cajun, ect. Guides typically receive a substantial discount to pimp equipment or they couldn't afford to use it.

Grain of Salt Regards

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Posted by TutHillTiger

Mississippi Alabama

Member since Sep 2010

43700 posts

Posted on 7/9/18 at 11:15 am to KemoSabe65

Most all rod components are now made in China for all rods. You often see on eBay or amazon a bunch of really nice looking reels with good specks that look a lot like your shimano etc with a Chinese name. Some of these are shitty knock offs but often they are the actual parts of good reels that are assembled and labeled in other countries for import tax reasons etc and just assembled instead in China. If you get anything made there you know in advance they are going to do that

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