LTA model year question

[mshelton]

A local store has a couple Helium LTA 66MLS rods for sale at a pretty nice price.

I'm thinking about picking one up but I'd like to know a little more about them. It's a "big box" store and the salesman didn't seem to know much on the rods.

The rods are both labeled 66MLS 6-12lb line but they both say 3/16-1/2 lure weight, which I have to believe is a misprint. Both of the rods have solid non-split grips, cork capped by foam and no foregrip.

Both rods are identical except for 2 things, 1 rod has a "smart touch" reel seat and chrome colored guide frames and the other has a similar looking but no-name reel seat with black guide frames.

The guides themselves are a blue color, are these SIC guides?

And what model year are these rods?
I'm tempted to pick one up for smallmouth, 1/8-3/16 oz jigheads and grubs.


Thanks.

[kistlero]

Both are 2008 models with slightly different components. The guides have Zirconia rings much like SIC. They will perform nicely for light tackle on smallies. Wish I were going with you. Have fun!