Thoughts on Helium

[Ranger361]

I have a few Helium's and I love them all. I dont know if it is just me or what but I feel like the rods this year have a stiffer tip and are heavier in weight than the previous years. I have 3 69APC's and my most recent one is noticeably heavier than the other two. I also have 2 7'H and this years is quite stiffer and a little heavier in weight. Just wondering what was going on?? I will still buy the rods...cause they are still the best made in my opinion. Anyone else notice this???

[Lightninrod]

Welcome but I can't answer your question. I bought all 3 of my 7' MCs last year and this year, got a HC and an EHC(both 7',6") so I can't compare.

Dan

[TTCal]

Ranger, welcome to the forum... i'm in the same boat (figuratively ) as Dan.. just got all my Heliums in the last year so I have no basis for comparison, sorry.

[27jerryo]

I just received my first Helium yesterday. I got the HE70MHC. When I pulled it out of the tube I wasn't as excited about as I thought I would be after reading all the hype about these rods.
I have always used the BPS woo daves extreme rods with curado 100bs. I held the Helium in one hand and the xtreme in the other. And there didn't seem to be that much difference in weight. I don't know what G. Loomis IMX and GL3s in 7' MH weigh, but my uncle has some and he swears by them. Even though he has broken 3 of them. The helium doesn't seem to be brittle like the G. Loomis rods. But it doesn't feel as light as the G. Loomis rods.
I put a curado 100b with p-line braid on the rod and went out to test it. While fishing I did feel like I had a little more sensativity. Put I really don't know since I always have a finger on my line when I fish. And since I am using braid, that feel is magnified. Since I was bank fishing I didn't really put the rod to the test. Today I will be fishing in a jackpot tourney, so hopefully I will get to see if this rod is all it was hyped up to be.

[jcheetam]

27jerryo...don't take this as a ( - - blocked - - ), but as an honest response to your post...

If you are curious about weight, use an accurate scale (measuring to the hundreth of a pound minimum) to weigh both the BPS rod and the Helium. I guarantee the Helium will be lighter. I have weighed each of my Heliums and compared them to comparable length/action St. Croix Avids and the Heliums were lighter. Holding a rod in each hand isn't a very reliable method for determining a difference in weight of a few tenths or hundreths of a pound...

[27jerryo]

Oh, I know its lighter....I just expected it to be alot lighter.

Have you compared it to the g. loomis rods?

[jcheetam]

I only have one buddy who fishes Loomis and I haven't seen him in quite a while so I don't have an answer for you. I know some of the other visitors of this board own Loomis, maybe they can shed some light?

[TTCal]

I haven't weighed my rods, but I'd have to say my Heliums are slightly lighter than my Loomis IMX rods and maybe slightly heavier than my Loomis GLX rods. It's really hard to tell though, without actually weighing them. Keep in mind, with most of these rods in comparing similar lengths and actions, we are only talking about fractions of an ounce here.

Bottom line, after you use a Helium, it's hard not to notice how wonderfully they fish. If you end up fishing the rod, and NOT liking it, well, what can I say, maybe these rods aren't for everyone. What I do know is they now have a VERY loyal customer in me.

[Ezcue]

If you don't like it, it will be very easy to get your money back. When I first recieved my Heliums, I was not impressed so much by the weight as their ability to handle a very wide range of lure weights and versatillity. I am a Helium guy for life!! And don't have a HE70MHC...so if you are looking to get rid of it, let me know.

[27jerryo]

fellas, dont get me wrong. I like the rod. I just had much higher expectations....
Maybe after I win a few tournaments with it I will love the rod....
If I wanted I could still return it for a full refund. I have yet to do so, and I doubt that I will.

[chavez]

I had a few IMX and GLX rods (sold off now) but none were exactly matched up in length and action to Heliums. The He69APC did seem lighter than the MBR783C IMX which was shorter but not lighter than the MBR783C GLX. Then again, I don't get the feeling the rod will blow apart on a hard hookset like the GLX. Also, it depends on where you hold them in you hand (balance point) if you aren't using a scale then that seems to change the feeling of how much they weigh. You find that balance point and the difference in rod weight becomes negligible.

[Ranger361]

Thanks for the opinions. Like I said I love my heliums and wouldnt give them away for anything but I am glad to see others notice that something is different this year. The balance point is different and maybe that is why the rods feel a little heavier. Who knows! Thanks again.

[AustinBass]

I believe the 6'9" APC may have changed blanks from '03 to '04 (I know the 6'3" APC did). Not sure about the 7'H.