ssu 132 1mh vs gsb132 1m

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I picked up a ssu 132 1mh this fall and like it a lot. It throws 1.75-around 4. I have thrown a few bucktails in the 5 oz range with it and it wsnt hurting too bad, but i didnt fish them a lot either. Sweet spot seems to be right 2.5-3 or so. I like the action on it a lot. Just parabolic enough, quick recovery which is nice.

[Eric Roach]

I taped some guides on a SSU 1321MH and a GSB 1321M this past spring and brought them out to a measured field for test-casting. I used a 4 oz bank sinker.

The performance was close, but I decided to build another 1321M for myself. The main reason I chose the GSB is because I was told by an experienced builder in southern Mass that he's seen several 1321MHs break at the canal. He broke one himself on the cast (he's an exceptionally powerful caster) and was apalled to see how thin the blank wall was.

I returned the 1321MH to my local shop and got the cheaper, more reliable GSB. It's a workhorse and has what many might say a deserved reputation as the do-it-all striper/bluefish plugging rod. It effectively throws a 4" Slug-Go with a 3/8 oz jig head up to (and over) 4.25 oz.

I did end up with a 1321MH blank this fall, and I'm building it for my father this winter. I think it will be good for him as he fishes less rough water than I occasionally do.

Back to your original question, though: 4.5 oz? I'd trust the 1321M more than the 1321MH. IMO You are near (if not at) the end of the GSB's functional lure range at that weight (by "functional", I mean really being able to lean into your cast).

I'm wondering what other opinions you might get here.

Good luck,

Eric

[stcroixman]

I read that the gsb 1321M handles to 5oz.

I just bought a used M. I use the 1321L for 1-2.5 and envisoned the M for 3oz up to 5oz. Anyone have any experience with the M and big plugs/needles?

[Islander77]

Originally Posted by stcroixman

I read that the gsb 1321M handles to 5oz.

I just bought a used M. I use the 1321L for 1-2.5 and envisoned the M for 3oz up to 5oz. Anyone have any experience with the M and big plugs/needles?

Had a 1201m same blank just a foot shorter... Umm get the GSB... Thumper will tell you the same he fishes a 1201m I have a 1201l as a convench.. A friend has the SSU 1201mh... It casts like a missle but he dont throw over 3oz really... Then again I throw 4.5 no issues convench on a L so.... Lami GSB blank all the way my honest opinion save your self some money you normally dont have to cast that far....

[luds]

I have not use the ssu but the1321m throws 4 no problem. I fished that rod with BM Cowboys and Bigwater Divers with no problem.

[Mike Oliver]

Hi Saltheart, thanks for the invite. LOL Good to be hear.

Dannyplug1,

If you are going to be casting mainly plugs in reality how many plugs are there that weigh in at 4.5ozs plus. Even my big Bottle plugs are not over 4ozs. Ok if bait fishing it's a different deal and you may need thet 4.5ozs and more.
You could listen to us Guys all day long and longer if you so wished but it's your cash your rod. If your heart says the SSU then go and get one. If it does break you have the Lami warrenty back up so what have you got to lose. I have a loft full of rods I bought just to find out for myself if they cut the mustard or not, some did and some did not. Even the rods with the big reputations did not always do it for me.
If you want to broaded this discussion go take a look at a Zziplex Lite Bass, a very different rod but a world class act if you like the action. If you are lure fishing think in terms of 11 feet max, for bait and rod slammed into a sand spike then 12 or 13 feet will give you extra distance if this is a requirement.

Home grown I would think a Lami is going to give you what you want. The Ron Arra series has interested me for some time but I have more rods than I can cope with already. You probably owe it to yourself to re- read Salthearts post on the Arra range. Where are you going to be fishing roughly.

Mike

[SeaWolf]

make sure you consider costs. many of the blanks recommended are very different in price due to the technology in those blanks.

the ssu1321mh is a nice blank and handles lures up to 4 ounces well, but over that you start to lob. it is lighter and has a more crisp feeling than the gsb1321m, but almost 3/4 more in price. to some, that means a lot. to others, it's a waste of money. i have a ssu1201mh that i have fished for better than 2 and a half years now and i'd grab it every time before i grab a gsb1201m, but i might recommend the gsb1201m first to a customer due to it's versatility, durability and relatively low cost i if we're talking 10' rods. i can throw 5 ounces w/ that rod, but it's a lob, so 4 is about the top end. i have a customer that throws a lot of 3-5 oz lures and has landed maybe fish over 40 with the gsb1321m. he loves it, but knows it's high end limits, no matter how often i tell him he's pushing it. he ended up getting a glass rod for the really heavy lures.

you will need to weigh in just how often you will be throwing the heavier lures of 4-5 ounces. if the answer is often or primarily, than you should consider a heavier powered blank, such as the xra1261mh, possibly a st croix legend MH, or possibly one of these zziplexes, which i have no experience with. if the answer is only occasionally, either of the blanks you mentioned would work fine, but consider your budget.

every rod/blank company has their own method of how to rate the power of their rods/blanks. there is no one method. your best advice after reviewing some of the manufacturers specs is to surf the msg forums for feedback to see what others have said that have fished them.