FishTank

I have the Legend Elite version of this rod and it's pretty amazing but it's not an NRX. It's more like the GLX. The Extreme is supposed to be just slightly more sensitive. In hand I didn't care for the material that the handle is made of but I hear it gets better as you use it. I tend to like cork. If it was me and I could pick the Extreme up new for half the cost, I would jump on it. I would use it for jigs and T-rigged soft plastic, maybe some heavier spinner baits and jerkbaits (Vision 110's).

I usually spend my downtown time servicing my reels and a few for friends. It got me thinking about which reels I like to work on, some others that are a little more difficult, and some that leave me scratching my head. I think my favorite to work on is the Shimano Core. It's simple and straightforward. The parts are well made. It kind of reminds me of the first car I was shown how to take apart, a Chevy Nova. So far my least favorite to work on is the Daiwa Steez. I do love this reel and believe it might be the best reel ever made but taking it apart is a pain. It does make me appreciate how well it is engineered though. It's sort of like taking a Rolex apart. I might also group the used Antares I just picked up. It was hard at first. Now that I have done it, it will be easier just time consuming. Some that leave me scratching my head..... A few Quantums, Abu Garcias, and 3 Lew's reels I have taken apart. All seem to have some really well made parts but others seem to be not so well made. Case in point.... The Quantum Vapor. This is about the smoothest reel I have picked up with a great set of gears and bearings but the rest of the parts are questionable. Only time will tell. Another one that makes me go, what were they thinking, is the Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast. Everything about this reel is overkill. It's sort of like a Mac truck but somehow it's smooth as silk. I take it apart and think it's going to be geary and unrefined based on what's in it but put it all together and it's a gentle monster.

I would say the NRX and keep the reel, it's awesome.

When it has come to rods for me, I have been a Loomis and St.Croix fan for many years. Both their warranties and service are pretty straight forward. I think in my experience they both are more likely to get you a new rod through their warranty programs (which of course there is a cost) than give you missing or broken parts. With that said, I have broken a G. Loomis GLX rod in a car door. Not the rods fault but I was able to get a new one in a couple of days from them for the $100 fee. It definitely beats having a broken $400+ rod and an even emptier wallet when you go to replace it.

I have not had the best luck with Shimano either but I do love their reels. I did recently contact them about a JDM reel that I just picked up used. All I wanted to do was find out if I could get parts and they were no help at all. Completely clueless. They basically told me.... enjoy your reel, sorry you are having problems. They then told me I could send it to them and it would be 2-3 months for them to look at and it would be almost impossible for them to get the correct parts since they did not have the reel schematics. > I was like, I can find the schematic online and I can get parts from Plat.

I hate to say it but the Meagabass Cyclone> I bought several of them years ago and I think I have only caught a couple of fish with them. Great looking bait though.

Do you mean like this one?

Nice fish. Just a word of advice... I have the same Muck boots but without the camo. They are great but..... If you go in, when you are in a kayak, even with a life vest, they will fill with water and take you straight under, quick. Luckily for me I was about 5-6 feet of water when a guy came flying buy in a boat and his wake tipped my kayak over. He did stop and make amends but sure did wake me up though.

I have been using mine with a St. Croix Legend Glass 7'2'' M and it has been fantastic. I can cast pretty much whatever I want with it. I have tried it for T-Rigged plastic and jigs on a different rod and it did just fine but I really like it with the Legend Glass, especially for those windy days where a crankbait can be difficult to cast.

Even though I like Invizx better, AbrazX is great line. When I first tried it, I wanted to compare it to Trilene XT in the way it is different from XL> Well that was not case. It handles well but it's not as soft as InvizX and is no where near as stiff as XT . I like AbrazX for heavy cover, rocky shores and for just flipping/pitching.

I feel the 80's calling.....

I believe so but the guy I bought mine from said he might be bringing more in sometime this week. His booth was simply called "The Angler". Nice group of guys there too. They had a rep from St. Croix there as well. Their St. Croix rods were 20% off the list price. I almost picked up another Legend Glass rod but I couldn't pass up the NRX at that price. There were 2 booths that were selling them at this price and one other that had them 15% off but I did not see any of 893's. If they had one, I would have gotten that one instead. I believe the guy that bought three at the booth were I bought mine, bought the last three NRX rods he had. I think they were the 852, 873 or 916, and the 822 drop shot spinning rod. If I had to do it again, I think I would have picked up the the 844C Conquest. I love the 844C GLX I have. Maybe next year.

I didn't want to drop his name but I actually talked to Ish Monroe about it today and he said... "It's built on the same platform as the Steez SV"

I held the new Elite, Tatula SV and the CT today. I am pretty sure that the Elite is built on the same platform as the Steez. It feels exactly the same in hand. If it wasn't just slightly heavier, I couldn't tell the difference. It was just as smooth and when I palmed it, it had that sort of magical feel to it. I would not compare it to the CT though.

I remember them. I would go through a bag or two every time I was out. I did hate how they smelled like plastic and oil (sort of) when they got warm. The fished seemed to like it though. I am glad to see that this worm is back though. I actually like it better than the trick worm. I wish they would make the lizard with old material. I always had good luck with them.

If they are half as good as Uncle Josh's baits, this guy is going to make a killing. I hope he is prepared for the demand. In this internet world, it won't take long.

I went to the Indy Boat, Sport and Travel Show today and came home with this thing. At a couple of booths they had any NRX rod for $350 and the Conquest was $425. I could have gone crazy but one is enough (for now). They also had the Tatula Elite for $180. I have to say, it feels exactly like the Steez. I think it's going to be the next "it" reel. I did see a guy there that bought 3 NRX's and 2 Conquests. He said he would add them to the rest of his Loomis NRX and GLX collection> Must be nice. Also, the guy that talked me into this rod was Ish Monroe. I didn't recognize him without the Daiwa hat and shirt. Great guy by the way.

I like both. When I first tried a DC reel out years ago, it was the Calcutta and I thought it was just sort of a novelty. But when I bought the Curado DC and used it regularly, it found it's place as another tool to increase my fishing fun. Also, it seems smoother than K, not sure why.

I have tried a couple of their lures and the smaller swimbaits and not luck on any of them. I can't say why but they just have not produced at all.

I am a big Shimano fan but out of the ones you picked I would go with the Tatula SV. You really can't go wrong with any of them though.

Nice. Those look awesome. I have not seen them before. You will have to report back with how well they did. Dang, I hear the bait monkey calling me again.

So picked up this guy used. Feels pretty good. I took it apart today and lubed it. It was bone dry and it was quite the challenge Also and I should have taken a picture when I had it apart, the main gear and the pinion looked almost burnt. I have never seen a reel that looks this spotless and perfect on the outside and look this odd on the inside. I may have to invest in a new set. We will see.

So the Bait Monkey delivered today......

So the monkey got me on swimbaits finally. I have been avoiding it until I threw a buddies Savage Gear 8in or maybe 10in swimbait and had a 5 pounder destroy it in open water. I knew then that the bait monkey had won. I got hit for a St. Croix Mojo Musky and 13 Fishing Muse Black Swimbait rod> for reels, I got a Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast and a used Shimano Calcutta> baits, 3 Spro's, 6 Savage Gears, 2 Lucky Craft Pointer 180's and 3 Huddlestons> Line, 2 spools of Sunline Defier Armilo 22lb and 25lb.

I too have been using the same Stradics (2) for about 15 years and have had zero issues and I have also been thinking of getting a new spinning reel since one of mine is finally showing rust and ware. If I was to branch outside of Shimano, the Daiwa Tatula LT has caught my eye a few times. When I have played around with one at Cabelas, I keep looking for flaw or a reason not to buy it and so far I have yet to find one. I just can't seem to let go of the reels I have even though it's probably time.