Nrx 893 A Little Tip Heavy?

[jonnyblazex]

  Hey guys, just got my new NRX 893c today!  Really light, good looking rod.  All the guides are straight and clean, and the blank looks perfect.  I know its a 7'5 rod, but was hoping for a little better balance.  I put a curado I on it, but it seems somewhat tip heavy.  Is it just because its such a long rod, or would a heavier/lighter. bigger or smaller profile reel help?  What reel are others running on this rod to a balance point they like?  I did a test to see where the rod/reel balances, and it is perfect, right in front of the cork fore grip, although the tip feels heavy when working the rod through the motions.  Any input is appreciated. 

[Crappiebasser]

I have the same rod with and Aldebaran MG7 and don't find it tip heavy at all. A Curado I should make the tip seem even lighter.

[Grantman83]

I agree as I just received the 893 and found it to be unbalanced. Then again, I'm coming from Dobyns rods which have some of the best balance in the rod industry.

As was explained to me, that long of a blank which is that light overall is going to make it tip heavy. still light enough for me though lol

[Lucky Craft Man]

I don't find any of the NRX rods to be balanced. I add weight to the end of the butt on every one to get them balance where I like. It's an even better rod (if you can imagine that) when it balance just where you want it.

[masterbass]

I don't find any of the NRX rods to be balanced. I add weight to the end of the butt on every one to get them balance where I like. It's an even better rod (if you can imagine that) when it balance just where you want it.

How do you add weight to the butt?  I see you're from the 'burgh.  What waters do you fish most?

[Steveo-1969]

I'll be following this thread closely.  I bought an NRX 893c a couple months ago and just got a Curado I for it.  Haven't put it on the rod yet though, I'm hoping the rain will let up enough this weekend to play with it in the back yard.

[THE_Vue's]

I feel like the older NRX with the original 3m resin is a tad lighter then the new resin system there using now.  I've felt couple rods with the old and couple others with the new resin and seem tip heavy.  But overall my 2nd gens 893c are tip heavy.  1st gen are the one's with the broken foregrip, 2nd gen new foregrip design and lastly Im assuming the 3rd gens are the one's with the all new resin system.

[jonnyblazex]

What weight system do you recommend for the butt of the rod to improve balance?

[cottny27]

What worked good for me on my last rod was drilling out a small hole in the butt and stuffing it with a tungsten bullet weight. They are undersized so its hardly noticeable.  Match the bit to the size of the weight you will use.

[Lucky Craft Man]

How do you add weight to the butt? 

 

I actually have a whole process of what I do.  I'll try to be as concise with the procedure as I can (I actually posted some of this on another forum, so you may have seen it before)

 

Here is obviously what you start out with...

 

I am not a fan of split grips, so the first step for any split grip rod I acquire is to add a filler.  I have found pipe insulation works rather well... 

 

Then I take Rod Wrap and tightly wrap the whole handle. With the slightly larger diameter pipe insulation, I am able to compress the foam down so it is roughly the same diameter as the cork after being wrapped and this compression increases the density of the foam so it ends up with a solid feel. (Side Note: I have tried a lot of different handle wrapping material such as XPS Pro Wrap, tennis racket overgrip and mountain bike handle warp. I found none of them to be as satisfactory as Rod Wrap).

 

I then put the reel I intend to use with the rod and get out some XPS weights that are used with some Bass Pro rods. Any type of rod balancing weight can be used, but I like all the difference sizes that is offered with the XPS weights, which allows me to really fine tune the balance point.

 

I use a strip of electrical tape to hold on different combinations of weight until I get the exact balance and feel I am looking for.

 

Once I get the amount of weight I want, I secure it the end of the rod with electrical tape and use Rod Wrap to cover it up.

 

This whole process does not alter the rod in any way and if I had to send it in for a warranty claim, I just take off the rear weights that are taped on, remove the Rod Wrap, take off the pipe insulation, and we are back to a factory built rod. 

 

To me, there is nothing better than a perfectly balanced rod and this allows to custom counter-weigh every rod within a 1/4" of where I want that point to be.

 

 

I see you're from the 'burgh.  What waters do you fish most?

Simple answer - Lake Erie.

 

[Diggy]

I tested my NRX 894c with a gen 2 revo and it still wasn't balancing properly and that reel is over 8oz. Rod still feels incredible though. I will keep swapping reels around until I find something I like and leave it. I may try an older zillion if I can find one cheap enough.

[kickerfish1]

Nice post Lucky! The best part of what should be noted is the fact that the rod isnt physically altered in anyway that would void the warranty.

[roadwarrior]

I actually have a whole process of what I do.  I'll try to be as concise with the procedure as I can (I actually posted some of this on another forum, so you may have seen it before)

 

Here is obviously what you start out with...

 

I am not a fan of split grips, so the first step for any split grip rod I acquire is to add a filler.  I have found pipe insulation works rather well... 

 

Then I take Rod Wrap and tightly wrap the whole handle. With the slightly larger diameter pipe insulation, I am able to compress the foam down so it is roughly the same diameter as the cork after being wrapped and this compression increases the density of the foam so it ends up with a solid feel. (Side Note: I have tried a lot of different handle wrapping material such as XPS Pro Wrap, tennis racket overgrip and mountain bike handle warp. I found none of them to be as satisfactory as Rod Wrap).

 

I then put the reel I intend to use with the rod and get out some XPS weights that are used with some Bass Pro rods. Any type of rod balancing weight can be used, but I like all the difference sizes that is offered with the XPS weights, which allows me to really fine tune the balance point.

 

I use a strip of electrical tape to hold on different combinations of weight until I get the exact balance and feel I am looking for.

 

Once I get the amount of weight I want, I secure it the end of the rod with electrical tape and use Rod Wrap to cover it up.

 

This whole process does not alter the rod in any way and if I had to send it in for a warranty claim, I just take off the rear weights that are taped on, remove the Rod Wrap, take off the pipe insulation, and we are back to a factory built rod. 

 

To me, there is nothing better than a perfectly balanced rod and this allows to custom counter-weigh every rod within a 1/4" of where I want that point to be.

 

 

Simple answer - Lake Erie.

 

 

Wow!

 

I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I would NEVER do that to any rod,

especially  that rod!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Using the reel seat to judge scale, the handle is a tad short, something I'd put on a 7' build. That rod could be built to achieve the feel desired without the need to add weight to a light weight blank you paid a premium for. If you plan to add counter balance weight to achieve the "illusion of weightlessness" why not do it on a $75 rod?  

[masterbass]

I actually have a whole process of what I do.  I'll try to be as concise with the procedure as I can (I actually posted some of this on another forum, so you may have seen it before)

 

Here is obviously what you start out with...

 

I am not a fan of split grips, so the first step for any split grip rod I acquire is to add a filler.  I have found pipe insulation works rather well... 

 

Then I take Rod Wrap and tightly wrap the whole handle. With the slightly larger diameter pipe insulation, I am able to compress the foam down so it is roughly the same diameter as the cork after being wrapped and this compression increases the density of the foam so it ends up with a solid feel. (Side Note: I have tried a lot of different handle wrapping material such as XPS Pro Wrap, tennis racket overgrip and mountain bike handle warp. I found none of them to be as satisfactory as Rod Wrap).

 

I then put the reel I intend to use with the rod and get out some XPS weights that are used with some Bass Pro rods. Any type of rod balancing weight can be used, but I like all the difference sizes that is offered with the XPS weights, which allows me to really fine tune the balance point.

 

I use a strip of electrical tape to hold on different combinations of weight until I get the exact balance and feel I am looking for.

 

Once I get the amount of weight I want, I secure it the end of the rod with electrical tape and use Rod Wrap to cover it up.

 

This whole process does not alter the rod in any way and if I had to send it in for a warranty claim, I just take off the rear weights that are taped on, remove the Rod Wrap, take off the pipe insulation, and we are back to a factory built rod. 

 

To me, there is nothing better than a perfectly balanced rod and this allows to custom counter-weigh every rod within a 1/4" of where I want that point to be.

 

 

Simple answer - Lake Erie.

 

Very nice, thanks.

[A-Jay]

Wow!

 

I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I would NEVER do that to any rod,

especially  that rod!

 

 I think what Steve is telling us here, is that in his eyes, Function is a Beautiful Thing.

 

I like it.

 

A-Jay

[F14A-B]

Geez, idk maybe quit whining like a girl, lol

Seriously, Dobyns packs weight in the handle for balance. Ok, take & use the rod as is.. It's not that big of a deal. Is it? @ $500 I'm getting a custom made if I'm worried at all about balance.. @500, I'm just getting 2 customs made.. I know the Nrx is awesome, but...

[Dwight Hottle]

This is How Steve buys his rods.

 

Step one-order the rod.

 

Step two-handle the new rod & see what you don't like about it.

 

Step three-modify the rod until it's shortcomings are corrected.

 

Step four-fish with the new rod with a big grin on your face because it is now perfect.

 

I think Steve has 13 NRX's so you know he loves the blanks but the handles are imperfect until he modifies them to suit his taste. 

[Lucky Craft Man]

 I think what Steve is telling us here, is that in his eyes, Function is a Beautiful Thing.

 

I like it.

 

A-Jay

 

A-Jay, you are exactly right.  I can care less what the rod looks like.  Function is paramount and if the rod doesn't feel or fish exactly how I want, then it's useless to me no matter how nice it looks.

[Lucky Craft Man]

This is How Steve buys his rods.

 

Step one-order the rod.

 

Step two-handle the new rod & see what you don't like about it.

 

Step three-modify the rod until it's shortcomings are corrected.

 

Step four-fish with the new rod with a big grin on your face because it is now perfect.

 

I think Steve has 13 NRX's so you know he loves the blanks but the handles are imperfect until he modifies them to suit his taste. 

 

Haha...It's funny how well you know me.  I should add step 3.5.  If I can't correct the rod's shortcomings, the rod gets sold or traded in.  And Step 4 is dead on.  Using fine tuned equipment is really the most enjoyable thing there is when fishing (besides catching 6+ lb. Smallmouth on said equipment). 

[Lucky Craft Man]

Wow!

 

I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I would NEVER do that to any rod,

especially  that rod!

 

Haha...well, if you don't like that, then you would really hate to see what I having done to a NRX 843 MBR and NRX 923 MR.

[Dwight Hottle]

Haha...It's funny how well you know me.  I should add step 3.5.  If I can't correct the rod's shortcomings, the rod gets sold or traded in.  And Step 4 is dead on.  Using fine tuned equipment is really the most enjoyable thing there is when fishing (besides catching 6+ lb. Smallmouth on said equipment). 

 

I failed to mention all the research that goes into selecting the rod in the first place prior to step one.  We both know that if the blanks were commercially  available you would have Mr. Hovanec build it for you.

[Lucky Craft Man]

I failed to mention all the research that goes into selecting the rod in the first place prior to step one. We both know that if the blanks were commercially available you would have Mr. Hovanec build it for you.

Oh, that is a fact right there! Why G Loomis do you no longer offer blanks!?!?

[tomustang]

Function over form

[Lucky Craft Man]

Using the reel seat to judge scale, the handle is a tad short, something I'd put on a 7' build. That rod could be built to achieve the feel desired without the need to add weight to a light weight blank you paid a premium for. If you plan to add counter balance weight to achieve the "illusion of weightlessness" why not do it on a $75 rod?

I just saw this. Easy answer, no $75 rod has the performance of the NRX. As Dwight mentioned, if G Loomis offered a NRX blank, I would be calling Scott and be right there with the idea of the custom track, but there isn't a blank out there that I tried that matches the characteristics of the NRX (and not just in terms of sensitivity and weight, but also recovery, taper, etc.). Long story short, we all have different personal preferences, which is a good thing and is what makes these forums interesting.