Loomis guys

[FordsnFishin]

Around 80% of the time I find my self pitching docks, weeds, and brush with weighed plastics.

 

So I'm looking to upgrade my main pitching setup. I've never used a Loomis so I'm not quite sure which rod would be the best fit.

 

As of right now I'm leaning towards a NRX 873. I like a longer rod, but wondering if I might need to bump up to a 4 power rating. I throw larger craw and creature baits with a sinker that weigh up to .85oz

 

Considered a custom rod, but would like to have the warranty as I can be tough on my equipment at times.

[DenhamBruce]

If you're considering custom, don't fret about the warranty. Any professional builder is going to have a warranty on all their rods and the blank manufacturing companies like Rainshadow have excellent customer service should anything ever happen to your rod. I've dealt with them personally and they always look out for the customers best interest.

[fishballer06]

You definitely need a 4 power. A 5 power wouldn't hurt either if you're throwing around 7/8oz. most of the time.

[Fishin' Fool]

There is no 873 unless you are talking about a spinning rod. I think you want the 895 in either the GLX or NRX.

[WRB]

Not a fan of Loomis rods anymore so my advice is look at DX745C Dobyns pitching rod and compare price, warranty, customer service and reviews.

Tom

 

[iabass8]

43 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

There is no 873 unless you are talking about a spinning rod. I think you want the 895 in either the GLX or NRX.

 

Yes...there is an NRX 873c. It's been around for a long time. 

 

I would recommend the NRX 894. I had that rod before I went custom. Great jig/texas rig rod. Kind of tip heavy but I had mine altered to a full grip and handle made a hair longer. Unless you're fishing the florida junk, it will be fine in pretty much all cover. 

 

I would personally go the custom route but if you're dead set on an NRX the 894 would be perfect.  I'd say you would be good /w the 895 too but that rod was so annoyingly tip heavy I wouldn't recommend it. 

[FordsnFishin]

48 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

There is no 873 unless you are talking about a spinning rod. I think you want the 895 in either the GLX or NRX.

Maybe it's a new model, but I'm looking at a demo one right now that is that model. 7ft 3in 1/4 to 3/4 oz fast action

18 minutes ago, WRB said:

Not a fan of Loomis rods anymore so my advice is look at DX745C Dobyns pitching rod and compare price, warranty, customer service and reviews.

Tom

 

I'm looking for a top tier, not totally set on a brand. Appreciate your recommendation. Will look into it.

5 hours ago, DenhamBruce said:

If you're considering custom, don't fret about the warranty. Any professional builder is going to have a warranty on all their rods and the blank manufacturing companies like Rainshadow have excellent customer service should anything ever happen to your rod. I've dealt with them personally and they always look out for the customers best interest.

What kind of price range would you think I would be looking at. While I don't necessarily have a limit I don't want to get stupid high. Thanks

[DenhamBruce]

Price depends on what you want. But in general if I were to make myself a rod similar to say a Loomis GLX with a similar high end blank and components it would likely be over $100 cheaper. Or I could build a rod with titanium guides that are better then the ones on the Loomis and it would still be cheaper. Maybe one of the professional builders on the site will chime in with what they think. Anyways, unless you're buying a rod at a great discount, a custom rod is generally cheaper when it comes to something high-end.

[FordsnFishin]

37 minutes ago, DenhamBruce said:

Price depends on what you want. But in general if I were to make myself a rod similar to say a Loomis GLX with a similar high end blank and components it would likely be over $100 cheaper. Or I could build a rod with titanium guides that are better then the ones on the Loomis and it would still be cheaper. Maybe one of the professional builders on the site will chime in with what they think. Anyways, unless you're buying a rod at a great discount, a custom rod is generally cheaper when it comes to something high-end.

Appreciate it. Need to do some looking. That's exactly why I made this post.

[Puggz]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Not a fan of Loomis rods anymore so my advice is look at DX745C Dobyns pitching rod and compare price, warranty, customer service and reviews.

Tom

 

This is what I use.. all the time.

[kickerfish1]

For what you want I think the NRX 873 or 894 are the rods you want. Only downside would be the length if that is of any concern. The 895 NRX is very heavy in weight and tip heavy and rod that just is not very popular. The 894 will be more powerful then and 873 CRR. The 873 is closer to a 4 powered rod as it is a Carolina Rig Rod and not a BCR or Bottom Contact Rod.

 

You want a custom that will be similar to a NRX - Probably run you $400 - $500. I love customs (This is coming from a guy with 4 custom rods) but they are not for everyone. You want a warranty? Sure on the blank but what custom rod builders will warranty your rod? Some may repair the rod if they can and some may offer you free labor on the building of a 2nd rod. Plus you will be waiting goodness knows how long. Why, because many custom builders have other customer orders in place so they will either have to work you in or get to in when they can. Most builders do this on the side in addition to regular job so it is not like they have tons of time on their hands. If I ask my builder for a custom the entire process is usually a minimum of 3 weeks to a month on the short end. Talk/email the builder what you want. Go over components and options for a day or 2. Then order all the parts for the build. It may take a week or so to get them if they have everthing in stock. Then the build process starts and you have all the fitment to do, and waiting for things to dry and setup. Lastly you have to have it shipped which can take a few days to a week to get to. Take your high end blank for around $150 -$200. Add in $50 -$75 guide set, then your trim pieces, grips and the rest and you can have another $30 - $50 there. Your builder will probably want a minimum of $75-$100 in labor, then $25 or so to ship. Add it all up an you are easily in it for around $350 to $400 on the low end. That price buys you a rep sample NRX give or take a few bucks.

 

Unless you are picky about the asthetics, want a specific reel to balance the rod at a certain point, or have strong prefernces for full or split, cork or foam, and the reel seat you are probably better off with a shelf rod. Some folks could care less about these things but others are very particular.

 

My opinion would be to buy a NRX and fish it for a bit. Say you pay $400 for the rod. I am confident you could sell it for $350. With you paying $25 for shipping you would be out $75 and you could spend the money to try something else like a custom. There is no perfect rod out there but if you have fairly deep pockets, the willingness to wait some time for it to be built and want something different then maybe give a custom a try.

 

Good luck either route you go...

[onetime]

If you are wanting top tier, like you said, for the weights you listed, NRX 894 or Shimano/Loomis Conquest 894mbr, you're welcome.

[Steveo-1969]

3 hours ago, onetime said:

If you are wanting top tier, like you said, for the weights you listed, NRX 894 or Shimano/Loomis Conquest 894mbr, you're welcome.

 

Have you already fished a Conquest? I understand they won't be available to the general public until this fall?

[onetime]

18 hours ago, Steveo-1969 said:

 

Have you already fished a Conquest? I understand they won't be available to the general public until this fall?

 Dang I wish, no sir I have not, but I'm going to order the 903mbr to test against my other NRX rods. My go to is the 893, I'm wondering if the Conquest 903mbr is as "crisp" (if you will) as the 893 NRX. 

[kickerfish1]

On 7/31/2017 at 6:43 PM, DenhamBruce said:

Price depends on what you want. But in general if I were to make myself a rod similar to say a Loomis GLX with a similar high end blank and components it would likely be over $100 cheaper. Or I could build a rod with titanium guides that are better then the ones on the Loomis and it would still be cheaper. Maybe one of the professional builders on the site will chime in with what they think. Anyways, unless you're buying a rod at a great discount, a custom rod is generally cheaper when it comes to something high-end.

The last sentence could not be any further from the truth unless the individual is a rod builder and can do the work themselves or knows someone that will do it without charging labor. 

[DenhamBruce]

In my experience it has. Assuming a builder charges $100 for labor, I could take that into account and get an MHX or Rainshadow blank of similar specs to an NRX and upgrade the guides with titanium and still come out for less than $400. 

[MickD]

Custom rods by a reputable builder will be structurally better than any factory rod due to the care that builders take to ensure sufficient epoxy on the reel seat grip construction.  Sorry folks, but no factory does as bullet-proof a job there as the custom builder does.  Guides will be covered most likely by their good warranty, and I doubt if most custom builders would charge for a simple guide replacement, but one should check before contracting.  The warranty rub comes in when a blank fails, and for most quality blanks there is a very good warranty, but only for the cost of the blank, and there may be fee.  The labor of building the rod and the parts that likely would be scrapped, like the seat and grip, will not be covered.  Bottom line is that one should check in detail what the warranty on a custom build will cover.

 

Some people seem to very rough on their rods while others have little or no trouble.  Most blank failures are do to misuse by the fisherman.  I just cringe when fishing with many guys as they abuse their rods.  They seem to think everything can take it like the old Shakespeare Ugli Sticks.  Modern high mod graphite, will not.

 

I'm not a fast builder, but I'd have to increase my speed by one heck of a lot to do a rod for $100 labor.  I think that might be low.