Bait Monkey Has Got Me!!! HELP ME!

[The Pond King]

Hey guys, I don’t know what it is, but I have this incessant desire to buy some high-end fishing rods. The rods I have in mind are NRX 803c JWR, NRX 854c JWR, and a GLX 843c MBR. I’m seriously on the brink of ordering all three at once. I’ve never owned a G. Loomis rod because of the high price, but always wanted one for the longest time. It’s still a high price for me today; I know it’s going to be a big hit on my wallet, but I can’t help it. Overall, I know logically that it’s a stupid decision if I bought these rods because I have more than enough gear than I need to catch bass… it’s just dumb.. but I’m sure some of you guys can empathize.

 

I know that the new Conquest rods are out, but at $700 pop, I’d rather not, when I could get 3 high end rods that’ll cover more techniques for just a little more.

 

The only contention I have with the NRX is.. how does hold up to the rods today? They were launched in 2010, that’s 7 years ago. I’m sure technology has improved some since that time, but I also know that graphite technology does not get as quickly outdated like reels. Technologically, for graphite to improve significantly it takes a much longer time imo than reels. So, I’m fairly confident that it will still hold it’s own today, but wanted to hear your guy’s opinion on it.

 

[onenutinthewater]

25% off right now- If you do I will be right behind you!

[The Pond King]

13 minutes ago, onenutinthewater said:

25% off right now- If you do I will be right behind you!

This is the kind of support I need hahaha

[DaveT63]

I bought the NRX version of the MBR843C about a year ago to replace a GLX MBR843C I traded away a while ago and sorely regretted letting go.  I love the NRX, but in all honesty, I think I liked the GLX better.  Nothing against the NRX, it's a sweet rod, but I don't know that it's $100 better than the GLX.  However, if you can get it at 25% off, all bets are off!

 

I likely won't buy another NRX.  They are impressive rods, and I have a VERY difficult time believing you will find NOTICEABLY better performance with the latest technology.  But again, I don't think they provide that much better than the GLX to make a difference.  Of course, that is my opinion.  It sounds like you've got the bait monkey on your tail and won't get him off until you try one.  Good luck with whatever you decide.

[new2BC4bass]

7 hours ago, The Pond King said:

Hey guys, I don’t know what it is, but I have this incessant desire to buy some high-end fishing rods. The rods I have in mind are NRX 803c JWR, NRX 854c JWR, and a GLX 843c MBR. I’m seriously on the brink of ordering all three at once. I’ve never owned a G. Loomis rod because of the high price, but always wanted one for the longest time. It’s still a high price for me today; I know it’s going to be a big hit on my wallet, but I can’t help it. Overall, I know logically that it’s a stupid decision if I bought these rods because I have more than enough gear than I need to catch bass… it’s just dumb.. but I’m sure some of you guys can empathize.

 

I know that the new Conquest rods are out, but at $700 pop, I’d rather not, when I could get 3 high end rods that’ll cover more techniques for just a little more.

 

The only contention I have with the NRX is.. how does hold up to the rods today? They were launched in 2010, that’s 7 years ago. I’m sure technology has improved some since that time, but I also know that graphite technology does not get as quickly outdated like reels. Technologically, for graphite to improve significantly it takes a much longer time imo than reels. So, I’m fairly confident that it will still hold it’s own today, but wanted to hear your guy’s opinion on it.

 

Can't help with your rod selection as they are way above my pocketbook, but can commiserate with the urge to buy more.....unneeded gear.  Actually if I could sell what I have accrued over the past 8 years for what I paid, I could have about 10 high end combos that would handle all my needs.  It is hard for some of us to put out $450 on one rod, but we have no problem spending $550 on 5 rods. 

[Fishin' Fool]

I bought a few NRX rods when they were on sale a few years back. I keep one and sold one for about as much as I paid for it. They are nice rods. If it doesn't extend your budget go for it. 

[Steveo-1969]

I do not own any of the three rods you are thinking about purchasing but I can definitely empathize on wanting to buy them! And buying them is only a stupid decision if you can't afford them and you get evicted and your kids go hungry...

 

I bought an NRX 893c and love it, but for 99% of my fishing it's too heavily powered for the small baits I throw. So it gets used 1 week a year while I'm on vacation. I then bought an NRX 842c MBR because it was lighter powered and the fast action was more versatile. I use this rod for literally anything I want to throw and it's amazing!

 

For the past 2 years I haven't had the urge to buy another fishing rod. Seriously. Until yesterday when I saw G. Loomis 25% off. And saw there is a GLX 892c (which is not available in the NRX line). And the bait monkey whispered in my ear "Your favorite way to fish is with a jig and you love the 89" length and the 2-power. Why wouldn't you buy the jig/worm rod with the XF action? You NEED that rod!!!".  I haven't bought it.  Yet...

[rippin-lips]

The new version glx rods are just a touch under nrx in terms of sensitivity. Don’t overlook the 894. It’s one of the most popular in the nrx lineup. 

[burrows]

19 hours ago, The Pond King said:

Hey guys, I don’t know what it is, but I have this incessant desire to buy some high-end fishing rods. The rods I have in mind are NRX 803c JWR, NRX 854c JWR, and a GLX 843c MBR. I’m seriously on the brink of ordering all three at once. I’ve never owned a G. Loomis rod because of the high price, but always wanted one for the longest time. It’s still a high price for me today; I know it’s going to be a big hit on my wallet, but I can’t help it. Overall, I know logically that it’s a stupid decision if I bought these rods because I have more than enough gear than I need to catch bass… it’s just dumb.. but I’m sure some of you guys can empathize.

 

I know that the new Conquest rods are out, but at $700 pop, I’d rather not, when I could get 3 high end rods that’ll cover more techniques for just a little more.

 

The only contention I have with the NRX is.. how does hold up to the rods today? They were launched in 2010, that’s 7 years ago. I’m sure technology has improved some since that time, but I also know that graphite technology does not get as quickly outdated like reels. Technologically, for graphite to improve significantly it takes a much longer time imo than reels. So, I’m fairly confident that it will still hold it’s own today, but wanted to hear your guy’s opinion on it.

 

Pull the trigger! 

[onenutinthewater]

21 hours ago, The Pond King said:

This is the kind of support I need hahaha

I ordered 3 new rods today!!

Better hurry the monkey gets angry...........

[The Pond King]

Sup guys! I already pulled the trigger last night even before everyone responded. I really appreciate the replies though because it made me feel better. I kinda knew that I was probably gonna pull the trigger anyway, but it's nice having a support group of other tackle addicts hahaha. You guys helped me rationalize haha. Instead of buying 3 rods, I really had to think about it, and decided to get the NRX 803c JWR and the GLX 844c MBR... but today, I'm actually still itching to get one more either an 842 or 843 in the GLX model. The sales are just crazy right now. G Loomis' never goes on sale, so I had to hop on it.

 

I heard that the 854c JWR in the NRX wasn't the most sensitive model, so I opted not to get it and felt like the 844 MBR is more versatile. I don't have a 6' 8" medium/medium-heavy extra fast rod, so the 803 JWR was actually "needed."

 

In doing my research, I saw posts from kickerfish1 who is a member here, and he made some good points. Why pay an extra $2-300 more for the Conquest that has sensitivity that is the same as the NRX and some fancy torzite guides? I don't really care about the Hi Power and Spiral X... it's cool and all, but it's more marketing than anything in my opinion. As for the guides.., I'll deal with the recoils, no biggie. All in all, I couldn't justify the price difference and feel like I made a good decision. 

 

With all this fishing stuff on my mind, I had to get out and go fishing today. Fished with my 6' 6" St. Croix Avid MF paired with my Metanium MGL (currently the nicest reel I own), and caught a couple of bass. Unfortunately, there was an algae bloom today, and all that gunk got up into my line and into my nice reel. The only thing I don't like about high end gear is that it irks me when things like that happen. Could've cared less if it was cheapo $50 combo. I'm probably gonna treasure and baby the Loomis' as much as possible. 

19 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Can't help with your rod selection as they are way above my pocketbook, but can commiserate with the urge to buy more.....unneeded gear.  Actually if I could sell what I have accrued over the past 8 years for what I paid, I could have about 10 high end combos that would handle all my needs.  It is hard for some of us to put out $450 on one rod, but we have no problem spending $550 on 5 rods. 

Believe it or not, this is actually how you waste more money. Eventually, you will likely start upgrading your gear, and get the same actions, power, specs, etc. but just a higher end version. For example, I bought 3 Avids because everyone raved about how good they are for the money, and they are good rods, but now, I'm spending more money by upgrading to the GLoomis'. It's better to get what you want and buy the highest end, because that way, it'll prevent you from keep upgrading. If you know you have the best rod in mind, it'll help you from not buying multiple lower end models. 

[DaveT63]

7 hours ago, The Pond King said:

but today, I'm actually still itching to get one more either an 842 or 843 in the GLX model. The sales are just crazy right now. G Loomis' never goes on sale, so I had to hop on it.

 

 

I can't say enough about my MBR842C GLX.  I absolutely love that rod for senkos.  Since you got the 844, I would recommend the 842, I think the 843 and 844 have a little bit of overlap.

[The Pond King]

.

[Ratherbfishing]

TECHNICALLY, you are under the spell of the tackle monkey (a kissing cousin to the bait monkey) but the symptoms and the prognosis are the same.  Joining a 12-step group is your only hope however, likely as not, your sponsor will fall off the wagon and take you down with him/her.

[Angry John]

The bait monkey got me but i could not be happier.  The hud shads were finally in stock for like 10 minuets and i grabbed 6.  They seem to run out very fast and i was happy to finally get some!!!!!

[The Pond King]

Sup guys, forgot to mention that I ordered the 842 AND 843 as well. Also likely going to order an Edge spinning rod as they are having 50% sales till Cyber Monday. I want a rod that’s made by a company managed by Gary Loomis the man himself because he’s the original creator of G. Loomis and he’s the father of graphite, but I am also now assured that G. Loomis post acquisition to Shimano, still produces top of the line rods.

 

Anyways, with the huge volume of orders due to the sales, I received a message from the vendor saying they were out of stock, so I’m still waiting on most of my other sticks to get here, but one of my rods got delivered today. It was the GLX 844c MBR!

 

I was so pumped when I saw it got here today. Unpackaging it felt like unpackaging a Christmas present. This is my first G. Loomis, a rod that I dreamed about owning for the longest time. I savored every moment beholding such a magnificent and majestic rod. From the first moment I held this rod, I was blown away by how well balanced and smooth it felt. I put a reel on it and tested the sensitivity by lightly tapping the tip on a hard surface to feel the vibration. The sensitivity on this stick is superb!

 

I tested the sensitivity and balance to other mid-level rods that I own. This G. Loomis is certainly the most refined rod I’ve had to date, but I have to admit, that while it was unquestionably superior, it wasn’t 10x better. You certainly don’t need a G. Loomis or other high-end rods to catch a bass, and a lot of mid-tier rods will definitely hold its own and give you a great bang for your buck as they are almost as good.

 

Here are some rods I tested it against:

 

St. Croix Avid X 6’ 6” Medium Fast Casting:

The sensitivity on this particular model of the Avid is virtually on par with the 844c. This particular model of the Avid is such an incredible value. The balance is comparable as well. However, the Avid X lacks the “it” factor.

 

St. Croix Avid 7’ Medium Heavy Fast Casting:

While it’s not a bad rod, I never really liked the classic St. Croix Avid 7’ MHF even before I had the GLX because it is tip heavy and not that sensitive. The balance on this Avid is terrible. In fact, my 7’ MHF Lightning Rods balance better than this Avid! If you are thinking about getting an Avid, I recommend that you get medium or less power and less than 7’ for length.

 

I love my St. Croix Avid X 6’ 6” Medium Fast Casting and 6’ 9” MLXF Spinning; they are fantastic rods, but this particular model isn’t as good. Anyways, the GLX 844c which has the same specs as this Avid, blew it away in both sensitivity and balance. The GLX blanks were a lot thinner as well versus the thicker and heavier Avid blanks. The ergonomics on the GLX was also superior than the Avid which feels thick and bulky.

 

Okuma Helios 7’ 6” Heavy Fast Casting:

It isn’t really common for people to use an Okuma brand rod for bass fishing as far as I know. If you remember Okuma from back in the day, it was thought of as a budget gear with mediocre quality although there were some exceptions. I don’t like all of Okuma’s products like their Helios baitcaster reel which I thought was junk (Shimano and Daiwa still takes the cake when it comes reels)… but they make some good products like the Okuma Avenger Baitfeeder spinning reels, Scott Martin TCS rods, and the Helios rod.

The Helios rod really held its own against the GLX in terms of sensitivity. The GLX still beat it, as it felt just a bit more crisper, but not by much. The balance and light weight is also comparable. I wasn’t too surprised, however, as I knew the Helios was a good rod already. What convinced me to buy the Helios rod is because I was to handle it in the store and test it against other brands of similar specs and it was the lightest and most sensitive rod even compared to the much more expensive rods such as the Dobyns Champion Extreme.

 

The only one thing that I didn’t like about the GLX:

Yes, I know I’m being nit-picky, but one thing I didn’t like was that there was a noticeable filler spot on my foregrip. I wish it was plain like the rest of the foregrip’s cork. I get that there’s going to be filler spots on cork, and on the main handle of the rod that’s a given, but the dots I spotted on the foregrip is darker and more noticeable than any of the other fillers on my main handle. Not worth exchanging I guess, and I know that it’s simply a cosmetic blemish and it won’t affect the performance. It’s being very nit-picky, I know, but if I’m dropping a lot of money for a high-end rod, I demand perfection. One downfall from ordering online is that you can’t pick and choose the best one out of the lot. See pictures below to show what I mean:

 

The very dark filler spot on my foregrip:

 

Wish it was clear like the other side:

 

 

 

The question a lot of people wonder is.. Is it worth it??

The answer is.. it depends because it’s very subjective to your own individual wealth and the amount of dispensable cash that you have. I am certainly not wealthy, and it took a big hit out of my wallet, not to mention that it was a very stupid decision financially, but I wanted these high end rods so bad that I couldn’t help but buy them. Trust me, it took me a really long time. I’ve been fishing for 16+ years, but never owned a Loomis till now.

Overall, I will have to say that it is better, but it’s not monumentally better than mid-grade gear, but there is unquestionably a higher level of refinement that is noticeable to an advanced angler. It certainly has the “it” factor where all of the little details add up, and this may sound weird, but the GLX feels “smoother.”

I don’t own a Conquest rod, but with the MBR actions available in the GLX series, I don’t see a reason to. The GLXs look more aesthetically pleasing than the Shimano-G. Loomis Conquest in terms of design. The carbon strip at the end of the handle is nice touch which the Conquest doesn’t have. I can’t imagine needing a more sensitive rod or stronger rod than a GLX for bass. GLX is more than enough. I am whole-heartedly satisfied.

 

I’ll update you guys when I receive my NRX 803c, GLX 842 and 843 soon, and may also be ordering an Edge rod, so stay tuned!

[new2BC4bass]

Gary Loomis is not the father of graphite rods.  Fenwick came out with the first graphite rods.  You can still buy quality Fenwick rods.  They may not quite match a GLX in sensitivity, but I wouldn't expect that a rod costing several hundred dollars less would.  The Smallmouth and Aetos rods fish above their price point AFAIC.

 

Congratulations on fulfilling a dream.  Would love something like the GLX 843c MBR myself.  Have never spent $200 on a rod before, but if I can get a new GLX for just a little over that I may have to exceed my spending limit.