G. Loomis + Shimano: What high-end pairing would you go w/?

[ABrugs]

Alright, so I think this can be a fun thread to collaborate on w/ the holidays coming up and people starting to think about Christmas gifts and 2022 fishing purchases. For me personally, I've made a couple of threads and posts about consolidating my current 4 baitcasting setups into 1, high-end setup for 2022. I've decided on a G. Loomis MBR rod w/ a Shimano MGL reel and I won't be changing that. While I'm leaning towards a NRX+ 842c MBR paired w/ an Aldebaran MGL 50, I'd love to hear from you G. Loomis/Shimano fans on what combination of 'high-end' rod and reel you'd go w/ if you HAD to pick 1?

 

As a disclaimer, I know there are a lot of opinions on high-end gear and also on other brands, but am aiming this towards G. Loomis/Shimano fans as I'm looking to enter that category next year!

[Phil77]

NRX + Antares. 

[Fishingmickey]

 ABrugs,

    If I had to pick one of Shimano's reels. I haven't experienced the Antares yet (and probably won't). I do have a couple of 20 model Metanium's and I have three of the 18 Bantam's. Honestly there isn't very much difference between the two. Both are super solid feeling, cast great and very smooth reeling reels. I have several other Shimanos also like the Aldebran, Chronarch, Curado G, Curado 70, Curado DC, Scorpions & Scorpion BFS.  My vote if I had to cut down to just one reel.  It would be the Bantam.

     Now high end rods... that's another whole ball of wax. I've got a couple of G loomis IMX pro's and a older GL2.  I've never tried any of the GLoomis NRX, NRX+ or GLX or GCX rods.  I got the IMX pro's on a combo deal w/the Bantam reels for 350 from *** a couple of years back. The IMX Pro's are a very nice rod but not much different performance wise then my Kistler Helium 3's, ALX Enox, Denali Lithium, Dobyns Champion, Shimano Poison Adrena and a Zodias.  If I had just one of those to pick from it would be the 7' MH Kistler Helium3. I feel it is as light and as or more sensitive then any of them listed above.

Good luck in your hunt,

Fishingmickey

[GreenPig]

I'm not a Top Tier Gear guy so I can't help there. I can't see going from 4 to 1 working in my fishing. Even by myself paddling at my hunting club pond I take 5 combos. I wish you luck 

[jbsoonerfan]

28 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

 ABrugs,

    If I had to pick one of Shimano's reels. I haven't experienced the Antares yet (and probably won't). I do have a couple of 20 model Metanium's and I have three of the 18 Bantam's. Honestly there isn't very much difference between the two. Both are super solid feeling, cast great and very smooth reeling reels. I have several other Shimanos also like the Aldebran, Chronarch, Curado G, Curado 70, Curado DC, Scorpions & Scorpion BFS.  My vote if I had to cut down to just one reel.  It would be the Bantam.

I'm about to have my "Better than Black Friday" sale in the classifieds pretty soon. Going to be a couple Bantam's in there if you are looking for any more.

[Fishingmickey]

2 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I'm about to have my "Better than Black Friday" sale in the classifieds pretty soon. Going to be a couple Bantam's in there if you are looking for any more.

Oh gad's JB, Fricking bait monkey.... What retrieve ratio are they?

FM

[jbsoonerfan]

I have the 6, 7 and 8

[ABrugs]

@jbsoonerfan - Any reason you’re letting go of the Bantams? I’m always reading outstanding reviews on them.

 

I should clarify as well that I’m not going to roll w/ 1 combo forever, it’s just all I need right now considering I fish once per week on average for a couple of hours, besides vacation and up north trips. I’d like to have 1 really nice setup that is also versatile, hence the MBR.

 

^ I plan on adding a combo every year and assuming I like the quality and versatility of the MBR actions w/ the MGL spools, I’ll keep investing in additional setups.

[jbsoonerfan]

5 minutes ago, ABrugs said:

@jbsoonerfan - Any reason you’re letting go of the Bantams? I’m always reading outstanding reviews on them.

 

I should clarify as well that I’m not going to roll w/ 1 combo forever, it’s just all I need right now considering I fish once per week on average for a couple of hours, besides vacation and up north trips. I’d like to have 1 really nice setup that is also versatile, hence the MBR.

 

^ I plan on adding a combo every year and assuming I like the quality and versatility of the MBR actions w/ the MGL spools, I’ll keep investing in additional setups.

No reason, just have too much stuff. They are all in next to perfect condition as well. 

[Msl819]

Well… if I could only have one in the criteria you set, I would shoot for the moon with a Conquest 844 MBR or NRX+ 873 CRR, and either the Bantam or Metanium MGL in a 7 speed - but the Zillion and Steez’s sure are great too.   But alas your game, your rules!
 

As others have stated the Bantams and Metaniums are very similar reels and oh so nice.  I need to shed a few reels at the moment or I would have already sent JB a PM asking about his Bantams.  
 

In an ideal world, I would like to trim everything down to 6 casting and 3 spinning combos.  That would still be more than I would need but who lives in an ideal world anyway?

 

I do appreciate the spartan approach you’re taking here and your resolve to stick to your plan.  My curiosity always gets the best of me.

[QED]

I am a big fan of the Aldebaran series, but make sure the form factor works for you, since these are pretty small reels.  I fish mostly UL/BFS so I'm using Aldebaran BFS XG and MGL 30HG reels.  Highly recommended if they work in your intended application.

[ATA]

I have 5 Conquest Pair with Antares DC 16-18-21

this is 3 of them in this picture, I have another 2 as well.

 

[FishTank]

NRX+ 843C or 844C and an Antares 70A. 

[Msl819]

13 minutes ago, ATA said:

I have 5 Conquest Pair with Antares DC 16-18-21

this is 3 of them in this picture, I have another 2 as well.

 

Only problem is your reel handles seem to be on the wrong side!! 
 

sweet collection!

 

what’s the combo on the left?

[ATA]

9 minutes ago, Msl819 said:

Only problem is your reel handles seem to be on the wrong side!! 
 

sweet collection!

 

what’s the combo on the left?

yesss I am lefty.

 

[Msl819]

57 minutes ago, ATA said:

yesss I am lefty.

 

What’s the combo in the far left?  

[ATA]

1 hour ago, Msl819 said:

What’s the combo in the far left?  

thats conquest 842 SJR paired with Exsence 3000 spinning reel

I am going to line up all my main 9 bass combos. soon and post it here and ill have each one a lure tied on it so everyone can see what to use what.

 

[Reel]

Spinning combo; NRX 901 and Stella 2500

[Pogues2300]

I have an nrx 873crr with chronarch mgl, it's really versatile. Guess I'd upgrade to nrx+ version paired with metanium dc.

[Hulkster]

If i won the lotto tomorrow i would do the IMX Pro MBR903C and Bantam MGL.

 

I like the 7'6 length and this model isn't offered in GLX etc.

also I like the standard Fuji reel seat that this has, not the 'custom' ones on the GLX and up. 

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, Pogues2300 said:

I have an nrx 873crr with chronarch mgl, it's really versatile. Guess I'd upgrade to nrx+ version paired with metanium dc.

I have the same set up.  It is one of the few that when you put both rod and reel together,  it's perfect.  It sort of has that.....

 

[thunderblack]

spinning a nrx 842S and twin tower

casting nrx 843C and a bantam

 

 

[ABrugs]

@FishTank - I love that post. With so many great options at this level, I'm really interested in those 'lightsaberesque' pairings. I'm guessing the 842 MBR version of the NRX+ w/ an Aldebaran MGL would likely fall into this given how light they both are, but I'd love to hear from someone who has that setup.

 

@Hulkster - I've also thought about the IMX-PRO 842 MBR paired w/ a Bantam MGL, but wasn't sure about how they would balance considering the Bantam is on the heavier side. I'm sure the 903 would be an awesome pairing w/ it.

[FishTank]

4 hours ago, ABrugs said:

@FishTank - I love that post. With so many great options at this level, I'm really interested in those 'lightsaberesque' pairings. I'm guessing the 842 MBR version of the NRX+ w/ an Aldebaran MGL would likely fall into this given how light they both are, but I'd love to hear from someone who has that setup.

 

@Hulkster - I've also thought about the IMX-PRO 842 MBR paired w/ a Bantam MGL, but wasn't sure about how they would balance considering the Bantam is on the heavier side. I'm sure the 903 would be an awesome pairing w/ it.

 

I have the shorter 802c NRX (old version) paired with a Daiwa Steez CT.  This combo is great for finesse stuff and almost BFS lures.  I wouldn't go anything heavier than 3/8oz on it but it's fun to fish. It's not as practical as the next power up (803, 843, and 903).  It's almost like a ML rod instead of a Med.

[Bandersnatch]

Conquest 842c 783c or 843c with a steez ct sv over the aldebaran.