NRX+ 894 vs. 873 vs. 904 vs. 904 Conq

[TNBankFishing]

Hello Bass Resource, 

 

It’s your favorite time again! There’s a guy on the internet who can’t make a choice on a rod and needs his fellow anglers advice. This time it’s high end bottom contact from the brand everyone knows. 
 

I own a 893, BC2, and Legend Elite H currently for bottom contact presentations. I recently had a close call in my kayak and I’m looking to replace the BC2. 
 

I will be throwing 3/8 to 1/2, in moderate to heavy vegetation, wood, and around man made structure. I prefer the Beast Coast Lil’ Magnum and Vanquish jigs, as well as Keitechs footballs. These all have medium to heavy wire hooks, but are usually not full size. They aren’t finesse style jigs, but aren’t Dirty Jigs No Jacks. This lets me use small to medium sized trailers and are what I prefer. 
 

On rod choice my gut leans towards the 873, but I’ve got a chance to pickup the 894 or either 904 for a good price. I’ve tried my best to dig into each rod and I’ve come away with a lot of scattered thoughts and brand speak. 
 

873 - More moderate than 893/894, handles 3/8 to 1/2, questions about sensitivity vs other models. 
 

894 - Some have mused it’s the quintessential jig rod, but others scream about being stupidly tip heavy and dead in hand. 
 

904MBR - Great action, might not fit for bottom contact. Could be a great swim jig rod. 
 

Conquest 904- Too many questions around is it worth the price bump now with the upgraded NRX. 

 

Wild Card - Use the Legend H in this place and pick up a 844 to use for swim jigs, keitech swimbaits, and sometimes throw a jig in a pinch. 

[FishTank]

I have the NRX 853, NRX+904, NRX 873, and 802 NRX+. Which one is my favorite for bottom contact....  All of them of course but I have ones I lean on for specific reasons. First the most versatile and my favorite for jigs is the 904, the 853 for T-Rigged plastic, the 873 for heavier plastic, and the 802 for small stuff (not quite BFS lures). 

 

On a kayak though, I would go with the 803 NRX+. I have the GLX version of this rod and its my favorite for kayak soft plastic. 

[RDB]

34 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

873 - More moderate than 893/894, handles 3/8 to 1/2, questions about sensitivity vs other models. 

Excellent rod and if you polled NRX users, it would probably be in the top 3 of their lineup.  Anyone who says it’s not sensitive v other models haven’t used it.  I think of it more like a 3.5 power (between the 3 & 4 power).  It will easily handle the weights you listed and the only concern I would have is how you are defining heavy vegetation.  It is not what I would consider a heavy vegetation rod.

 

34 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

894 - Some have mused it’s the quintessential jig rod, but others scream about being stupidly tip heavy and dead in hand. 

I just bought the 894 and already have the 854.  Tip heaviness is in the eye of the beholder but I do not consider it tip heavy at all, especially since it is typically fished tip up.  It is also not dead in my hands and if you own an 893 (which I do as well) and you like it, you are not going to get a different feel from the 4 power IMO.  The 4 power is probably a little more suited for heavier vegetation but I still would not consider it a HEAVY vegetation rod.

 

34 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

904MBR

Never owned or tried

 

34 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

Conquest 904

While I liked the Conquests, I ended up selling them and moving to all NRX for bottom contact.

 

Edit to your swimbait/swim jig comment:

While I am an NRX fanboy for bottom contact, I personally feel like there are better choices for moving applications.  IMO, you can spend much less than $600 and get a rod better suited for specific moving applications.

[Rodney Smith]

I have owned most all of the models you mention. The 873CRR is the one you want. 

[TNBankFishing]

37 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I have the NRX 853, NRX+904, NRX 873, and 802 NRX+. Which one is my favorite for bottom contact....  All of them of course but I have ones I lean on for specific reasons. First the most versatile and my favorite for jigs is the 904, the 853 for T-Rigged plastic, the 873 for heavier plastic, and the 802 for small stuff (not quite BFS lures). 

 

On a kayak though, I would go with the 803 NRX+. I have the GLX version of this rod and its my favorite for kayak soft plastic. 

The length on my kayak isn’t as important as I stand over 50% of the time, but isn’t the 803 just a shorter 893?

 

As far as vegetation is concerned I fish the TVA system the most, where submerged grass can get pretty thick. It’s no Florida mat situation but I’m not in clear riprap waters. I do fish GA waters and Chick from time to time but I have a 7’11” punch stick for those nasty areas.  

 

I just sold a 903 as it wasn’t what I was looking for in terms of spinnerbait/chatterbait/swim bait rod and didn’t feel right with Trigs. Is the 904 stout enough to handle jigs? 
 

For moving baits I’ve been using the st. Croix heavy in cover. I just don’t know if the 844 is effectively the same type of rod but more sensitive for bottom contact. 

[RDB]

25 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

but isn’t the 803 just a shorter 893?

Basically yes…80 v 89 inches with both being 3 power.  I use the 893 for lighter baitcasting stuff.  If I need even lighter, I move to spinning.

[FishTank]

2 hours ago, TNBankFishing said:

The length on my kayak isn’t as important as I stand over 50% of the time, but isn’t the 803 just a shorter 893?

 

As far as vegetation is concerned I fish the TVA system the most, where submerged grass can get pretty thick. It’s no Florida mat situation but I’m not in clear riprap waters. I do fish GA waters and Chick from time to time but I have a 7’11” punch stick for those nasty areas.  

 

I just sold a 903 as it wasn’t what I was looking for in terms of spinnerbait/chatterbait/swim bait rod and didn’t feel right with Trigs. Is the 904 stout enough to handle jigs? 
 

For moving baits I’ve been using the st. Croix heavy in cover. I just don’t know if the 844 is effectively the same type of rod but more sensitive for bottom contact. 

 

I have the 844C GLX and IMX both worked great for jigs but I wanted a longer heavier rod in the NRX+ line so I ended up with the 904C. I sort of just tried it for jigs and it soon became my favorite. I have caught 75-100 bass on it this year. I have paired it with a Metanium XG and it just feels perfect. The rod loads well, casts well, flips/pitches well, is super sensitive and it brings the fish in.  I wasn't exactly the best jig fisherman before hand but this rod has really improved my jig catches. I have used it up to a 3/4 oz jig with a trailer with no issues but its sweet spot is 1/2oz. 

 

I would also use the 904C for spinnerbaits and light swimbaits but for chatterbaits I like the 903CBR IMX Pro.  I have tried several rods for chatterbaits and this one has been fantastic. It's not as soft in the middle as most crankbait rods and the tip is whippy enough as to not wear your arm out with a chatterbait but it is also just sensitive enough and has great hook sets.  

[Deebo]

As an aside, the nrx + 854 seems significantly more stout than the old one. 1/2 oz with full trailer is no issue on 854. Wouldn't hesitate for 3/4.

[TNBankFishing]

17 minutes ago, Deebo said:

As an aside, the nrx + 854 seems significantly more stout than the old one. 1/2 oz with full trailer is no issue on 854. Wouldn't hesitate for 3/4.

I don’t know what it is but my first dedicated jig rod was a Brailist, and so now I’m just used to the length. All of my club fishes 7’3 or less on everything, but it just works for me. Even out of a yak I can pop my wrist and lob a half oz like a pitch. The only time I run into issues is with punching over an oz. Then I’m not able to have the control I need to not create a plop. 

3 hours ago, FishTank said:

 

I have the 844C GLX and IMX both worked great for jigs but I wanted a longer heavier rod in the NRX+ line so I ended up with the 904C. I sort of just tried it for jigs and it soon became my favorite. I have caught 75-100 bass on it this year. I have paired it with a Metanium XG and it just feels perfect. The rod loads well, casts well, flips/pitches well, is super sensitive and it brings the fish in.  I wasn't exactly the best jig fisherman before hand but this rod has really improved my jig catches. I have used it up to a 3/4 oz jig with a trailer with no issues but its sweet spot is 1/2oz. 

 

I would also use the 904C for spinnerbaits and light swimbaits but for chatterbaits I like the 903CBR IMX Pro.  I have tried several rods for chatterbaits and this one has been fantastic. It's not as soft in the middle as most crankbait rods and the tip is whippy enough as to not wear your arm out with a chatterbait but it is also just sensitive enough and has great hook sets.  

I really wish I could get a 904 in hand to throw some jigs with. It’s a 3 hour drive for me to lay eyes on an NRX. You’re definitely peaking my interest in that model. 

[Bandersnatch]

Use the legend heavy and pick up an 844 conquest 

[softwateronly]

My experience w/ Loomis is very limited, but just want to chime in that a 904mbr is a joy to fish.  Once I got used to the action, I found all the power needed to throw pretty much anything up to 1.5oz.  Might not be the best at anything, except possibly swim jigs, but feels good with everything.  

 

If you ever go to the DJ no-jack grass jig or SC flippin jig, the Steez power pitch is my absolute favorite, sensitivity, tip, power. 3/8-3/4 full bodied jig is always tied on and probably always will be.

 

scott

[TNBankFishing]

Went with the CRR. I’ll make sure to put it through the paces this weekend on Douglas. 
 

I still can’t believe how terrible the cork is on these rods. On the three I have they are about as nice as $200 dollar St. Croixs.