NRX 901S: Hooking 4+ Lbs Largemouth Bass

[jerseyangler]

Can anyone share their experience catching a 4+ pound largie using the medium-light rod NRX 901S?

 

I currently have the NRX 902S but feel it's too stiff using 1/16 oz Texas rig and small plastic swimbait. 

 

By the way, does anyone know how many posts do I need to make in order to post a WTB thread in the Flea Market?

[Loomis13]

No first hand experience, but assuming you have an exposed hook you should be okay. This is a very popular rod amongst smallie guys.

[jerseyangler]

8 minutes ago, Loomis13 said:

No first hand experience, but assuming you have an exposed hook you should be okay. This is a very popular rod amongst smallie guys.

Oh, I see. I usually have my plastic swimbait weedless.

 

Does that mean I'd lose more fish if I used a medium-light rod compared to a medium?

[Loomis13]

You wouldn’t lose them any easier if you got a good hook set. I’d be more worried about the hook not getting buried in their mouth. Fighting the fish if they are hooked good should be okay. 
 

Does this make sense? Essentially you have to get the point of the hook through the plastic and the fishes mouth. Braid would help this a lot. 

[msgf91]

For me I don't really set the hook hard. I lower the drag and reel into the fish and start reeling knowing my drag will slip so I know I have constant tension and kmow i wont pull the hook or break off. Even if the hook doesn't stick just the tension keeps them pinned. Ive brought in big fish on ML L and UL rods and as soon as I net them and give them slack the hook falls out of their mouth. 

[rw741000]

I've been using the 901 nrx + for over a year . I have caught 2 largemouth , few smallmouth and brown trout in the 4 to 5 lb range with this rod. On a boat in open water  that rod handled the bigger fish nicely.   You really don't have control just hang on and let the rod and drag do the work . It's more of a fun rod . If fishing around grass ,Lilly pads, current or any kind of cover the rod sucks . There is just not enough power .  I been experimenting with this rod alot. It's very limited for bass fishing . Small moving baits is where it's at. Any kind of bottom contact the rod is terrible. Sensitively is not that great, the tip absorbs alot for a good hook set and for some reason the line gets wrapped around the recoil guides alot. (Must be the whippy tip since I don't have that problem with any of my other nrx rods). The 901 is definitely an open water rod for small moving baits . Sometimes I hate the rod and other times I love it . Its very limited for bass fishing !!!  Works very well for panfish and some walleye techniques also

[Hulkster]

I have the IMX Pro version of the 901S (same specs) and have caught some decent smallmouth on it.

 

its 7'6 so you just hang on and let the rod handle the load as mentioned above. 

 

I use mine for everything small. I use it with 6 pound mono (Sufix Siege)

 

 

[Reel]

I've got that rod (901) and use it for shad and smallmouth.  There is no problem with large fish.

It's made to cast 1/16 once lures.  I can cast a small shad darts ( between 1/16 and 1/8) a long distance but it's a compact bait.  For smallmouth I use it for marabout jigs (1/8 oz).

Right now, if you buy new, you will get the NRX901 + that is a little stiffer than the original 901. 

[jerseyangler]

Just an update: I bought the new NRX+ 901S about a month ago, and compared it with my old NRX 902S that I've been using for years.

 

First reaction on the 901S: It feels pretty much the same as the 902S. It casts a bit farther when using my favorite 1/16 oz plastic swimbait, and the sensitivity is still there but a bit less than the 902S. I use 6 lb fluro, I've been fishing from the shore with this rod. 

 

Overall, I'm very happy with the 901S. I personally wouldn't use it when around weeds and lilypads (tried it and it did an okay job), that's where the 902S with 8 lb fluro comes in. I had no issues fighting a few 4+ lb bass, and I have to admit, it was a bit more fun.

 

I'll post some pictures shortly.