High-end rod lineup for 2025 (update)

[GardenStateFishin]

Updated lineup for 2025. Feel pretty good about everything but was really hoping to narrow the list down. Doesn’t seem like it’s happening this year!

 

NRX+ 821s NRR - Ned rigs; micro tx rigs 

NRX+ 842s SJR - dropshots; jig & minnow; free rigs; Neko rigs

NRX+ 852s JWR - wacky rigs; shakey heads

NRX+ 872s JWR - paddle tails/swimbaits; tubes; free rigs

 

P5 Pop X Stick - BFS (karashi, tiny trebles/topwater); pond/rivers

P5 One Ten Stick - jerkbaits; finesse cranks; light top water

P5 Dark Sleeper - Dark sleepers; 3/8-1/2oz spinnerbaits; 3.3.-4.8" swimbaits; underspins; swim jigs; micro citizens; tailspins/blade baits; 5” magdrafts

Orochi X10 Bandersnatch - Mid-depth crank baits; square bills; lipless cranks; 1/2oz chatter baits

NRX+ 843c MBR - 1/4 Texas rigs; 1/4-1/2oz finesse jigs (Keitechs); Do it all up to 1/2oz (topwater; spinnerbaits; chatterbaits; flukes; lipless cranks)

NRX+ 873c CRR - jigs up to 5/8 oz; 1/4-3/8oz Texas rigs; big shakey heads w/ big worms; 

Expride 7’3 XH - frogs; heavy duty punching and flipping 

 

 

Debating possibly selling the 872s or dark sleeper. Haven’t quite made up my mind as to which yet 

[new2BC4bass]

Impressive!  

[Junk Fisherman]

That's a helluva arsenal!  I like the fact that none of your spinning rods have a power higher than 2.  

[Loomis13]

Love the line up, but you’re missing half the goods! What about the reels?? 

[FishTank]

11 hours ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Updated lineup for 2025. Feel pretty good about everything but was really hoping to narrow the list down. Doesn’t seem like it’s happening this year!

 

 

Nice line up. 

 

Just curious why would sell the 872s or the Dark Sleeper?  Is the 872s too close to the 852s? Dark Sleeper too soft/spongey? 

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, Loomis13 said:

Love the line up, but you’re missing half the goods! What about the reels?? 

 

When I think of my arsenal, it's always about the rods.  

[Rockhopper]

That is almost the exact list I am working towards.  Very cool!

[MRQturbo]

Nice aresnal... I've sold off most of my p5s... Not a big fan of the 3 yr warranty any more... 

[GardenStateFishin]

11 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

That's a helluva arsenal!  I like the fact that none of your spinning rods have a power higher than 2.  

Yessir! Although the 852 and 872 id consider having the capability to handle close to a 3 power

11 hours ago, Loomis13 said:

Love the line up, but you’re missing half the goods! What about the reels?? 

You’re right, updated below!

 

NRX+ 821s NRR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - Ned rigs; micro tx rigs 

NRX+ 842s SJR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - dropshots; jig & minnow; free rigs; Neko rigs

NRX+ 852s JWR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - wacky rigs; shakey heads

NRX+ 872s JWR (still without a reel) - paddle tails/swimbaits; tubes; free rigs

 

P5 Pop X Stick w/ Aldebaran 22 BFS HG - BFS (karashi, tiny trebles/topwater); pond/rivers

P5 One Ten Stick w/ Metanium DC71HG - jerkbaits; finesse cranks; light top water

P5 Dark Sleeper w/ Zillion SV TW 1000HL - Dark sleepers; 3/8-1/2oz spinnerbaits; 3.3.-4.8" swimbaits; underspins; swim jigs; micro citizens; tailspins/blade baits; 5” magdrafts

Orochi X10 Bandersnatch w/ Metanium DC 71HG - Mid-depth crank baits; square bills; lipless cranks; 1/2oz chatter baits

NRX+ 843c MBR w/ Metanium 101HG - 1/4 Texas rigs; 1/4-1/2oz finesse jigs (Keitechs); Do it all up to 1/2oz (topwater; spinnerbaits; chatterbaits; flukes; lipless cranks)

NRX+ 873c CRR w/ Zillion SV TW 1000HL - jigs up to 5/8 oz; 1/4-3/8oz Texas rigs; big shakey heads w/ big worms; 

Expride 7’3 XH w/ Zillion SV TW HD 1000HL - frogs; heavy duty punching and flipping 

 

 

honestly love every combo except may switch out the zillion on the 873 to a bantam 

[padlin]

High end rods, gotta sit this one out.

[GardenStateFishin]

9 hours ago, FishTank said:

 

 

Nice line up. 

 

Just curious why would sell the 872s or the Dark Sleeper?  Is the 872s too close to the 852s? Dark Sleeper too soft/spongey? 

That’s the problem… have literally no reason or want for getting rid of them aside from the fact that even having 8 rods with me on the yak feels cumbersome and I was hoping to limit down my lineup (I car top my pdl yak and getting 8+ rods to the lake safely is a PIA). However I absolutely love both these rods but if there were 2 that I were to get rid of, it would probably be those 2 since the 843/bandersnatch can cover most of the dark sleepers duties and the 852 is pretty similar to the 872 minus the distance/I also have a Steez 7’6 MML “the one” that can sling a paddle tail which is what I mainly use the 872 for. But “the one”’is mainly for my light surf fishing here on NJ beaches 

5 hours ago, Rockhopper said:

That is almost the exact list I am working towards.  Very cool!

It’s a blessing to have been able to put it together man. They’re all amazing rods and love each and every one

5 hours ago, MRQturbo said:

Nice aresnal... I've sold off most of my p5s... Not a big fan of the 3 yr warranty any more... 

totally get that. I picked up most of them around the $330-350 mark so at that price, 3 years warranty is cool with me 

[jbrew73]

1 hour ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Yessir! Although the 852 and 872 id consider having the capability to handle close to a 3 power

You’re right, updated below!

 

 

NRX+ 821s NRR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - Ned rigs; micro tx rigs 

NRX+ 842s SJR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - dropshots; jig & minnow; free rigs; Neko rigs

NRX+ 852s JWR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - wacky rigs; shakey heads

NRX+ 872s JWR (still without a reel) - paddle tails/swimbaits; tubes; free rigs

 

P5 Pop X Stick w/ Aldebaran 22 BFS HG - BFS (karashi, tiny trebles/topwater); pond/rivers

P5 One Ten Stick w/ Metanium DC71HG - jerkbaits; finesse cranks; light top water

P5 Dark Sleeper w/ Zillion SV TW 1000HL - Dark sleepers; 3/8-1/2oz spinnerbaits; 3.3.-4.8" swimbaits; underspins; swim jigs; micro citizens; tailspins/blade baits; 5” magdrafts

Orochi X10 Bandersnatch w/ Metanium DC 71HG - Mid-depth crank baits; square bills; lipless cranks; 1/2oz chatter baits

NRX+ 843c MBR w/ Metanium 101HG - 1/4 Texas rigs; 1/4-1/2oz finesse jigs (Keitechs); Do it all up to 1/2oz (topwater; spinnerbaits; chatterbaits; flukes; lipless cranks)

NRX+ 873c CRR w/ Zillion SV TW 1000HL - jigs up to 5/8 oz; 1/4-3/8oz Texas rigs; big shakey heads w/ big worms; 

Expride 7’3 XH w/ Zillion SV TW HD 1000HL - frogs; heavy duty punching and flipping 

 

 

honestly love every combo except may switch out the zillion on the 873 to a bantam 

Please tell me that they are not all spooled with big game…..😂

[GardenStateFishin]

Just now, jbrew73 said:

Please tell me that they are not all spooled with big game…..😂

Gotta save money somewhere hahahahah

[Loomis13]

13 hours ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Yessir! Although the 852 and 872 id consider having the capability to handle close to a 3 power

You’re right, updated below!

 

 

NRX+ 821s NRR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - Ned rigs; micro tx rigs 

NRX+ 842s SJR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - dropshots; jig & minnow; free rigs; Neko rigs

NRX+ 852s JWR w/ Shimano Vanquish c3000mhg - wacky rigs; shakey heads

NRX+ 872s JWR (still without a reel) - paddle tails/swimbaits; tubes; free rigs

 

P5 Pop X Stick w/ Aldebaran 22 BFS HG - BFS (karashi, tiny trebles/topwater); pond/rivers

P5 One Ten Stick w/ Metanium DC71HG - jerkbaits; finesse cranks; light top water

P5 Dark Sleeper w/ Zillion SV TW 1000HL - Dark sleepers; 3/8-1/2oz spinnerbaits; 3.3.-4.8" swimbaits; underspins; swim jigs; micro citizens; tailspins/blade baits; 5” magdrafts

Orochi X10 Bandersnatch w/ Metanium DC 71HG - Mid-depth crank baits; square bills; lipless cranks; 1/2oz chatter baits

NRX+ 843c MBR w/ Metanium 101HG - 1/4 Texas rigs; 1/4-1/2oz finesse jigs (Keitechs); Do it all up to 1/2oz (topwater; spinnerbaits; chatterbaits; flukes; lipless cranks)

NRX+ 873c CRR w/ Zillion SV TW 1000HL - jigs up to 5/8 oz; 1/4-3/8oz Texas rigs; big shakey heads w/ big worms; 

Expride 7’3 XH w/ Zillion SV TW HD 1000HL - frogs; heavy duty punching and flipping 

 

 

honestly love every combo except may switch out the zillion on the 873 to a bantam 

Thats a fantastic lineup! I like the 872 better than the 852, but just a personal preference thing. And agree that it can handle close to a 3 power.
 

I only have 1 Vanquish but it is sweet! Also just picked a new twin power so excited to try that out. 
 

just getting into the high end baitcasters. Picked up two metaniums but haven’t tried them yet. 

[GardenStateFishin]

10 hours ago, Loomis13 said:

Thats a fantastic lineup! I like the 872 better than the 852, but just a personal preference thing. And agree that it can handle close to a 3 power.
 

I only have 1 Vanquish but it is sweet! Also just picked a new twin power so excited to try that out. 
 

just getting into the high end baitcasters. Picked up two metaniums but haven’t tried them yet. 

The Metanium dc 71 is the best casting reel I’ve ever had and by far. Like not even close. It’s insane. Picked up both of them for $250 each off marketplace and using some points at ALF for one of them 

[FishTank]

On 3/26/2025 at 6:35 PM, GardenStateFishin said:

That’s the problem… have literally no reason or want for getting rid of them aside from the fact that even having 8 rods with me on the yak feels cumbersome and I was hoping to limit down my lineup (I car top my pdl yak and getting 8+ rods to the lake safely is a PIA). However I absolutely love both these rods but if there were 2 that I were to get rid of, it would probably be those 2 since the 843/bandersnatch can cover most of the dark sleepers duties and the 852 is pretty similar to the 872 minus the distance/I also have a Steez 7’6 MML “the one” that can sling a paddle tail which is what I mainly use the 872 for.

 

If you like them, I would keep them. I too kayak fish and that is the dilemma sometimes.... You can't take all of it with you and there are more techniques out there than you can fish in one day. I only take 5 or 6 (sometimes 7 if I want to throw an odd ball bait) with me and I have learned what to take and what to leave home depending on the conditions. Also if the condition are going to stink (wind, cold, rain, no wind, high heat, blue bird skies, etc.), I try to bring set ups that I can throw more stuff on, basically most of my Megabass rods.

[Bandersnatch]

On 3/25/2025 at 9:02 PM, GardenStateFishin said:

Updated lineup for 2025. Feel pretty good about everything but was really hoping to narrow the list down. Doesn’t seem like it’s happening this year!

 

NRX+ 821s NRR - Ned rigs; micro tx rigs 

NRX+ 842s SJR - dropshots; jig & minnow; free rigs; Neko rigs

NRX+ 852s JWR - wacky rigs; shakey heads

NRX+ 872s JWR - paddle tails/swimbaits; tubes; free rigs

 

P5 Pop X Stick - BFS (karashi, tiny trebles/topwater); pond/rivers

P5 One Ten Stick - jerkbaits; finesse cranks; light top water

P5 Dark Sleeper - Dark sleepers; 3/8-1/2oz spinnerbaits; 3.3.-4.8" swimbaits; underspins; swim jigs; micro citizens; tailspins/blade baits; 5” magdrafts

Orochi X10 Bandersnatch - Mid-depth crank baits; square bills; lipless cranks; 1/2oz chatter baits

NRX+ 843c MBR - 1/4 Texas rigs; 1/4-1/2oz finesse jigs (Keitechs); Do it all up to 1/2oz (topwater; spinnerbaits; chatterbaits; flukes; lipless cranks)

NRX+ 873c CRR - jigs up to 5/8 oz; 1/4-3/8oz Texas rigs; big shakey heads w/ big worms; 

Expride 7’3 XH - frogs; heavy duty punching and flipping 

 

 

Debating possibly selling the 872s or dark sleeper. Haven’t quite made up my mind as to which yet 

It’s obvious you don’t fish a lot of grass  

 

My lineup looks like , heavy, heavy, more heavies, extra heavies, xx heavies, actual broom sticks  

[new2BC4bass]

On 3/26/2025 at 8:59 AM, Junk Fisherman said:

 

When I think of my arsenal, it's always about the rods.  

Love casting reels, but like you when I think 'arsenal', I think rods.