jonnyblazex

The anti reverse pawl can be easily bend on accident. There is no way you would get it perfect again. I would just throw that piece of junk away. It relies on the ar bearing anyways, as stated above, and that is 10x stronger than that crappy pawl. It would make a ticking noise when reeling. I had this happen to me, and tried to bend it back several times with the same results. I removed it, and it is smoother than ever. Have fished it over a year and no problems. Most of the higher end shimanos actually don't even have the pawl installed from the factory, although the post for it is still in the reel, so it could be. Does that tell you something? Also check that the handle nut is snug, as stated above, and that the cover cap and screw are in the correct position.

I find that odd as well that the NRX don't seem perfectly balanced. I suppose the GLX BCR rods were a little heavier blank from the start, and more dense weight toward the rear adds a little weight and balances out. All I know is the NRX seems super light for its length. When you have a rod well over 7 foot, and it feels light as a feather, you know it is a winner!

I was just thinking, if the rod had a full grip cork handle for a length this long, it would probably not be tip heavy. How much weight do you think you have under that wrap anyways?

What weight system do you recommend for the butt of the rod to improve balance?

Hey guys, just got my new NRX 893c today! Really light, good looking rod. All the guides are straight and clean, and the blank looks perfect. I know its a 7'5 rod, but was hoping for a little better balance. I put a curado I on it, but it seems somewhat tip heavy. Is it just because its such a long rod, or would a heavier/lighter. bigger or smaller profile reel help? What reel are others running on this rod to a balance point they like? I did a test to see where the rod/reel balances, and it is perfect, right in front of the cork fore grip, although the tip feels heavy when working the rod through the motions. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks guys for all your advice. Ill try spooling it up and see if it makes a difference first, then go from there.

Hi guys, ordered a new shimano curado 201 I HG about a week ago. Im one of those guys that use both right and left hand retrieve reels, but only had 1 lefty, and 5 or 6 rightys, so decided to order another lefty. Depending on what Im using it for, I prefer one over the other. Anyways, upon receiving my new reel, it was actually a mistake from the online store I bought it from, and they accidentially gave me a right hand retrieve 200 I. I tested it out a little right out of the box, and it was real nice and smooth. Contacted them, and sent it back. Upon receiving my lefty reel today, it is not nearly as smooth as the other. It kinda seems a little geary? I tried adjusting the brakes, svs brakes, drag, tension knob, still the same. Not sure what the difference is, but you can hear it audibly if you listen closely, and feel it slightly at the handle, especially if you reel a little faster. I should have kept the righty, reeled like butter! Anyone else noticed this, or if it got better after a little use, or did I get a lemon?

For a G Loomis, I would go with a 3 power medium heavy, and for the Croix a medium power, especially when you say light jigs and weightless plastics. They would be the same rod for rod, as others have mentioned, the Croix is about a power heavier in their ratings. I prefer G Loomis NRX over the St. Croix, but everyone has their opinion. The G loomis is a little more, and the thing that really really bums me out about them is that they dropped the WILD CARD warranty! WHY! I still bought one a few days ago, couldn't resist. They still have an expeditor service, but you pay $100 for a replacement, where as I believe the st Croix still has lifetime rod replacement, maybe pay shipping one way. I'm pretty careful with my rods, so Im not too worried about it breaking. If I have a mishap and break it by a dumb accident, I'll gladly pay the $100 replacement fee, but man that wildcard would have been nice for the first pass. Just my .02c

I have a NRX spinning, the 822 syr. Mag medium 6'10 xf. Man it is a sweet rod and unbelievably sensative, and light as a feather. I mostly use it for what it is designed for (shakey heads) as well as drop shot, but sometimes use it for split shot rig, or throwing smaller senkos like 4 inchers, and have also thrown small weightless flukes on it, and all worked perfectly. Don't let the xf tip fool you, it flexes nicely, but goes into a very nice backbone for a 2 power rod. I can honestly say I have never lost a bass smallmouth or largemouth on a dropshot with this rod. It has plenty of give but not too much when you need it. I like that it has a little more backbone, especially when trying to control a larger fish. The only fish I have lost with this were right at heavy cover, and big mean fish, using shaky head or a fluke. They got burried into the slop, and shook free, but then again, this isn't a flipping stick, more of a finesse rod. I have it paired with a stradic ci4+ with tatsu 6lb fluorocarbon, and it balances perfectly just in front of the reel foot, and makes for the sweetest spinning combo you could ever want. Buy g loomis, MADE IN THE USA!

I'm throwing braid on a fenwick aetos rod, stainless frame and matching insert guides, using it for heavy duty, and have had zero ill effect with super slick 8. I have used it in the beginning on a ugly stick, plastic guides I believe. You better bet it cut through them like butter. I agree with the rest, if the rod is really cheap, and does not state that the guides are rated for super lines, then don't use braid on it!

Hi guys, have been thinking about upgrading one of my baitcast rods, mostly will be using it for Texas rig worms and smaller jigs, so I want something light and sensative, but needs a good backbone. Have been looking at rods, and the kistler helium 3 has caught my eye. I'm intrigued about the NFC north fork composite IM rod blank, wondering if anyone has tried these rods, and how the feel, and fish. I know the z bone uses the top of the line NFC hm blank but cost about $150 more than helium. I guess my main question is how does a helium compare to say a g loomis glx or nrx or any loomis if anyone has tried both? I have a nrx in a spinning rod, and love it, but cannot drop $500 on another one as of right now. Was thinking these NFC blanks should be awesome from Gary's new company? For $260 this kistler rod should be a heck of a deal, but without being able to even hold one, I may never know. If anyone has any opinions it would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

It's hard to say if they would replace it now with the warranty changes, plus I believe you have the older model, the newer one is red colored, but I have heard last generations rods were better, but cannot comment from experience. Could you use a very small amount of epoxy to re attach the grip portion to the nut? Wouldn't think it could be too hard. Good luck!

Why not try out some of the newer carrot stix from the new company? Also, which models did you have before that broke? I only ask because the older model wild series rods had major issues, but the pro grade and gold rods did not, or not nearly as much. These rods were made around 4 years ago, and all models have been discontinued, wild, pro grade, gold, as well as the e21 company is now just carrot stix. I actually bought a pro grade rod when they were new, and it is still one of my favorite rods, compared to nrx, aetos, Powell, lamiglas, and some higher end store brand rods, gander and scheels. I have been thinking about trying out the new carrot stix ti pro grade, they look like a sweet rod, but I have no experience with the new micro wave guide systems. The other newer options are the wild wild black, and orange, and green being a little more geared towards the saltwater. I really enjoy my nrx, but I'm not rich, and the $500 price tag can be hard to swallow. I may just have to try out that ti pro stick, I believe at $200 it's really a force to recon with.

St croix legend tournament bass in a medium or medium heavy makes for one hell of a combo. It would also pair good with a fenwick aetos IMO, that's what I have mine on.

Another really good rod in the 150 -200 range is the fenwick aetos. It is a really nice, light, super sensative rod. Take this from a guy that owns an NRX, the Aetos is worth checking out

It is one awesome reel. I wouldn't be afraid to try one, actually I have, and it is sweet, and can be had a LOT cheaper than the chronarch ci4, but maybe $30 more than the tatula, but I guarantee it would last longer that that plastic daiwa will

Don't know how much more it will be, but check out a shimano stradic ci4+. Best spinning reel I have ever tried. Own one, smooth as butter, great reel. 2500 size

I also like the owner CPs hooks, but you have to be careful which one you get, as one is a light wire hook, and I accidentally used one of them and straightened out my hook on a really nice bass on the hookset. I also am not too fond of the trokar flipping hooks, the "surgical shap tip" has actually bent on me numerous occasions, when setting the hook hard on a bass. Lately I have been using a mustad swim bait hook. It's a straight shank heavy duty weighted hook. I found them on sale pretty cheap, but I cut off the weight, and they make for a very nice hook.

What you are asking for requires 2 completely rods at minimum. Crank baits and jig or worm rod are two completely different animals. For the jig/ worm type presentation use a rod like mentioned above. For a crankin setup I would use something more forgiving, such as a med moderate fast rod, if you want the best of the best.

I have a pro grade med hvy 6'9 fast, use it every outing from the time I purchased it, 4 years ago. Never a problem, and the rod is awesome. I have caught way more fish on it than all of my other rods combined, hundreds if not a thousand fish. I have been wondering how the new wild wild black rods would be, but every time I went to get one, they have been sold out. I wanted a 7'3 med hvy fast, but got tired of waiting for the rods to show up for sale, so went with a 7'2 med hvy x fast Fenwick Aetos. Awesome rod and no regrets. Some of the older models were good, especially the PG rods from what I have seen. For some reason a lot of the wild series had breaking issues, but I haven't heard a lot about the newest gen, the wild wild black or orange. Good luck with your decision!

If your willing to go to the higher dollar, the shimano stradic ci4+ without a doubt. The patriarch is nice too, but the ones I have seen started grinding after the first year. I like them when they are new though, but they don't seem like they're made to last IMO.

If it's making sound on the cast it could either be your centrifugal brakes, or something on the spool, like the bearings or something to do with the spool tension knob. Maybe try lightly oiling (like 1 drop on a q tip) and run the q tip around the brake drum where the cent brakes ride on, and see what happens.

Which rod length, power, and action are you looking for, and what lures do you plan to throw on it? I own a fenwick aetos, and it is a very sweet rod. It is really sensative, and has really nice sturdy and light guides, which are titanium. It makes for a very light weight rod, with really good backbone when laying into a nice fish. I haven't personally fished the avid, but there are a ton of people standing behind it. They both have lifetime warranties, and cost pretty much the same money. I'm willing to bet the aetos is lighter and a little more sensative over the avid. The aetos is fenwick's top of the line rod, and the avid is just where it starts to get good IMO. My bro owns a legend tournament bass rod, quite a bit over the $200 mark for sure, and I have used it quite a bit. I would put the aetos right up there with that. You don't hear much about the fenwick for some reason, but when you do it's usually good things. See if you can't pick one of each up at the store and check them out, and see which one suits you best.

I use it on my spinning setup, a nrx shaky head rod, and shimano stradic 2500 reel. I run the 8lb test (it's actually 6 lb diameter) and the line is tough as nails, sensative as can be, and very manageable, casts excellent. I do spray it with kvd line conditioner every other trip, is it necessary? Not sure, but I spray any fluoro or mono with it in the same fashion. I use this setup for shaky heads, drop shot, hair jigs, weightless plastics like 4 inch senko, even jigging for walleyes or crappie fishing, and I could not ask for a better line for any of these techniques.

I have a patriarch, last years chrome collared one. I love it. It casts great, is fairly light, and smooth as butter. My brother also has one of these, and the new model blue with carbon fiber handles. The new one is even lighter, and just as smooth. Can't go wrong with a pflueger, they are really nice reels that you don't hear much about.