Lucky Craft Man

Thanks! I am a big fan of the Reverse Half-Wells handle (which are almost nonexistent on all 7 weights in the industry), so when the opportunity came up to get a Sage One blank cheap, I figured this was my chance to get the grip that I wanted. Upon just playing with the rod in the yard, I am very impressed with the Sage One blank. I am just pleased overall. I can't wait to get it out.

Chiggar Craw

I found a great deal on a Sage One 10'0" 7wt. blank and figured it would make a good Steelhead rod. So I contacted good old Scott (a.k.a. SHFishinSticks) and told him that my only restrictions were a fighting butt, a reverse half-wells grip, and oversized guides. I left everything else up to him (as a side note, I have found if I just let Scott use his creative genius, he will produce a masterpiece). Scott called me last week to let me know the rod was complete. When I went to pick it up, I was amazed. He exceeded my expectations! This thing is gorgeous and it just balances perfectly. The steelhead season is coming to a close, so I hope to at least get one chance to break this thing in (though, it is almost too pretty to use). Here are a few pictures I pulled from Scott's website... Scott just builds some great rods. I think this is the fourth or fifth project he has done for me and every one just turns out better than I could have anticipated. Thanks again, Scott!!!!

I used to use the G Loomis TWFR935 with a Shimano Chronarch D7. In the offseason, I acquired the G Loomis NRX 916 UBR, which I am going to pair with the Shimano Core 100 MgFV, and I plan on using this as my new frog set-up.

If I am fishing alone in my boat, up to 12 (which is the max I can fit). If I am fishing with someone else in my boat, around 6 (and my fishing partner brings 6). If I am fishing out of my friends boat, only 4.

^^^ This ^^^

Well, actually, this is where the "low stretch" claim comes from. Once you use fluoro for a while, it will stretch out, but not spring back, which means it will stretch less the next time it is loaded. Though, what hasn't been studied is how much of a reduction in strength is experience in the fluoro once it is stretched out (i.e., once it has passed it's yield).

^^^ This paragraph says it all. The only thing I will add is that it sinks, which I like for every application, except topwater.

To answer your question (00mod & aprw1), the x-fast NRX rods don't necessarily behave like the traditional x-fast action rods I have used in the past (and this includes the GLX). I don't know how it is done, but the tips on these rods are quite thin and the recovery just seems ideal. When casting and fishing with these x-fast NRX, you seem to get all the benefits of an x-fast rod (e.g., a little more accurate casting, increased sensitivity in the tip, etc.), however, when you hook a fish, the rod seems to load a little further into the blank (much like a fast action rod might). Below is a picture of the profile of a NRX 895 JWR when loaded that I took. Granted, it is a really heavy powered rod, so inherently there wouldn't be much bend, but the profile of the rods deflection is certainly not one of an x-fast rod (at least in my experience). To make a long story short, the blanks of these NRX are just a different breed and do fish slightly different to their GLX counterpart (just as the GLX fishes slightly different than the IMX counterpart). I will say though, the one detriment to the NRX rods is that they do feel a little less balanced (i.e., tip heavy) than the older GLX BCR series. I would assume the split grip would have something to do with it, but I can't say for sure. I add a little weight to the butt section of all my NRX rods, because when they are balanced properly, the truly do enter into another world of awesome! I should note that I have no affiliation with G Loomis at all and really don't want to sound like a salesman here, because it wouldn't matter to me if G Loomis never sold another rod in my life. I just want to try and offer an opinion on my experience and I always hated posts where guys give you a sales pitch for a brand they seem to love.

The Abu Garcias are a classic in the musky fishing world (though, I would suggest a C3 instead of a C4. The C3 seems to be a little more durable. Also, the C4 is a higher gear ratio, which I find is only good for musky Jerkbaits and topwater. Anything else and the C4 just labors in bringing in the line, especially for bucktails). With that being said, I would probably consider the Shimano Cardiff 400 out of the ones you mentioned. Not a bad reel and may be a little smoother than the Abu Garcias (though, admittedly, I have not used the "new" C3's and C4's). I am not sure I was much help, but good luck in your search.

I recently ordered 6 spools of XPS Fluorocarbon Line for half price. XPS Fluorocarbon is not as good as some other fluorocarbons (though, it is not that bad either), but for that price, it was just too hard to pass up.

If you do get one, may I suggest the 893, 894, or 895 (model dependent on the weight of lures you intend to throw). For some reason, these 7'5" x-fast rods surpass all the other NRX models in sensitivity (i.e., the cream of the crop).

I'm in. I fish the same water as Dwight (not as successful though) and I could luck into one like I did last year (unfortunately for me, I didn't enter last year).

I do have a whole rack of them (well, not quite a whole rack, but a fair share), so I am not a good person to answer this question. But I will say, if you are savvy in your purchases and shop around, you could find a NRX for less than retail. For example, there was a Tackle Company that recently offered a trade-in program where they would give you a certain percentage of a rods original value towards a NRX. I traded in 27 rods and received 2 NRX's in return (free and clear). Those 27 rods just sat there in my garage and now these two NRX rods most likely will be used every outing. So things like that can allow you to get such rods without breaking the bank. You just need to shop around (unfortunately, I do this obsessively) and you will find deals. (I know you didn't ask about acquiring a NRX, but I just thought I would offer my opinion on it anyway. Sorry about that).

I am a one brand rod guy for no specific reason (maybe consistency in collection), though, I am not a one brand reel guy. Go figure.

Here is a fish my Buddy caught with me last fall using a drop shot (it went 6 lb. 5 oz.). I guess if he had been using a tube, this would have been an 8 pounder instead.

RW, what are you waiting for? Make the leap! The NRX will change your life (and unfortunately, really lighten your wallet)

I agree with 21farms. The MBR843C IMX was the first G Loomis I ever purchased. Now I own over 40. Be very very careful as this rod is a "gateway" rod...

Not to sideline the thread, but WRB, would you say that a 10lb. NLMB would be equal to a 6lb. SMB?

I live south of Pittsburgh as well and here are my thresholds for a replica for this area. A northern Largemouth greater than 8 lbs. will get replica consideration and Smallmouth over 7 lb. will make it for consideration. Anything under those will either get a nice frame around their picture or make it for wallpaper duties on my computer for a while. Also, any significant or memorable catch makes it for replica consideration in my mind. For example, my wife and I went fishing for King Salmon up in New York. We had no idea what we were doing and talked to a few people who said the bite was off. We decide to launch anyway since we already made the 5 hour drive. Wouldn't you know within the first hour, my wife catches one just over 20 pounds. Not a monster by any means, but she was so excited and it was just great to see her joy. Well, a replica of that fish is now on my wall. I smile everytime I look at it. So to make a long story short, there is no real size minimum for a replica. It is a criteria just set up for yourself and once you achieve that mark (or special catch), the replica will be a great reminder of your special achievement and memory.

How true is this! I have some fly rods that cost the same as two or three G Loomis Rods. Good thing I don't have an obsession with offshore fishing, because those reels they use are INSANELY expensive!

This is very subjective question. I have a sizable G Loomis collection and I really enjoying fishing with every one. So if you were to ask me if they are worth the money, I would say "yes." Now that the Xpeditor Service is back for all their rods, their value to me has increased. Long story short, their value is in the eye (and means) of the user.

I have seen a lot of the aforementioned animals (e.g., Bald Eagles, Beavers, Bear, etc.), but that closest encounter I have ever had came with a female moose while fly fishing the Snake River in Wyoming. I was fishing on the edge of the river with 6 to 8 ft. brush behind me. I hooked onto a nice fish and was quickly walking downstream in the shallow part of the water to keep up with the running fish. I then heard some heavy crashing through the brush behind me only to see a female moose come busting through. This moose was about 10 ft. from away at this point, but as soon as she saw me, she started grazing on the grassy edge of the stream as if I wasn't there. I quietly and slowly walked away from the moose downstream around the bend. When I thought I was far enough away, I walked up the bank and wanted to peer back through the brush to see where she was. When I parted the branches from a large bush, she was standing right there (approximately 5 ft. away) starring right at me (actually down at me would be more accurate). In what was probably the dumbest move I have ever made, I ran as fast as I could through the brush, tripping all the way. I climbed the embankment to the road where my car was parked and turned around to try and spot the moose (as from the road elevation, I could look down into the field of tall bushes). I ended up spotted her with a huge bull moose, who was also down in the brush. I assume when this female heard the splashing along the river, she thought it was this Bull she was looking for. Thank God it was the female I ran into, because I may have passed out had I ran into that huge Bull. As a side note, I never knew how absolutely HUGE moose were until I was standing that close to one looking straight up.

Your fishing adventures continue to amaze me!

Can you post an actual picture of the fish next to the replica picture? To me the mark of a truly good replica is how close it looks like the fish it is meant to represent. I had a Chinook Salmon done and even though the replica looks incredible, the coloration isn't close to the fish in the picture, which leads to my dissatisfaction with it.