Hulkster

i would give my left nut for a Conquest SJR902. just saying.

oh yes. I always tend to fish the lightest line i can get away with, and I'm a mono guy. I use 10 and 12 for regular fishing, 20 pound sufix siege for targeting musky (but I'm still chasing my first)

to me the biggest advantage of baitcasting rigs over spinning rigs is that baitcasters by their nature retrieve big heavy water resistant (ie water drag) lures through the water much better than a spinning reel ever could. eg. I use musky baits and big bladed baits and your arm would fall off using even a big spinning reel. with a baitcaster its like butter

I've seen quite a few posts on the facebook forums with the Loomis custom seats crack. this of course is long after the first run of NRX reel seats that all used to break (but they rectified that a long time ago). Thats why they had the NXR 'green' for awhile to distinguish the newer rods from the first run that had so many reel seat issues. Im just saying if it isn't broke don't fix it. nothing wrong with a standard fuji reel seat

not that i will ever be able to afford one of these, but its disappointing to me that they once again have gone with a custom reel seat that some people will not like and will probably break (like so many of the NRX and GLX ones have). Whats wrong with a standard Fuji reel seat everyone seems to like to like and won't break?

i see Sufix Siege is mentioned a few times, its my go to line. its as strong as big game but handles better. well enough to use on spinning gear, in 8 and 10 pound tests. I found Big Game to be too stiff for spinning reels.

back in the 90s i used to fish 12 pound mono on a 4000 size shimano spinning reel with no issues at all. they are rated for 160 yrds of 12 pound mono. but a 2500 or 3000 size is going to be tough for anything over 10 pound mono.

i put each rod into a rod glove, and bundle them all together using pipe cleaners tied. then they go in my plano 9 foot rod tube thing. for long car trips. my musky rod is 8 foot so i have a rod tube that extends to 9 feet.

I watched a video on the 2021 shimano UItegra and I was really impressed: its looks to be an insane value:

eww recoils

I would totally buy one if it came with a standard reel seat LOL

St. Croix just released a series of Avid Trek 3 piece Travel rods. I would check them out. Alternatively the Avid does come in some 2 piece models. they should be excellent

i haven't fished one but if you go on tacklewarehouse and read the reviews a lot of people find the trigger too far back and uncomfortable. to get a standard fuji reel seat you have to go one step down to the IMX pro series.

I always prefer the 3000 size shimanos because I love the T shaped handle found on them. the 2500 has the little handle knob found on the small reels like the 1000 sizes.

i would go for a normal stradic 3000 I have the FK version and its amazing

I have the E6X version of the MBR903C and i use it for everything. but it excels throwing spinnerbaits, crankbaits and big inline spinners. I don't do a lot of bottom bait fishing where i am, but I know people use it for jigs etc without issue.

Most of my rods are Loomis in various flavors but I also have a St. Croix musky rod. So I'm a Loomis and St. Croix guy

A rod without a hook keeper is just one of those things I just cant do. Like the purple Mojo rods from St. Croix...i just can't pull the trigger hahahaha

i use 4 pound test Sufix Siege with no issues. its strong as hell and casts well.

Isn't the Legend Trek $400 US? i wouldn't say that's cheap??

I have two different models of the Loomis Escape travel rods, they are 3 pieces and come in a rod bag and hard PVC rod tube which can fit in the largest suitcase for checked baggage diagonally. I have the 6'9 MH spinning and the 7 foot M spinning. You can also get them in baitcasting versions which is pretty cool they are not cheap but they are awesome. that being said, St Croix has come out with the 3 piece Avid Trek rods in 2020, which should be great also. Avids are great rod blanks. Worth looking into.

I use Sufix Siege 4 and 6 pound mono on my 1000 size shimanos, no issues at all.

the 2018 versions are much better than the 2015 first generation. I have both. I have yet to see a negative review of the 2018 models which are lighter and better balanced than the first generation ones. but the 2015 models were hit and miss. That being said, i have a 2015 MBR903c that i really like. the MBR taper with the 7'6 length is awesome.

if it were me i would look to the Loomis MBR taper for the do everything type rod. I would look at the 2018 model Loomis E6X MBR903C. I have the 2015 version and the 7'6 length combined with the MBR taper is a great combo the first generation E6X rods were hit and miss but the updated 2018 ones are much better (lighter and better balanced)

All G. Loomis rods are made in the states. They have yet to switch to either mexican (like St. Croix) or overseas manufacturing. I would think that its inevitable that they will one day, but so far no.