mheichelbech

Just giving anyone who may find this to be pertinent, the news I just received from Loomis customer service (after a 22 minute wait on the phone). If you send a rod back for warranty, it will take 3-5 weeks for them to process your claim AFTER receiving the rod. The rep stated that even after it passes warranty, there is a good chance the replacement rod may not be in stock and would likely not get replaced until after the New Year. If you are considering purchasing a G Loomis rod...you may want to factor this into your equation. I bought a Conquest and the tip broke on the very first fish I caught with it. I don't know if other rod manufacturers are in the same boat or not but this is not what I expected.

This is my thinking on it as well. I don’t know what the schedule is for the MLF Cup tournaments but from what I’ve seen, the timing isn’t conducive right for most of them or where they are fishing isn’t conducive. It seems like most of the time they are either drop shotting, fishing docks and other shallow cover. I hate to say it but watching them fish the smallmouth lakes up North is pretty boring....seems a lot like NASCAR races at almost any non-restrictive plate tracks.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an MLF pro throwing a rattletrap. Any idea why this is? Seems like a rattletrap would be a great “numbers” lure which is key in that type of tournament.

Yea no question there are shad in the coves still that water temp.

Anybody ever throw swimbaits in the Fall? I plan to try this coming season.

Wondering what guys have had the best success with after they’ve tagged their buck and back at the bass in November/December and water temps in the low 40s... I have had the best success year after year finding shad in the backs of doves and throwing a rattle trap, jerkbaits or pitching a jig in the brush piles and beaver piles in water from 3 to 10 feet.

Zoom 4 inch dead ringer w chartreuse tail Zoom Trick Worm - white Gambler Dions Classic (hula grub) actually not produced anymore Zoom Craw - 2.75 inch with pumpkin and orange pincers

Ended up getting a nearly new Conquest 843C. Good deal in same price as you...really liking the versatility and I previously had an IMX 843 so I’m familiar with that action. I think a lot of times, being familiar with a rod or rod action and knowing how the bait feels on that rod can overcome any sensitivity obstacles.

Reviving this post. I finally got on the frog train yesterday having caught a 5 #er on my 3rd cast yesterday I am hooked! Whats the best frog when fishing in the really scummy moss that blankets the area with small holes here and there? I was using a Lunkerhunt frog but the legs were not the best.

Are you really Rusty Shackleford? ?

Thanks. I’d be pitching jigs mostly. When is the new NRX coming out?

Looking at 2 different deals (Got lucky on the Derby last weekend..) an NRX 853C for $425 or a Conquest similar rod action/power wise for $500? Wondering what would be the better deal of if the NRX in new or next to new condition could be had for less than that anywhere?

Thanks. I've got some Magic Shad 6 inch baits that I've had good luck with. Yours looks like it'd be great for off-colored water which it often is where I fish. In the past we have caught them on Rattle Traps but I am really looking forward to trying a big swimbait for them.

Old habits are hard to break!! Lol! I just put some Sunline Flippin Flouro for my other jig setup...

Not sure yet. I am partial to Big Game but I’m trying to move up to Flouro on my bottom contact stuff. I’ve tried braid a few times with my baitcasters and I just can’t bring myself to like it even though I know it’s more sensitive. Love braid on my spinning outfits.

Good to see! What size are you using when your after bass over 4 pounds...do you use a bigger version? I was just in a tackle shop and saw some that were quite bit bigger than what I normally use.

Wondering what everyone’s favorite paddletail swimbaits are...it took me several years to work through worms, jigs and spinnerbaits to find favorites and now I am going through the same deal with swimbaits. It can be a money pit! Currently I am mostly throwing Keitechs because I like the rings...wondering what might be best when I go fishing for cold water hawgs in December.

I’ll make it work for something! I love fishing finesse worms so it may work for that.

Thanks for all the input. I bought the rod so we shall see. It arrives tomorrow. If I don’t like it I’ll sell it and get something different. My best Fall jig Fishing doesn’t come back in until late November so I have time.

Thanks for the input. Excellent point about the trailer. My main jig fishing is 3/8 oz using pork...U4 split tail eel. Not sure how much that weighs.

Is there much of a difference in the Orochi and the Destroyer in sensitivity? This price is just for that particular rod. Guy used it once, he bought 2 and is selling one. This is what confuses me, the rod range is 1/4 to 1 oz so you’d think a half oz jig would be okay?? I don’t get how a rig could be good for that range.

Found a good deal on a MB Dark Sleeper. I would want to use it for pitching jigs in the 1/4 to 1/2 range and primarily 3/8 oz jigs (which probably weight 1/2 oz with trailer). The descriptions on this rod says 1/4 to 1 oz but then also says best for light T rigs and booted swim baits??? I’ve never been one to only use a rod for what it’s supposed to be used for so it doesn’t bother me too much but just wondering if this would not be a good rod for pitching to beaver piles and the like. Price is $375 and almost new condition.

One of my best fishing friends and one of the best cold water jig fisherman I know would say you don’t even need a high modulus graphite rod. He uses a 14 foot Lamiglass cane pool with a piece of clothes hanger as his “reel”. He also uses 25 year old Stanley jigs and only Uncle Josh U2 split tail eel pork in black. He uses 2 colors, black/blue and black/chartreuse. He has caught more and bigger bass than anyone I know. Granted it’s an advantage to have you rod tip directly over or close to directly over the bait, but he hasn’t certainly proven to me that having the most sensitive rod is not the most important thing. With all that said, when it comes to fishing jigs closeup and in heavy cover, I like to use the best rod I can afford.

I kind of figured it was just a terminology thing but wasn’t really sure.

Please bear with me here as this is a serious question...also, not asking about other rods for this tactic...I keep reading about guys talking about G Loomis NRX rods being the best or the best between a GLX - NRX comparison with people saying if your bottom fishing with a jig, the NRX is best. Now, and maybe I have been doing it wrong all these years, but I don’t think so as I’ve done pretty well with a jig, but when I am pitching or flipping a jig, my bait isn’t really sitting on the bottom that much. It’s pretty much and up and down, maybe some shaking, and maybe swim it back a to me a bit....but regardless, my jig doesn’t sit on the bottom much. If I were dragging a football jig or worm, Carolina Rigging, etc. then I’m on the bottom but pitching/flipping I am not or at least not very much. So...with this in mind, is the NRX still better for pitching/flipping jigs? Also, is there a better rod for less money than an NRX for pitching/flipping (14 foot jig poles excluded).