TNBankFishing

Trout fishing is on the list, I’m waiting for the remainder of our home goods to be delivered in a couple weeks for that gear. I’m used to wading clear water to target rainbows in the smokies so I’ll be excited to try for some out here. I’m going to want to buy a kayak to get off the shore but it’s hard to justify not knowing if we’re going to stay in Maryland. I hate moving so we downsized a ton before heading up. My job payed a bonus and full relocation and I have to stick it out for 12 months or I have to pay that back. Plus we’re renting now (close on our house in TN this month) and storing gear is going to be rough. Even trigs couldn’t make it through kittamaqundi this weekend. Each cast was pulling up half a pound of slop. I do have the gear for punching, but it’s still in transit. I’m happy to drive for better fishing, I’ll need to hit up the larger lakes this weekend and see if I can get on something. Thank you @Buzzbaiter for all of the amazing information. I appreciate you taking the time to educate me and I hope you have a great summer of fishing.

Afternoon BR crew! I’ve recently accepted a new job in MD and have found a place to stay in Columbia. I spent an hour walking the two nearest lakes to my house and they were choked to death with vegetation. The lakes were Wilde and Kittamaqundi, both were unfishable. My neighbor recommended Centennial lake as a better option, but what do y’all think? I’m currently shore bound at the moment, and I’m not looking to buy another kayak or boat within the next year. I knew going in MD isn’t going to touch Tennessee in terms of bass, but the coastal fishing is a huge draw.

Japan lure shop. Over 1k spent totally trust them.

NRX 873 15lb St. Croix Legend Elite 7’ M 10lb Megabass P5 Dark Sleeper

IMO the Tatula will be better. The hyper drive gearing alone makes it worth the premium. I own one Met, two Bantams, and six Zillions after not having a Daiwa reel two years ago. I sold nearly all my Shimano gear for Zillions last spring and haven’t looked back. If the Tat is 50 cents on the dollar to the Zillion it’s my pick 100%.

The reason they cost what they do is because you’re already buying the warranty up front then spending even more once you break the rod for replacement. Loomis replacement program is a rip off at their price points. Offer two free replacements to original owner for life. In all the years I’ve fished high end gear I’ve never snapped anything that wasn’t the first outing. Megabass warranty is fantastic and if it’s going to blow up it will in the first year and replacement is free. I still think the St. Croix warranty is the best in the business. GLX is overpriced heavily. Even with discounts it’s not a $400 rod in terms of performance.

I’ve owned the Xbites and can speak to their quality. I also own several NRX+ rods and have owned multiple Steez, legend xtreme, and Dobyns. For my money (always a personal thing) I would never buy a MBR Loomis rod. If you’re looking for a multi-use stick, the JDM brands blow Loomis out of the water. If you’re looking for a strictly bottom contact jig and worm rod Loomis wins at the NRX level. I owned and sold multiple older gen GLXs as they weren’t near the value of their price. if you’re looking at throwing half once total weight or less on a bottom contact stick the Xbites will be more sensitive and significantly better looking than a GLX. If you want a multipurpose rod to do bottom contact, some swim jigs, a spinnerbait or topwater here or there there are rods that will do that. P5 Daemos Steez Utility Player Legend Elite 7’ medium casting rod (Only stick I own multiples of)

St. Croix Legend Elite or X 7’Medium I have two and they are pound for pound my best casting rods. Not as utterly electric as an NRX but are close enough you’re not missing much. Pick one up used which transfers the warranty and you’re right in the range you’re looking for. Or go 110 Special. It’s labeled jerkbait but is a fantastic soft plastic jig rod around that weight.

A $250 import rod vs a $600+ NRX, the better comparison is the P5 line. The Orochi are closer to IMX.

Xbites 100%. I’ve owned both.

Preach about the higher end St. Croixs, so many people sleep on them.

I start at 3/8ths this time of year, and during summer 1/2 isn’t all that rare. I do punch up to 1.25oz if I’m up on the right stuff on chickamauga.

I love my Alde on my St Croix 7’ medium or my xbites before I sold it.

All 3 of my NRX+ rods were at minimum 25% off. Call ahead, negotiate, buy in person, has always worked for me.

The MHRB is my personal favorite chatterbait rod for anything 3/8 or higher. I mean, it’s a pure joy. Let’s see if I can dig up my initial month review. The way I felt then is still how I feel today. Fantastic rod. This was written in oct of 21. I’ve moved to a different stick for deep divers but still feel like anything reaction is at home on this rod. I prefer the 17 Javelin for small trebles but I’d 100% throw a chunkier squarebill with larger trebles or big top waters. If you prefer a more parabolic bend for swim jigs or spinners it’s also amazing with those. Stick to 3/8 and above, with a sweet spot at 1/2. Daiwa BLX Impressions

I’ve used a couple frogg togg sets and have been happy with their durability and waterproofing. I usually wait till BF every other year and snag last years model.

I’ve been looking at trying the Trika brand after their positive reviews on another forum. Personally I’d give the 3x a shot and see how it performs, other than that for the money I’d pick up the Tatula Elite Ish frog rod. The old model was fire and the new ones seem even better.

I own all of the brands and I will agree to strongly disagree with you. The GLX is not on the P5, Steez, Xtreme level. It’s comparable to the Elite/X lines. Look, I think fishing is hyper personal. Please if you see a model that calls to you buy it and fish it. Some guy on the internet (me) shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your hobby as you want.

The old GLX was overpriced but so are a lot of things in life. It didn’t bother me because it never wanted to go toe to toe with the big boys in the field. Now it’s priced like a halo rod when it isn’t, and the competition isn’t afraid. From a business standpoint breaking the $500 dollar barrier for a stick which from what I’ve read isn’t a new blank, and doesn’t contain the tech which makes the NRX great is a fail. Most other brands use trickle down tech to keep their second tier offerings on pace. Look at Daiwa and the nanoplus/x45 and St. Croix with their blank tech. Who would buy this compared to a Destroyer that costs less and can be had on sale, or a Steez which is $25 more and is constantly on sale. Even an apples to apples comparison of the Legend Elite/X are still a better value at MSRP and those transfer warranty’s and are often in deep discount. I think the old GLX was a decent rod with a terrible handle. This new one is a decent rod which costs 30% more than it should. I guess it’s just Loomis sticking with the old “Buy an NRX or don’t bother”.

I’ve used my buddies on a couple outings on a boat. My impression was it was a baby brother to their big flipping stick. It’s got a slightly slower taper and a slightly lower weight range but those combine into a wonderful package. It reminded me a lot of my Megabass Wild Bunch. I prefer sticks with a slower action for my style of fishing and my line choices. This stick is a do it all weapon with enough sensitivity to handle bottom contact duty. I’d throw 1/2oz jigs, 3/4 light punching setups, deep cranks, 3/4 chatter/spinners, and 6” magdrafts. From there touch base on some 1oz wake baits and big topwaters. I would get two reels and roll one braid for the bottom contact and one flouro for everything else.

If you want heavy reaction I’d look at the Levante Perfect Pitch or SC Victory 7’4 Heavy. In reality a MH covers all of those techniques unless for some odd reason your throwing 1.5oz spinnerbaits for striper. I use a legend elite 7’4 heavy for big swim jigs, 6” single hook swimbaits, heavy 3/4 oz plus trigs in deep water. It’s my Swiss Army knife of heavy sticks. If your not going to throw baits that require a heavy rod your sorta just picking up something you have zero use for. Actually if you just want it to have it grab a used Steez power pitch or US destroyer BMG.

What baits do you want to throw? Vegetation isn’t the only deciding factor.

Same

Sensitivity wise I put the Xtreme on par with my NRX+ 893/873, but more of a pressure bite feeling. It’s not as electric as an nrx but the balance is substantially better. My elites/x are easily GLX level of sensitivity and the 7m casting and 7mlf spinning are utter standouts in the line. The fit and finish are spot perfect as well which is a nice touch. My Xtreme starts with an 11g finesse jig, then moves to bullet weighted senkos, and has the right tip and power to handle chatters/spinners in that 3/8-1/2 range. One dynamic others have said but I’ve not experienced is the Xtremes are “slower” in action. Comparing the 7’1mhxf in the x line with my Xtreme the bend test and flex points were the same. When I had a fish on they fought the same. The difference is the Xtreme is more sensitive and much much better balanced.

I’ve used it in the past and had no issues. The samurai flouro is top quality.