TNBankFishing

In practical terms they are often lighter. An NRX+ is going to weigh less compared to similar powered rods produced at a lower price point. The more expensive rods often carry a wide range of high end components such as titanium or carbon fiber guides, or very high quality cork. For me I prefer lightweight gear. I have bad shoulders and carpel tunnel in both wrists. I also like using what I like using. Do I think for a second high end sticks make me a better fisherman? Not a chance. A Dodge Hellcat will keep up with our outrun a Lamborghini in a straight line. Personal preference tells you which you’d rather drive home.

I’ve looked at boats with my nephew and I’m honestly shocked. I just want people to continue to enjoy the sport we love so much. I’m in my 40s and have a solid career, but I can’t help but feel bad for anyone starting out on life now. The last five years has changed so much, I guess we have to adjust to the times.

Not a whole lot, but that 10 year old starts fishing with his high school team in 3 years and from there wants a boat and the list goes on. The reality is it’s significantly more expensive compared to similar costs from 20-30 years ago when my generation was picking up the hobby. I could work a part time job and afford to run my little aluminum boat with decent gear. No 18 year olds doing that today.

I only wish it wasn’t going up for the kids. I doubt if I was 10 again today my family would ever let me pick up fishing as a hobby. If you run only ugly sticks from Walmart it’s not insane, but the joys of baitcasters and solid gear wouldn’t happen.

Wouldn’t happen to be Mich Toy Soldier? I’ve bought from y’all a couple of times if so.

I didn’t mean for you personally I meant in general reels can reach upwards of $700 for freshwater and $1200 for salt. If I came across as a jerk I apologize, it wasn’t my intent. Many of us are stuck between a rock and a hard place financially because of a myriad of reasons. I know a lot of friends in the tech and government fields have recently lost their jobs and they have to make financial choices they didn’t have too.

At what point does it matter for most people? $15 bag of Senkos? $20 Strike King cranks? Buying a reel for $300 isn’t big money these days, but when the price of what used to be 5-7 bags of plastics doubles a lot of folks will feel the crunch. In the end if companies don’t lower prices or eat into their margins they will sell less product. When they sell less they react negatively to the consumer. BPS has been around for 60 years but their entire business now is based on gouging fishermen on knock offs. If that dries up where do they stay in the black? Are more mom and pop shops going to die over the next 3 years? The reality is tariffs are negative pressure on consumers who have already been squeezed by inflation. Sooner or later the end result is companies going under. I saw a title of a post on another forum a month or so ago. “What does a consumer based economy do once most of the consumers are broke?”

We’re going to begin seeing American based firms starting to raise prices as they burn through their pre tariff stockpiles. It’s going to bother me a lot more when “made in the USA” gets punished and has to raise prices 30%. I don’t see how any of us who love the sport of fishing are going to benefit long term from these policies.

I think my experience in the southeast definitely clouds my judgement. If you’re up north I could see the combination of uses you presented.

Nah. Trebles and single hook don’t mix. You need more power and control with a bladed jig than a topwater. Two completely different sticks.

Any flavor MBR 843 or St. Croix Legend Elite 7m.

Can you provide some further info on the 9/10 warranty? I was under the understanding no used products were covered period.

873 - 1/2 to 3/4 buzz baits. Try it before you bash the idea. I’ve also thrown heavier spinner baits on it with good success. For the two other rods I’d personally suggest an 893 because it’s fantastic for pitching lighter weighted bottom contact and can throw some light single hook moving baits moderately well. 872s or 852s. They are the golden standard for Loomis spinning rods for a reason and I never leave home without my 853. I don’t drop shot with Loomis rods. I don’t like the dsr models and the other tapers don’t really fit for me. Outside Loomis for DS I use a St. Croix legend elite 7mlf, and the Steez AGS “the one”. Some folks swear by the 6’10 mlxf Croix sticks but I felt like it never had the right tip to backbone for me. Versatile rods in the NRX line will be the MBRs. Truly versatile lines are most likely to be found in the megabass world though. Where MB may not have the absolute upper tier sensitivity they more than make up for it with a number of models being fantastic Swiss Army knives.

They weren’t worth $550, but were when I picked up mine at $320. It’s all relative when you ignore MSRP. I mean, St. Croix Legend lines at 40% off is a great value. At least when they ran torzites.

Is the deal currently dead?

I’ve made this point multiple times. The actual price of a piece of gear is never MSRP. An NRX isn’t a $700 rod, it’s commonly found now with 25-35% discounts. You can get it even more by stacking any stores gift cards on discount. Daiwa gear routinely goes on sale multiple times a year for 30%+ off. Would I pay $700 for one? No. But I’ll pay $400 when I used to pay $325. People respond to price changes like these with such negativity. The cost of the brick has been going up like gang busters for over five years now. The Steez AGS rods launched in or around late 2020 into 2021. This is the first price increase and is reasonable/in line with other hobby gear. Look at the cost of a kayak, boat, or golf equipment. They have increased 100-300% in the same timeframe. If a steez rod was sold at $1300 MSRP I’d see a reason to complain.

Otomat was and still is my favorite topwater rod. Was impressive with all things in its weight range and toss a squarebill reliably. Impossible to find now. I’d strongly recommend spending $50 a whatever brand moderate action 7 foot rod you can find. Topwater treble baits require almost nothing from the blank except a moderate action. If you want to get really in depth a fast responding tip combined with the moderate blank is best but not needed. Just makes walking or popping easier. IMO save the money for a stick which actually requires sensitivity. If you’re absolutely set on spending the cash I’d go 842 Conquest.

This sort of response is important. The reality is carbon fiber is more brittle than metal but the forces involved to break an AGS guide are out of the norm. You won’t pop one on a frog hookset no matter how much you lean into it.

I’ve used AGS guides for 5 years. Never had a problem in a boat, kayak, or bank fishing. I’ve run Daiwa and St Croix AGS and the whole “you’re gunna break them, guaranteed” is entirely overblown. Any guide other than a recoil will crack if you slam it in a car door, truck bed, or stomp it on a deck. I really wish people would stop spreading the idea that carbon fiber is the most delicate material ever used in fishing. It isn’t.

Having owned both, I’d strongly go for the 893. I fished out of a yak and the extra length is something you can get used too pretty easily if your not fishing overhangs on the river a ton. The sensitivity goes to the NRX and the fact you can fish it hard for years and still sell it for a decent chunk means you’re sorta insulated if you end up selling it.

It’s worth checking the requirements for multiple hook rigs in your state. A-rigs are similar and you may be limited to a single or double hook setup.

I think it depends on where you live. In the southeast throwing a big bait absolutely makes sense. You have a shot at double digit bass regularly. Up north I’m not sure. I still think you’re weeding out the little guys and generating on average bigger bites. Honestly sometimes when I go out I’d prefer to catch a single 6lber than a bunch of dinks. Sometimes I just want to catch a hundred of whatever bites.

Pricing is spot on and aggressive. I feel at those prices things will move quickly.

Steez “the one” with a 3000 vanford.

It you can deal with the size the Steez “the one”. I use mine for nearly everything.