I’m looking into a top tier bladed jig rod. This is a lure that I throw year round and always have one tied on. Tactical bassin recommended the IMX Pro 883 BJR but I also see in the IMX PRO line a G. Loomis IMX-Pro 862C BJR 7'2'' Medium Fast Casting Rod.  The obvious differences are ones a medium and ones a medium heavy and the difference in length, anyone have thrown both and have any thoughts or comments? 
 

right now, I am throwing bladed jigs on a b hittay rod or a halo hfx 7’3 mh. 

I haven't thrown both but as a long term Loomis user I'd say if you fish 1/4-3/8 oz bladed jigs in open water the 862 would be great, but if you throw 1/2 oz and/or around grass or cover the 883 is what you'll want to go with.

Thank you. I was thinking the same thing. I think 98% of my bladed jigs are 3/8 with a trailer. 
 

i really do not throw heavy chatterbaits. I also found a tremendous deal on a 862. 

On 12/15/2021 at 3:22 AM, Slbrinkman said:

Thank you. I was thinking the same thing. I think 98% of my bladed jigs are 3/8 with a trailer. 
 

i really do not throw heavy chatterbaits. I also found a tremendous deal on a 862. 

Did you pick up the 862?  Just wondering how you like it. 

Anyone else have this rod?  

A couple months ago it was b/t this rod and the Alpha Angler Chatterbound.   Always been almost exclusive Loomis man sans Steez AGS rods.   

 

I handled the IMX Pro Bladed Jig rod at a local store, and it was typical of Loomis extreme quality and craftsmanship.   I never fished it though.   I did put a Zillion SV TW on it in order to evaluate the balance, and it balanced nicely with that reel.   

 

That said I took a gamble and went with the AA Chatterbound, and it's easily the greatest technique specific rod I've own.    Loomis is the prettier rod, but I have no doubt that the Chatterbound will boat more fish and impart better action ("hunting") on Chatterbaits than anything out there simply based on its highly unique construction and materials.     

 

The Loomis models in the NRX+ and IMX Pro are graphite rods.     The Alpha Angler is a S-Glass composite rod with a glass tip/top section, then a graphite stout mid and bottom section.   Ultimately this yields a rod that perfectly allows the needed forgiveness in the tip to let fish fully get these baits in their mouths, and also allow the bait to properly "hunt" and deflect off of cover or structure.   You can feel every blade beat even with a 1/4th minimax, very sensitive rod.    The bottom half allows you to really drive a single hook bait home, and then the top half comes back into play especially on pigs given its awesome parabolic nature.   

 

It's the parabolic action along with it's forgiving tip that yield dramatic increases in hookup %, and land %.

 

I spent months going down this specific rabbit hole because I fell in love so much with the chatterbait this year, but missed or lost half the fish that hit them on existing rods including Loomis GLX Mag Bass models.   

 

First day with the AA rod, almost every fish that hit started coming into the boat, including most importantly, the bigger fish I'm trying to catch on chatterbaits.   

 

Their QC has been terrible though, but they make it right.     

There is more to a Chatterbait then weight, they use a heavy wire jig hook requiring hook setting forces a 2 power rod can’t deliver imo.

Tom

I’ve used the Halo HFX 7’3” MH as my spinnerbait/chatter bait rod. You will be hard pressed to find a better suited rod for the technique. SUPER sensitive rods those HFX rods. 

 

Im presently trying a Shimano Zodias but quite frankly, I see myself building up a full fleet of HFX rods for the 23’ season

3 hours ago, WRB said:

There is more to a Chatterbait then weight, they use a heavy wire jig hook requiring hook setting forces a 2 power rod can’t deliver imo.

Tom

Agreed