Hi all,

I'm new to custom rods and up until now mainly fished, G Loomis NRX, Megabass and Evergreen rods. NRX are reknowned for their extra fast action and sensitivity. My question is what would be the closest blanks to NRX ?

Thanks in advance

Matthew

Your best bets are going to be the Northfork Composites HM's and the Batson Eternity 2 swirl sanded models and the next best options are going to be the St Croix SCV's and the Phoenix K2's.

North Fork Composites would definitely be the closest to NRX. Designed by the same Gary Loomis with updated designs and materials, kind of the 2nd generation of those Loomis rod blanks.

James Taylor
Batson Enterprises
BatsonEnterprises.com | RainShadowRodBlanks.com | ALPSForeCast.com | Build2Fish.com

Thanks James and Thomas for your steer to NFC. My reservation is that those blanks seem to be on the slower side. Or is it just the labeling on the website when it says Fast, that's actually NRX Extra Fast ?

Matthew,
I can tell you that my HM MB705's as well as my HM MB 709's are definitely on the faster side of the fast spectrum. I would even go to say that the 705 is closer to extra fast. I would ask what technique you are looking to utilize the blanks for and that way we could try to help and put you in the blank that should fulfill the requirements that you are looking for. As far as sensitivity goes, I don't know that you can do better than the HM's and the Eternity SS ( I suspect these are HM's in disguise, and can tell you I really like them very much!!!!)

When it comes to a true extra fast, St. Croix is awfully hard to beat!! The SCV is one heck of a blank as well.

Tom

Casting is by far the chief benefit of an extra-fast fly rod. Sensitivity and hook setting don't seem to have much to do with the the rigidity of a fly rod, where the angler watches rather than feels a hit. What is the benefit of an extra-fast casting or spinning rod when using artificial lures?

Matthew, was there a specific model that you were looking at for NFC?
They have some Ex-Fast models.

We feel their ratings are pretty true.

Not all the NRX rods I've played with have an X Fast action. You are going to have to be more specific. Lots of X Fast blanks out there, they've been around a long time. G Loomis alone has made them for about 30 years or so.

I'm in search of a blank that I can use for 5" weightless senkos. Crazy as this sounds but a Yamamoto 5" Senko actually weighs 3/8oz by itself. I'm looking for that unicorn of a blank that will ensure any action imparted on the bait will be mostly vertical rather than dragging it closer to the boat.

A fast tip seems key for this bait. The best I've used so far was a Megabass X7 Bearingdown Type X with a Stinger tip but I foolishly sold it for a NRX 852c which is a cracking rod but I feel it's better with bottom contact baits than my little old weightless Senko.

I plan to get into custom rods in a big at so I can benefit from spiral wrap, Torzite guides, carbon grips as well as my favored Fuji SKT reel seat.

One thing that I'm intrigued to learn as a side is if you could purchase a NRX blank, would it cost the same as a NFC HM ?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2016 08:43PM by Matthew Priestley.

Matthew, you would not be disappointed by the HM MB 705. I use mine for throwing 1/4oz shaky heads with a mag finesse worm behind it on rocky bottoms. It is one of the absolute most sensitive blanks that I've fished.

I can't comment on the NRX as Loomis hasn't offered their blanks to the public since 2007 if I recall correctly, so the comparison is a moot point. It sounds like you have the plans for a fantastic build!! I haven't built them with the Torzite guides as of yet as I am too cheap to use them. Mine are built with Alconites, Kigans or Batson's.

The HM's are the best that Gary has to offer so far.

Dive on into the custom pool and have fun. It can easily become an obsession!

Tom



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2016 07:11PM by Thomas Kaufmann.

PB731MXF
PB701MF

Fast, fast, fast.

Looking for Extra Fast blanks? Below is a good read on extra fast mag tapper MHX blanks:
[blog.mudhole.com]

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The PB731MXF looks on paper to be borderline X Fast but the PB701MF seems to be Fast

AA figures don't lie and are completely relative and objective. More companies need to use them.

.........

As for the MHX blanks, are they in the same league as the NFC HM, K2, Point Blank and Eternity2 blanks ?

Edge rods are made with NFC blanks, there are two lines the First Strike (IM), and the Black Widow (HM), most ot their bass rods are listed as extra fast action. If they are sold near you go and feel a few to see how they compare to your NRX. Without the common cents info it is difficult to compare blanks from one company to those of another. That is the major reason the CC system was developed. There are a lot of good blanks currently available. The MHX HM extra fast blanks are very nice, and in my opinion a very good buy. The Point Blanks are also very nice, as are the St Croix V and Eternity blanks. The NFC blanks are light and sensitive, but are much more expensive then the others. Are they worth the extra cost? In my opinion no. They are not that much better for the money than the other blanks listed. I have found that there is a curve of diminishing returns when it comes to cost vs performance. Others may disagree with me on this. If you want the most expensive go with the NFC blank. If you want the best for you it's up to you to determine that. Everyone has an opinion as to what they like, but it may differ from yours.
Norm

Thanks Norm. Appreciate your comments. It would be great if the numbers were more widely available. I've had some success digging up numbers for the Eternity2 blanks and Point Blank does a great job of publishing them.

Is there a Blank out there comparable to the NRX 893 (7'5" Extra Fast) that's sweet spot is 3/8oz ?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2016 08:54AM by Matthew Priestley.

The unstated assumption here seems to be the rod will be used to fish for freshwater bass, perhaps largemouth bass, but it is not clear whether this rod will be used to fish artificial worms, dug worms, diving plugs, floating plugs, or jigs. Which of these uses requires an extra-fast blank?

I believe the rod's intended for fishing 5" weightless Senkos.