I’ve got seven of the Exsence and some Stellas. I fish river smallmouth and they hold up beautifully for the task. Sorry I can’t compare them to anything JDM as I’m a TT oddball and prefer to purchase my reels here. The environments I fish are way too tough on equipment to worry about repairs so I’m...

1/6 + a TRD in 20-30’ is spot on for the 872s or a 902s Conquest.


The 872s casts better than the 852s for those duties most notably with light braid which aids in slicing through the depths.

Happy Shopping sir

Sir, you’ll enjoy the 820DSR for panfish. It will bend deeper into the blank than the NRR if referring to the NRX+ version which has a shut off point further up the blank. I have zero experience with the NRR IMX iterations but do own a number of NRX+ spins. I’ve owned the 820 DSR in glx. I wouldn’t ...

I wouldn't care if they were pink and my reels were green. looks and aesthetics is for tackle tour. the fish don't know. It's amazing how Gussy won the classic with those poorly wrapped NRX's. Pretty much where I fall as well sir. All I fish are smallmouth and there’s not another lineup in my hands...

Check out this old video of Mark zona. Https://youtube.com/watch?v=kY6pj-BAuLA&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE It's funny that the guide wrap in the video is crap. They have some of the worst fit and finish. My buddy has a few and there are gaps in several wraps per rod. I recently started building and was sho...

Loomis covers all of my smallmouth needs.

HobeyBaker wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:17 pm

Send Jeff Gustafson a message on Instagram. He has used a IMX Pro 901 and will reply.

Josh Douglas as well. Mentions them often on his YT page if referencing his “what’s on my deck” guide trips. Both 901’s are of course adept at throwing the same stuff.

I have all of the NRX+'s that you mention, and for 1/2-5/8oz drop shot in current, hands down 872S. One of the best rods of all time for smallmouth. Honorable mentions go to the 902S, or possibly a Conquest 902S for deep dropshotting, however I know some folks don't like the more moderate taper tha...

For what it’s worth I lip hundreds of river smallmouth a year on the 901 NRX+. I’ve had it in rotation since the pre plus days. It’s one of the 4 must have Loomis smallmouth spins in my hands. Based on your response to my earlier post, I know that one of the others is the 872S. What are your other ...

I use four versions of Senkos (smallmouth). 3” Slim, 3” Fat. 3” Ned and 4”. Spin(s) for me. I won’t go too far into the weeds as you’re likely referring to 5”.

Sir I am unsure of how much information you’ll get on that particular model as I only saw it mentioned here when Loomis originally pulled the 901 and 902 from their original NRX lineup eons ago. You’ll find plenty on the NRX 901 here and would base some intel off of that feedback. For what it’s wort...

You don’t need two topics for this. Just buy a NRX+ 872 and be done with it. That’s the rod you want. Absolutely agreed. To the OP - purchase it and not like it for what you’re wanting it for contact me and I’ll buy it. How’s that for a recommendation ? All I fish are smallmouth and it’s one of the...

You don’t need two topics for this. Just buy a NRX+ 872 and be done with it. That’s the rod you want. There’s your answer. I concur with the 872s and be done with it. I’ve got a lot of smallmouth friends up that way and every one of them own multiples of that rod. I’ve had as many as four in rotati...

Smallmouth are all that I fish. Spins dominate for me. Have for forty years, always will.

Travis, I'm with you. Seems the younger guys I talk to can't understand why you would want one but I certainly miss them on all the newer reels. Yeppers...same Gen that can't understand manual transmissions in an car or truck...until they have to actually drive one. It does help lower the stolen ve...