Looking for a slightly more powerful and versatile rod than the NRX+893c

[freelancer27]

Hi all,

I am looking to get some informed opinions from you all!

I have been fishing my NRX+ 893c for quite a while now and while I think it is a great rod, I often feel like I could use a bit more power when I am throwing a 3/8oz texas rigged plastic in some light grass.

Hence, I decided to look for alternatives.

Needs:
* Would like to be able to throw anything from a 1/4oz Texas rig to a 3/8oz Texas rig where the bottom has some medium vegetation (nothing like pitching into cover though)

* It would be great to have a taper that would also allow the occasional moving bait (paddle tail, small chatterbaits)
* What I would also appreciate in a new rod would be a bit more leader friendly guides. The recoil guides are just a bit annoying at times. I am planning to user 30# braid to 12/14# FC
* Great warranty is a must, since I bank fish quite a bit and there is always a risk of something breaking
* Would like to stay within the same length, but dont mind if it is a few inches shorter/longer

Context:
* I have the Steez BC 1 that I am using for anything 1/2oz and a multiple Medium (light) rods for 1/4oz and below techniques
* Would most likely be pared with a Steez A (Steez SV spool)
* No budget limitation at this point (I do not prefer custom rods though)


Looking forward to your suggestions!

Thanks!

[tmd11111]

For what you described the 893 is perfect but if you're wanting something with a little more backbone step up to the 894 or better yet the 904 mbr. Also ditch the leader and go straight fluro.

[njbasscat]

I would try the 873. It falls in between the 893 and 894 for me.

[KSRonH]

I agree with the 873, the NRX+ 873crr is what you are looking for.

[godshippy]

I have both the NRX+ 893c and 873crr--the 873 has a softer tip for sure and would be close to what you're looking for except it still has recoils.

Might want to consider the Steez 7'2" Heavy--I have the 7'3" MH (Utility Player) and it's closer to the 893. I've read a lot of good things on the Power Pitch and it's one of the next rods that I want to give a try.

[freelancer27]

Thanks all!


I was looking at the Conquest 903c and the XTASY 754c as well. How would these compare to the 873CRR?

Thanks again!

[bronzebacks]

I had the conquest 903c and didn't care for the soft tip that bends deeper than the nrx893

[freelancer27]

I had the conquest 903c and didn't care for the soft tip that bends deeper than the nrx893

That's great feedback! Thank you. Conquest 903 has been eliminated from the equation!

[godshippy]

I don't have the DRX754, but I have the DRX755 and it's feels slightly more powerful than the NRX+ 873crr...

I'll check when I get back home and update.

[freelancer27]

I don't have the DRX754, but I have the DRX755 and it's feels slightly more powerful than the NRX+ 873crr...

I'll check when I get back home and update.

Much appreciated!

[godshippy]

I don't have the DRX754, but I have the DRX755 and it's feels slightly more powerful than the NRX+ 873crr...

I'll check when I get back home and update.

Much appreciated!

Sorry this is kinda late—forgot until I went to put away some new hooks I got.

The 873crr feels more powerful than the DRX755 because the Xtasy bends further down the blank and is 2 inches longer, but not by much. They might actually be pretty similar in terms of power, but the Xtasy has more of a moderate fast taper than the 873’s more traditional fast taper.

The Xtasy is very sensitive—not quite on par with the NRX, but it’s a damn good rod and close enough in sensitivity.

I think the DRX755 would fit the bill for you, but the issue for you will be the guide size. It has really small guides; so I don’t think you’re going to be able to run braid to leader. You will probably run into a lot of issues of the knot getting caught in the guides. I’m running straight 20# Trilene 100% fluorocarbon on my DRX755 because there’s no way I’m getting 30# braid to 20# leader through the guides even though I use the Alberto knot.

[freelancer27]

I don't have the DRX754, but I have the DRX755 and it's feels slightly more powerful than the NRX+ 873crr...

I'll check when I get back home and update.

Much appreciated!

Sorry this is kinda late—forgot until I went to put away some new hooks I got.

The 873crr feels more powerful than the DRX755 because the Xtasy bends further down the blank and is 2 inches longer, but not by much. They might actually be pretty similar in terms of power, but the Xtasy has more of a moderate fast taper than the 873’s more traditional fast taper.

The Xtasy is very sensitive—not quite on par with the NRX, but it’s a damn good rod and close enough in sensitivity.

I think the DRX755 would fit the bill for you, but the issue for you will be the guide size. It has really small guides; so I don’t think you’re going to be able to run braid to leader. You will probably run into a lot of issues of the knot getting caught in the guides. I’m running straight 20# Trilene 100% fluorocarbon on my DRX755 because there’s no way I’m getting 30# braid to 20# leader through the guides even though I use the Alberto knot.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to write such an detailed opinion! Fun fact. I had the Xtasy 755 some time back and sold it again because I was disappointed in its ability to handle 1/2oz (+ plastic) jigs in medium cover. I don't remember the guides to be micro guides though. Would you rate the 873 more leader friendly?

The 873, while a fine rod, overlaps too much with the Steez BC that I have.

Been spending today some good amount of time researching and have laid my eyes more on the Conquest 843. Hmm. Soo many choices!

[godshippy]

The 873 has bigger guides, and would be more leader friendly IMO. I hate using leaders on rods with smaller guides--I just get hung up too much.

I've been using the DRX755 for 3/8 oz finesse jigs and it has worked well for me. I'm fishing the California Delta; so throwing into tulles and the troughs behind the weed edges.

Your initial post said that you were looking for something with a bit more power than the 893c for 1/4 to 3/8 oz Texas rigs, paddle tails, and small chatterbaits. I think the DRX755 would fit the bill nicely here since it has a more moderate action for throwing chatterbaits.

So I just took out a bunch of rods to mess around with. I took the Steez AGS BC I, 873crr, 893c, Dobyns Champion 734, Dobyns Champion Extreme 744, and the DRX755 to do some comparisons.

I would agree that the 873crr is very similar in power to the Steez AGS BC I. The 873crr has more power and is faster than the Champion 734 and Extreme 744. I don't have an Extreme 745 anymore; so I couldn't really compare but if memory serves me right, then it's probably about on par in terms of power to the 873crr.

I think for Keitech 3.8s and 1/4 oz chatterbaits--I would be more inclined to use the 893c. For 3/8 to 1/2 oz Texas rigs where I need more power I'd be using either the 873crr or DRX755.

For me the Steez AGS BC I is more of a 1/2 to 3/4 oz football jig rod in deeper water. That's what everyone really says it's made for, and that's what I bought it for. I'm sure it makes a great pitching stick for 1/2 oz Texas rigs, but that's just not what I bought it for.

[freelancer27]

The 873 has bigger guides, and would be more leader friendly IMO. I hate using leaders on rods with smaller guides--I just get hung up too much.

I've been using the DRX755 for 3/8 oz finesse jigs and it has worked well for me. I'm fishing the California Delta; so throwing into tulles and the troughs behind the weed edges.

Your initial post said that you were looking for something with a bit more power than the 893c for 1/4 to 3/8 oz Texas rigs, paddle tails, and small chatterbaits. I think the DRX755 would fit the bill nicely here since it has a more moderate action for throwing chatterbaits.

So I just took out a bunch of rods to mess around with. I took the Steez AGS BC I, 873crr, 893c, Dobyns Champion 734, Dobyns Champion Extreme 744, and the DRX755 to do some comparisons.

I would agree that the 873crr is very similar in power to the Steez AGS BC I. The 873crr has more power and is faster than the Champion 734 and Extreme 744. I don't have an Extreme 745 anymore; so I couldn't really compare but if memory serves me right, then it's probably about on par in terms of power to the 873crr.

I think for Keitech 3.8s and 1/4 oz chatterbaits--I would be more inclined to use the 893c. For 3/8 to 1/2 oz Texas rigs where I need more power I'd be using either the 873crr or DRX755.

For me the Steez AGS BC I is more of a 1/2 to 3/4 oz football jig rod in deeper water. That's what everyone really says it's made for, and that's what I bought it for. I'm sure it makes a great pitching stick for 1/2 oz Texas rigs, but that's just not what I bought it for.

Thanks again, for your reply!! Much appreciated! You made me think! Lol. Should I maybe stay with the 893c and just accept it's limitations and then use the Steez BC for the 3/8oz applications where more power is needed. Money saved?!

[godshippy]

But that’s not in true TT fashion—you may want to take a look at the Conquest 844 because I think the 843 is more moderate and similar in power to your 893.