Best reel to balance out an NRX873

[rockchalk06]

Never owned an NRX but I have an 873 coming this week. My plan is to drag 3/8oz jigs with it. Especially in the cold weather dragging football hair jigs.

My only free reel at the moment is an IP79 and is kinda heavy. Does the 873 balance out better with a lightweight reel or?

Thanks in advance

[CGrinder]

This may or may not help you, but an OG Zillion feels pretty good on my NRX 853c. IP79 is certainly worth a try.

[big_gee]

My buddy has all of his paired with OG Zillions. Although I know he just got the 9.1 to go on his jig rod. Which I believe is the NRX 894.

[Hennessy]

The joy of fishing the nrx other than sensitivity, is how light they are. The 873 is by no means a "tip heavy" rod. I had a '13 metanium on mine for a while. I'm moving it to my nrx 894 & gettin a aldebaran mg7, which is 5.5oz. I have a core 50mg, which is basically the same wait. It felt fine

[DavidSA]

any reel you like above 6oz is going to feel good

When I first started to get longer NRX rods I played with reels a bit but did not find great difference as long as I stayed above 6oz. I was casting these rods primarily.

a fellow member suggested in a thread to add a rubber butt cap on the back of the rod and as they were a whopping $4 for 4 I tried it and love it. For fishing big jigs and swimbaits, I ended up with 1/2oz in each rod butt cap as I recall. With this done, you could go to a sub 6 ounce rod

bottom line, reel weight is a very ineffective way to balance out a rod. It has some affect but you could put 1/2oz directly on the butt and go with a 5oz reel and the rig would feel much lighter

[Quillback]

My Gen 1 and 2 Premiers work real well on my 873. It is an awesome Carolina rig rod.

[lpquick]

What a fantastic bottom contact rod you'll love it. Take a hard look at the 2014 CQ 100/101 or the newer 2015 100/101 HG models. Those would make an insane combo in my book!

[SteveSchmelzle]

I'm assuming you mean the CRR version?

I use a calais 201 on it.

[rockchalk06]

Thanks guys. I have a tricked out Shimano Metanium MG7 I may look at throwing on too.

[rockchalk06]

I'm assuming you mean the CRR version?

I use a calais 201 on it.

Yep!