I mainly use 3/16-3/8oz Texas rigged plastics for bottom contact. I first dipped my toe into the high end rod pool 7yrs ago with a glx bcr803 jwr. I couldn't believe the sensitivity but was underwhelmed with the power. She was great for 3/16 ounce tubes/worms just not much beyond that imo. The next high end rod I got my hands on was a Daiwa steez compile-X, the power of the rod was spot on for my preferences, the balance was incredible, but the sensitivity wasn't nearly as good as the BCR 803. With something still to be desired I purchased a MB f5.5 Diablo evo xti. The rod looked amazing, split the difference in sensitivity between the glx and compile-x, balanced perfectly, just didn't quite have the HP I was looking for. Being satisfied by the sensitivity, aesthetic, and feel of Megabass rods I decided to step it up a half a notch to the F6 Super Destroyer. I thought the sensitivity was better than the xti but it had maybe a touch too much juice, I know I'm splitting hairs here but hey this is TT. Months after I bought my SD the FMJ dropped and I had to try again. My thoughts were that the extra 4" might make the rod less broom stickish than the SD and it did but.... It wasn't exactly what I wanted. I started looking back towards Loomis rods even though I was concerned about spending 500.00 on a rod that wasn't HARD enough. After asking some questions a forum member talked me into to this 894c and as soon as I unpacked it I got that "this is it feeling" I had to immediately strap a reel to it and start casting and pitching in my yard. My neighbor asked me what I was expecting to catch, I replied "perspective" and gained some. It reinforced my initial feeling that this was it! I had to get on the water to be sure. It was a brutal September day, bearly above 50°, rain and wind. I was having fun with pitchin, casting, dragging when I recieved that 'tick' layed the the hammer to 16" smally drug the fish and half the brush pile back to the boat, the little scrapper did escape, not wanting to leave the protection of the boat landing bay I called it a day without the new rod landing a fish. Sadly my NRX is going to have to wait until spring to taste victory. I put the boat away to chase whitetail. In conclusion I'm super stoked I finally checked all the boxes. This 894C has elite sensitivity, feels very similar in overall power to the compile-x and it balances really well with my Antares. Thanks for reading about my hunt for the perfect stick. Thanks to TT and TT forum members for the input along the way!
Interesting thoughts and that is the great thing about the rod market today. So many options to help fill the gaps.
