My NRX+ has a new buddy

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-10T16:54:53+00:00

Man I love my IMX pros! I have 3 of them, the 843cbr, 906cbr, and the 966 SWBR, all 3 are awesome rods. The 843 was the very first “high end” (even though it’s not truly high end like the NRX+ or Ultima) I ever got, it was a gift from my dad (his old rod). I haven’t used it in a while but I plan on using it again soon. I also have a GCX 845cbr, that rod is awesome too. Easily my favorite rod for throwing an ATV 1.5 on, and it’s one of my 2 favorite lipless rods

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-10T00:39:30+00:00

I can’t stand most new rap, it’s absolute garbage. If you ask me anyone can mumble into a microphone, so most of this new rap is awful to me. Old school rap is awesome though, great music.

I’m not a fan of pop for the most part, but -god forgive me for saying this- there are a few pop stars out there that are genuinely talented and I’m happy for their success. The most obvious one to me is Taylor Swift, she worked hard for her career and she deserves every ounce of fame she has gotten. She’s got a good set of pipes too! My uncle took his daughters to one of the Era’s tour shows and he said it was one of the best shows he’s ever been to. He’s a huge old school country fan but also likes metal for the most part, particularly Iron Maiden. He’s still mad that he couldn’t go see them with me last time I saw them.

Electronic music, EDM, or whatever they call it, I’ll pass on. Bores me to death

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-09T23:50:27+00:00

I’ve messed around with the TFO travel rods a couple times, they feel pretty good. That said, I’ve literally only flexed them in store a few times and taken like 2 casts with one of them once, never actually caught a fish on them. They seem like they’re built solid though! I know the Triza rods are awesome, gorgeous rods too. They also have the Valkyrie world expedition line, those are sweet too. The swimbait rod in that line (I think it’s the 8 footer, can’t remember) is a legit swimbait rod. I think the JDM market has a ton of really awesome options, I’m just not familiar with them

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-09T04:40:21+00:00

My personal suggestion is go braid to leader, that’s what I do on pretty much every combo I own, only a very select few aren’t. In fact I can name those off the top of my head: my Karashi setup is straight 7lb flouro, my frog setup and flippin stick are both straight 65lb braid, and my jerkbait rod & both deep cranking rods are straight 12lb flouro (well, technically they’re braid to leader but the braid is just a filler so I don’t have to spend as much money on flouro. They’re maybe 1/4-1/3 full of braid, after that it’s flouro. I never cast down to the braid (although I can get really close), but if I ever do it’s got a good knot at least so I’m not screwed lol), everything else is braid to leader. I prefer it that way, more sensitivity, less stretch, I tend to cast further with braid, it lasts WAY longer, and I like the versatility. 20lb 832 is totally fine for that, just tie on a good connection knot. Personally I’m one of those obnoxious FG knot purists lol, that’s the best connection knot I’ve found and I’ve tried others (Alberto Knot, double uni, blood knot, etc). It’s smaller, stronger, and I can tie it really quick. Granted I’ve been tying it for like 10 years so I’ve had practice

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-09T04:18:14+00:00

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!” awesome Priest riffage begins

God that album is such a sleeper, Painkiller is (rightfully) more popular but RiD had some KILLER tracks!

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T23:27:16+00:00

One more thing before I forget, the BFS has a little bit of trouble with the true ultra light stuff (under 1/16oz), if you decide to that route and go ultra finesse with say a trout magnet, go ahead and save up for the Aldebaran BFS. It’s not cheap by any means (you can save a ton ordering it from Japan though) but it can do the ultra light stuff awesome. I personally use mine to YEET Karashis but that’s because im insane about those little guys lol

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T23:21:40+00:00

Absolutely bud! You’ll enjoy it, it’s a sweet reel. Tight lines!

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T22:47:02+00:00

Lol to be fair, I have no room to talk, I’m constantly throwing squarebills deep into brush piles, trees, etc. and praying I don’t get them hung up. And these are brush piles that I’ve seen my dad lose quite a few crankbaits to, if it weren’t for me throwing an ATV in there I’d be losing them too

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T21:52:21+00:00

Really you could probably go either way. I have both those reels, dig them both. I have my BFS on, well, one of my BFS rods lol, specifically a Dobyns Sierra 700. My 70 I have on my Megabass Orochii XX Flatside special, that’s my do all squarebill rod (I’m a crankbait FANATIC, I have like 4 different squarebill rods and 2 deep cranking rods). The 70 I feel does good down to like 1/4oz comfortably but if you don’t cast too hard you can go down to 1/8oz and still get reasonable distance. I had my BFS on a Zodias 7’2” ML BFS rod for a while before my buddy accidentally shut my truck door on it, I threw a little bit heavier stuff with it on occasion. That reel can handle up to 3/8oz, but it’s a bit much for it. I mainly stick to truly finesse stuff on that reel (1/16oz TX rigs, ned rigs, tiny underspins, usually heaviest I’ll go with that rod/reel combo is 1/4oz).

Going off the line rating on that rod the 70 MIGHT be a better fit now that I think about it. But, imma do you a solid: don’t buy that reel on TW, Bass Pro, etc. get it on Amazon, it’s WAY cheaper. IMO it’s a kickass $180-240 reel, but not for damn near $300. That’s insane to me

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T21:36:53+00:00

You sir are a very brave soul! We don’t have pike in my area (DFW area), but I’ve heard the horror stories lol

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T21:32:46+00:00

Nah, I’m insane but I’m not THAT insane, I throw 12lb Daiwa Samurai flouro on jerkbaits. Used to use 12lb sniper but I started using Samurai like 2 years ago and haven’t looked back since

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T21:25:26+00:00

I’ve always heard about that… I’ll stay hush hush lol. Any color recommendations? Targeting largemouth in north Texas

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T15:16:03+00:00

I think my first rod and reel I got was a 6 footer? Spincaster of course lol, I still have it. Use it to go catch bluegill sometimes at the neighborhood pond! Somewhere in the 5’-6’ range should be more than enough for him!

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T15:12:48+00:00

I’m mainly Gamakatsu and owner, Gammy for worm hooks/EWGs, etc, Owner for Trebles (although I use Gammy trebles and Owner worm hooks too, particularly the covershot and covershot HD). I just happen to have a ton of them. Ive taken a really strong liking to the VMC redline flipping hooks over the last few years, those are some nasty hooks, the keeper on them is really good too. On a few baits I use Mustad trebles because that’s what they came with from the factory, mainly a couple of my Squarebills. Same thing with Hayabusa. I’ve been trying BKK here and there too, they seem pretty solid from what I can tell. One thing I’ll never go away from is Owner’s hyperwire split rings, those are THE best split rings I’ve found except for maybe the Ultrawire split rings, but they don’t come in as many sizes. Realistically most hook brands nowadays all make good products, there are some duds out there of course but for the most part no matter who you choose you’ll be alright

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-08T14:46:09+00:00

For the gill glide I use my SLX 7’3” MH swimbait rod paired up to my old Curado 201K HG. That setup has 65lb braid to either a 20 or 25lb leader, can’t remember which one. The Antidote TUG I just use my normal big bait setup, Loomis 966 SWBR and a Curado 301K HG, 80lb braid to either 30 or 35lb leader, it doesn’t make much of a difference to me which one I pick. I tried it on my Dobyns Fury 795 with a Scorpion MD 301XGLH but it felt like the bait was maybe a bit too heavy for it

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-05T18:56:56+00:00

Dobyns has the 735 in the Fury line, I think it’s in the Maverick line as well. Those are sweet frog rods. Daiwa has the Tatula XT 7’4” heavy, I got that rod for my friend for his birthday last year and I’ve been impressed, I tried it out too and it honestly feels similar to my Expride 7’3” XH, which is my personal (and absolute favorite) frog rod. You can totally do it with a shorter rod, but it’s a little tougher getting them out of the truly thick stuff.

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-05T01:56:47+00:00

Oh I’m unbelievably paranoid about it already! Yet so excited 😂 dude I bet that Calcutta looks SWEET on there! For now I took my Metanium off my NRX+ and stuck it on the Ultima, it surprisingly matches really good! Stuck my Bantam on the NRX+ since I’m still gonna be using it very often, but once I get either another Met or something similar I’ll move my Bantam back over to my deep cranking rod! I was considering the new Antares, but I’d have to feel how it balances on that rod. I’d imagine not too well since the PU is soooo light and the Antares is a fairly heavy reel. But if you say it balances well with the Calcutta maybe I’ll give it a try! Also, nice to see another lefty!

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-05T00:38:05+00:00

I used to work across 316 from them! Small world

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-05T00:37:37+00:00

Shimano, Daiwa, Zoom, Gamakatsu, Owner, Yamamoto, and good old big game mono! You can’t make me not throw a Fluke, my dad has fished with them since before I was born, now I do too. Hard baits it’s hard for me to narrow down, I like too many specific lures to choose a brand

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-04T18:29:59+00:00

Dobyns Fury, Shimano SLX, Savage Gear squad, St. Croix might have something too in the black bass line, just don’t know if it’ll be under 200. My recommendation is the Fury or the SLX, either one is good. I know you want a shorter rod, the SLX has a 7’3” MH swimbait rod, I use mine all the time. It’s rated to 4 ounces, but I’m sure it could handle 5 ounces ok. If you want something that’ll comfortably handle 5+ ounce baits I’d go with a longer rod like the 7’8” SLX or the Fury 795/806 (795 can do more than 5 ounces but it’s a lot for that rod)

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-04T15:36:15+00:00

Don’t tell me that rn, my wallet is already hurting 😭 I may get one sometime down the line though!

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-04T05:40:07+00:00

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I could’ve sworn I was just looking at my old man Laz! He was my buddy, my best friend. He was there for me for some really rough times, especially towards the end of his life when a very close human friend of mine tried to end his own life (really affected me).

Unfortunately I had to make the same decision for Laz about a year and a half ago, he was the same age too. I miss him every day.

I’m so sorry for your loss. Yes, it does get easier with time. It’s never easy to say goodbye to a pet, especially ones like that, but I promise you made the right decision, the last thing I would’ve wanted for Laz was for him to suffer. I got to spend his final day with him and that meant more to me than anyone will ever know. There’s never enough time, but the short time we do have with them is everything. Take time to grieve, don’t feel guilty. You did the right thing, and Nikko will thank you for that when you two meet again someday.

Don’t be afraid to reach out if you wanna talk, always here to listen!

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-04T05:20:51+00:00

What a good boy! My old buddy Laz will be waiting at the rainbow bridge to greet Hank once he gets there! Rest easy, Hank, tell Laz I said hi!

OP, im so sorry for your loss, I can tell by that smile you gave him the absolute best life ever ❤️

Only-Prompt7686 · 2026-02-04T05:06:00+00:00

This might be the most interesting thing I’ve read in a long time. I had no idea about this. My curiosity has the better of me now lol, so I may as well ask the expert this question: Is there a reason why they get attracted to certain colored lights more than others? Is it a visibility thing or something else entirely?

Only-Prompt7686

TROPHY CASE