favorite rod for 3/8 and 1/2 jigs?

[TNReb]

Well, I dropped my custom jig rod in the lake today. Oops. I was 20ft deep and in bushes/timber. I dragged treble hooks for 2 hours and was never able to snag it. I broke off a ton of treble hooks and heavy tungsten weights. Ouch.

So...

I'm looking for a new rod to pitch jigs. Mostly 3/8oz + trailer. Sometimes a 1/2oz + trailer. Tossing them at laydowns, stumps, bushes, etc. I wouldn't call it heavy cover. Not much real grass where I normally fish, and I already have heavier rods I can use for that when necessary

Can anyone over any thoughts on how the NRX 894 balances?

I have other NRX casting rods - 852, 853, 854, 873, and 893.

Out of those, the 854 is by far my least favorite. It feels heavy to me and I find it difficult to pitch with.

I keep my 873 rigged for carolina rig always, so I'm not interested in using that as my jig rod.

The 893 feels a little overpowered with even a 3/8 jig if I add a bulky trailer.

Does the NRX 894 balance similarly to the 854? I don't have a local place to feel it next to my 854.

I love the sensitivity of my other NRX rods, but can't decide whether to get the 894 or go with another custom build. I was highly satisfied with my custom rod (Droomvanger Custom Rods), but I would probably want to go with a little more sensitive blank this time.

[Landar]

Have had NRX894 and now Conquest 904C. I’d never go back to 894 now. I’d also take a look at that Daiwa Steez AGS jig rod Bronzefly recommends. Megabass FMJ is good too.

[TNReb]

Have had NRX894 and now Conquest 904C. I’d never go back to 894 now. I’d also take a look at that Daiwa Steez AGS jig rod Bronzefly recommends. Megabass FMJ is good too.

First thing I did was send bronzefly a message to see what he recommended. That Steez Bottom Contact is interesting, but man it's not cheap!

I have had a FMJ, and I've broken two of them. I have broken 3 rods in my life and all 3 were Megabass. They took care of me and replaced them, but I've lost confidence in them.

[Landar]

First thing I did was send bronzefly a message to see what he recommended. That Steez Bottom Contact is interesting, but man it's not cheap!

I have had a FMJ, and I've broken two of them. I have broken 3 rods in my life and all 3 were Megabass. They took care of me and replaced them, but I've lost confidence in them.

I had the same issue with a Megabass but I still liked the rod. Was hoping they fixed the issue. None of the rods you mentioned are cheap.

[cidgrad]

I'm really enjoying the ALX Rods ENOX BMJ right now. We have had a very hard time keeping them in stock since release, but should have some soon.

[coreynov902]

If you are primarily pitching instead of casting, I'd look at the Daiwa Steez AGS 7'1" MH extra-fast. Like the new Steez bottom contact rod, it's not cheap, but I absolutely love it for pitching lighter jigs and T-rigs. The AGS guides definitely help to make it extremely sensitive. I haven't used anything heavier than a 3/8 oz jig and trailer on it yet, but it's rated to 1 oz so I'm sure it could handle a 1/2 oz jig just fine. And if you use the BBC10 code at the Tackle Trap, you'll get 10% off, which is quite a bit when you're talking about a $580 rod.

[DMart1]

Alpha Angler Zilla. 7'3" 3/8-1oz. 7'3" is a good all around length.. Similar to the ALX rod mentioned above, it makes a good frog rod also.

[kickerfish1]

Within the Loomis line the GLX MBR 844 is a gem for those weights and also good with bigger topwaters, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and swimjigs.