We recently had a chance to play with G-Loomis newest rod, the Pro 4X.  Building on the success of the new NRX series, this mid priced rod also utilizes some Nano Technology.  The bottom 3 sections utilize Loomis GL3 technology while the tip section uses the same technology as the NRX.  We were curious to see how this translated to the cast, but starting at a price of $300-$350, we were all ears.

This rod is not as fast as the premium rods we sell and fish, but can still deliver the fly accurately at distance.  They are lightweight and accurate.  We had a chance to cast an 8′ 3wt and a 9′ 5wt.  The 8′ 3wt would be an ideal rod for fishing the small streams in Arizona.  It had no issues throwing the weight of a small indicator rig and was really fun to cast to dries.  Distance is not a concern when fishing small streams, but the 3wt could still get the line out there although there is a little better timing and slower casting stroke required.  We were very surprised how much line we could get out on the 9′ 5wt. 

Overall we were very impressed with this new offering from Loomis especially considering the price.  If you are just getting into the sport wanting a quality product that you will not outgrow or if you are looking for a great small stream rod without breaking the bank, check out the new Pro 4X.

G-Loomis NRX 9' 6wt

It seems that almost every year there is a new “breakthrough” technology introduced into the fly fishing market. Sometimes it hits the mark, sometimes not so much. When G-Loomis announced the NRX Series of fly rods a year ago, with new “Nano Technology”, we were interested to check them out and see for ourselves. The new technology utilizes a stiffer, lighter and higher density carbon married with 3M’s proprietary Nano Silica Resin systems. When we recieved our initial shipment we took them out front and started casting to see if there was anything to this new technology.

Our first impressions of the rods were that they were slower than some of the other premium fast action rods on the market, but we were surprised to see how much line speed we could generate with minimal effort. This translated into tight loops at both short and long distances. Our only concern was how they would handle the wind and heavy indicator rigs the West is famous for. I decided to get the 9′ 6wt and get answers to those questions.

The first place I took the rod was to Nevada, fishing for rainbows and cutthroats in heavy wind with lots of weight. It did not take me too long to figure out that I had a great rod in my hand. It casted the big rigs into the wind as easily as it cast the first day in the parking lot. What impressed me the most with the rod was how well it hooked and played fish. I lost some fish, but cannot think of one fish where I broke my tippet off. This rod had a ton of strength, but was extremly flexible and helped dampen any head shaking by the fish.

After this trip the NRX became my go to rod for big fish in tough conditions. It has not dissappointed. To date I have landed an 11.5lbs and 10.5lbs rainbow as well as several others over 7lbs on this rod. The only advantage I would give to the Sage TCX is in roll casting. The NRX can still lay a great roll cast down, but the stiffness of the TCX gives it a slight edge on these short stroked casts. I just find I can get as much done with NRX with much less effort and hands down the best rod I have fished for setting and playing fish.

11.5lbs Rainbow

10.5lbs Rainbow

A few months back, Mike O’Connor and I had the opportunity to fish the Sage TCX on the California Delta. After the first few casts Mike and I were completely amazed by the high line speed this rod is able to generate. Crafted from Generation 5 Graphite, this rod takes distance casting to the next level and beyond. Need to throw big casts, big flies, heavy-grain lines, or deep nymph rigs? This is the weapon of choice…

Since it’s recent introduction, Desert Sportsman has outfitted many anglers with the TCX. The overall impression of those anglers has been the ease of casting and incredibly light nature of the rod despite it’s magnum power. We have seen casters of all skill levels perform very well with this rod.

The TCX is a great looking rod with extra-flor grade cork, premium hardware, and a stunning vibrant green color. We have teamed up with Abel to offer a “TCX Green” finish on a variety of their reels suited for the TCX rod. Please contact us for more details…