Can I build a rod better than a G Loomis NRX?

Can I build a rod better than a G Loomis NRX? Do you know a builder and what should it cost? What blank should I use, grips, guides?

Probably not. Might be able to get something comparable or of slightly lesser quality but at a much more affordable cost though.

.... yep ....
Get a hold of Ron at Reel Time Rods, located at Lake Fork— Popes Landing

Yes for sure, not hard but you will not learn it over night it takes time. And you will build more than one rod to become good at it good luck but have fun.

Absolutely. So many good blanks on the market now. Phenix line up alone IMHO is superior to Loomis. StCroix is another line up to look into.

My arsenal is entirely Batson Rainshadow blanks. Their series consist of Revelation which is their lower modulous line up. A little heavier in weight but smooth stout dependable blanks. Those are their work horse. The middle modulous are the Immortal series. Love these blanks. Have built Med through XH casting and put these rods to work. Their high modulous series are the Eternity line. Just as good if not better than any Loomis ever made. Light as a feather, crisp, and strong.

I put carbon fiber grips and Fugi KR concept guides on all my builds. The sensitivity through the Carbon grips makes cork or EVA obsolete. It's practically like holding the blank. Transfer of vibration is ludicrous.

Rainshadow with Fuji carbon SiC guides and a Fuji seat outta do it. Better, for less money.

Definitely...some awesome blanks out there.

Batson blanks are the only blanks being built in the U.S. great blanks I have built a lot of them. But remember MHX is one hell of a blank, they just came out with a new series pro elite very good blanks but little pricey.

Oh really,where are G.Loomis blanks made, how about Northfork Composites or Lamiglass, oh yes, some St.Croix as well. There are several fly rod blanks rolled in the U.S. also. Last I heard, a portion of Batson blanks were rolled in China too.
As far as the OP question, I have my serious doubts as to building a better rod than NRX

I could be wrong but think the NRX is still built in the north west.

You would be correct Chet, as are several others.

You are both wrong. Assembled yes, everything else from China

Batson are made in north west U.S. Some in China but the last I heard they brought it back. People don’t understand these blanks are made in China some completely built in China guides and all. And now come back to the U. S. Manufacturing plants to be shipped out to dealers. All I can say if you want blanks you better buy now prices are going up tariffs.

Pretty sure rogue is still built in Oregon. Designed for salmon but they have a few bass blanks. Actually strongest blank I've ever fished with. My swimbait and frog rods are rogue

Just get yourself some Power Tackle Rods and be done with it!

Do you have a source? What makes you say Chet and Cmack are wrong?

Tackle Warehouse website says in Loomis rod descriptions, "Manufactured in the USA, like all G.Loomis rods." Notice it specifically says MANUFACTURED in USA, not just assembled.

Here is a video of the blank making process...at the Loomis facility...in Washington (USA):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA3Q9cpWhQo

Bingo! I researched it quite a bit this evening and could find nothing to dispute them being made in the USA

"Manufactured in USA" is legal speak for "made in china". Lol.

Made in USA means MADE IN USA.

Edit.... AND ONLY "Made in USA" means made in USA.

Anything else is legally misrepresenting the source of the product.

Hard to warranty a rod you build. 😂

One of my friends on here, Derek Grier built some VERY high end spinning rods for dropshotting with Phenix blanks. He spent $350 on just materials ALONE for One rod he made for me. So to answer your question, Yes you absolutely can build a rod superior to the NRX but you have to consider what your time is worth.

lol

Again...do you have a source saying that G Loomis rods aren't made in the USA? I included a video of the blank making process at their factory in my last post. Are you implying that G Loomis and Tackle Warehouse staged the video?

Not implying anything. Just stating that manufactured in USA is legal way to say made somewhere else beside in the United States. Either the product in part or in whole. Maybe they state that because the parts used aren't made in USA? Fuji components come to mind here. They are not made in the states.

Edit....

In a way I guess I am implying that they had to say "manufactured in the USA", since a certain percentage of critical components to the rod are NOT made here. Since , legally, they cannot say Made in USA. Due to their build not using a high enough percentage of USA made parts.

Assembled in the USA is also misleading.

Not true. Manufactures in the USA has the exact meaning as made in the USA acoording to the FTC.
The majority of the parts and cost must be made in the USA to get this stamp. There are a lot of examples on their web page. Plus I know personally that the NRX rods are made in the Washington plant. I have an old friend that has worked for Loomis and now Shimano for 25 years.

Yes. It is true.

Manufactured in the USA means that NOT ALL OF THE COMPONENTS are domestic. It means the exact same thing as assembled in USA from foreign and domestic parts. It is not 100% US made. So, legally, it cannot say "Made in USA".

It can say made in Washington, Handcrafted by Washington Natives in our Washington plant
...anything but MADE IN USA. if it says MADE IN USA, it has to meet the set requirements of percentages of domestic critical parts.

This is correct. Made in the USA is 100%, all other phrases mean it's not 100%.

My partner fishes exclusively with custom rods that a guy builds out of Houston. I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt you can build one as good or better. Components are key and when it’s all said and done it’s a $550 rod. Pick your poison, I’m sure you won’t save any money building rods by any means because you will be quickly adding to your own personal stash. Kinda like reloading ammo, you don’t save more you just shoot more. On a side note the blank manufacturer will warranty a broken blank but you pray you can salvage $120 eyes etc to rebuild.

Looks like you can still buy Loomis blanks so yes, if you have the skill set.

The point is that those rods are still built in Washington state. Not overseas. The guides are made overseas and I’m sure the reel seat is but the main component that one buys in a rod is THE ROD and NRX blanks are made in the USA.

I had a rod builder tell me he can build a NRX equivalents or close for 170 bucks. Is he smoking crack?

You may be smoking crack with all the rod posts!

Can I get an Amen?

You've received some really good input over the last few days about a plethora of rods I-Bock--some made in the US, some in the far east, some heavily disputed and potentially unknown in their origins, some custom, some non-custom. None will be magical though. It might be time to take it all in, analyze it, and make a now educated decision on what is going to work best for you and your budget. There's no such thing as the perfect rod at the perfect price, I promise you--look at all the variance in replies you've received. Remember, it's just a rod. You've got to do the work on the water to make it work anyway.

Probably, I havent seen weights of the nrx, I weighed some of mine today my fx rods are 4.1 oz with cork or winn gripp and are 7'1" mh casting rods. They seem to work really well for me but I havent got my hands on a g loomis yet. Im going to try one and see.

Back when I worked for a Golf Shaft Company, the blanks that were built over seas, mostly Bangladesh at the time and was painted and had graphics put on them in the USA had to have "Assembled in the USA"

To make your own rod, you will need to have prepreg and keep it stored at a very cool temp.

Then you roll your blanks on mandrels and bake them to make the rod blanks.

After that you assemble them with guides, paint, handle, etc.

To say you are a rod builder is a bit misleading..........

Thanks for your input. I will continue to ask questions until I feel like I have everything I need. Thanks👍🏻

What’s up stranger?

Don't overlook the Rogue blanks. I've built on a bunch of blanks and currently fish with rogues, loomis IMX, mhx,Phoenix and others, the Rogue's are more sensitive than all of these imo. American made too. Many years ago it was rumored that the old kistler heliums (the good ones with the American flag on the blank) used rogue blanks. They were very similar. Just a very sensitive blank. There mag bass series is excellent. Around a $100 for the blank. Dang good deal. Worth looking into.

Batson I think uses Alps components
http://www.alpstackle.com/index.php?func=introduction
Located on the beautiful island state of Taiwan.......

The original question is simple. Yes, but better in quality and product may come at a precipitously higher cost.

If you are not fishing for big money, you're on a fools errand.... just like the hunters I know that have 3000 scopes. A Nikon monarch or Leopold gives you about 95% of available performance.... you spend thousands more for that last few percentage points.... same with rods

When you taking me fishing on hubbard? I have some bluegill just about the right size right now!