NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

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Bass1980
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NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by Bass1980 » Fri May 05, 2023 11:17 pm

Might be a long shot but has anyone fished or handled both of these rods? What I am looking for is a deep water ned rig rod. I'm usually throwing zman 1/6oz head on a trd, maybe 1/4oz total weight. Fishing in 20-30ft of water. Between the two I'm curious which one can cast better at this weight, faster action, and the right power. I feel like my X7 Power House is a little too slow for ned rigs but a great hair jig rod. Plus I'd like the extra length for a long cast and better hook set at the end of a cast. Even if you haven't fished both I'd still like to hear thoughts on either rods fishing ned rigs.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by HobeyBaker » Sat May 06, 2023 1:30 pm

I have an original 902 NRX and the previous gen Steez. The 902 is a moving bait taper to me and is really parabolic. I’d go with the Steez. The 872 is the ned rod in the NRX lineup. The 821 NRX is for the real finesse neds like 3/32 oz.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by Craiger12 » Sun May 07, 2023 6:44 am

I have no experience with the NRX 902, but have read essentially what Hobey stated in his post. I'm sure others will comment more on the NRX as I have read many posts about the and specifically about the 902 in the past.

I can tell you that I have the current Steez AGS MML and it would be an excellent choice for what you are looking to do. I highly recommend that rod, and it would be very versatile for other techniques as well.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by amso4 » Sun May 07, 2023 9:29 am

I have the NRX+ 901,902, 821 and the Steez mml and have fished all 4 with ned rigs. I find myself with a ned on the 901 since it can cast the 1/10 or 1/16 head further than the others. As far as sensitivity, NRX has that buzzy feel that I like and the Daiwa does not have. I use the MML for Neko and Wacky rigs mostly around grass edges. The 902 can do all of that and also pulls some drop shot duty for me also. The 821 is used as a backup to the 901 for neds in the 1/10-1/6 range due to the shorter length. I have very clear water in the reservoirs I fish, so distance is important to me. I have caught 5lb fish on all of these rods with neds. Very fun when I want to finesse fish.

All of these rods are pure joy to fish with. Cannot go wrong with them. Try them all and see what feels right.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by Bass1980 » Mon May 08, 2023 6:13 am

Thanks everyone for the reply. I wish I could buy and try them all. I'll head to a local tackle and flex test a 902s and 872s. I think by reading the reviews I'm leaning towards the 872s between them. I have fished a 852s and didn't really like it. Felt it was way too stiff. Felt like it didnt cast well. Hoping the 872s isn't just a longer version of the 852s. I just missed out on a killer deal on a used Steez MML, still kicking myself. I'm more of a MB and Daiwa guy so I'd prefer the MML if it works but wouldn't hesitate to get the NRX at all since I still have a Stella FI.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by TravisNY » Mon May 08, 2023 2:35 pm

1/6 + a TRD in 20-30’ is spot on for the 872s or a 902s Conquest.


The 872s casts better than the 852s for those duties most notably with light braid which aids in slicing through the depths.

Happy Shopping sir

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by Bass1980 » Mon May 08, 2023 8:30 pm

Yes I run YGK 22lb with sniper fc 8-10lb leader for this.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by oops » Wed May 10, 2023 4:54 pm

No experience with any of these rods but do have some limited experience with NRX 872 and own the 821 NRR and 822 SYR which I think share a lot with the NRX 901/902/872

I imagine the 821 fishes almost identically to the 901 and very similarly to the 902 which is soft/parabolic, meaning it's best suited for the light weight and light wire ned heads and smaller moving baits. Personally for the 821, I would not consider going heavier than 1/8oz jighead. I fish vast majority 1/10oz and a little 1/15oz ned. Doubles as a 1/8 and 1/12oz paddle tail rod. If you like throwing that Pointer 65 and similar baits, this is the rod for that too. Great trout moving bait rod. Wouldn't suggest any of these 3 rods for your application based on my experience with the 821 and my assumptions on how the 901/902 would fish.

872 is what you're looking for imo based on my experience with it. If I fished spinning more, this would probably be my first rod purchase, replacing my 822 SYR. Bought the 822 as an all around rod, and the 872 would be focusing on one of the two things that I primarily use the 822 for, basically just using it as a step down from the 893c for stuff in exactly the weight range you're looking at. I don't fish heavier neds, but when I saw what setups you were looking to fish with, this is the rod that immediately popped into my mind. It's going to absolutely rock any soft plastic application you want to throw on a spinning rod exactly in its 1/8 to 3/8oz rating. Depending on what rod you've been using, just make sure to be careful with your drag setting if you're throwing those light wire hooks

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by Thunderblack1984 » Thu May 11, 2023 4:48 am

What about the 842S? That rod seems to do a lot well.
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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by HobeyBaker » Thu May 11, 2023 11:50 am

oops wrote:
Wed May 10, 2023 4:54 pm
No experience with any of these rods but do have some limited experience with NRX 872 and own the 821 NRR and 822 SYR which I think share a lot with the NRX 901/902/872

I imagine the 821 fishes almost identically to the 901 and very similarly to the 902 which is soft/parabolic, meaning it's best suited for the light weight and light wire ned heads and smaller moving baits. Personally for the 821, I would not consider going heavier than 1/8oz jighead. I fish vast majority 1/10oz and a little 1/15oz ned. Doubles as a 1/8 and 1/12oz paddle tail rod. If you like throwing that Pointer 65 and similar baits, this is the rod for that too. Great trout moving bait rod. Wouldn't suggest any of these 3 rods for your application based on my experience with the 821 and my assumptions on how the 901/902 would fish.

872 is what you're looking for imo based on my experience with it. If I fished spinning more, this would probably be my first rod purchase, replacing my 822 SYR. Bought the 822 as an all around rod, and the 872 would be focusing on one of the two things that I primarily use the 822 for, basically just using it as a step down from the 893c for stuff in exactly the weight range you're looking at. I don't fish heavier neds, but when I saw what setups you were looking to fish with, this is the rod that immediately popped into my mind. It's going to absolutely rock any soft plastic application you want to throw on a spinning rod exactly in its 1/8 to 3/8oz rating. Depending on what rod you've been using, just make sure to be careful with your drag setting if you're throwing those light wire hooks
I think the 821 is a much stiffer blank than either the 901 or 902. The 901 and 902 blanks really flex deep on the cast.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by oops » Thu May 11, 2023 1:36 pm

Thunderblack1984 wrote:
Thu May 11, 2023 4:48 am
What about the 842S? That rod seems to do a lot well.
If it's the same blank as the 842c (I have the old one, not the plus), it would probably be a nice ned rod for light wire hook jigheads. A friend has an 842s. His favorite rod by a mile. I've fished it and it feels great. My 842c is primarily my 3/16 to 3/8 paddle tail rod and lately I've been fishing a 3/8oz Mini Max on it and loving it for that. Solid 78 Pointer rod. Basically pretends to be a noodle rod but then loads into a really nice backbone. Similar to how I'm using the 821s but a step up in weights. I'd trade my 842c for an 842s in a heartbeat if I could do it hassle free. I'd stay away from the rod for heavier wire hooks and gravitate toward the XF options though.

HobeyBaker wrote:
Thu May 11, 2023 11:50 am


I think the 821 is a much stiffer blank than either the 901 or 902. The 901 and 902 blanks really flex deep on the cast.
Oh my goodness. Then I would for sure be steering clear of the 902 for OP's application.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by TravisNY » Thu May 11, 2023 2:35 pm

Hobey’s thoughts are mine regarding the 821 vs 901. Their similarities end on paper. The 821 has a shut off point under load that the 901 (or 902) doesn’t have.

In comparing SJR vs JWR that’s often the case.

As far as the 842 (again SJR) I wouldn’t be doing bottom contact with it in 20-30’. The 872s is the gold star winner there with the weights the OP describes.

I’ve got the 821, 822 DSR, 842, 852,872, 901,902. Multiples of some. All I fish are smallmouth, I utilize them all.

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Re: NRX 902s vs Steez AGS MML for ned rigs

Post by Bass1980 » Sat May 27, 2023 1:58 pm

Thank you for all the suggestions I've decided to go with the 76MML. Lucky there's a shop here with both 76MML and 902s. I think 902s is better suited for hair jigs. Unfortunately they didn't have a 872s in stock to compare. I'll update with review once I get to fish it.

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