Picked up a couple Loomis NRX rods -

[bassboogieman]

At the Sportsman's show yesterday, and after a few minutes of what can only be described as lust, put them back in the rack. Nice rod? YBYA, but $500 is out of my range for a rod. The monkey was whispering in my ear the whole time - but for once I said "NO". They were about the sweetest rod I've ever held in my hand (I said about) and it was very hard to walk away, yeah it was that nice. It felt really nice in my hand, and what I really was taken with were the middle micro guides which were semi-recoil. Very small double loops of titanium wire - I doubt one of them would even register on a postal scale. Those rods are truly sweet, anyone blessed with the ability to have a couple (few, whatever) in their rod lockers, yeah I'm jealous.
I was impressed with the warrnaty that applies to this rod also - Loomis has a great (but everyone that buys a Loomis pays a bit "extra" for them to offer it) warranty, but for the NRX - you get a "get out of jail free" card with your purchase. Should you break a NRX, after the tears are shed, you can exchange it "no questions asked" for a replacement - free. After the first replacement, any future breakage - cost's $100 to have the rod replaced, but I'm told they'll be more discriminating in determining the cause for the breakage. So if you'r fishing buddy steps on it and breaks it you may not get a replacement, which you probalby wouldn't need anyway because you'd be in jail for at least manslaughter.