G. Loomis NRX+: A Deep Dive into a Modern Classic

If you hang around guides, competitive casters, or serious weekend warriors long enough, one model name keeps popping up: NRX+. It’s G. Loomis’s flagship all-round performance family—designed to push high line speed and loop stability but still keep that crucial “feel” for short, technical shots. In other words, the NRX+ tries to be two rods at once: a wind-punching cannon and a finesse scalpel. Here’s a thorough look at what the series includes, how it’s built, and which versions fit which fisheries.

What “NRX+” Actually Is

“NRX+” isn’t a single rod; it’s a platform with several purpose-built branches:

* NRX+ Freshwater (the core, all-round trout/warmwater series)
* NRX+ LP (“Light Presentation”) for dry-fly precision
* NRX+ Saltwater (heavier guns for flats and inshore)
* NRX+ Swim Fly (SF) (streamer-centric power with twitch/transmit sensitivity)
* NRX+ Spey & Switch (two-handed tools for steelhead and salmon)

The shared DNA is a fast, crisp action built to hold tight loops and transfer power efficiently, while still dampening quickly enough to stay accurate at trout distances. Loomis explicitly frames NRX+ around power, line speed, and loop stability without sacrificing “feel” in the short game.

Under the Hood: Why the Blank Feels So Alive

G. Loomis leans on a technology stack that shows up across the NRX+ family:

* Dynamic Recovery Technology (DRT): A design approach that blends materials and tapering so the blank snaps back to straight quickly after each cast. That fast recovery is what keeps loops narrow and accuracy high. Loomis describes DRT as a mix of materials and their most advanced compound taper process.

* Mega Modulus+ Graphite & GL8 Resin: Compared to older NRX materials, Mega Modulus+ is lighter and stiffer for a given strength, while GL8 resin achieves the same strength/impact resistance with less material, trimming overall weight and fatigue without turning the blank into a brittle broomstick. You feel that as faster rebound and less “wobble” in the tip.

* Multi-Taper Design (re-imagined): Loomis’s signature concept uses a series of micro-tapers to add material where rods tend to fail and shave it where they don’t—balancing durability and swing weight. For NRX+, Loomis says the DRT package is literally a re-imagining of Multi-Taper, aimed at stability and quick damping at a wide range of distances.

Together, these choices solve a tricky problem: how to make a truly fast rod that doesn’t feel harsh or timing-sensitive at 25–45 feet. The NRX+ family’s hallmark is a broad timing window—easy loading up close yet a high ceiling when you step on the gas.

Component Package: The Little Things That Matter

At the premium end, components should be invisible—you shouldn’t have to worry about them. The NRX+ lineup checks the right boxes:

* Guides: Titanium SiC stripping guides up front, with Recoil single-foot or snake guides that are light, slick, and corrosion-resistant.
* Grips: AAA cork in half-wells on lighter models (LP/trout sizes) and full-wells with fighting butts on heavier/salt sticks.
* Reel Seats: Aluminum hardware (often with wood inserts on LP), and salt-safe custom seats on the S (saltwater) series.
* Build: Handcrafted in Woodland, Washington, with tube and cloth bag, and supported by a limited lifetime warranty and no-fault replacement options.

These aren’t just spec-sheet ornaments. Lighter guides and well-balanced seats help reduce swing weight; better cork transmits feedback; and corrosion-proofing is essential for a multi-environment rod.

The Branches in Detail

1) NRX+ Freshwater (3–10 wt)

This is the “do-everything” heart of the platform. If you fish mixed techniques—dries, nymphs, and streamers—the standard NRX+ action is tuned for versatility in imperfect conditions (wind, complex currents). Compared to classic “fast” sticks, NRX+ holds stability at distance and loads predictably when you shorten the stroke for a 30-foot sidearm under branches. If you want one high-end trout rod to cover most scenarios, start here.

Sweet models: 9' 5-wt for all-round trout; 9' 6-wt when streamers and light wind are your daily reality; 7-wt if your trout fishing blends into smallmouth or light stillwater lines.

2) NRX+ LP (3–6 wt)

“LP” stands for Light Presentation —and it means accuracy and delicacy come first. The LP is the tool for picky fish on pressured waters: long leaders, fine tippet, small dries, and precise aerial mends. Its action is still modern-fast, but the top third behaves a touch more supple, so you can open or close your loop shape on command and land a #18 at 35 feet without a heavy “kick.” Componentry is classy (single-foot Recoils; amboyna insert on the seat in many sizes), and the balance is dialed for all-day wrist comfort.

When to pick LP over standard NRX+: You live in the 25–50 foot world; you value drift control and soft landings more than raw wind-fighting power; your home water rewards pinpoint, repeatable loop geometry.

3) NRX+ Saltwater (7–12 wt)

Salt is where sloppy rods go to die. The NRX+ S is tuned to keep loops tight in wind, pick up long lines off the water, and turn over gnarly leaders and weighted flies. Titanium SiC strippers, Recoil snakes, full-wells grips, and salt-safe seats are standard. If your shots are bonefish at 50–70 feet, snook under the lights, schoolie albies, or even baby tarpon, the S series brings the stability and quick recovery you want without feeling like a crowbar.

Go-to sizes: 8-wt for classic bonefish/redfish days, 9-wt for a little more wind and heavier flies, and 10-wt when you’re crossing into permit/baby tarpon or throwing big baitfish patterns.

4) NRX+ Swim Fly (SF)

Swim-fly fishing (river stripers, smallmouth, big browns, “pause-twitch-glide” stuff) demands two things: quick loading to punch into cover and live feel to transmit every bump through the line to your stripping hand. The SF sub-series tunes the blank for those needs—fast start-up, crisp recovery, and excellent feedback during the retrieve—so you can drive, steer, and animate streamers precisely.

5) NRX+ Spey & Switch

Two-handers are all about effortless line speed and controlled anchor placement. The Spey/Switch branches keep the same NRX+ ethos—strong, stable, fast-recovering—but scaled for sustained anchors, Scandi touch-and-go, or winter Skagit work depending on grain windows. If you live on steelhead rivers, you’ll appreciate how quickly these blanks stabilize after the D-loop unrolls.

On-Water Personality: How It Casts

At Trout Distance (25–50 feet):
The immediate difference versus older “fast” sticks is how easily the tip comes alive without having to over-accelerate. That means short, accurate shots with less false casting, and controllable loop shapes for side-wind or tight quarters. LP accentuates this, but the standard NRX+ is no slouch.

Mid-Range Power (50–70 feet):
NRX+ really hits its stride here. The butt and mid sections are lively but track straight, so you don’t feel hinge points when you ask for more line speed. That makes a huge difference when you’re aerial-mending a dry-dropper or trying to lift 50 feet of line and redirect a second shot quickly.

Wind & Big Flies:
This is where the “+” badge earns its keep. The blank’s quick damping keeps casts from collapsing when you step on the gas, and the salt sticks in particular hold a **laser-line loop** that cuts through gusts. Component stiffness (guides/seats) also matters here: less flex/wobble equals more energy to the loop.

Build, Finish, and Durability

G. Loomis rods look clean rather than flashy—tight wraps, tidy epoxy, hardware that feels tool-grade. The lightness you feel isn’t just blank weight; it’s the absence of parasitic vibration after each haul. That’s the DRT and Multi-Taper working together. Add in AAA cork, titanium/Recoils, and aluminum seats, and you’ve got a rod that holds up across seasons, not just showroom wiggles. Loomis builds these in Woodland, Washington, backed by a limited lifetime warranty and streamlined replacement programs.

Choosing the Right NRX+ for Your Water

Trout generalist (western freestone, mixed tactics):

* NRX+ 9' 5-wt as the one-rod quiver; pair with a true-to-weight all-round line for accuracy, or a half-size-heavy taper if you favor short, quick loads.
* If wind and streamers are routine, step to a 6-wt.

Technical dry-fly rivers (tailwaters, spring creeks):

* NRX+ LP 4- or 5-wt for fine tippet and micro-adjustments in loop shape; match with a true-to-weight dry-fly line for surgical control.

Warmwater crossovers (smallmouth, light pike, trout meat rigs):

* NRX+ 7-wt (Freshwater) for sink-tips, articulated flies, and wind management without going full salt stick.

Flats and inshore (bonefish, redfish, snook, schoolie albies):

* NRX+ Saltwater 8- or 9-wt for the bread-and-butter flats game; size up to a 10-wt when wind, flies, or fish get bigger.

Streamer specialists (river swim-fly tactics):

* NRX+ SF 6- to 8-wt depending on fly size and cover; choose a compact, aggressive head to maximize quick pick-ups and target-window shots.

Steelhead & salmon (sustained anchor to touch-and-go):

* NRX+ Spey/Switch matched to your line system (Skagit/Scandi) and grain window. The payoff is less post-cast wobble and cleaner tracking during the forward stroke.

Line Pairing & Leader Tips

* True-to-weight vs. half-size heavy: If your stroke is crisp and you like high top-end, go true-to-weight on NRX+. If you want easier loading inside 40 feet or you’re fishing nymph rigs/indicators, try a line that’s a half-size heavy or explicitly labeled “quick-loading.”
* LP finesse: Pair with a long-front-taper dry-fly line to preserve presentation.
* Salt: Use stiffer-butt leaders (9–12 feet) to turn over crabs/shrimp in wind; in hot climates, pick tropical-coated lines to keep the shoot slick and reduce tip-wrap.

Strengths, Limitations, and Who It’s For

What it does brilliantly

* Wide performance envelope: Loads short, stays stable long. That’s rare.
* Fast recovery without harshness: DRT + Multi-Taper feel like a well-tuned suspension—quick, not chattery.
* Real-world hardware: Titanium/Recoils, AAA cork, salt-safe seats—no mid-tier corner-cutting.
* Application-specific branches: LP, Salt, SF, Spey, and Switch cover almost every tactic without forcing one action to do everything.

Trade-offs to know

* Price: It’s a premium family. If you’re newer to casting and still developing stroke consistency, you may not unlock all the advantages right away.
* Feel preference: If you chase deep, classic bends (glass/bamboo vibes), NRX+ will feel decidedly modern and crisp. LP softens the attitude, but this is still a fast, contemporary platform by design.

Best fit

* Anglers who value loop stability in wind, crisp feedback, and a single rod that can hop between techniques and conditions.
* Trout anglers who also dabble in smallmouth or light salt.
* Flats anglers who want top-end control and resilience without stepping into ultra-stiff, less forgiving tapers.

A Few Model Pairings That Just Work

* Two-rod trout kit: NRX+ 905-4 + NRX+ LP 490-4. One for mixed tactics and wind; one for technical dries.
* Crossover travel pair: NRX+ 906-4 + NRX+ Saltwater 909-4—covers streamers/smallmouth at home and bonefish/redfish on the road.
* Streamer first: NRX+ SF 7-wt plus a compact head and short, stout leader for steerable, accurate swim-fly shots.

The Bottom Line

The G. Loomis NRX+ family nails a tough brief: build a fast, high-ceiling performance rod that doesn’t punish you at trout distances. By pairing Dynamic Recovery Technology with a modern take on Multi-Taper Design, Mega Modulus+ graphite, and GL8 resin, Loomis delivers blanks that are light, stable, and predictably powerful. Component choices are premium, the lineup is comprehensive, and the actions are tuned to real fishing—wind, big flies, short windows, and tricky drifts—instead of just pretty parking-lot casts.

If your fishing demands a rod that can change gears—from soft-landing dries to punchy 60-foot deliveries, from cool Western mornings to humid flats afternoons—NRX+ is exactly the kind of modern classic that earns its reputation on the water, one clean loop at a time.