NFC Xray IS 694
80.5"
1.45oz
IP 430g
AA 78

Just got done taking some numbers on a rod I'm ready to start wrapping, so figured I'd come here to post them, and what do I see? Patrick posting numbers for the same blank. lol Kind of cool

NFC X ray IS 694.

IP 440g

AA 76.5

Patrick, I'm curious what your impressions of the blank are? I was looking for a blank to build a new drop shot rod on that had more power than the DS 6107 IM blank that my current drop shot rod is built on. While I wish it had a little lighter tip, I like the over all power of the rod, Sensitivity feels really good as well.

Split CFX rear grip. Am Tack G2 Apex reel seat with the 3K insert, mounted up locking, and Am Tack black Ti forged KR style guides with Pentalite rings. I'm at 3.45 oz for the build before thread and finish.

David, do you consider AA 76.5 to be X-Fast ?

David Baylor Wrote:
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> Patrick, I'm curious what your impressions of the
> blank are?

I haven't built it yet, but comparing it to the xray SB684 and the xray MB684, it definitely has the fastest action of the 3. It's nearly identical power wise to the SB684.

It should be a good 1/4-1/2oz dropshot rod I'd think if you're talking traditional vertical dropshot. You could probably throw shakey heads on it too up to about 3/16oz.

I will be building mine as a casting rod for small topwater (poppers and small walking baits) and mid size jerkbaits (vision 110jr or smaller). It will probably see some time as a wading inshore rod too for specks and reds. Should excel throwing topwaters as well as jigheads and plastic.

Based on previous builds, using an ecs16 seat, split cork handles and a Fuji alconite guide train with rv6 butt guide, total weight should come in around 3.25oz

Michael, were it a more powerful rod, I would definitely say it's extra fast action. With it being a lighter powered rod, I'd say it's borderline.

Patrick, your thinking pretty much mirrors mine. I usually drop shot with 3/16 - 1/4 oz weights, but I was looking for a blank with more power for when I go up to Lake Erie. It's to light in power for what I like for fishing shaky heads, I have an spinning rod built on an MB 733 X ray for those, but I think it will make a nice little Ned rig rod.

I thought about extending it 5" or so, but I didn't have a section of unsanded X ray blank that was big enough, or long enough that would work to hide the transition in the grip

Looking at the CCS data, if you extended it 5", I bet you'd end up with a blank similar to the xray mb 733 anyway. Maybe a little faster than the mb 733 but it'd be the same ballpark IP and AA I bet.

Just glued up the handle assembly on the IS 694. It should be a really fun river rod for topwater.

I currently use a PB691MLXF for that, but it's a little heavier (IP over 500) so I think I'll like this rod a little better. A good chunk of the fish I catch are 10-14" spots, smallies, and Guadalupe bass so the lighter the rod the better!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2024 08:12AM by Patrick Coco.

If I understand the NFC model numbers, the SB 684 is a shorter SB 724.

Yes this is the case.

The xray sb684, sb724 and sb764 are just different lengths.

Same with the xray mb684, mb724 and mb764

Same as the xray sj685, sj725 and sj765

There may be more that follow this nomenclature, but these are the ones I'm certain of. Their pattern numbers are the same and then the length is indicated: xxx.80, xxx.86, and xxx.90