Power: We were afraid that modifications to the GLX blank would result in weak spots or a reduced power curve. One of the things I like most about traditional GLX rods is their exceptional balance of sensitivity and performance. Even though you are armed with a super sensitive rod you could always depend on GLX Mag Bass rods to step up and muscle fish when hooked up. During one of our sensitivity tests on the Delta I felt a slight tick on the end of the line, and I reacted in a somewhat zealous set. The line instantly went taught and a fish on the end of the line immediately swam downwards testing the load bearing capability of the BCR803. I lifted the rod into position and noticed immediately that only the tip seemed to dip forward rather than the entire rod. The power zone on this rod has been moved up the tip. As I fought the fish I was surprised that the upper 30% of the rod could so easily bear the counter pressure that this fish was delivering. I purposely muscled her in and the rod responded with confidence. In the end this 4.5lb largemouth proved to me that though the BCR803 was quite unlike any GLX Mag Bass rod I had previously fished before, it was definitely born from the same proud pedigree.

Ergonomics: After the first day fishing with the BCR803 I could already appreciate the incredible lightweight characteristics of this rod. Weighing only 4.3oz this rod is lighter than the vast majority of rods on the market. Not only does the light overall weight help you keep a bead on what is happening to your lure, it also helps reduce casting fatigue. The only other ergonomic advancement present on the BCR803 is the composite cork butt end which is much more comfortable against your forearm, very durable, and also very lightweight....plus it just looks darn cool. The only thing that the BCR803 is not as well suited for is for working braided lines. While the Recoil^® guides were strong enough to handle braided line we found that casting with braid emitted too much noise, your better off fishing with hybrid or mono on this rod.

Price & Applications: The BCR803 is a premium rod, and comes with a price tag to match. While 350.00 will not deter enthusiast tackle collectors it is a lot to invest for the vast majority of anglers. The question really comes down to whether or not the rod is worth the money, and the slight premium over traditional GLX bass rods. To this my answer is yes. While I wouldn't recommend an entire arsenal of these costly rods, I do think that one or two of these highly application specific rods are a perfect complement to an existing IMX and GLX lineup. This is the most sensitive rod I have ever fished with, and while I was originally put off by the strange stiffness of the tip I have grown to love the rod's distinctive characteristics. The BCR803 doesn't just excel at plastics work, I found that the stiff tip was also capable of retrieving tiny cranks or spinners. These downsized lures can be worked perfectly, and the ability to sense quick strikes enables you to employ these smaller hardbaits when the bite is tough. Interestingly GLoomis has recently introduced their Bronzeback rods just for smallmouth, but the characteristics of the BCR803 also make it an excellent candidate for smallmouth bass as well. The quick tip, great feel, and ample power make it suitable for light lining tubes and burning undersized cranks.

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Conclusion: The BCR803 is the perfect solution for finesse fishing plastics and the extra-fast tip allows you to cast un-weighted worms and jigs a long ways with enough power to drive the hook home and still have the muscle to pull the fish away from trouble quickly. It seems GLoomis was able to squeeze a little more performance out of what many already considered to be a near perfect blank. It is as if the engineers at GLoomis found a way to somehow dial up the sensitivity and power of the GLX based rod while still managing to reduce the overall weight. The result is a fantastic application specific rod that stays true to everything that is a Loomis rod. The BCR803 is not a "revolution" in design, rather it is an "evolution" in design. While many manufacturers are pushing hard to create completely fresh products, GLoomis stays close to what makes their bass rods so popular....and GLoomis fans will applaud them for it. If you are not sure which new GLX Jig & Worm rod to try, the BCR803 should definitely be on your short list. This accommodating performer is capable of a wide range of applications and more than lives up to all the hype. With the BCR803 GLoomis has a real winner, and proves that in the race for increased sensitivity, improved strength and added raw power, the company's GLX variants continue to be the horse that you just shouldn't bet against.

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