st croix panfish vs premier

Can someone who has seen them both, either fishing or in the store, please inform me of the difference between the st. croix panfish series 6′ UL F and the premier 6′ UL F? Worth the extra $20 for the panfish over the premier?

Have a few premiers and love them, including a 5′ UL which I use for panfishing. I’m having some trouble using really light gear (1/64- 1/48oz) since the rod is pretty stiff (1/16-1/4). So need a lighter rod in the 6′ length. Both have the same line and lure weight, and overall weight. If they are pretty close to the same performance wise I will go with another premier, but if the extra $20 will get me something a lot better I will go that way.

Thanks for any info!

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I’m having some trouble using really light gear (1/64- 1/48oz) since the rod is pretty stiff (1/16-1/4). So need a lighter rod…

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If you’re having trouble with throwing lighter jigs and lures, you might want to look at a little longer rod like the St. Croix Panfish Series 6’9″ UL Fast Action rod. You should also use some lighter line such as 3 lb test. With both of these combinations it will allow the weight of the jig to carry farther with the longer length of the rod and the less resistance placed on the jig with the diameter of the line.

I should have elaborated a little more on that. I’m using 2# line and not having any trouble casting the light stuff. I’m having trouble fishing it, the rod is so stiff that when a crappie just lays on the light jig I cant feel it right away. I’ve missed a lot of this this year that by the time I felt them they had felt me and let go. With a little softer tip I think I could visually see the rod load or feel them on there earlier and probably increase my catch. When the fish hit it, I can feel the tick or see the line jump and catch them. But when they just lay on it, it takes me a second to realize there is a fish and by that time sometimes they have felt me and are gone.

Let me put it this way, the 5′ UL is stiff enough that I vertical jigged walleye with it two years ago in a pinch (1/8 jig and ringworm). A 1/16 jig will not load the rod, only 1/8+ will.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the little rod because of its sensitivity.. I need another rod to add to my arsenal.

I haven’t played with the 6′ UL yet, but that 6’9″ is one of the best selling rods they have in the series. It’s not a noodle like a lot of the other rods where once you set the hook the rod bends near your handle. The 6’9″ has the sensitivity that you can detect those lighter bites, but also allows you to have the back bone of the rod incase you hook into a bigger fish.

Also, I like using a Hi-Vis line because if a crappie sucks the bait in and I don’t feel it, I can usually detect that my line went limp by looking at the line and thats when I set the hook.

Those are pretty light rods too.

If you are really looking to detect those super light bites a fly rod might be a better option. I have been fishing with ones for years now for panfish. Some spring crappies bite so light that you don’t feel it on short rods.

I use a 9′ 6 wt built as a spinning rod. I have done them shorter as well a very cool setup for detecting light bites.

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Also, I like using a Hi-Vis line because if a crappie sucks the bait in and I don’t feel it, I can usually detect that my line went limp by looking at the line and thats when I set the hook.

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You likely might see your line jump at the strike, like ‘eyes or bass…

Mark

The panfish series guides have longer guide feet to keep the guide loop farther from the rod to prevent light line from being wind blown when wet and sticking to the rod blank when casting.(according tot he St. Croix rep at the Madison Fishing Expo earlier this year.)-The line guides seem larger in diameter as well.

I’ll take a look at the 6’9. Havent made up my mind on size yet, but I want one 6′ or longer for sure.

I was just doing some more digging on the panfish rods and see their blank is a SCII blank combined with SCVI material. Anyone know anymore about this? Leaning more and more towards a 6′ or 6’9 ULF panfish.

Don’t know if you get into the whole “made in America” thing but the Premiers are made right here and Panfish series in Mexico. Love all my Croixs but something about the ones that are made here just got that something extra quality one can’t explain.

Here are a couple links I could find that may help, but not much to them, like you said not much info out there on them. Kind of like their Rage rods.

http://forums.tackletour.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=38611

http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/topic/36553-st-croix-panfish-spinning-rod-7ft-lt-extra-fast-tip/
That one ^^ is good for reply #4 from Ham. Different species but a guy who has several rods to compare which is nice bc then you know his experience and can put review into context.

Well, thanks for the help guys. After watching videos, doing some research, and talking to some people I think I am going to go with the panfish series.