FISHING ROD PROBLEMS

In the last two weeks I have had 2 st. croix baitcasting rods where the reel seats have failed. My reels came popping out while fishing and I noticed that the screw deal was stripped where I could not keep my reel tight. The screwnut also would seperate from the top reel seat holder part also. Both rods are 5-6 years old. Can a reel seat be replaced and by whom or is the rod a loss. The rest of the rods are in great shape. Has anyone else had a problem with the Croix’s seats?

Hey…. I had the same problem, lost a nice fish because of it… set the hook and the reel took off like a rocket… I’ve been wondering how to get it fixed as well?

Are they Avids? Legends? I don’t think St. Croix endorses any repairs other than from the factory so you’d have to send them in. If they were Legends, they use Avids now to honor the lifetime warranty. If they’re Premiers, I wonder if a good rod builder could do something for you? Send a pm to Mike at Hooked On Fishing. He might have some sound direction.

The rod can be sent back to St Croix and have the handle and reel seat replaced relativily inexpensivily compared to the cost of a new rod. I had the same trouble with my Avid series when it first came out. If you need the St Croix address just let me know. Your other alternative is to replace handle and reel seet yourself. Cabelas has rod building supplies, but if you arent familiar with doing this you could end up wrecking your rod.

Sounds like Croix has a problem with these reel seats.Has anyone address them about repairs on the make and models so it don’t happen to other anglers?
Ryan Hale

If you look at the newer St Croixs you will see that the reel seats have been changed. They are pretty receptive to customer concerns as well. Dont be afraid to call them or email as you will always get an answer back. This is one of the few big companies that is still run with small business customer service values…and yes I am partial to St Croix!

I have the same problem with an two year old Avid rod that my son-in-law was using. It was pretty funny to see him standing in the back of my boat with the reel between his feet and a nice bass on the other end of the line and him saying “What do I do now?”

Most of the components on most rods are made by Fugi. There are not that many different reel seats on the market. Check the rods out at your local tackle shop and you’ll see.

If any company has trouble with their reels seats it was a supplier problem and should be a systemic problem in the rod bulding market with a particular components manufactoring run.

Go Loomis……..better rod for less money on the G2s (the G2 is comparable to the Avid, but about $50 less)……St. Croix sucks in my mind………Had a bad expirience with their customer service over a defective rod and I will never buy another one………

Thank’s for the replies. One rod is an avid and one is a premier. I am getting a custom built from Mike, so when I pick it up this week, I will ask his advice. Gary, you are the first person that I have heard that had a bad experience with St. Croix. I will contact St.Croix about my problems and see what they have to say. I only have 4 others that will probably cost me a big fish sometime and am now wondering about future purchases.

Actually, I have problems with 2 St. Croix Rods. They are the only 2 St. Croix rods that I have. Both rods are Premieres.

Both rods had the tips come loose and both are not very sensitive. The primary problem that I have is the spinning rod…….The tip does not bend “evenly”……..So, after failing at St. Croix…….It is a slip bobber rod.

The other rod is a 7′ baitcaster that I use for bottom bouncing cranks……I can’t use it for 3 way live bait because of lack of sensitivity………So, I picked up a $100 Bass Pro rod of HM54 graphite that is the best bottom bouncer/3-way rod I have ever put my hands on…….I love it………

Dollar for dollar, I feel I can get a better rod through Loomis or Bass Pro at a cheaper dollar amount…….

Maybe “today”, if I bought new, I might have a different opinion, but because of my expirience, I will not spend my money on St. Croix…….

cant you put something on the other rods rather than wait for them to fail? how about a piece of tape? filiment tape

I contacted St.Croix and they told me to send them in and that there may be no charge on the repair, or that if there is, it would be $15 plus $10 shipping.

In the mean time, I picked up a Gander Mountain 6×6 pro select im8 heavy action baitcasting that feels pretty good. It was on sale for $10 off. Total price $49.99. Seems like a great value. I’ll give it a test run on some bass.

Gary,

We’re all entitled to our own opinions but I have to serioiusly disagree with you. I got rid of my G2’s over Berkley products! They weren’t any more sensitive, didn’t balance as well, and I got the Berkleys on a clearance for $15/rod. No offense, but G2’s better than Avids? If Loomis felt that way, they’d have never developed their higher grade models. Are both companies shamming people on their higher grade products? I don’t think so. I’ve been through over 130 rods, fished and documented in test and compare sessions, and I can’t support your claim. Sorry bud, I just can’t.

As for Premiers, again….. my findings are that it depends on the model. Because of the difference in warranties, I go with the Avids when I feel Croix has the better offering. The difference between an Avid and a Premier is significant in my experience and I would say there are many available products that can handily compete on the Premier level. But the Avid realm……. that’s getting pretty select and I wouldn’t assume anything is better than one without a side by side comparison.

Avid is my favorite blank as well. Mike, from “Hooked” has found me an avid saltwater blank to make a 6×6 heavy worm rod. He told me that he prefers the “salty” blanks for lightness and sensories. I can’t wait till it’s ready

Well;

Maybe I got a lucky rod…….

I needed a new jigging stick. Wanted a 6’med.
I compared the G2 to the Avid. The G2 I have is lighter, more balanced, and is more sensitive……drasitically more sensitive when set up with the same reel, line, jig weight.

When I went to purchase the new rod…….I was aiming for an Avid………But there was no doubt in my mind that the G2 I picked up was a much better rod.

I have a Bass Pro signature series walleye rigging rod that is IM6, 6’6″………That rod smokes my 7′ ml premier for pulling lindy rigs………….That BPS rod only cost me $60.

Look, I know that there are lots of Croix lovers here and there are lots of people who are sponsered by Croix………But, being non-biased and non-partisan………I don’t like them because of all the bad expirences I have had with them……….I have two (IMO) sub-par rods that I paid too much money for and I have had a bad expirience with their customer service………That is 3 strikes……….The bad deal is that the only reason I bought the rods, is because I was “convinced” that they were a “better” rod……..So, I bought with what other people told me to buy, not what I felt was better………

Now, I fished with James 2 times on the river and I liked what he had for Croixs……..But I will never buy one again…….

Still,

I’ll get Gary straightened out this fall. He doesn’t scare me, not when I got a 12’er in me anyway.

Not a problem John………..In fact I’ll make you a deal……..I let you use my 7’m premier baitcast for trolling. It has 30lb, 6lb dia spiderwire (It has to if I want to feel anything……..) and I’ll use my cheap BPS $40 6’6″m IM6 baitcaster and we will see who can feel the junk that accumulates on your lure faster………….That too has the same line……..

Sorry guys……….this is one individual that you will not convert………If you really want to get me going………what is really sad is that the BPS rods are made in China in some sweat shop, over the American made Croix………..I’m really fuming now………..cheap, rotten, good fer nuttn’ peice of crap………

Dang it…….now I’m torqued just thinking about all of this…………

This trip is going to be too much fun!!! I now have a hot button to push. Not that I would do anything like that.

I’m pretty sure you know where I stand on this issue. If you look in my rod locker you for sure would. One Techna AV, the rest are Croix. That doesn’t mean I don’t respect your opinion. When I was killing time at Gander, I would take several of the same rod make/model and each would be uniquely different within the same manufacturer. No blank is made the same.

Calm thyself bigguy……. I still have over 30 rods on hand and only 5 are Croixs….. I’m far from sponsored, endorsed, or bias to a Croix. I’m just a gear junky and until I’ve tested things on the water, I don’t like stating which is better.

If you side by side, simultaneously fished the exact same applicable G2 and Avid and still liked the G2, you’re entitled pick it. But I got news for ya…… there’s cheaper than G2’s that’ll do just as well and that is side by side comparing and then I sold “the loser”.

If you really like the way a G2 feels and loads and controls your fish, check out a Fenwick Venture. You’ll get wound up even further!

How’s the warranty on a G2. Did you compare to a G3 or IMX? If I really wanted to push your buttons I’d tell you that I think you’re just settling…….. but that’s waterfowler’s job!

Okay….. no more “razz”berries cuz you are entitled to your own choices but understand, you are a minority in this one!

………..3 out of 4 (fish) doctors recommend St. Croix rods for catching fish, for their patients who choose to catch fish………. (Old Trident commercial)

Well……..the warrenty on the G2 can’t be anyworse than the warrenty of the Croix………….

Dude……..my gripe is that when I talked to the guy at Croix…….he more or less said: “yea. ……hum… ….well, what do you want me to do about it.. ……….Well, if you want, I suppose you can ship it to me, but I don’t see how there is anything wrong with it….. ….IM6 is a better graphite than the premiere……But, go ahead and send it in…..and make sure you send money so I can ship it back to ya…….. …” I must of disturbed him during his nap………..

Bang!!!!!!!
My blood pressure just reached 3000psi……….

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you ask to speak with anyone else? Guy sounds like a dipsquat…….. did you escalate the call?

nope……….I just gave up……………..

It makes a good slip bobber rod………..

I didn’t remember to write this earlier, but I feel that the Premier line by Croix is probably as lackluster as any other rod on the market. I never found one that I really liked, not for $80.00. I’ll take a Roach series any day for $60.00 over the premier. If you interested, check out the new Tech-na AV. Ken has one, he will back me up on this, they are one sweet rod.

What kind of coin does a Techna run???

Don’t quote me on it, but I’m pretty sure they are in the Avid price range. Ken???

His was the first one I saw since they “remodeled” them. Mine is OK, but the new ones are swwwwweeeeeet!!!

They’re still spendy but in that Avid range. Most models, with little exception to what’s available, are $150-160.00. They have a lifetime replacement guarantee and I’ve used Fenwick’s offer without a hitch! When I was hesitant to just ship it and wait on their evaluation, the service rep then offered to send me a shipping label for sending the rod to them, they gave me my choice of replacements, I chose, and the shipped it up to me after the back order was lifted. Didn’t cost me anything but a couple return phone calls!

The big plus on the new Techna’s is the new handle design. It’s far and away more comfortable than the original series and it works like the winch on your trailer. As you are twisting the grip, it’s clicking and locking that position into place. It seems goofy but it’s the bomb!

To tell the whole story, I chose the model I did with the intent to resell it and look for another used rod, like the one I exchanged. But once I saw the new model, I just had to fish with it. Used it one time and fought fish it was designed for so excellently that I decided to keep it! It’s a 6′ med/lt. 1pc. spinning rod and compared to Croixs, the only model I like better is the 7′ med./lt. Legend Elite. On ebay, I can get the Elite (when there’s one available) for about 30% off retail but it’s still more than than the Techna.

I don’t know of anyone selling the new Techna’s on the shelves yet though so I’m not sure where you could go look at one. But for at least a better idea of looks, features, and construction, you can look them over at http://www.purefishing.com. Just click on Fenwick products, then Techna.