Give me a reason to get St.Croix rods

I don’t personally have one but I got the boy one for his birthday last year to help with his hair and plastics fishing. Since that time he has upped his personal best 2 times with the St. Croix rod. It may be just coincidence but it sure seems he has a better feel than with the Gander rod. I am empressed with their rods and I have one on my wish list—did ya read that boy?

Shane, I made reference for you to stick with a less expensive fiberglass rod for top water or slop fishing. St.Croix does have a nice fiberglass line up but I havent used any for slop fishing.

This debate of the extra money and “will it put more fish in the boat”………. guys….. something has been amazingly missed here.

What puts more fish in the boat than ANYTHING else? CONFIDENCE!

When I started fishing, cheap was the name of the game and I didn’t want anything to do with stuff that was even $50.00. But thanks to seeing an opportunity on ebay, I turned enough clearance items that I had enough money to get into a Croix. It was more sensitive so I could understand more of what was happening at the end of my line. It was lighter and felt better in my hand. Once I got a fish on, I couldn’t believe the difference in feel and power and distribution and in CONTROL!

All of this added up to one thing…….. CONFIDENCE!

So the next question is, what is your confidence worth to you? St. Croix products……. ANY of them…… have done nothing but increase confidence in all facets of fishing and my fishing successes have improved! For me, I can’t put a price tag on that.

I continue to buy and try cheaper rods……. to see if anything out there is as good for less, but honestly…… while I’ve found some models of Loomis and Fenwick Techna that I prefer in specific applications, St. Croix by far surpasses anyone for overall product quality and application availability.

I have fished with over 160 different rods now…….. and Croix’s come out every time I’m done “experimenting” and the feeling is always the same…… “why don’t I just use this all the time?”

Confidence guys. Confidence. What’s it worth to you?

Puddle Pounder – Try a Croix sometime just for giggles. A Croix is better for trolling because you can actually see when your lure so much as picks up a blade of grass or speck of bottom muck. And the control once fighting the fish? Just try one. Even if I gotta come up there and jump in your boat…….. try one.

AmWatson – the same bud. Get your hands on an Avid. The skies will open up and you’ll see the light. It’s like that movie, “Field of Dreams”. There were people who wondered who the main character was talking to, but once their eyes were shown, they “got it”. Until you try one, the mystery will remain so just “git ‘er done!” As a fellow user of Gander rods…… your biggest difference is going to show when you hook a fish. WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE! And you’ll like it too! I believe nothing else. You will like it.

I guess this question is just like the one…give me a reason to buy a $350 Callaway, Taylor Made or Titleist Driver. Why??? Why not?????? You don’t have to be a professional to enjoy products that enhance your experience on the Golf Course or on the Lake.

I own a few tournament series Gander Rods(baitcasters) and they work well. I also own 7 St. Croix (2 Glass, 3 Avids, 2 Elites) all for specific applications, but I am a firm believer that their spinning rods are what makes more people switch to St. Croix that haven’t already made the conversion. My first 4 St. Croixs were all baitcasters, but the last 3 have all been spinning rods and the Legend Elite Spinning Rod is what made me a customer for life. Which is good as the Elites and Avids are warranteed for life. St. Croix is a great company that makes some wonderful products that help me enjoy my time on the Lake.

Take care!

I once was in the same boat as you…asking myself what could be so much different in a St. Croix to justify me spending the extra $$ on it. Well a number of St. Croixs later I can still remember landing my first fish on a St. Croix. You’ll know it when you feel it.

Shane, for rigging a longer rod with a soft tip is nice sometimes. Sensitivity is not the biggerst cocern while rigging. If you rod is to stiff, the fish will feel you before you get a chance to give some line or drop your rod tip back.

Also, if you fish in other states besides MN where you can use two rods. A nice long soft rod placed in the rod holder while rigging can sometimes be the ticket

For me the choice to buy Croix is pretty easy… I can’t find another rod on the market with the same taper and action to suit the jig casting I do on the river. Most XF action rods are too stiff too far up the blank and don’t cast light jigs for a darn. To over-exaggerate this some time try casting a 1/16th ounce jig with a heavy bass rod. You get an exaggerated arm motion and little distance. The top sections of the Croix’s “load up” under the weight of little jigs which allow for L-O-N-G casts and the blank tapers quickly into a very sturdy portion of the rod that gives great hooksets. Other rods with nice flexible tips don’t transition soon enough and you need to move too much rod before you’re able to pick up any bow in your line and slam the hook home.

In this application I’ve only found one choice. In vertical jigging applications I’ve found several companies that make good rods and then the descision comes down to price point and customer service reputation…. areas in which St. Croix hold their own or set the standard.

On the topic of is a $200 rod worth the money? It won’t catch you twice as many fish as a $100 rod if that’s what you’re looking for. But it will help you detect light biters, feel light in the hand which reduces fatigure which will keep you fishing longer and the enjoyment factor of fishing with a premium rod is hard to overlook. To put it this way, a ford escort and a lexus both do the same thing… but which one is more fun to use?

I am going to go to other side of this conversation.I am going to tell you why not to buy the St. Croix rods.

So the rest of us can buy all of them

I did not think a rod made that much difference in how I fished but after using their rods for awhile I will never be without one again!!

You can aways buy one and try it and if you do not love it you can post it in the classifieds and it will be sold in a day.

Ron

P.S. If you want to try one just give me a PM and I am sure we can work out something.

OK I can’t take it any more, where’s the best place to shop for the best bargain or isn’t that an option the way St. Croix company is structured? I need to buy at least one of these to enjoy the experience or at least go a little more in debt compiling my MUST HAVE fishing gear.

Thanks, Kurt

AM,

Here are a couple of other reasons to go with St Croix. I believe it’s easier to get exactly what you want because they describe the rod action so accurately with their labeling. In addition to the light, medium, heavy and recommended line-weight, they add the taper, fast, extra fast etc. The second reason is they are hometown with their business in WI. I would rather see the money stay local.

John

I have a couple St Croix Premier rods and one Avid and love them. I guess, I’ve tried the Avid only a couple of times and didn’t see much of a difference is there a lot???

Also I used to think why should I get the cheapo rods, I catch just as much fish as the other guys. I guess I can put it like this you drive a top line Chevy truck. They are great, but if you drive the Cadilac series of trucks you see there are things such as feel and comfort you have been missing out on. Now granted both are GM products, but one is a step up from the other. That is the way I feel now by using the Croix rods.

I’m planning to buy my first St. Croix this spring. I’m thinking about a Premier 6’6″ medium spinning. Is it worth the extra dollars to go to an Avid? I’d use it for either walleye jigging or rigging.

Well……….my silence must be broken!!!

I’m one of the rare few who doesn’t like St. Croix rods. Both because of inferior Premeir rods and poor customer service.

Now, I’ve fished with James’ and used his Avid models and I do like them. However, I will not buy a premeir and I don’t expect good customer service from them in the future, if I were to break one.

Avids are nice. They are light. And the model that James mentioned, is the perfect tool for pitching light jigs for these walleyes.

However, I have found that the Shimano Clarus 6’6″ m is about 90% of the function of the Avid 6’8″ mxf model that James uses. For $60, I will continue to use that model. AND Clarus has a lifetime, no questions asked warranty, over the counter at Thorne Bros. So, if I break mine, I walk into thorne bros…give em the broken rod……walk out with the new rod………no wait, no shipping, no wondering if they will send the broken rod back, saying it was my fault…..

That would be my reason not to purchase a St. Croix.

I use only st croix- started with premier and made the “mistake” of upgrading to an avid about 4 years ago- now i own 8 avids. I broke my first avid last year by my own stupidity, took it to the local st croix dealer (K&K in Bettendorf) and they were going to swap for one off the rack at no charge but didnt have the same model. They sent it in for me, got it back in about 4 weeks and the total cost was 4 bucks- no questions asked.
If you are looking for a good all around bass rod get an ac66mhf for about 150. I agree that the xf models cast light lures much easier and i love the ac62mxf for light spinnerbaits, small rattle traps, topwaters and small jigs for casting. I have absolutely no doubt you can feel more hits using plastics with avid than premier or other brands ive used (daiwa, shimano, all star to name a few). I also like the fact its american made and somewhat local.

Try one and you will like it. Search ebay under st croix rods and sometimes you might find a bargain on one – i got a brand new, tags on as62mxf (spinning) for 88 bucks + 15 s&h on there.

OK what about the difference in the Avid Series compared to Legend Tournament Rods?????? Is it worth thextra $50 to upgrade on a rigging rod? Has anyone used one of these rods????? I’m buying one here this Spring 7′ to 7.5′ ML just looking for some advice. I have never owned a St Croix and never used one for rigging!