Which St. Croix rod to buy?

My boss gave me the go ahead to employee purchase one or a few of these babies at a pretty sweet price. Unfortunately, I have no idea which one I need. The difference in price between the premier, avid, and tournament is pretty minimal. I fish walleyes 90% of the time. I am thinking about a rod for pitching 1/8oz-1/2oz jigs or maybe one for plastics if I ever make the trip down to the river. I guess I could always use another rigging rod for out on Mille Lacs too. Any suggestions?

i’m sold on the Avid series. 6-6″ med power with a fast action. Great for pitching plastics, also works great for jigging or rigging. Going retail price is $160-170. If you can get them cheaper than that, buy them!!!

The 6’6″ medium power fast action avid would be my first choice. Second choice would be the 6’8″ medium extra fast action avid. Both are god rods but the 6’6″ feels better in my hands

These would be my choices for the rods you suggested.
For the Legend I would choose model TWS70MLF. It’s cost is $20.
For the Avid I would choose AS70MLF. The price is $160.
For the Premiere I would choose PS70MLF. The price is $100.

These rods are all pretty much the same set up but use differing materials.
You can see that I like to use a longer rod. These are all seven footers. This may not be to your liking. I would go to an outdoor store and hold these rods in your hand and see which one fits right. Each person is different.
My two cents.

Oh, by the way, please remember that the Premiere has only a 2 year warranty while the other rods are warranted for life.

I personally like the 7′ Avid in a mlf for rigging on the pond, and I like the 7′ bottom bouncer rod Legend Tournament for pulling spinners and 3-ways, I have actually also used it for pulling cranks late in the fall, it is a pretty versitil casting rod. I try to jig as little as possible so I am no help there.

What Slammin and Dustin suggetsted are great choices. I personally like the 7 footers for casting/pitching. The action may vary depending on the kind of line you use.
Pitching:
AS68MXF
ES70MLF
Rigging:
ES70MLF
AS76MLXF (can also be used for a float rod)

Again, it’s all personal preference.

Tourney Rod OR Avid 6-8 med xtra fast.

I think Blue is your color

Ron

Without a doubt the best all purpose rod is the 6-8 Legend Elite spin-ES68MXF- They may seem a little pricey until you try one, then you will feel the difference.

I have 4 of the 6’6” Avids med fast that Slammin Eyes and Dusty are talkin about and love em. Very nice all around rods. St. Croix Rods – gotta love em.
Thanks, Bill

I have about every St.Croix casting and spinning. I like the TWS the best. For rigging Mille lacs get the TWS76MLF and spool it with superline..

Thanks for all the input guys. Most of the rods are under $100 for me, so it is just a matter of getting the most bang for the buck. I can see where the 7’+ rod would come in handy on Mille Lacs with a 12′ snell. Nothing like standing on your tip toes while your partner tries to net the fish. I have a job interview at Cabela’s on Saturday, so I think I will test some of them out while I’m there.

I would recommend the Legend Elite 6’6″ medium
and I also love the Legend Tournament 6’6″ medium.
I like seven foot rods, but find that the six and a halfers are easy to drag around…
I just love a 6’6″ medium st croix!!

Actually the added length provides a better hookset and offers some buffer when using super line. With a fast tip and the ML power, the TWS76MLF is one sweet stick for rigging. The TWS is a bit lighter than the Avid giving it a slight edge in sensitivity.

Also you mentioned 12 foot snell.. You dont really need to exceed 8 foot. You dont get much more benefit for the cost of dealing with an extra 4 feet of line..

When I pull lindys on Mille Lacs I use a 9’6″ rod. The extra length just seems to work better for me.

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Most of the rods are under $100 for me, so it is just a matter of getting the most bang for the buck

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Then its a no brainer…unless you are getting a discount the best you can afford is a 7′ Premier MLF one piece.
The Legend Elites are incredible…I have fished them all the past couple years. I personally feel the ES rods have it over the TWS…while they are both exceptional and $300/$200 respectfully. ES Elites are SC V scrim vs SC IV. Lighter, more sensitive, and quicker.
I buried a 3/8 jig hook into a 9# eye tuesday with a wrist flick in 25′ of water with mono line…and I’m a weak 60 yr old guy!

I secound Gators choices I have all three This is crosby stick I’m on bro’s puter on way too Sports show . These’s are awesome rods

I would say that my favorite of the bunch would be any of the xf versions… buy one of the 6’8mxf LE or LS’s and one of the 6’9 mlxf LS and you will have all your bases covered at some angle. Vert. jiggin with the 6’8″, rigging with the 6’9″, pitching light with the 6’9″ – heavier with 6’8″, slip bobbers in a pinch with the 6’9″, some bb or spinner action with the 6’8″ and flatline trolling with the 6’8″. The two would make a very versatile starter kit. There are unquestionably lengths which are more appropriate for each of these individual uses. But as a rod builder I would endorse these as two choices which a guy could use as a base to really cover the water. Your results may vary, Chuckles

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When I pull lindys on Mille Lacs I use a 9’6″ rod. The extra length just seems to work better for me.

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Ditto here! I am using a Wild River 9-6 for rigging and slip bobbering.

I’m using a 9′ Wild River Rod for Slip Bobbering and a 7.5′ Walleye Legend TWS76MLF) for Lindy Rigging. Fife don’t get me all jacked up this soon on the pond fishing

“all jacked up” Not only do I have to think about opener, but also which rod to buy. Too many choices out there. I don’t have a 7′ rod yet so I am leaning that way.

On a related note, I will be in a College gym on opener receiving a piece of paper that says I owe a lot of money and I am ready to enter the real world.

I received my new St. Croix rods today. I went with two 7’6″ MLF Avids and a 6’9″ MLXF Avid. These babies are awesome. They even threw my name on them for free. “Handcrafted for Dan Pfeifer,” sweet. Now I just have to wait for stupid Shimano to mail me some reels.

I love Shimano rods and reels, but their VIP program is pretty crappy. Basically, they are always playing catch up, so when there is a surplus they will mail them out to the VIPs. I understand their position, but how can I tell my customers that Shimano customer service is great when I get treated like that.

Putting my name on the rod is a little cheesy, but it has me hooked. St. Croix goes above and beyond a great discount. This is how a company should be run.

I sure hope they sent you their a How-to catch fish video.

Ron

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I sure hope they sent you their a How-to catch fish video.

Ron

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No, but they did ask me to make one for them. It is going to take a lot more rods before I give up my incredible fishing knowledge.

Ron, I will give you one free guide trip as long as you provide the boat.

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No, but they did ask me to make one for them. It is going to take a lot more rods before I give up my incredible fishing knowledge.

Ron, I will give you one free guide trip as long as you provide the boat.

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Deal

You’ll love that 6’9″ for pitching light jigs! I can pitch and 1/8 ounce jig a mile with mine!