St. Croix Rods

I just picked out some St. Croix rods for alot of multi species fishing I plan on doing this year and their line of rods sure look sweet. Besides all the great walleye rods they have some real nice ultra lights, light, and medium light action rods too. Can’t wait to hook into some fish with them. Ever catch crappies and bluegills on ultra light and light action rods? It like fighting a 10 lb. walleye with the sensitivity that the St. Croix rods have. Or how about smallmouth and white bass on med. light action rods? Hang on or the fish will take you for a swim. This is one guy who is going to do alot of good o’l basic multi species fishing with my St. Croixs and have a blast this year. More time on the water, more fun battleing fish with sensitive lighter action rods and creating memories for a life time. Fisherman have more fun and in my book St. Croixs do it best. Thanks, Bill

PS. And you have two choices of buying St. Croix Rods. You can buy the factory made St. Croix rods or you can buy the custom made rods with St. Croix blanks at Hooked On Fishing in Rochester, Minnesota. The best of both worlds with St. Croix.

My first post. I love my St. Croix rods. I use a 7′ Avid UL for trout and panfish and when I am fly fishing I use a 8′ 4wt Avid rod. Excellent rods for the $$.

Welcome to the site!

I have been using strictly St. Croix for bass since 1997. I have been using the 6’6″ Premier in heavy action. Since they changed their blanks a few years ago, the Premier “heavy” rods are a lot lighter, but less stiff. I did buy a medium heavy Avid 6’6″ and really like the sensitivity and response better, but not stiff enough. What I am looking for, but unable to find, is the 6’6″ Avid rod in heavy action. I know I could order it from St. Croix, but I would like to get hands on to check if it has more backbone then the Premier “heavy’s”. Does Hooked on Fishing carry this blank or rod, or does anybody know where there is one on a rack?
Thanks for info.

If Cabela’s isn’t too far of a drive from Mankato, I’ll bet they’ve got one on the shelf…………or at least I’d imagine they do………they seem to have everything under sun anytime I’m down that way!

I just picked up a 7′ 3 wt. Avid fly rod………….I can’t wait to wrestle with those fish in the stream by the cabin!!!

Also picked up a 10′ Med/Hvy Pro Glass trolling rod on ebay for $44.00!!! Winter has only begun and I’m already psyched for spring!!!

STILLKID
I’VE BEEN THROUGH CABELAS MANY TIMES, AND THEY DO NOT STOCK THIS ONE. THEY DO STOCK THE PREMIER HEAVY THOUGH. THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION.
“FELLOW CROIX SETTER:

Well………..I’ll be down there on Saturday so I’ll take a look for you anyway. If one’s there, I’ll let you know!

Thanks much.

Riggy – I think Mike at Hooked on Fishing can get just about any rod blank St. Croix makes. He may not have it on hand but I’d check to see if he can get it.

You can reach Mike Fischer who makes the custom rods at Hooked On Fishing at 507-282-4982 at the north store.
Thanks, Bill

I love my croix’s, I’m thinking of building a 5’9″ extra fast for jigging. Anybody got any thoughts or experience?
Bill, I use my rods for multi spieces here in the ozarks all the time, I feel they are a great value and excellant workmanship. Last week I was in Gander Mt, in Cedar Rapids I saw several nice 5wt and 8wt rods on sale for 50% off if anybodys lookin’ gota go, another 40 degree day tomorrow!!!

I personally have not used a 5’9” rod, just the 6′ and 6’6” and 7′ rods from St. Croix. But that does sound like it could be a really nice rod in that that size with the xtra fast tip. If you do, let us know how you like it. By the way, what all waters do you fish down that way? And we sure would appreciate a care package with some 40 degree weather for the weekends. Both of best worlds that way-ice fish during the week and nice weather for boat fishing at Red Wing, Mn on the Mississippi River where its open water year round. Thanks, Bill

THANKS UFFDA,
I WILL BE IN ROCH SOON. I’LL CHECK IN WHILE I CHECK OUT THAT NEW ICE FISHING TOTE BILL WAS TALKIN ABOUT

No heavy Avids spotted at Cabela’s. If you order one from Croix, can you get a refund if you’re not happy with it?

I hope you see this in time but here’s a “can’t miss ” gamble!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3653633556&category=36149

You might think you’re risking some cash over something you only want to put in your hands and feel, but the truth is that whatever that baby sells for now, it’ll sell for that and more within 4-6 weeks! If you like it, keep it…………..it’ll be a GREAT deal! If you don’t like it, resell and get your “investment” back!

I’LL BE IN ROCH AT THE END OF THE MONTH, SO I WILL CHECK IN. HOPEFULLY MIKE RECOVERS FULLY FROM HIS SURGERY.
THANKS

I feel like a kid in a candy store today as my new rods came and do they look sweet. What I try do every year when winter sets in is take the money that I would normally spend on gas for the tow vehicle and gas and oil for the boat and use it to upgrade, replace, replenish and buy new different fishing equipement. You would be surprised how much money you spend per month on gas, oil, campground, motel, meals, bait etc. during the months you are out fishing open water. It really adds up to ALOT and when the money isn’t being spent that way you can purchase alot of new neat stuff. We all hear alot of great things said about the St. Croix Avid rods and I can understand why. They are great top of the line rods. I love em and so does everyone else that I’ve talked to who has them. Well this year I plan on doing alot of multi species fishing and realizing not everyone can spend the money to buy the fantastic Avid rods, I bought some rods for the kind of fishing I want to do in the St. Croix Premier line. This is the line of rods just below the Avids and are still great fishing rods. The ones I bought are a 6 ft. ultra light rod which will be great for catching panfish such as bluegills and crappies, etc. This ultra light action with a fast tip will make these fish feel like I have a huge fish on the end of the line. In other words- FUN. Then I went a little bit stiffer with a 6 ft. light action rod for hauling in the bigger panfish and just think what a white bass or maybe hooking into a smallie or largemouth would feel like on a light action rod with a fast tip. FUN. Of course wanting to stay light but wanting alittle more beefy rod yet light enough to make a fish feel like a trophy size even when smaller I went with the 6 ft. 6 inch med. light with a fast tip. These rods will cast far and let you truely enjoy the full excitement of hauling in the fighters like white bass and smallies. FUN. And of course, for ”emergencies” I also had to get one of those rods in a two piece to fit nicely in the car to be with me at all times for a stop off at a river, lake, stream, etc, for a much needed fishing fix. Always have to be prepared as you never know when that fishing craving is going to take over every sense in you mind and body and you just have to catch a few between regular planned fishing outings. The Premier line of St. Croix rods are a great rod at a great price. Heres just a little bit of info on them: This huge selection of rods is built on St. Croixs premium SC II graphite blanks and handsomely outfitted with high-grade components. Their performance at such an economical price have made them some of the most popular rods they sell. They have outstanding strenght, sensitivity and hooksetting power. They are precisioned balanced for ultimate castability. Their finely tuned actions and tapers are for superior performance. They come with select-grade cork handles, Fuji reel seats, Hialoy guides and their 2 year warranty is backed by umatched St. Croix service. And of course they are handcrafted in the USA. If you are looking for the best without spending alot of money I believe you will be very happy with this line of St. Croix rods. They are handcrafted for fishermen by fishermen. Great rods. And as always, there are two ways to buy these rods. You can buy the factory made rods or buy a custom made St. Croix blank rod at Hooked On Fishing in Rochester, Mn. 507-282-4982. St. Croix Rods– a great way to enjoy the great outdoors.

Thanks, Bill

How do the Premiers and the Avids compare? If an average angler had a Premier 66MLF and an Avid 66MLF and was blindfolded, could he tell a difference between the rods. I’ve had some people tell me they actually like the Premiers over the Avids, but others swear by the Avids. I’m talking about applications such as casting plastics and vertical jigging.

The Avids are about twice as expensive as the Premiers so one could have two Premiers or just one Avid. However, I’d rather have one good rod than two average rods. But if there’s really not a noticeable difference, I’d rather have two rods than one.

What’s a guy to do? Any suggestions or comments? Just to make the question more complicated, how does the line effect your answer? Is the difference, if any, more noticeable when fishing the super lines vs. monofilament?

Thanks for the input,

Boone

As long as you NEVER pick up an Avid after using a Premier you’ll never notice a difference!

Premiers are great rods for the $$$…Avids are lighter, faster, more responsive. Especially when you are”feeling” the bottom as your light jig/ringworm are slipping along the face of that wingdam. Avids are also well worth the extra $$$ if you are a serious jig or finesse system user.

For the same reasons that Tom said above this is how I have chosen my St. Croix rods. For jigging and casting I have the Avid spinning rods. For trolling I have 7 ft. Premier baitcasters and some 8 ft. 6 in. Wild River rods and some 10 ft. 6 in. Wild River rods. For panfish, white bass and even for some Smallie action I bought Premier lighter action spinning rods. Where I need the ”extra feel” I went with the Avids. With trolling the Premier and Wild Rivers work great. For panfish and white bass the Premier rods should work great I figured and going with the lighter action in those rods should be a blast catching those fish. I am a very happy person with the St. Croix rods and love the way they work for me. And as always, you can purchase the factory made rods or have them custom made for you with St. Croix blanks at Hooked On Fishing In Rochester, Mn. 507-282-4982. As for line I use 10 lb. mono or fireline on my trolling rods. On my jigging and casting rods I use 6 or 8 lb mono and this past year I tried 3 and 4 lb fireline for jigging and loved it.

Does St Croix have any spring promos at some of the shows coming up? I am looking for a Avid 8’6″ Steelhead rod.

KLH

Yeah………..you couldn’t help but notice a difference! It’s that clear. As for cost/application, I look at an Avid and while it’s more “cha-ching” up front, it’s got a lifetime warranty! Premier’s are only 2 years. Both can break………….I’ve seen it. So when it comes down to it, knowing you can get it replaced, I’ll swing to the Avid. Ever break a favorite anything only to realize replacement isn’t available? No fun.

Well said Bill & StillAkid,
The warrantee aspect is important….as is the application. If you are working heavy slop for bass and really rearing back on the hooksets a heavier action Premier will be a good choice, not only because of the heavier tapers, but the lower modulus composition has more”give” to it….less likely to bust of a tip section. The same goes for the Cat rods.