I am with Randy and like longer rods. My go to rod is a 7’-6” ML X-fast rod. A rod is just like a lever and the pivot point is where you hold the rod. Longer rods take less to move a jig but also when the jig taps something it move the rod more so you feel more.
Every time this topic comes up I hear so many people recommend the Limit Creek rods. I am going to have to get my hands on one and check it out.
I believe that in their inception Limit Creek rods were developed by a IDO member years ago. The company was purchase by a fella who lives in Spring Valley, MN. Jim is very easy to work with and has a true outdoorsman’s ethic when it comes to customer service. Limit Creek has several very nice rods and I own several. The Smoothie is a favorite of mine and for vertical jigging it is a winner but it’ll also let you pitch and drag and even pull some slip sinkers nicely. The true beauty of the Smoothie lies in the last 2 feet of the tip end.
Another standout rod from Limit Creek is the 8’3″ collapsible slip float rod. I use this rod at times on the breakwater in Two Harbors casting lighter lures [1/4 or less] when the fish are high in the column and it is worth every penny right there. But then I use this rod for long casting 1/16 ounce crappies jigs/float and love it in that venue too.
I have a Loomis or two along with a few St. Croixs, but the Limits seem to get used more. The Limit Creek rods do everything the Loomis and St Croix rods do, only way more affordable.
The limit creek rods definatley have my interest. Both for the fact of being at the price point that’s easy on the wallet. A 3 year warranty and being made in mn.
Is there any stores they are sold in or do I just order through there website?
Agree with Tom. Also, the Smoothie, I think, is 6’9″, so it is a bit longer rod.
I’ve had one for last 4-5 years and it’s a very good value. Yeah, you can pay 2 or 3 times more for a Loomis or high end St. Croix. And those are great rods. But for the money, sure hard to beat the Smoothie.
I’m sure Jim will ship off the website for you. He should anyway. I’m not positive on stores around here anymore. The bait shop in Roch that carried them closed up so Limit Creeks local market went down too.
Go to the site and contact Jim via message from there. He’ll be happy to work with you.
And the site shows a cart so on-line orders are a go, bearcat.
The limit creek rods definatley have my interest. Both for the fact of being at the price point that’s easy on the wallet. A 3 year warranty and being made in mn.
Is there any stores they are sold in or do I just order through there website?
@tbro16 posted earlier that Blue Ribbon is the only distributor in TC metro which I verified on their website…but they’re other retailers outstate that sell them. Ordering direct from their website is always an option.
As far as being made in MN…I’m not sure about that. On their website they say “We design our fishing rods, manage and headquarter our business in Spring Valley, Minnesota”
I interpret that as they designed the rods but that they’re manufactured overseas. Which might explain the lower price point. If I’m wrong and anyone knows if they build them in house?
Either way, it wouldn’t prevent me from buying one. That 8’3″ one piece extendable rod has certainly got my interest now too.
Thanks guys I appreciate it. I see they have them in st croix falls wi. We grocery shop in that area. This weekend I’ll have to swing threw and see if they have them out. If not I’ll order online.
And yeah I’m sure they are designed here and built else where.
What is the appeal to a 6′ rod? I find that the use of shorter rods give me arm fatigue much faster. I need to move my arm/wrist so much more for lifting/manipulating the movement of jigs, blade baits,… Plus a get a better feel for bottom content out of longer rods. Always seems to me like the shorter rods (say 6-6 and less) don’t translate feel as well. For the guys who like the shorter rods, are you also using a different action or tip? Say if I was using a 8′ med-lt, X-fast tip, are you using a 6′ med ultra light in a fast tip???
I use a pair of sjr721 glx rods that are 27 years old now. I got the first one for HS graduation, second was my father’s. I’ve not yet found anything I like better yet for sticking fish while vertical jigging. I find a shorter rod gives me better jig control and less fatigue, I mostly use my wrist as eyefishwalleye does.
They are not built in Spring Valley. The “smoothie’s” design and action were developed locally by, I believe, by a smallmouth guide that also excelled at river walleye angling. The workmanship in the rods is very nice, every bit as nicely done as a Loomis or a St.Croix.
The smoothie has been the company’s hallmark rod but Limit Creek also offers other, shorter, rods that also work well with the jig angler. There are even a couple fly rod options available.
Thanks guys I appreciate it. I see they have them in st croix falls wi. We grocery shop in that area. This weekend I’ll have to swing threw and see if they have them out. If not I’ll order online.
Mike’s bait on 8 is listed too.
So I have personally used most of the rods mentioned here, all have a place no doubt…..
May I suggest you ask yourself,
Weight of jigs used most of the time?
Mono,hardline, or both?
Length preference?
Is this a dedicated verticle rod, or is it a multi tasker?
Limit Creeks are built overseas. Contacted them to see if I could buy one of their 8’3” extentable blanks. They didn’t have one to sell. All components overseas. China if I remember right but not for sure on that.
Mike’s bait on 8 is listed too.
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Good eye. Right on my way home
In a crowded boat, I have been known to use my ice rods. You get weird looks, but the control and feel are there!
I thought 4 season sports carried them too. I looked for the limit creek ice rods there and they didn’t have any. Maybe that has changed. I ended up ordering them directly from Jim, good guy.
I like a 6’10 or longer stick for jigging. Wish the smoothies were XF.
The limit creek rods definatley have my interest. Both for the fact of being at the price point that’s easy on the wallet. A 3 year warranty and being made in mn.
Is there any stores they are sold in or do I just order through there website?
Mikes bait on 8 might have them in stock.
To go back to another question you asked….the smoothie is a great all purpose rod. I pitch plastics up to 3/8 oz with it. It’s sensitive enough to vertical jig in current and feel your way around with the jig. I’ve also pitched small cranks with it and it’s got enough backbone to handle big fish. I’ve knocked down a few big pike on them with no issues.
I’ll go against the grain here. For under $250, there are much better options than the smoothie. The sensitivity on the smoothie just doesn’t come close to an Avid. My .02
Mikes bait on 8 might have them in stock.
To go back to another question you asked….the smoothie is a great all purpose rod. I pitch plastics up to 3/8 oz with it. It’s sensitive enough to vertical jig in current and feel your way around with the jig. I’ve also pitched small cranks with it and it’s got enough backbone to handle big fish. I’ve knocked down a few big pike on them with no issues.
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Thanks matt I appreciate that.
Thanks to every one else. If any one has a rod to sell PM me
I’ll go against the grain here. For under $250, there are much better options than the smoothie. The sensitivity on the smoothie just doesn’t come close to an Avid. My .02
Under $250? Well, sure, I guess. But a Smoothie is $95. So, it’s quite a bit less than $250. Is a $250 rod more than twice as nice as a Smoothie? I sorta doubt it. That’s not to knock an Avid or other high-end rod. Great rods.
X2 for Scheels rods, bought some of the higher end rods from them last year and have a lifetime warranty. I have heard the warranty might not still be offered but if it is is is a great deal.
I have moved from shorter rods(6′ -6’6″) to longer rods (6’10” – 7’4″) for all jigging now, vertical, dragging, pitching, etc…
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Angler II wrote:</div>
I’ll go against the grain here. For under $250, there are much better options than the smoothie. The sensitivity on the smoothie just doesn’t come close to an Avid. My .02Under $250? Well, sure, I guess. But a Smoothie is $95. So, it’s quite a bit less than $250. Is a $250 rod more than twice as nice as a Smoothie? I sorta doubt it. That’s not to knock an Avid or other high-end rod. Great rods.
The original poster stated he was looking to stay under $250. If that was my budget I wouldn’t even waste my time with the smoothie. It’s an alright rod but not worth $95 to me. To each their own…
Ditch the short rod and go 6’10-7’2ml. Once you do you won’t go back. Keep in mind that for $250 you could have a builder make you a really nice rod that easily rivals $300+ manufactured ones.
Another suggestion is to wait a couple weeks and shop around the NW Sportshow. Usually lots of deals to be had.
Then you can handle each rod in person and see what fits you best. My preference is a fenwick elite tech 6-3 M extra fast. Soft tip that loads up fast. But for a pitching and jigging rod, a 6-9 ML is my choice.
Rod manufacturers are all over the board with their rod ratings and labels. A ML Croix might feel like someone else’s M or Light. It’s all relative. That’s why buying rods sight unseen is so difficult.
So I have personally used most of the rods mentioned here, all have a place no doubt…..
May I suggest you ask yourself,
Weight of jigs used most of the time?
Mono,hardline, or both?
Length preference?
Is this a dedicated verticle rod, or is it a multi tasker?
^^^^
Details are needed for those fine tuning their angling equipment.
I personally believe everyone should handle a rod, with reel mounted, before they purchase. All our wrist and arm mechanics are so different from one another the way one rod feels to another may be completely different. You cut vertical concrete walls all day, you would have developed muslces most here never have.
For me, I wanted braid for vertical. Fireline crystal for the utmost sensitivity even in freezing conditions. I like longer rods as well but for vertical it’s easier to control, and the most sensitivity comes with shorter imo. But a guy also needs to be able to reach over to other side of boat for a cold beverage without your line not coming out of water, so anything in that 6-66 range. Line is a straight line from your tip to lure, that can be 2′-30′, majority in that 6-14′ mark, that’s not a lot of line out, with no stretch I want a rod that has flex at the top 1/3 to give the gill flare as much jig as it can suck, without the fish knowing I’m on the other end before I stick em.
Most high end rods(over $200 usually) have great feel bc of the lightness, but the dang carbon is so tight it’s freaking brittle, and with that, stiff. Couldn’t find the soft action I was looking for.
They can say ml/l all they want but if they don’t bend easy it don’t matter! Was ready to give up on a stock rod and go custom but finally found the 66ml 13 muse gold at Joe’s. Love it.
Good luck in your search.
Details are needed for those fine tuning their angling equipment.
Oh, are you sure about that?
Maybe we should educate these folks too… 
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Hopefully I don’t derail this too much. But I’m stuck on the large amount of recommendations for short rods. What is the appeal to a 6′ rod? I find that the use of shorter rods give me arm fatigue much faster. I need to move my arm/wrist so much more for lifting/manipulating the movement of jigs, blade baits,… Plus a get a better feel for bottom content out of longer rods. Always seems to me like the shorter rods (say 6-6 and less) don’t translate feel as well. For the guys who like the shorter rods, are you also using a different action or tip? Say if I was using a 8′ med-lt, X-fast tip, are you using a 6′ med ultra light in a fast tip???
Wind and weight. That’s the advantage of shorter rods.
March 5, 2019 at 6:44 pm#1840636
St. Croix Avid 6’3″ mlxf is my favorite. Very fast transition to back bone.
x2 for vertical, I run it with Suffix 832 10/4 line. I’ve also borrowed the similar rod but in 6’9″. If I’m pitching I much prefer the longer version. No experience with limit creek yet.
To Randy’s question on why short rods, I could say things like I prefer the better control of the shorter rod. Boats I’m in aren’t that wide so I don’t need extra length. Could it just be that when I first started vertical jigging years ago it was with a 6′ mlf rod and I like what I’ve used??? Is this just bias that what we know we say is better?
I did use a friends rod once that was around 7’6″. Felt bouncy to me rather than quick/fast like my shorter rods.
I’m a fan of the shorter rods for vertical jigging as well, I use a 6’3″ st. Croix Avid. When long lining jigs, I prefer a 7′ 2″.
Limit creek is also in my arsenal, not the smoothie, but their 8′ 3″ telescoping spinning rod. I exclusively use this one for bobber fishing. The reason I bring it up is that their customer service is second to none.
I was hesitant ordering one without getting my hands on it prior to purchase, but with minimal other options in the 8’+ arena, I pulled the trigger anyway. it showed up in two pieces snapped right in half. called C.S. and had a complete rod the next day.
Here’s how she showed up the first time
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Wind and weight. That’s the advantage of shorter rods.
I get weight, for guys using heavier jigs I could see a shorter rod have a little advantage.
But the wind doesn’t make sense to me. On miserably windy days, my 8 to 9 footers are awesome. I can very comfortably keep the tip next to the water and the wind never blows my line around. With shorter rods, seems like I am constantly fighting the wind blowing my line around-resorting to use heavier jigs. Not saying either right or wrong since everyone has their own preference. I just always seem frustrated when using short rods and trying to understand why others find that they are a better tool
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