Looking at buying one of St Croix 34″ noodle rods, seems like a really good rod and they’re on sale at fleet farm. Any ups or downs you guys could share with me? What kind of warranty do they come with?
Thanks in advance.
Ryan
Are you referring to the avid series rods with the orange tip? If so they are nice rods with big enough guides so that if it’s cold line freeze wont be a issue. I know the sale at Fleet Farm right now is a good one and you probably wont find that rod for cheaper. Unsure of the warranty but in less an unfortunate accident occurs you probably wont need the warranty. Just my .02 cents.
I think they would do fine against bigger fish as long as you had your drag set appropriately and proper line. I have never used them as I have other panfish rods already but have had thoughts of picking one up for hole hopping because I like the larger guides for when I have to deal with line freeze. I currently use a 13 fishing tickle stick which I absolutely love for light bites. But it has small guides and when it’s cold and line freezes it can be a PITA. I thought of picking up an avid for hole hoppin’.
I just bought a tickle stick too but I might bring it back for that reason. The freezing guides! I usually hole hop! I would buy both but I don’t have any money! 
How sensitive is the tip on the st croix vs the tickle stick? This tickle stix are too stiff in my opinion plus too many small eyes. I haven’t seen the st croix up close yet.
They are pretty sensitive, I just picked mine up, I LOVE IT! Great sensitivity and its got a really good backbone on it! Really good quality rod in my opinion! The St. Croix has big eyes and not nearly as many as the tickle stick. Love it so far! Can’t wait to get out and try it!
If you think the tickle stick doesn’t have a sensitive enough tip I think you are in for a rude awakening. They are about as sensitive as you can get. I have the 27 inch lite which is the “heaviest” action rod the tickle stick comes in and I never have a problem detecting bites …
x2^ I have a 27″ Tickle stick and loved it, I fish out on the ice 85% of the time so the eyelets were just too small for me but they are extremely sensitive, any more and it would defeat the purpose of it, It has a slight bend with my lightest hooks on it even a 1/64 oz jig it gives it a little bend in it!
I guess I wouldn’t classify any noodle type rods as “sensitive”. Noodle rods are typically glass and provide more of a visual indication of a bite, not so much feel.
Rods in my box that are “sensitive”, and that provide good feel of a bite are carbon/graphite, rods such as the TUC Quick Tip or Precision.
That is a valid point Andy. I prefer to see the bite when fishing pannies and feel the bite for walleyes. It’s all personal preference and that’s the beauty of all the rod options we have today.
Rj, did you end up bringing the tickle stick back for the st. Croix avid?
If you think the tickle stick doesn’t have a sensitive enough tip I think you are in for a rude awakening. They are about as sensitive as you can get. I have the 27 inch lite which is the “heaviest” action rod the tickle stick comes in and I never have a problem detecting bites …
Sorry, I used the wrong word. I should have said soft tip not sensitive. I want it to bend with a lighter jig like some other noodle rods. The tickle stix i looked didn’t seem to be as soft as i liked. I like the rod to bend back a 1/4 to 1/5 of the rod from the tip with a light jig. I have some Wright and Mcgill noodle rods that do that, but the back bone is stiffer than I like. I prefer to have a softer back bone than most people seem to like. If you like the tickle stix that is great, i just didn’t care for them. JR tackle makes a decent noodle rod with the back bone I like, but the tip is not soft enough. I have seen the TUCR up close too. Just thought I would ask about the St Croix products since I haven’t seen them up close yet.
That is a valid point Andy. I prefer to see the bite when fishing pannies and feel the bite for walleyes. It’s all personal preference and that’s the beauty of all the rod options we have today.
Rj, did you end up bringing the tickle stick back for the st. Croix avid?
Yes, I did and I absolutely love the Avid! It is a super good quality rod and has a soft tip. Very sensitive with a solid backbone, I went with the 30″. I hole hop most of the time and I feel the need for the big eyelets because the tickle sticks eyes would freeze way to much. You can feel the slightest bite in the graphite handle, it is a really nice rod and I got it on sale and couldn’t be happier!
Know how long they are on sale? Was thinking of getting one of these or the no.8 snitch rods look pretty nice.
If I get into town this week I can let you know but I don’t work the rest of the week until sunday but I’d imagine they will be on sale for a week or 2! Get in soon! It’s $10 off and they go pretty fast.
I checked one out at the Oakdale FF. They are a light rod, not really a noodle rod. I do like the big eyes, but not the softness I was looking for. They were not on sale at that location, but I see they are sale priced on the website.
I checked one out at the Oakdale FF. They are a light rod, not really a noodle rod. I do like the big eyes, but not the softness I was looking for. They were not on sale at that location, but I see they are sale priced on the website.
Yeah, its not really a noodle just a light rod but either way I love it!
Its the St Croix AVID Glass rod. I have one for pannies and love it.
I just picked up one of each today, great rods for only $40
LOVE my St. Croix ice rods! 
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