dbass

What would you recommend to use that sort of rod (6'8 MXF) for as far as application goes? poppers and walk-the-dog type baits, tubes, grubs and unweighted soft plastics and then (as a last resort) some smaller shallow running cranks........

Hey muddy man, Seen to many extra fast tipped rods fail on a hard jig hookset. If you have good sharp hooks, you should be able to get away with a 7' MHF, up to a 3/8oz jigs tipped, from 1/2oz tipped and up then I would go HF.... Try to find a good neutral to slightly tip heavy for the rod/reel balance, then spiral wrap and split the grip for weight control, you'll never regret it. Just my .02¢ Tight Lines!!!!

IMO as a builder, the sensitivity issue doesn't change much from power to power, but from blank modules to modules. IE: a GL2 will be less sensitive then a GLX, the blanks wall thickness will dictate the sensitivity in the blank, then the guides and how they are wrapped (threads used) come into play. Just my .02¢ Tight Lines!!!!

I have 2 St.Croix rods that I like, one is a Graphite Avid 7'MHM custom, the other is a ProE-Glass 7'MM that I built 13 years ago. I use only Traps in the 1/2oz range when I throw cranks, these are the rods I have used for ever. Tight Lines!!!!

I agree I would take it back and have the retailer take it apart, better they break it then you. The next time you purchase a 2pc rod, make sure you can get it apart before you leave the shop, or where ever you purchased it. Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!

Nope you have to replace the whole guide frame and all. This will also have to be wrapped and finished.... Good Luck & Tight Lines !!!

I don't know about that, St.Croix has 3 Tenn. grips in the Premier Spin.. PST60MF msrp - $90.00 PST66MF msrp - $100.00 PST66MHF msrp - $100.00 Tight Lines!!!!

Yup that is great twist. It's good to have a distributor in the US, that can work like that with the mother company. Was the blank colored? Was there any information as to what would have caused the failure in the first place? Tight Wraps!

Schaefer, Here ya go................ E21 FISHING 200 Queens Quay E. Unit 1 Toronto, On. M5A 4K9 Head Office: 416-362-2121 Sales: 416-347-4839 Email: info@e21fishing.com

Yup that is called a Tennessee Grip. When the reels foot is inserted into the rings and pressed it keeps the reel mounted solid. Most anglers don't like them because they have to make sure that they mount the reel aligned with the (first) stripper guide. IMPO they are quite comfortable.

flechero, Wow 12" from the tip, bet that sounded off when it went. What was the blank? Hope it wasn't a CTS that will take forever to replace... Tight Wraps!!!!

With the amount of reel servicing I get this time of year, and the 3 custom rods I have already in front of him. My turnaround time is getting longer, and I wouldn't even be able to get to a rod for him until the last part of April or first of May..

Bassnajr, The points made here are good ones.. If your looking for a local rod guy, here ya go give this one a try, and see what they say.. Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!1

This gentleman is looking for a 6' MHF 2pc. rod. I have informed him that SC doesn't have 2pc blanks in his power or length, in any high end blanks. The only 2pc blanks are in the Premier (SC2) blank, and again not in his rating and length. Maybe Flechero can best serve him and has a connection for 2pc blanks............ Tight Lines!!!!

Why don't you ask that on their forum...... http://www.kistlerrods.com/fishing-rod/plugins/forum/

Yea Cabela's has kits. Click Here.... Tackle Craft But if your going to do this do it right, do some reading first. Click Here....Rod Building Guide: Tom Kirkman Good Luck & Tight Wraps!

You sure can buy direct from St.Croix.. Without knowing what the rods model number is to check against the list and whether or not they carry the grips in a kit that your looking for is the $100 question...... Here is the list of handle kits they carry. http://www.stcroixrods.com/content.asp?id=67&section=builder

Keith, The new finish on the Avid is supposed to be better (harder and more permanent) than the old finish on the IV's and V's. This is what I have had conversations about lately, blank finishes St.Croix's only Achilles heal. Tight Wraps!

flechero, That sounds like a good one. Wait until you wrap a new SC3 blank, that new finish is a lot slicker than most gloss finishes I have wrapped on. I have about 8 blanks hanging waiting for some attention. Just working on rods when I have time from the reel servicing I just got done with a custom 08 3C66HF for Jeff H here on the forum, and, we are working on a new suspending jerkbait rod for his arthritic hands. Tight Wraps!!!!

joshmb1999, FYI you now have the same technology in the NEW 08 Avid® rods, as the Legend Tournament® Bass rods. IMPO, I wouldn't even look at an IMX or GLX, especially from a company that hasn't had any new rod technology come out of it for the last 10 years. JMP.02¢ as a rod builder..

RockvilleMDAngler, On a super light weight rod.. If you go with a super light reel you will feel the weight of the tip section of the rod. Take the rod to your nearest tackle shop, and start with the lightest going to the heaviest reel on that rod, and you will notice that around the 7oz mark is were the reel/rod system will start to neutral balance (the system as a whole gets lighter). So IMPO I wouldn't waste any big bucks on a super light reel. Just my .02¢ as a rod builder... Tight Lines!!!!

Yes! No doubt about that one the guide has been hit with something, that finish will turn gray on you, and the wrapping threads will fail...

Thanks for the kind words Jeff. Here is my file cover shot of the rod. 2008 3C66HF blank (carbon pearl finish), black fuji ECS reel seat, black J-style fuji alconites, black thread wraps w/single silver turn inlays, Burnt Burl Grips w/laguna burl insets... Enjoy the rod, when you get that new PB I want pics ....

St.Croix doesn't have the time to do custom modifications to their rods. I personally wouldn't recommend any modification to any manufactured rack rods it will nullify the warranty, unless you don't care about your rods warranty. Even with a custom builder doing the job, there is a good chance that the blank can be nicked, and then cause a failure in that area on a hook set or heavy fight....Most custom builders will do the job for a hefty price: Create split rear grip from solid grip: $25 - $35 per rod..... If it were me I would use the Flea market here, sell off the old ones and then purchase the new 08's with the split grips and full warranties.... OR If your interested in split grips that are made for your hands, then I would have custom rods built... Good Luck & Tight Lines!

No two manufacturers build the same style blanks. The mandrels are never the same from company to company. Plus when you measure the tip action on a rod, take into consideration that there is more flex in a tip that has single foot guides in that section, than a tip section that has double foot guides. Just my .02¢ Tight Lines!!!!