Capt.Bob

I have 8 out of the nearly 20 St Croix I own, that are well over 10 years old, all Avids, Legend Elites Ultras and Extremes, spin cast and fly, my most used river Smallmouth and Walleye rod that was over 15 years old broke last spring, getting to aggressive on a snag, something I did for over it's entire Lifetime, it cost me $70.00 for a brand new up to date 6'6" MHF including shipping of both, I got a brand new Legend Elite and about 5 upgrades the Legends had been given over those years. It is sweet to have that kind of piece of mind. That rod took more abuse than I will likely ever put any of the others thru, but the nice thing about St. Croix rods I own, if I ever do break one, even after 15 or more years, I will be backed with less than the price difference between what I payed then, and with the new rods I will get all the technical and material upgrades they have received over those years, now that is piece of mind. I also have a few Extremes and Bionic blades over 10 years old from BPS, but when those break, there gone, and are not what I consider expensive rods, but quite good for the money one pays, and am harder on them than any rods I own!

To date all the SCIII blanks do have a Lifetime Warranty, at least on any rod from the USA, the imports are only 5 which I hope stays that way. I like the benefits to go to those that keep Americans working. But I like the lifetime Warranty and hope it stays on the Avid rods after this year, and it is kinda nice to use a rod for 15 or more years, and when a quality rod finally takes all the abuse I put it thru over those years break's, be able to return the pieces and have a brand new rod packed with all the new technologies for a fraction of the price of a new rod. Of course unless I was making money selling them?? To me this is just one thing that keeps St. Croix #1 for so many years, I hope they realize being the oldest and setting standards for world class as they have done for so many years don't reverse what has put them where they are today and start following those companies that came about after them, Leaders don't follow. I am willing to pay a premium when I feel I am buying the best, and being backed by the best customer service available. Just my personal feelings, when they stop the Lifetime, I stop building, I could be set for life with all the Avids and Legends I own now, but sure hope I continue to have to have that new outfit every year, just because, but if they ever do change there policy on these American Made Blanks, I will live out my days with what I have already in my inventory, and smile every day I use them, I hope others can continue the same luxuries for the rest of their lives!

As far as the warranty I would not put much faith in the 15 years. The ScIII blank if custom built still carries a full lifetime warranty, when St. Croix says 15 years I will believe it, till then I have seen to many previews be off on some of their particulars. Anyways, I can still find new Avids with complete grips and reel seats for under $180.00, just gotta shop around, and those are what I will be buying anyways.

That may be your problem, I have never greased or oiled a new style friction ring, or an old style, I never needed to. But will assure you if you did that on the older style you would turn the ring to gum and soften it prematurely. I don't think this will hurt the material on the new style, but would buy a new friction ring and replace the old one, do not lube them and see if your problem still exist, if you refuse to let Shimano inspect them, and correct the problem. There are to many things that go unsaid without seeing them, and from doing this for years know, customers never cause a problem,,,,,,,

There are many who have dual braking and change the number of brakes when casting in wind or changing to lighter lures, I set 1 or 2 brakes on depending on the reel, then I use the magnetic if I need to fine tune for wind or lighter lures. There is no need to pair or run even numbers, just use the fewest you need for the best control, and the less you need the less friction and better your distance will be.

if your good enough -0- I usually need 1, just don't use any more than necessary or you will loose efficiency!

Interesting, I personally own a 1000FJ, 3000FJ, 4000FJ Stradics, 1000FG sustain, and Ci4+ 1000FA Stradic, along with the 1000 and 4000FI's I own, far superior to the pre FI friction ring,,,,, I have never had this problem,,,,,,I would send it in for warranty as I have never had such a problem or had a customer with this problem and would think if it was a problem you understood and new for sure, you would simply fix it?? And .RM.'s warning about not removing the friction ring should be taken seriously, if not you will have aggravating results!!

What he said but the Tournament TS1 has a a lighter shallower machined spool than the MG, making more of a difference with casting lighter lures. I would pick the Tournament for this reason as well as dual Braking!! A much more refined reel for most uses.

That will be sweet for those needing more. But right now I don't know what St Croix I could possibly want, but whats bad is if that happens I am sure there will be several,,,,,,, there just ain't no cure for this disease,

Make it simple, buy St. Croix and know your being covered by a company that is well established, and been leading in customer service and warranty "to whoever owns the rod when it breaks" for longer than the rest, I have never been sorry switching to St. Croix, as a matter of fact after 20 or 30 I have decided I have no reason to buy any other, but prefer buying new.

Which one? there are many Speed Spools, even one spinning?

You got that right Mike, no one want's to talk about the alternatives, and most hope they make it there, the ones that say they don't, well the truth isn't always their priority!!

I about had a great fishing day ruined out with the grandson a few days ago. We went to a reservoir we fish and were having a pretty good day. He was catching some nice Channel Cats (around 3-4 lbs.) and releasing them along with some Perch and Gill's we were keeping. It was a little windy and he has a habit of not watching his line on his reel. After a couple rats nest's I had to straighten out he got another. That was when the day changed! I have rod holders front and back, but when I saw the mess, I laid my rod handle on the aluminum seat and the rest of rod on the transom. I took his rod and no sooner than I touched the bail it happened,,,,,I herd a light bang and looked back and there went my rod, about 4' deep and 6-8 foot away going down and away from the boat rather quickly!!!! Oh No! this was a Stradic 1000FJ on my 6' Legend Elite LF and that quick it was out of sight in 15 to 20 feet of water. I had a MH with 30# braid in the boat and a 1/2 oz. undressed jig on it. I grabbed it and tried and tried backing and casting, dragging the bottom but no luck???? nearly $600.00 worth of rod and reel gone, with who knows what on it. My poor grandson the whole time hanging his head and kinda acting like it was his fault. I assured him after counting it gone, it was grandpas fault, and why we should always set the rod's in a rod holder when we are not holding on to them. BUT I let him know that was also why he needed to watch his line and reel all the time, after he cas t's out and starts reeling. But he knew this was not just cheap rod and reel. Then after the shock and time to regain my senses, I realized there was only one hope. So I bowed my head and said a little prayer, realizing I can't replace it, and was not having any luck getting it back looking out over this whole reservoir. I asked please for a little help, then I picked that jig rod up and made one more cast, I probably was about to it's gone when I made that cast, but as the jig hit bottom I started reeling very slow again and as I reeled I felt a little drag on everything and started reeling slowly, but a little faster, and all the sudden I seen I had hooked a fishing line, almost where I could reach it and it came off the hook, I lunged for it almost loosing my balance with the rod tip and started wrapping it on the tip. I pulled it to me and started hand lining the line and sure enough here came the rod and reel, I couldn't believe it, I got hold of it reeled up the slack and then I realized the Fish that caused the scene was still on the line and reeled in about a 4 lbs. Channel Cat. I was relieved and said anther little prayer nowing my efforts on my own were useless. After Thanking God for not taking $600.00 I can't replace right now, I asked my grandson if seen that. He replied ya your pretty good. That was when I told him if I was that good why couldn't I couldn't I get it without asking for help, and if he seen how quick and easy it was after I asked for the PROPER HELP!!! and that's how it's done,,,,,,the day went from ruined to one we won't forget, I think this was the reason it happened, when he was with me, God certainly moves in mysterious way's!!!

I find it kind of funny the OP picks "Old People" as the target for an incident with a rest room, maybe it was the punk that used it before him and didn't mention the mess?? Most public rest rooms I've been in have been intentionally dis serviced sanitary wise and mechanically be those well under 40!! I am sure if one would do a survey very few would find the elderly causing any sanitary issues or destruction, and the ones that do would not be intentional, quite the contrary to those under 40!! Kinda humorous,,,,,

A lot of old timers use the Avid because of the fact that it's performance is proven! Maybe not the Very Best in the St. Croix line, but many think it's the best Rod for the money from anyone, as it performs much better than it's price suggests!

Bob's don't shop at Dick's,,,,,,,been in three, never again, looked like a glorified Wall Mart to me, and there assistants new less about what they were selling than my grandkids, but acted like authorities! But I did score a Stradic 1000FA Ci4+ last week for $168.00 and should have been looking for some 10# 832 for it, I will get it spooled and run it threw its paces on a Smallmouth trip this week.

832 Sufix

The G is why I tried a Lew's Tournament, TS1H, after that I sold all my Low Profile Shimano's and replaced them with other Lew's reels, two and a half years later, I am very happy with that move! I guess if you don't care which works better and feels better for you, go for the cheapest you can buy,,,,,,

Looks like St Croix is trying to add a little more to there lineup so everyone has a a choice for there favorite design. Hopefully the Original Avid stays the same,,,,,, if not thank God they sell blanks! They have made the Ladies version with split grip and different guides for some time. But I agree, I would hate to see them offer only only an unfinished handle on such a fine rod!

Both but was worse with spinning.

wind knots, the line whips itself into knots and cuts itself, there may be a common term but warping and knotting in the guides and just plain knotting itself during long cast and when loose line is present.

Fireline was a good strong line The problem was it is fused and not braided, it's not round, it doesn't cast great, but it is very tough, if not for the drag through the eys that is felt in the rod I would still be using it. Berkley made fireline braid and wow smooth and cast great, but the bennie's ended there, poor knot strength, the line cut's itself, it has no abrasion resistance, and wind knots terribly. This Pro is no better to me, the color bleeding would be no issue but for some reason Berkley cannot braid their line and make a quality product, like some others I have tried, but the wind knots seem worse with the Braids from Berkley.

If you want to see the difference in the roundest of the line benefits, compare it to original Fireline, the drag in the guides is terrible, but pretty quiet since it is a fused line and not braided. I think your girl freind is rite though, don't just take others opinions here, try Power Pro, see the difference for yourself, and understand why it is worth the extra cost, then let us know your thoughts. It is awful hard to say something is good if you only compare it to itself!! Some say if it is louder it has to have more drag, this is far from pertinent. You have to try the nearly silent Fireline to feel the difference, that lack of noise is probably from the lack of braiding, and why power pro is quieter with less weaves per inch, but the tighter weave per inch enables 832 to be stronger with the strands tighter together, than most other braids, these different strands passing through the guides maybe be smaller and smoother but there are more of them, probably why it is louder than others and get's louder the more strain you have on it. I must say since fireline is probably the flattest line I have used, sadly I have to say it has to many drawbacks to continue using since I finally found Sufix 2 years ago. It is hands down the toughest line I have ever found, unbelievable knot strength and abrasion resistance, when it looks like a tattered fiber from a worn out rag, it is still tougher than others. But the flatness, lack of casting distance, feel of the drag in the eyes, and way it wraps on the spool, makes it not worth the toughness, compared to 832. I used fireline with these compromises for years trying every line that would be introduced, but continued to use it because no other line would come close to the abrasion resistance and knot strength without cutting itself, and sensitivity and stretch was as good as any, but when I finally found 832 Sufix, while not quite as tough as fireline, it excels at all the other shortcomings of fireline, and overall the best Braid I have found. I only wish good and cheap were synonymous, but I am willing to pay for the benefits.

X2 key words "in front" the side plate release is on the side,,,,,

woop's, Yes most abrasion resistant line I have found, and every test I have seen and from my personal experience has proven that 832 is the better choice if you have any concerns about abrasion, strength for test rating, smallest diameter, and roundest. I fish mostly rocks, boulders, timber, and usually in currents, I benefit from its smaller diameter than MOST braids, abrasion resistance better than other braids, which power pro rates among the worst, and have never dealt with wind knot's and cutting itself which was a common occurrence with power pro and some others!