jimmyjoe

The material in both is SC3. That's Saint Croix 3rd level blank formulation. SC1 is fiberglass, SC2 is the original graphite from 20-30 years ago, and like all companies, they can blend the graphite with fiberglass to achieve a composite blank with the action, weight and durability that they want. SC3 is their somewhat newer (workhorse) graphite formulation. The level above these is the Legend family, and those have SC4 and SC6 formulations. Here's the problem: The manufacturer can use the exact same materials, but make small changes to the design that are deemed appropriate, and maybe, just maybe, the customer can't even notice. Not won't notice, but can't notice. So are they the exact same materials? Yes. Are they the exact same blank? I don't know, but I would say from the standpoint of the end user that yes, they are. Confusing, isn't it? ? jj

The Avid-X rods are split grip. The Avid are full grip. That might make a difference to you, might not. jj

Yes, in a way you're looking at this in too tidy a way. Manufacturers' ideas of giving their customers the value that you're asking about was to trickle-down the specializations of the expensive stuff to the lower-priced lines. A nice idea, but I suspect that the idea was actually to sell more rods that way. A bad side effect of this type of manufacturing is that the "threshold" you wanted to see is becoming blurred and fast fading away. If you want recommendations for two levels up, you'll need to tell us which techniques that you use, and which ones you don't use. Then someone can give their opinions on value for those techniques. As for staying away from China ..... the American-made rods that I (personally) like the best are Cashion and St. Croix. As people answer your question, you'll see that there are others, too. Good luck in your search! jj

So 1) you're throwing lighter lures, 2) you're employing steady retrieve, and 3) you're a shorecaster. I'm a shorecaster, too, and I use steady (or twitching-style) retrieves. In the first place, the combo you have right now isn't bad at all. You said that you're attracted by the lure of high sensitivity. (Pun intended) But sensitivity is not really a necessity or even a high priority in steady-retrieve rods; it's more important for bottom-contact techniques. Although you can read some ads that tout high-sensitivity rods for stuff like squarebills, saying that you can "feel exactly what the lure is deflecting off", that's just advertising malarkey. On tensioned-line retrieves, by the time you feel anything and set the hook, the fish has already hooked itself. You may latch a door that has already slammed shut, so to speak, but you usually don't need to. I caught fish for quite a few years by holding the rod fast and reeling against the pull of the fish. It works. Bottom contact is different. As for casting lighter (1/4 to 1/2 oz.) lures, what @cheezyridr said about using spinning gear makes a lot of sense. Spinning casts lighter lures better, especially into the wind. If you use braid, he's correct in that you can get greater distances. Braid does have its own problems, but nothing is perfect. You'll have to decide which way you want to go. And you said that you're looking for a "do-it-all" combo. You can do that with casting gear, but it's easier to do it with spinning gear. One last thing: If you're thinking that "high-end" gear is going to give you a lot better results compared to what you have now, you're going to be disappointed. Better results come from the person doing the fishing, not the gear. I wish you the best of luck. jj

Perfect description .... absolutely perfect. That's squarebill heaven. jj

Funny how JDM reels (or at least non-USDM reels) have printing on the box and the reel in English. jj

Be cautious putting heavy loads on the Fuego CT100. Ask around as to the heaviest uses for that reel, and how long the user has had the reel under those conditions. I could just be overcautious, but I had one that went south on me with 1 oz. spoons. It might have just been a fluke of circumstance, too; you never know. jj

Here's my opinion, for what it's worth. The 5/16 -3/4 Avid is MH/XF. I would only use that rod from a boat (not a big problem on this forum!) and then only for jigs and worming, and heavier bottom contact. That rod is great, but it is NOT an all-purpose casting rod. Not in the least. jj

When it comes to pike, I'm religious. I religiously throw spoons (1/2 to 1 oz.) and spinnerbaits (1/2 and 5/8 oz.) and Mepps spinners (1/2 oz.) Although it works for me, I won't pretend to say that it will work for you. Try it and see. Good luck! jj

Uh ..... wrong. They're easy to find; they're in the same place as they are on a skinny woman. Who's been teaching you stuff? ?? jj

When I say that I fish from ice-out to ice-up, I mean it. If the fish wanna bite, who am I to disappoint them? jj

I love it! Looks great! However ..... next time, don't start teasing us quite so early! ?? jj

Necessity might be the mother of invention, but it's also the father of frugality. jj

That's bad, but not so bad as the idiot coming down the road, weaving from left to right on the shoulder and over the center line, looking down at what they're texting rather than the highway. THAT SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME! ?? JJ

Some days (not just in fall) I go through the whole dang tackle bag of lures and get nothing. So then, I usually go to a lower power setup and do the same thing all over again. This is, more often than not, moving down to a ML from a MH. Usually, somewhere in there, is something that the fish will hit. Maybe I'll only get one or two, but that's better than a skunk. Notice I said, "usually", not "always". Sometimes the skunk gotcha, and there's nothing you can do about it. ? Good luck! JJ

I used to say, "I fish from ice-out to ice-up". but that's not true. I've actually fished (and caught fish) all 12 months of the year, right here in the frozen Midwest. This is shorecasting on the Mississippi; I do NOT ice fish. Fishing during the January thaw, fishing below power stations and hitting the protected northern pockets can all yield fish, especially yellow perch. The secret is not to avoid the cold temperatures, but to AVOID THE WIND. That, and the places where it's icy under the snow, and I slip and fall. That's no good for an old fart like me. BTW ...... did you know that you can fly fish with mittens on? ? ?? jj

Don't worry, they'll still have windshields. ??? jj

With the questionable levels of contaminanants in the waters where I live, I don't eat bass. When I was a kid, we ate them all the time, but no more. Times change, and not always for the better. jj

For lighter stuff needing a softer rod, I'd use a Powell Endurance 723CB, M/MF, with a 2500-size reel and 10 lb. braid. For lighter stuff benefiting from a stiffer blank, I'd use a St. Croix Avid-X ML/F with a 2500-size reel and 6 lb. nylon line. That's about as close as I can come to your two ML selections. For your Medium and Medium Heavy selections where you'd need a softer rod, I'd suggest Cashion Elite 6'-09" Finesse Crankbait rods. Cashion are excellent rods. I'd use a 4000 size reel with nylon line. I get fewer line management issues on reels having larger diameter spools. For your Medium and Medium Heavy selections requiring a stiffer rod, I'd suggest the St. Croix Avid or Avid-X rods, with my personal predilection being the Avid-X. Which reels and lines you use with these is your choice, because I've used the M/F Avid as a specialty twitching rod for several years, but never have used the MH/F rods. I might be skating on thin ice by suggesting them, I just don't know. I used to look kinda sideways at fishermen who didn't use casting gear. Then, about 15 years ago, I developed arthritis. All I could use was spinning gear. Even though my hands have improved to the point I can use casting gear again, I've learned my lesson. I don't view people critically who use only spinning gear, whether they choose to use it or whether they have to use it. Good luck! ??? jj

Went out today again, but I took 3 rods instead of just one. The one I used yesterday was the St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass H/M, rated 1/2 to 1 and 3/8 lure weight. Just like yesterday, pulling in a spinnerbait on a steady retrieve was the loudest grind from the braid going through the guides, and that was true on all 3 rods. But there was something different. The other 2 rods were a cheap Berkley Heritage with stainless steel guides and inserts, and my graphite Mojo Bass MH/F, 3/8 to 1 oz. Both of them were NOTICEABLY quieter than the 'glass rod. And I don't mean a little, I mean a lot quieter. Maybe @cgolf was right about the guide material. Maybe the glass series guides are different. And maybe that big, fat fiberglass rod's diameter has something to do with it. I dunno. I'll just keep on fishing. ?? jj

Man oh man ..... I sure hope you're right. That would be GREAT! jj

You do NOT get old people like me into a pool, unless it's a whirlpool at the gym. ? ? The only use for pools I have is to test out lures. jj

Short answer: No. Long answer: same as short answer. ??? jj

Hmmmm ...... could be. jj That could be, too. jj So you've heard the sound of braid when you were swimming? Now THAT'S what I was interested in hearing! No way have I ever been able to compare the sound of braid going through the guides from the viewpoints of a fisherman or someone actually in the water. The plot thickens ........ ? jj

You must have seen the movie "Deliverance". ????? jj