St. Croix Rods??

[S Hovanec]

and I don't buy that ALL rods made in USA are of the best craftsmanship. Last week I got a rod in for a tip replacement and I was SHOCKED how poorly it was assembled and finished. This was not a St. Croix, but another USA made brand that I've never heard of until about a month ago. I snapped pics to show another builder cause I couldn't believe what I just saw. Even went to their website and the pics there look just like the ones I took.

Here's a quote cut directly from their website: "xxxxxx Rods takes a scientific approach to fishing rod building and pays close attention to every tiny aspect of the manufacturing process to ensure our fishing rods meet the demands of enthusiastic anglers. Bottom line, we build the best fishing rods available today."

[Stasher1]

I can ASSURE you there are FAR fewer Failures with their Premium rods, and I mean MUCH MUCH FEWER, and assure you a lot has to do with the quality of the American Craftsman! They use higher quality materials here but they are from the same suppliers for the most part, as in 3m glue is 3m glue, but does make a difference HOW YOU USE IT. And YES I do have a problem with any US Company that OUTSOURCES THERE PRODUCTS! They do it to save money, not to REINFORCE THE AMERICAN ECONOMY or to try and build a BETTER PRODUCT, and most obviously NOT TO PUT AMERICANS TO WORK! I am not faulting you or upset with you, or anyone else for using them, but it is ridiculous to try and say they are as good or of near the same quality, and stand up for their shortcomings by saying they are of the same or nearly the same quality the ones made hear are, ain't happenin!! PERIOD!

Source?

Unless you can produce actual statistics, you're just talking out your ass.

[Capt.Bob]

Well for starters, I admire your passion for american craftsmanship as I do feel the same in general.

you as a buyer are in the wrong from the get go and you need to do some research prior to purchasing. I have 2 triumphs that are 10 years old...still use them and they still perform flawlessly. I have Avids and Premiers...they're just as good as my "garbage" rods.

I hear more great things about the St Croix low end rods than bad. All I'm saying is don't bash all their stuff just because it's not put together on our soil, that's ridiculous. Maybe that's what it takes for St. Croix to keep up with the supply and demand of their product? Why don't you email them and ask why they manufacture their "low" end stuff in Mexico?

As a fishing guide/charter I'm sure you do have rods that are 20 years and going strong. You probably take care of your stuff far better than your weekend warrior angler. I take care of my stuff like they are my children. I was raised to cherish the things I buy and I paid my hard earned money on. Some guys that I know just throw their stuff around and don't care. Like I said, you don't really know how this stuff is handled before you take it to the check out or after for that matter.

I am sorry I didn't see this, but now I see why

If you have Triumphs that are 10 years old, they weren't made in Mexico. Chances are they were made USA made right before they started making them in China (which FAILED MISERABLY). Same goes with the Mojo. There were a handful that were USA made because the NEW plant in Mexico was just starting up and not running at full capacity.

St. Croix puts these lower priced rods out to be able to compete with all the other imports that are flooding the market. They need their presence known at every level.

Thank you S Hovanec, I was also short on my response to the Triumph, but maybe that is why Mark is so confused as the Triumph was never made here, other than prototypes and everyone that that was ever made and sold on the open market was made in China before they were moved to the Mexico plant, and why Mark may have had such good luck with his 10 year old TRIUMPHS is because they are counterfit! Thats right any 10 year old St. Croix Triumph that is still going is a counterfit, that is because the first prototype Triumph was built in 2006, so in Marks case it is either more fabrication trying to justify supporting these companies that are killing American jobs as those rods can't be 10 years old,or didn't know he had COUNTERFEIT ST. CROIX RODS. since THEY WERE ONLY AVAILABLE for less than 6 years, (point being if they were so worried about meeting demand and not selling cheap products to compete with cheaper foreign manufacturers they would have built that Mexican factory right here in the United States of America) to sell at that price they cannot do the following -- 1) USE QUALITY AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN -2) USE QUALITY COMPONENTS THEY USE IN THERE PREMIUM RODS - 3) SELL TO THE CONSIMERS IN ANY MARKET THAT ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR PREMIUM QUALITY.

By the way Mark you think some people abuse there own equipment, supply customers with equipment for a while that are paying you for a service and SUPPLYING THEM with the equipment to use. They really don't care and why I found out very quick how cheap it was to supply St. Croix Premiers, and Shimano Symetre's both take a lot of abuse, the reels were bomb proof as long as I kept line and lube in them, and the rods were extremly durable a took unbelievable abuse, and I didn't have to worry about them with the St; Croix warranty. and also when the higher end or more experienced customers were aboard they were satisfied with the quality of the equipment furnished.

[Capt.Bob]

Source?

Unless you can produce actual statistics, you're just talking out your ass.

That is also simple. over twenty years fishing commercially isn't enough and dealling with over 400 other Charters in my home marina maybe you should just go to the top of the page and hit search! or maybe that would be to much trouble! If so call St. Croix and ask why they build rods out of the country and Import them if you want the truth!! THAT IS WHAT I DID!! FACT!

[Stasher1]

That is also simple. over twenty years fishing commercially isn't enough and dealling with over 400 other Charters in my home marina maybe you should just go to the top of the page and hit search! or maybe that would be to much trouble! If so call St. Croix and ask why they build rods out of the country and Import them if you want the truth!! THAT IS WHAT I DID!! FACT!

In other words, you have NO ACTUAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM. <---- See, I know how to use the 'caps lock' button, too.

I would venture to guess that St Croix probably sells ~100 Mojo/Triumph for every Extreme, so comparing the number of posts here about problems with their lower-end rods is completely meaningless.

As for calling St Croix to ask why they went outside the US to set up their plant, the answer is obvious to anyone with anything more than a single-digit IQ - money. The market for "premium" rods is very small, and if a rod company wants to stay afloat, they're going to have to sell a product that can compete on the same level as mass-market rods. St Croix chose to take existing designs and have them manufactured in a country where land and labor are cheap, not to mention the cost of shipping from point of manufacture to point of distribution.

[MarkH024]

I was pretty sure that I bought my Triumphs in 2002 but I could be mistaken. I never said my Triumphs were even manufactured in Mexico....not once. My Mojo and Rage rods are. That I know....I also have yet to have a problem with them and they both perform just as well as my Avid and Premier. But I guess I need to wait at least 10+ years to make a judgement call to have an opinion on the matter.

The point I was making, is that bad mouthing the company and products because they have a plant in Mexico and everything that comes from that location is crap, is ridiculous. I'd still have the same opinion if it was completely unrelated to fishing. You're entitled to your opinion, so am I. I think St. Croix is a great company, with great rods. No matter it be Shimano, GLoomis, Elk River, Abu Garcia, Daiwa, All-Start, Powell, etc... you're going to get a faulty product at some point....it happens with everything that is made.

Rather than beating this like a dead horse, I'll leave it at that. I love my mexican St Croix rods as well as my American ones...I wish they were built in America but until I buy St. Croix and move the plant, I'll have to deal with that. Tight lines.

[Bluebasser86]

I have lots of St.Croix rods and had never had a problem, until I bought a rage rod. My Rage spinning rod foregrip came loose and moves all over. I used rod tape and don't have that problem anymore. Another guy I talked to said he had the same thing happen with a casting rod. I'd upgrade to an Avid series rod and be done with it. I have a Rage casting rod and I love it and have never had a problem with it.

Well so much for that statement. FIshing yesterday I swung a 2.5lb jig fish into the boat like I have hundreds of times and my 7' 1" MH Rage casting rod broke about a foot from the tip for no apparent reason. I'd been fishing with it for about 6 hours at that point and had swung bigger ones than that in with no problem. Took it back to Cabela's and just went ahead and spent the extra money and upgraded to a 7' 6" LTB "pitching" rod. It's my third LTB rod and after catching a few on it this morning it felt really good

[UWBass]

I use St.Croix rods exclusively and have never had any issues. I have had the fortune of working at a tackle store for a long time and received a sizable discount, so most of mine are Legend Elites (all spinning rods are Elites) or Legend Tournaments (baitcasters) with a few Avid's and Mojo's thrown in. They are simply a stand-up company, and being from WI, I obviously have an extra interest in fishing their rods! Also, something kind of cool, if you have ever noticed, that is my picture on their home page under freshwater rods (holding a smallie), and I appear several times throughout the website with bass or crappies. My friend and I made it into the 2012 paper catalog of theirs as well in a dozen different photos. If any of you ever get the chance to do a photoshoot w/ St.Croix for their website, do it - they treat you very well in gear...(which is better than money anyways!!!)

[Capt.Bob]

In other words, you have NO ACTUAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM. <---- See, I know how to use the 'caps lock' button, too.

I would venture to guess that St Croix probably sells ~100 Mojo/Triumph for every Extreme, so comparing the number of posts here about problems with their lower-end rods is completely meaningless.

As for calling St Croix to ask why they went outside the US to set up their plant, the answer is obvious to anyone with anything more than a single-digit IQ - money. The market for "premium" rods is very small, and if a rod company wants to stay afloat, they're going to have to sell a product that can compete on the same level as mass-market rods. St Croix chose to take existing designs and have them manufactured in a country where land and labor are cheap, not to mention the cost of shipping from point of manufacture to point of distribution.

I will try and answer you without the insults and as clearly as I can with my single digit IQ? without making anything up.

I would not argue how many rods are built in each model, never did, and Extreme . Elite, Avid, Legend Tournament, Premier, Wind River, are all made in Park Falls, which is America with American labor. And yes after making Graphite rods alone there since the Mid 70's, will assure you they have 100's of thousand's more premium rods out there than Imports. that includes Bass Walleye Muskie, Salmon, Surf, Fly, spinning, casting. You name it. in all the models I sated, not just Extremes! with less complaints than I have seen on all forums, not just here on there premium rods compared to the complaints on there imports!

as to why they went with lower quality components and labor, isaid what you are saying! I don't understand your point, I agreed that St. Croix chose to make a lower quality line of rods to compete with cheap imports! Yes I said that all along. You state they chose to make them in another country with cheaper labor. I said that. You said the the market for a Premium rod is very small, I don't know about that and never said it, but did agree that that was why they built them in Mexico so the could build a cheaper line of rod's to compete with rods in that catagory!

I will not agree with your statement, and I quote "St Croix chose to take existing designs and have them manufactured in a country where land and labor are cheap, not to mention the cost of shipping from point of manufacture to point of distribution." and I won't retaliate with insults about IQ, but will say most here know that BEFORE they designed these rod they new they were going to be made out of this country! until then they were not existing plans, if they didn't see a need to compete with cheap imports, they would have never designed them! And even my grand kids know it is not cheaper to ship anything into another country, I don't know what you were thinking there, but that I will disagree with, the only thing that justifies being cheaper to import them is what the total cost of labor and expense is to make them out of the country. I sell enough products to know it cost more to send something to any other country, than to send it right here in this country!

And sir if you read any of my post on any thread, and here for sure, you will see I am 99.9% St. Croix, I honor there products with over, at present 17 different Legend Elites, Legend Ultra's, Legend Tournament's, Avids, Premiers and one Wild River. along with a few BP Bionic Blades, and Extremes. There have been many times I have glorified St Croix's customer service, and products, made here in Wi.. I have never said there cheaper imports are not as good as other imports, not once have I said that. I will however say one more time there import line is made with lower skilled craftsman than the craftsman in Park Falls Wi. FACT. the import line is made with lower quality components! Fact, just so you understand that is how they sell them so cheap. and yes, I will in all my years I have left, say for the umteenth time, you would be hard pressed to find a better product than St. Croix produces right here in America, or better Customer service, and I am sorry, but I can not state that about there products that come out of MEXICO! They are not the quality the American made St. Coix rods are, as you agreed earlier!

[Long Mike]

Gentlemen, you have eloquently made your points. Everyone knows that we are now beating a dead horse. This thread is now locked.

Good night Irene.