Why St. Croix!!

[Capt.Bob]

I leave no doubt, regardless of the tactic your using, St. Croix makes the rod you need. I feel St. Croix has the best CS in the business and make the "VERY BEST RODS ON THE PLANET", and Premier and up are "100% MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN", and there are none better than the Legend Extreme, Elite, and Tournament are as good as it get's.

 

This year I had a problem with one,,,,,,,their first year Legend Elite!! I bought this rod and every since it has been my favorite Small Mouth and Walleye rod. I also use this rod every year for Walleye in the largest tributary to the great lakes as a Carolina rigged floating jig rod for Walleye, for over 14 years it has been abused and landed fish well over 15 lbs. in this white water river environment. This year about 2 weeks ago, as the end of the run was on us, I hooked an egg sucking Quill Back Carp, not a big one, about 6 lbs. but almost to me and one excited flurry and I was hand lining him in on a rod that was now in three pieces! 

 

I made the call to St. Croix and their first question was,,,, what is the serial no.,,,,, I had no idea and it's not on the rod, but it was a EC66MFCS and after she learned the rod was over 14 years old, she said that had to be made the first year the introduced the Legend Elite Series. So she said send it in and $20.00 for return shipping and they would decide what was going to be done. I got the letter Saturday and was very shocked!!! They want another $55.00!!! But that is to send me their latest LES66MF a $330.00 rod for my $290.00 14 year old rod that I had beat the crap out of for all those years, and the 2013 model is better material better tappers, and well worth the 55 bucks to trade up, that is why they are not only the best rods in the world, but the "BEST BACKED RODS IN THE WORLD".  I think last year our own roadwarrior had a similar experience with St. Croix Customer Service. This is why I say you can buy more expensive rods, or less expensive rods, "BUT YOU CAN'T BUY BETTER ROD'S OR BETTER BACKED ROD'S AT ANY PRICE" and best of all knowing they are "MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICANS" By Wed. I should have a brand new 6'6" MF spinning rod to replace a rod that was over 14 years old and this one is as GOOD AS IT GET'S!!

[flyfisher]

Yeah they basically made you use their gold star service which is basically for $75 no matter what the damage they will replace it.

 

Also technically not all rods above the premier are made in the USA as the Mojo series is made in mexico as are the Rage series.  And i am a big St Croix fan too....but Kistler is starting to get my attention as well.

[J Francho]

Love my Saint Croix sticks! 

[kickerfish1]

Other than the "American" portion of St. Croix rods the rest of what you are saying is purely subjective. Best performance, price, warranty, and customer service is debatable.

While I don't have an issue with St. Croix rods, I don't think they are night and day better than comparable offerings from other companies.

[Capt.Bob]

14 years ago I bought my first Legend Elite and my first Loomis IMX, as a Lake Erie Guide I have fished most everything out there,,,,,,,I own over 20 St. Croix's today, Avid's, Legend Elites, Legend Tournament, Legend Extreme's, Lend Ultra, along with a couple premiers, and 1 Loomis, I don't see that changing!!! I may suggest to others "FOR THE MONEY" but to me I don't care about price, it's the quality I want. and I love knowing my money is putting Americans to work!!!

[roadwarrior]

Like Capt. Bob, I bought one of the first Legend Elite, ES70MF. The handle came lose and the rest is the same story

the Capitan just told. I now own their latest/ greatest model practically for free! I also own an EC70MHF, AVC70MM and

AVS66MLF. I have always been a St. Croix fan and rate their Customer Service a dead solid 10.

[Jig Man]

I'm on the other end of the stick.  I bought 4 St Croix Avids at BPS.  They are no where near my Gloomis rods.  If I had do overs I'd leave them where I found them.

[flyfisher]

I'm on the other end of the stick.  I bought 4 St Croix Avids at BPS.  They are no where near my Gloomis rods.  If I had do overs I'd leave them where I found them.

Just curious but which GLoomis rods are you comparing the avids to?

[rockchalk06]

I'm on the other end of the stick. I bought 4 St Croix Avids at BPS. They are no where near my Gloomis rods. If I had do overs I'd leave them where I found them.

My GL2's are nice rods, but the Avid is more sensitive and lighter

[J Francho]

I own both Avid and the new GL2.  They are about par with each other.  Both are very good rods.

[rockchalk06]

I own both Avid and the new GL2. They are about par with each other. Both are very good rods.

You think so? My GL2's both 7'1" H&MH run about 6-7 ounces and the Avid about 4.5. Sensitivity is about the same, very good for both but I can notice a bit better with my Avid.

[J Francho]

I don't really notice the difference in weight.  The only time I really take notice is when I pick up my Dobyns Champ Extreme 744c.  It's VERY light for such a big stick.  I do notice on both rod brands, the wrong reel can make either feel like a heavy, unbalanced cane pole, or a well oiled fishing machine. I hated my AVC70MHF until I found the right reel for it - a TD-X103HSDL.

[PABASS]

One of my oldest rods is a St.Croix still use it today and I remember the day I got it back in 1997, still paired with my Calcutta and just used it this weekend!!  I own a bunch and enjoy them all..

[JunkYard814]

I'm on the other end of the stick.  I bought 4 St Croix Avids at BPS.  They are no where near my Gloomis rods.  If I had do overs I'd leave them where I found them.

 

 

Why did you buy four of them?

[Capt.Bob]

I personally find the rods made in Mexico (Rage, Mojo Eyecon, etc) are comparable to the GL2 and GL3 rods, If you compare a NRX to an Avid it's like comparing a GL2 to a Legend Extreme,,,,,   not what one call apples to apples!!! St. Croix unlike some,,,, makes a rod to compare to any rod built, Triumph to Lightning rod or NRX to Legend Elite and Extreme, IMX and GLX to Legend Tournament and so on. Far to many want to compare a $400.00 rod to a $200.00 Rod, It is hard to compare any rod costing less than $200.00 to a $180.00 Avid. I think the Avid far better than it's price, and the only way to compare any rod to a Legend  Elite is fugal, sensitivity, weight, durability, and most of all as I said in the beginning NO ONE BACKS EM BETTER!!!!!  It will take 14 years of hard use and dozens of upgrades to the same model to find out if they come close!!!!        I did!  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

St Croix also has the most robust lineup out there. There's something for any technique and any reasonable budget. Plus, they are not afraid to keep their blanks available to custom builders.

[Capt.Bob]

St Croix also has the most robust lineup out there. There's something for any technique and any reasonable budget. Plus, they are not afraid to keep their blanks available to custom builders.

That is a really good point about the Blanks available to custom builders. This is a great way to own one of the finest rods on the planet, and have it exactly "THE WAY YOU WANT IT!! ",,,, and there are some very good builders out their that are no more expensive than if you bought it factory made, and still have that "LIFTIME WARRANTY" Best of all world's!! "YOUR WAY" and still ***100% AMERICAN MADE***

[.RM.]

I leave no doubt, regardless of the tactic your using, St. Croix makes the rod you need. I feel St. Croix has the best CS in the business and make the "VERY BEST RODS ON THE PLANET", and Premier and up are "100% MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN", and there are none better than the Legend Extreme, Elite, and Tournament are as good as it get's.

 

This year I had a problem with one,,,,,,,their first year Legend Elite!! I bought this rod and every since it has been my favorite Small Mouth and Walleye rod. I also use this rod every year for Walleye in the largest tributary to the great lakes as a Carolina rigged floating jig rod for Walleye, for over 14 years it has been abused and landed fish well over 15 lbs. in this white water river environment. This year about 2 weeks ago, as the end of the run was on us, I hooked an egg sucking Quill Back Carp, not a big one, about 6 lbs. but almost to me and one excited flurry and I was hand lining him in on a rod that was now in three pieces! 

 

I made the call to St. Croix and their first question was,,,, what is the serial no.,,,,, I had no idea and it's not on the rod, but it was a EC66MFCS and after she learned the rod was over 14 years old, she said that had to be made the first year the introduced the Legend Elite Series. So she said send it in and $20.00 for return shipping and they would decide what was going to be done. I got the letter Saturday and was very shocked!!! They want another $55.00!!! But that is to send me their latest LES66MF a $330.00 rod for my $290.00 14 year old rod that I had beat the crap out of for all those years, and the 2013 model is better material better tappers, and well worth the 55 bucks to trade up, that is why they are not only the best rods in the world, but the "BEST BACKED RODS IN THE WORLD".  I think last year our own roadwarrior had a similar experience with St. Croix Customer Service. This is why I say you can buy more expensive rods, or less expensive rods, "BUT YOU CAN'T BUY BETTER ROD'S OR BETTER BACKED ROD'S AT ANY PRICE" and best of all knowing they are "MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICANS" By Wed. I should have a brand new 6'6" MF spinning rod to replace a rod that was over 14 years old and this one is as GOOD AS IT GET'S!!

X2.....

My favorite blanks to build customs on...

 

Tight Lines!  

[thehooligan]

Ive had a few st croix rods and liked them, but i definitely think theres better options out there for the money. Id much rather be fishing a cumulus, cumara or dobyns extreme.

[Capt.Bob]

Ive had a few st croix rods and liked them, but i definitely think theres better options out there for the money. Id much rather be fishing a cumulus, cumara or dobyns extreme.

I prefer the rods made here in the U.S. and found in the long run they generally hold up over the test of time, over the YEARS the St. Croix's have proven this for me. I don't think rods should be considered terminal tackle. Once I used a Legend Elite and Extreme, the difference was obvious.

[lmbfisherman]

Glad you like your St. Croix, but even though "Shimano" owns G Loomis, they are also all made in Woodland, Washington.  Just to point out St. Croix isn't the only "Made in America".

[Capt.Bob]

Glad you like your St. Croix, but even though "Shimano" owns G Loomis, they are also all made in Woodland, Washington.  Just to point out St. Croix isn't the only "Made in America".

Quite correct, so are Falcon, Crowder, Castaway, All Star, Esox and so on, but after my experience with both the St. Croix and high end Loomis,  I made my choice, after dealing with both for warranty, and fishing them, I am very happy with my choice.

[skeletor6]

I feel St. Croix has the best CS in the business and make the "VERY BEST RODS ON THE PLANET", and Premier and up are "100% MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN", and there are none better than the Legend Extreme, Elite, and Tournament are as good as it get's.

 

I made the call to St. Croix and their first question was,,,, what is the serial no.,,,,, I had no idea and it's not on the rod, but it was a EC66MFCS and after she learned the rod was over 14 years old, she said that had to be made the first year the introduced the Legend Elite Series. So she said send it in and $20.00 for return shipping and they would decide what was going to be done. I got the letter Saturday and was very shocked!!! They want another $55.00!!! But that is to send me their latest LES66MF a $330.00 rod for my $290.00 14 year old rod that I had beat the crap out of for all those years, and the 2013 model is better material better tappers, and well worth the 55 bucks to trade up, that is why they are not only the best rods in the world, but the "BEST BACKED RODS IN THE WORLD".  I think last year our own roadwarrior had a similar experience with St. Croix Customer Service. This is why I say you can buy more expensive rods, or less expensive rods, "BUT YOU CAN'T BUY BETTER ROD'S OR BETTER BACKED ROD'S AT ANY PRICE" and best of all knowing they are "MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICANS" By Wed. I should have a brand new 6'6" MF spinning rod to replace a rod that was over 14 years old and this one is as GOOD AS IT GET'S!!

 

I bolded and increased the font size from 24pt to 12pt on the statements that I would like to comment on. 

 

First off, I would like to say that I am happy that St. Croix honored their warranty and it made you so blatantly happy. From all accounts I have heard of, this is common from their company and is a reason why people choose St. Croix. I personally would feel uncomfortable fishing with an unwarranted $300 rod. From my knowledge, most rods in that price range come with pretty decent warranties. Some better than others, but warranties nonetheless. Who has the best "backing" of their rods is a matter of opinion.

 

I am also in favor of having American made products. Conversely, it is not weighed heavily on my purchase decisions. Thus, if a higher performing rod is offered in the same price range, I will get the one that performs better. This brings up my question, are you...

 

1.) Claiming that St. Croix makes the "very best rods on the planet" because they were made in the USA?.

2.) Claiming they are the best rods in the planet?

 

If statement 1, then there are far less competitors. If statement 2, then I just feel that you do not have the exposure to the other rods on the market. For instance,

 

Avid MSRP $190-$240...Dobyns Champion, Cumara, new Crucials, Phenix Recon/M1...etc.

 

Tournament MSRP $250-$280.....Gen2 Cumara (not even in the same ballpark imho), even an Orochi XX is close enough to consider. Plus you are approaching on a Dobyns Extreme (not in the same ballpark)

 

Legend Elite/Xtreme MSRP $340-$420.....where to start. Dobyns Extreme is cheaper, and is on par or even better IMHO. Certainly in the longer rods as mentioned by others they balance very well.. Not too bad of a warranty either. Craftsmanship on them are great too. Rep Sample NRX is here too...Kistler Z-Bones. Megabass has some rods priced here if you can find them. GLX's are close enough and the new split grips are great by all accounts. Cumulus' are here too.

 

My point is there are very strong competitors for every rod all the way down to the Mojo and Premier. The market is full of rod manufacturers with warranties and customer service that are certainly worth noting. There are no absolutes by saying X company is the best at everything.

 

When you get a St. Croix, there is comfort in knowing you have a good warranty and your money help paid U.S. laborers. This does not necessitate that you got the best rod for your money. Personally, I keep EVERY option open when buying a rod. When the bargain room gets deals is when I find it worthwhile to check out St. Croix, otherwise there are many other options to consider and should be consider by those who have worked for their money and want to get the most out of it.

 

 

14 years ago I bought my first Legend Elite and my first Loomis IMX, as a Lake Erie Guide I have fished most everything out there,,,,,,,I own over 20 St. Croix's today, Avid's, Legend Elites, Legend Tournament, Legend Extreme's, Lend Ultra, along with a couple premiers, and 1 Loomis, I don't see that changing!!! I may suggest to others "FOR THE MONEY" but to me I don't care about price, it's the quality I want. and I love knowing my money is putting Americans to work!!!

 

So how can you even know how good other rod manufacturers are at Customer Service and honoring their warranties if all you have is St. Croix? Even then, the IMX had a very strong following with its performance back in the day

 

I personally find the rods made in Mexico (Rage, Mojo Eyecon, etc) are comparable to the GL2 and GL3 rods, If you compare a NRX to an Avid it's like comparing a GL2 to a Legend Extreme,,,,,   not what one call apples to apples!!! St. Croix unlike some,,,, makes a rod to compare to any rod built, Triumph to Lightning rod or NRX to Legend Elite and Extreme, IMX and GLX to Legend Tournament and so on. Far to many want to compare a $400.00 rod to a $200.00 Rod, It is hard to compare any rod costing less than $200.00 to a $180.00 Avid. I think the Avid far better than it's price, and the only way to compare any rod to a Legend  Elite is fugal, sensitivity, weight, durability, and most of all as I said in the beginning NO ONE BACKS EM BETTER!!!!!  It will take 14 years of hard use and dozens of upgrades to the same model to find out if they come close!!!!        I did!  

 

Hate to burst your bubble, but many rods compare to the Legend Elite. The avid is a nice rod, but fishes right along with its competitors and there are rods much lighter and sensitive than an avid and a legend elite.

[Capt.Bob]

I bolded and increased the font size from 24pt to 12pt on the statements that I would like to comment on.

 

 

Hate to burst your bubble, but many rods compare to the Legend Elite. The avid is a nice rod, but fishes right along with its competitors and there are rods much lighter and sensitive than an avid and a legend elite.

Some I think are trying to make this more than an opinion. You can twist the fact and state this says there are other "RODS THAT ARE BETTER"   I personally would recommend you interpret it the way it reads!! I never said it is better than any Rod Company, simply it is the best, and I don't think it is possible for anyone to make a valid statement that "THERE IS A BETTER ROD COMPANY"  PERIOD!!!!  There will always be those that  "PREFER ONE OVER THE OTHER"  But I would have to dispute they were any better, and at the same time wont say Some one can't have a rod as good as a Legend Elite or Extreme, simply you can't buy better. I would also never say someone wouldn't like a rod better than those, but would argue there are any made or backed any better!!  which equals the finest on the planet.

 

There are those that prefer a toyota over a Ford truck, sorry I aint one of them, if you like Toyota, thats wonderful, I like my Ford! and you wont convince me the toyota is a better truck. then your comment on how would I know,,,,like I said I owned my own Charter Service on the Western Basin of Lake Erie for over 20 years, there were over 300 other Charters in the marina I ran out of, one thing we as Captains did was share our experience and knowledge among us. We also between the over 300 had the best of everything very shortly after it was introduced and let the others know or even use it, rod's, reel's, tackle, rigging gear you name it, even boats, this allowed me to make my decision on anything first hand sometimes before buying it! That with nearly 60 years in the industry and much of that as a profession, I never put a price tag on the best, it is very simple it won't come cheap, all things you learn by being there and doing that, and trust me, I have been there and done that and if you like you can share all your years and experience for your comparisons with us. But please don't think I said  is not as good, but did say it aint better!! and as .RM. DVC and others have said, they have more models that cover more tactics than any company period! and no one offers more to custom builders  Which does say no rod company is as diverse or has as much to offer!!! PERIOD!!!   

[skeletor6]

What facts did I twist Captain?

 

I wish I could respond to what you are saying, but it is really difficult to understand your grammar. I don't believe I mentioned buying a ford or toyota, but perhaps I did. What I attempted to do was point out that for every rod in St. Croix's price ranges there are many other offerings. I am sorry, but every rod that St. Croix makes is not the best rod in its category. I appreciate a smaller company like Phenix giving it a go at the Avid's price range and putting out a couple very fine and LIGHT products. I don't know if you have ever called them, but you can get a hold of the owner Vince Borges fairly easily. Pretty good customer service and he won't even push his own rods on you. Gotta love objectivity. 

 

St Croix is diverse, they put out many products. Unfortunately, they have not put out a lineup that competes with the NRX lineup from Loomis. Something I wish they did as competition is great for consumers. I gladly welcome all competitors to the market as it makes the products that much better. Explore a little, you might find out there's actually some pretty nice rods being made.. From the custom rod building standpoint their top end blank is pretty much equivalent to a NFC HM, or Phenix K2 depending on what you are trying to build.

 

Echoing what others have said, St. Croix's customer service is good, the best? Debatable....St. Croix produces some very fine rods....the best? Debatable....no absolutes here Captain