St. Croix Premier Casting Rods

[iamham3]

Most of my experience with rods is the >250 range. If i were to pick a 100$ rod i would go carbonlite, duckett, or ***.

 

 

What makes you say that?  Are those other rods better than the Mojos/Premiers performance-wise, or are they just better values?

[iabass8]

I couldn't say first hand. Going off what most members have to say about them on here and other boards along with the on paper components of the rods, you are getting a much better rod.  St. Croix makes some of the finest rods money can buy when you get to the Avid, Legend Tournaments, and Extremes. I didn't like they way there were going with their new LTB and Xtreme lines so I found a different company I wish I would have found years earlier. Almost all my Croix's are gone and sold except a few that I won't ever sell. At one point, the premiers and mojos were good rods for the money. With all the rod companies now putting out and competing in that 100-120$ range, they really fell behind. They aren't "bad" rods but for 100$ right now, you can find twice the rod for the same price.

 

The only mojo rods I would ever recommend would be the 7' MHM for squarebills and traps and the 68mxf for topwater/jerbaits. You can find used Legend tournament bass "teaser" models (7' MF) for 140-150 if you look around. That rod was "the one" in its line up. you could do probably 80% of your fishing on that rod alone.

[tomustang]

Until the mojo/premier stop selling so good they would change or upgrade the lines but it hasn't and now all the other brands caught up. Things like the two coats of flex coat provides added protection means extra weight and a less feel now, it looks like a negative against the others in the price range since are lighter and feel more sensitive without it.

I know you're looking for just answers and you can't get them from everyone's opinion so you'll have to go out to a store that has a variety of rods and put them in your hand for starters. Who knows there might even be someone around to you that has some different rods you can try out

[iamham3]

I couldn't say first hand. Going off what most members have to say about them on here and other boards along with the on paper components of the rods, you are getting a much better rod.  St. Croix makes some of the finest rods money can buy when you get to the Avid, Legend Tournaments, and Extremes. I didn't like they way there were going with their new LTB and Xtreme lines so I found a different company I wish I would have found years earlier. Almost all my Croix's are gone and sold except a few that I won't ever sell. At one point, the premiers and mojos were good rods for the money. With all the rod companies now putting out and competing in that 100-120$ range, they really fell behind. They aren't "bad" rods but for 100$ right now, you can find twice the rod for the same price.

 

The only mojo rods I would ever recommend would be the 7' MHM for squarebills and traps and the 68mxf for topwater/jerbaits. You can find used Legend tournament bass "teaser" models (7' MF) for 140-150 if you look around. That rod was "the one" in its line up. you could do probably 80% of your fishing on that rod alone.

 

 

Until the mojo/premier stop selling so good they would change or upgrade the lines but it hasn't and now all the other brands caught up. Things like the two coats of flex coat provides added protection means extra weight and a less feel now, it looks like a negative against the others in the price range since are lighter and feel more sensitive without it.

I know you're looking for just answers and you can't get them from everyone's opinion so you'll have to go out to a store that has a variety of rods and put them in your hand for starters. Who knows there might even be someone around to you that has some different rods you can try out

 

From what I've read in other posts I think I will invest the most money on rods I'll use for bottom contact, and the rods I'm looking at in the $100 range will be more for multi-purpose use.  I had a couple Carbonlites but got rid of them because I thought the Mojos/Premiers would be better values.  And like a lot of people I just like getting new toys.  I will probably go back to Carbonlites, and eventually buy a St. Croix to satisfy my curiousity.  I now know to start with the Avid lineup.  I've only been fishing regularly for a little less than a year, so I can't yet justify spending top dollar for equipment.

 

I appreciate the feedback.

[tomustang]

5I've only been fishing regularly for a little less than a year, so I can't yet justify spending top dollar for equipment.

 

I appreciate the feedback.

I don't think you'll justify spending that much on a rod until you use one and find out it's a different level

[0119]

Yeah I'd say you did right dropping a in house brand made in china rod and replacing it with a made in the USA rod model from a company renowned for good customer service.

[bflp3]

Yeah I'd say you did right dropping a in house brand made in china rod and replacing it with a made in the USA rod model from a company renowned for good customer service.

Mojo's are made in Mexico.

Anyway, I ordered a mojo spinning rod online, but once I got my hands on it I was displeased with how tip heavy it was. Returned it and picked up a Fenwick Elite tech smallmouth rod. Much better balance.

[tomustang]

the premier split grips are built for only Cableas.

Just to put this out there, if you break one of those split grip premiers, St Croix will give you a full grip replacement

[0119]

Mojo's are made in Mexico.

Anyway, I ordered a mojo spinning rod online, but once I got my hands on it I was displeased with how tip heavy it was. Returned it and picked up a Fenwick Elite tech smallmouth rod. Much better balance.

 

I was referring to the Premier, though I'm fortunate enough to have a Mojo that was made in Wisc. pre Mexico.