St Croix Premier

[mattyfish]

Just got a 6"6 MH St Croix. Premier shipped to a store next week near my house but I'm still having 2nd thoughts?

 

should I keep the 6'6 or get the 7'0 or should I get an entirely different rod in the same price range or a few bucks more?

 

Appreciate all the help.

[fishballer06]

Your question is very broad. Casting or spinning? What are you using it for? Why did you order it if you questioned it? Why are  you questioning what you bought?

[Missourifishin]

I agree, we need more info. More questions: Are you fishing from a boat or from the bank? And if it's from the bank, are there a lot of trees and other obstacles that might make a shorter rod easier to handle?

Also, what size rods are you used to using? If 6'6" works for you, and is comfortable, I don't see any reason to return it and get a longer one.

[iabass8]

Length this personal preference and subjective to its intended use. I prefer 7'+. As far as returning it, go with your gut. Theres a huge rod selection in the 100-150 price range and,personally, the premier isnt even close to the top of my list and i like st. Croix. Good luck.

[BassinLou]

Just got a 6"6 MH St Croix. Premier shipped to a store next week near my house but I'm still having 2nd thoughts?

 

should I keep the 6'6 or get the 7'0 or should I get an entirely different rod in the same price range or a few bucks more?

 

Appreciate all the help.

 

Have you handled a premier before? I would answer Fishballer questions. We need more info before this thread becomes a free for all on suggestions. 

[EmersonFish]

I'm just speculating, but it sounds like you are at a point in your knowledge and comfort level of equipment where you're not going to be 100% comfortable with anything you buy. I know it's tough when you are investing money. You want to get it right; but one of the realities is, we all learn our personal preferences over time. Some people like shorter rods, some longer, and so on. None of us can tell you what you will like. I do know the Premier is a good rod. It's more traditional in style than a lot of the others out there. Maybe not as light as some others in its price point, but very durable and solid in construction. Certainly a rod that will hold value well enough that you could resell it (at a reasonable used price) if you decide to upgrade or try something different.

[mattyfish]

We'll I'm fairly new to fishing and I apologize for not being specific with my questioning. I use to fish almost every weekend when i was 13-16 then I stopped for a while and now I'm trying to go out every weekend and doing a fishing trip in September. I just bought a shimano stradic fj 2500 reel and really I'm just looking for a GOOD overall rod, I know you need different rod's for different fish but I want something that's as close to univeral as possible and I know there's no such thing lol (spinning rod). I'll be using it mainly from the boat most likely and sometimes from shore/dock. I'm hoping to use the rod for small/large mouth bass, pike, walleye, maybe even a muskie haha nottt. But yea what do you guys think? Thanks for all the fast replies!

[mattyfish]

Length this personal preference and subjective to its intended use. I prefer 7'+. As far as returning it, go with your gut. Theres a huge rod selection in the 100-150 price range and,personally, the premier isnt even close to the top of my list and i like st. Croix. Good luck.

What is at the top of your list in that price range?

[mattyfish]

Your question is very broad. Casting or spinning? What are you using it for? Why did you order it if you questioned it? Why are  you questioning what you bought?

Sorry about that, Spinning rod for mainly small-large mouth bass/pike/walleye hopefully even trout and muskie but I really know theres no such rod, I haven't ordered it yet to be honest, I have a *** black 1 piece but I'm exchanging it for anything I want 2pc. I need a 2 pc rod and I heard really good things about the Premier so i was set on it but I also really liked the fenwick aetos so I want the best advice.

[BassinLou]

Premier are very good rods. They are sturdy and have a bit of weight to them but, they will get the job done. My personal preference are 7ft rods but that's me. Are there better rods out there? Yes. Will the premier serve you well?  Yes. 

[iabass8]

What is at the top of your list in that price range?

I don't want to come off as pretentious but it's been a while since I've fished a rod in the 100$ range. I have fished a premier though. It's a sturdy and very basic looking/feeling rod that will serve you well but it just falls further and further behind it's competition in it's appropriate price range.  Off the top of my head I'd rather try Duckett, *** Black, Carbonlites, Daiwa Tatula, Fenwick Elite tech's, Powell, Shimano Crucial (you can find the previous version crucial on discount due to being discontinued for around 50% off-well below the price of the premier). Personally, I just don't like anything St. Croix offers below the Avid line. 

 

I didn't notice you're looking for a 2 piece "do it all" rod until after I typed that. Just get the 2 piece 7'MF(or 6'6- that's completely subjective to you) St. Croix premier and be done /w it. It isn't going to "wow" you but it will suffice. 

[FishTank]

If you fishing for fish that will be from bass to muskie, I would pick a MH Fast 6'6'' rod that feels comfortable and balances well with your reel.  With that said, the Premier, as stated above, is a good, basic, no thrills, rod but it will serve for your purpose.  

 

Considering your applications, there is another rod that has yet to come out that may suit your needs.... The Fenwick Elite Tech Largemouth rods.  They offer a 7'' 2 piece MH rod that would fit the bill.  I like the Elite Tech Smallmouth casting rod I have in comparison.  

 

One other thing, if your going to fish for Muskie and Pike, at the minimum 20lb braid is in order, along with a heavy wire leader.

[mattyfish]

If you fishing for fish that will be from bass to muskie, I would pick a MH Fast 6'6'' rod that feels comfortable and balances well with your reel.  With that said, the Premier, as stated above, is a good, basic, no thrills, rod but it will serve for your purpose.  

 

Considering your applications, there is another rod that has yet to come out that may suit your needs.... The Fenwick Elite Tech Largemouth rods.  They offer a 7'' 2 piece MH rod that would fit the bill.  I like the Elite Tech Smallmouth casting rod I have in comparison.  

 

One other thing, if your going to fish for Muskie and Pike, at the minimum 20lb braid is in order, along with a heavy wire leader.

hey man I really appreciate that reply, very informative. I like Fenwick ALOT but when are these Elite Tech rods coming out? I cant wait!! I had the HMG but broke it.. and you recommend a 6'6 rather then a 7'?

[Turkey sandwich]

There are some good posts on here, but most are just giving more options that'll only make a buying decision more confusing, especially for someone who doesn't know their preferences yet.

There are a lot of good rods mentioned on here, and you'd probably be happy with most of them. The thing is, as stated above, you're going to feel buyers remorse with almost any purchase you make, especially when A) you cannot immediately hold e item in your hand, it's something that you haven't been totally educated on. So what you're feeling is natural, and you'd have the same feeling if you bought anything from Duckett, Shimano, Powell, etc.

So, (if I were in your spot) my goals in is purchase would be to purchase A) a quality rod that's going to hold up, a strong/sensitive rod with good versatility, and C) a good company that's going to stand behind it if you ever do have a problem.

So to address the catch all rod, you aren't going to have any 1 rod that you can trust to finesse trout in streams and also chuck musky plugs and 1oz plus jigs. However, you can find a good middle option that'll work for most, and frankly St. Croix's Premier line is one of those great options that'll entire you into the world of upscale rods without breaking the bank. I've had one ( medium fast action 7' spinning) for nearly 15 years that still fishes great after hundreds of small and largemouth bass, walleye, perch, some pike and a musky or two And the thing is, if you do have a problem with he rod, St. Croix has possibly the best customer service of any manufacturer in the industry.

Of all the options in the low $100 price range, you went with probably the safest option in my opinion.

[VegasFishing]

I have a 6'6" St. Croix Premier MH/F 2-piece baitcaster/Abu Revo STX setup lined with 12lb fluorocarbon that I use all the time. I usually use it for plastics/light jigs, but have used it for cranks/spinners/chatterbaits. It's definitely a sturdy dependable rod. I was waiting for it to snap reeling in a 13lb carp at Lake Mead but it held up fine. Are there better rods out there? For sure. Is it a good all-around rod. Yes. Would I get another? Yes. "Should I get xxx rod for a little bit more..." is always a slippery slope.