St. Croix Avid Ultralight Rod

[Enphrared]

Wanting to put together a nice ultralight setup. Been looking at the Avid ultralight from St. Croix. Anyone have any experience with these? Thinking about pairing it up with a shimano ci4+ 1000.

[WdyCrankbait]

I am not sure if this will help, but I have a St. Croix ultra light paired up with a Shimano and I think very highly of that rod.  I don't use it much anymore, but that is really because I have not been UL fishing in a LONG time!

 

St. Croix makes great rods, no doubt about that!

[Bill B.]

I have an Avid ultralight, in a previous generation. It's too much of a buggy whip for my tastes. Even in an ultralight, I prefer a fast to extra-fast rod. The Avid is OK for throwing Roostertail spinners or a jig-and-float. But, for tight-lining a small jig, it's not so good. 

[Capt.Bob]

I have an Avid ultralight, in a previous generation. It's too much of a buggy whip for my tastes. Even in an ultralight, I prefer a fast to extra-fast rod. The Avid is OK for throwing Roostertail spinners or a jig-and-float. But, for tight-lining a small jig, it's not so good. 

The 6'6" is very a moderate action indeed, and I didn't care at all for the 7' UL avid. I had a 6'6" and opted for the 6' Avid ULF instead and don't consider it at all whippy a great rod for the lures it is rated for. But if you go with the 5' Avid ULF, and it is my favorite, it is definitely not a whippy UL, the 6' and 5' both I have paired with the 1000 Fi and MgFB and woudn't get rid of either, the Ci4+ would only make it even sweeter!! I have used both in reservoirs and Lake fishing and ocasionally get a fooler, like a chanelcat or Drum that may go as big as 4 to 5 pounds, this is a real chalenge but with 6# test being the heaviest line I will use for leaders on an UL usually 4# either will take anything that line will. 

 

Like Bill said I thought the UL Avids over 6' were not as fast an action as I would like, for bober fishing only, they would be great, but when you use an UL with a jig or whatever I would never use over an 1/8 oz maybe for a dressed weight maxing out around 3/16th oz, what the max lure rating is for the rod, and works quiet well with those weight jigs and smaller baits, be it spinners like meps, roadrunner, beetle spins, and very tiny crank baits in these smaller weights, everything I could expect a quality UL to do with these weights.  I like the accuracy of the 5' and the distance I get with the 6'!

 

I like the Avid blank for light and Ultra light fishing over the more expensive and faster Legend series, so much that the new Ci4+ 1000FA i recently acquired is having a Custom Avid in a LF blank built for it, either 6' or 6'6", for very light and UL purposes I like the shorter rods and am still undecided but leaning towards the 6' for this reel and rod weight. I would go check them out and see how each feels to be sure your personal preference, but either one is a great rod.

[F14A-B]

I really like the 7' medium/ light...moderate/ fast rod with a 1000 stradic on it... I also would throw really light cranks and 1/4 pop- r's on it... I have caught nice Gills and bass to 4 Pds, on this outfit. I think it's sweet!

[tomustang]

Wanting to put together a nice ultralight setup. Been looking at the Avid ultralight from St. Croix. Anyone have any experience with these? Thinking about pairing it up with a shimano ci4+ 1000.

 

Which one?

 

I have two 7'ULM and one 6'ULF, they are fantastic rods, never have I wanted any more from them.  With stradic ci4/stradic fj, and a sahara 1000's they are matched nicely for any UL situation.

[Enphrared]

I was thinking about the 60ULF but leaning towards the 66ULF for casting distance. But after reading a few of the responses here, kind of thinking of the 60ULF. The only one Cabela's/BP have are the 6' one and I do like the feel and I did handle it with a stradic ci4+ 1000. Felt pretty good. Just never bought an ultralight before and wanted to fish for some opinions over here. Thanks for responses.

[webertime]

I have the 7' ul moderate with a 1000 Saros. Fantastic rod for fishing tiny treble baits. Moderate helps with tearing the thin mouths on crappie.

[F14A-B]

I have the 7' ul moderate with a 1000 Saros. Fantastic rod for fishing tiny treble baits. Moderate helps with tearing the thin mouths on crappie.

The Saros in 1000 is a sweet little reel for the money, I didn't care for the 4000..too much flex in the reel foot stem...

[Capt.Bob]

The original Saros didn't suffer from this as it was aluminum, the new frame is not. But even the old Saros in the 1000 I have is very hard to tell the difference in it and the Stradic, extremely smooth and reliable reels. 

[DaveT63]

I have the Avid 60ULF paired with a Stradic CI4 1000, and LOVE IT!  I tried the 70ULF, but sold it because I felt, like others above do, that it was too whippy.  But the 60ULF is SWEET.  I can't imagine you being disappointed going that route.

 

Dave

[OntarioFishingGuy]

I haven't tried an UL avid, but the st croix trout series is awesome. No doubt that avid UL rods are great too though.

[Enphrared]

Well, went ahead and got the 6' Avid. Feels very good! Can't wait to take it out!

[Darren.]

Well, went ahead and got the 6' Avid. Feels very good! Can't wait to take it out!

 

Beautiful setup! Funny, but I prefer 1000 size for full-on bass fishing, not UL!! Love the smaller/lighter size. With 10# braid, I have never been spooled and caught more than a dozen 6+ pound bass with my Stradic 1000FI reels (on MXF rods).

 

For UL, I drop to 500 size Sahara reels...

[Enphrared]

Ya, I was looking at the 500's, but I really like those stradic reels. Probably use this mainly for panfishing, but I'm sure I'll throw something out there for bass every now and then.

[Darren.]

Ya, I was looking at the 500's, but I really like those stradic reels. Probably use this mainly for panfishing, but I'm sure I'll throw something out there for bass every now and then.

 

Then you're forgiven LOL

 

The 1000 Stradics - the models you're looking at - are pretty spectacular based on all the things I read and hear from those in the know. Fantastic reels all around. I would love to have one for nothing else but the X-ship. Just can't sport another $179 (for the FJ) for a reel these days with 3 boys in travel soccer, etc... Penny's are being pinched, and my secret fishing purchases are being brought to light with my wife, so I'm being watched!! LOL

 

Nothing I haven't brought on myself....

[Enphrared]

Well thanks for the comments. I hear ya about the wife. Luckily I got some gift cards from work for this baby. LoL

[Bluebasser86]

I have the 6' ULF Avid paired with a 750 Symetre that is a blast to toss a tiny crank or 2" grub and just catch whatever bites. I've caught fish up to 12 pounds with it and it handled them as well as I could have asked for it to. 

[KevO]

Just wondering if the 7' Med light Avid with a stradic 1000fj would be a good rod throwing shad raps, but also be sensitive enough to throw 1/8-1/4 hair jigs on also?