St. Croix Rage Rod (1St One Snapped, Second Creaks)

[BassinLou]

  On 1/3/2015 at 7:06 PM, jyu87 said:

Ended up returning the Rage and getting a Legend Tournament 7'1 Medium. Took it out for a spin earlier today. Very light rod. No sounds or imperfections that I can really notice. Hopefully this is the one!

 

Good choice. Enjoy the new rod. 

[adam32]

  On 1/3/2015 at 8:06 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

I agree that there are better rods for less as well IMO. My LTB did not impress me either when compared to my other rods that cost less. In areas that matter to me weight balance my perceived sensitivity LTB falls short for a $240 stick and is surpassed by some $100- $150 rods I have. Premieres I have are outperformed by other rods Ive bought in the $60-$100 range. Ive felt for a while that Croix has been caught up to and bettered at times based on use of multiple brands and price points of rods. This doesnt mean their rods are bad I just dont hold them at the higher standard I once held them.

What rod in the 100-150 dollar price range is better than a legend tournament bass????

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

My Quantum Smoke rods and *** rod I feel have better sensitivity and balance. Smoke rod smokes the LTB weight wise. Handle on the Smoke is more comfortable to me.

Im going out on a limb and will say my Helios will meet or exceed the LTB as well. It already does balance, weight, handle comfort wise. Sensitivity still needs to be tested more.

[ChrisWi]

  On 1/3/2015 at 8:06 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

I agree that there are better rods for less as well IMO. My LTB did not impress me either when compared to my other rods that cost less. In areas that matter to me weight balance my perceived sensitivity LTB falls short for a $240 stick and is surpassed by some $100- $150 rods I have. Premieres I have are outperformed by other rods Ive bought in the $60-$100 range. Ive felt for a while that Croix has been caught up to and bettered at times based on use of multiple brands and price points of rods. This doesnt mean their rods are bad I just dont hold them at the higher standard I once held them.

Exactly, not bad rods, they're built excellent and being from Wisconsin I love repping sticks made in my home state. Just not as impressed after I tried other brands!

[adam32]

  On 1/3/2015 at 8:35 PM, ChrisWi said:

Exactly, not bad rods, they're built excellent and being from Wisconsin I love repping sticks made in my home state. Just not as impressed after I tried other brands!

You said you've only used the premier and mojo. Thats like only using a G loomis gl2 and saying G loomis rods aren't that impressive.

[tomustang]

  On 1/3/2015 at 5:47 PM, ChrisWi said:

I didn't say they were bad rods, they're sensitive and have great action. Compared to other sticks however theyre pretty heavy.

Far as weight is concerned, it's the price you pay for more durability with flexcoat.

I personally don't care if a rod weighs .2oz more (conjecture) for more protection, especially since I'm very hard on my rods. Rather have a knick in some clear coat than on the blank.

[tomustang]

  On 1/3/2015 at 3:56 AM, jyu87 said:

It does. especially when I have it in hand and wiggle the rod up and down. Creak sounds like its coming right where the reel is about to be mounted.

Is the creaking sound without the reel on?

[EvanT123]

In my opinion at.croix offers some of the best bang for the buck value in fishing rods.

You just have to put them together yourself

[jyu87]

  On 1/4/2015 at 12:17 AM, tomustang said:

Is the creaking sound without the reel on?

It was creaking with and without the reel. 

[ChrisWi]

  On 1/4/2015 at 12:05 AM, adam32 said:

You said you've only used the premier and mojo. Thats like only using a G loomis gl2 and saying G loomis rods aren't that impressive.

I said I've only owned a premier and Mojo. I've fished multiple times with avids. Didnt know I couldnt have an opinion on here, thought that was kind of the purpose, instead I get attacked because I think there are better rods out there especially in the price range of a Rage or LTB.

[ChrisWi]

  On 1/4/2015 at 12:15 AM, tomustang said:

Far as weight is concerned, it's the price you pay for more durability with flexcoat.

I personally don't care if a rod weighs .2oz more (conjecture) for more protection, especially since I'm very hard on my rods. Rather have a knick in some clear coat than on the blank.

I'm aware weight isn't everything, they aren't terribly heavy but after you fish with something much lighter you dont really want to go back.

[aavery2]

  On 1/4/2015 at 12:59 AM, ChrisWi said:

I said I've only owned a premier and Mojo. I've fished multiple times with avids. Didnt know I couldnt have an opinion on here, thought that was kind of the purpose, instead I get attacked because I think there are better rods out there especially in the price range of a Rage or LTB.

You are correct, everyone is entitled to an opinion.   But don't you find it hard to offer an opinion about a product that you have never used?  Informed opinions are what help people, repeating what you have read and heard offer little in the way of value.

[aavery2]

  On 1/4/2015 at 1:14 AM, ChrisWi said:

I didn't say they weren't high quality rods, they are, I like mine, they're just kind of big and clunky. Youre correct, I haven't fished the Rage series. I have however fished a few other St Croix rods and all handle pretty similar. Rage rods are also made sub par (this I have witnessed first hand) being made in Mexico they seem to be made much sloppier, A lot have crooked guides and poor epoxy jobs.

You have a true gift.

[adam32]

  On 1/4/2015 at 12:59 AM, ChrisWi said:

I said I've only owned a premier and Mojo. I've fished multiple times with avids. Didnt know I couldnt have an opinion on here, thought that was kind of the purpose, instead I get attacked because I think there are better rods out there especially in the price range of a Rage or LTB.

Wasn't trying to attack you. I just want to point out that there is a HUGE difference between the mojo/premier and the avid on up.

[ChrisWi]

  On 1/4/2015 at 1:50 AM, adam32 said:

Wasn't trying to attack you. I just want to point out that there is a HUGE difference between the mojo/premier and the avid on up.

I'm aware there is a huge difference. I didn't want to come off hard headed or "all knowing" I just PERSONALLY think there are some nicer rods. I guess it all comes down to what YOU like.

[SirSnookalot]

On BR saying St Croix is not a good rod is the same as saying Shimano is a poor reel, an argument that can't be won.  When it comes to buying a rod certain criteria are important to me and some not.  I don't fish techniques where I require sensitivity or super light weight, St Croix is pretty good in that area.  I did buy 3 St Croix over the last couple of years, returned them all after 2-3 days, not because they were bad rods but they didn't meet my criteria any better than what I normally use.  Couple of weeks ago I used a friend's Legend surf rod with a Van Staal for a few days, really a nice rod but very uncomfortable with that knarly butt and foregrip.  My favorite brand casted every bit as well, handles the kind of fish I target and I'm not afraid to overload with a heavier lure.  

 

Where I take exception is basing quality on the country of origin, my main brand is made in China, some of my rods are nearing 10 years in age.  Not one has ever broke, the guides don't rust out even though they are mainly used in saltwater, 2 of them are freshwater only, never had guides not aligned properly, cork still looks like good.  I don't find them to be 100% perfect, I'd like to see a wider lure parameter (on the lower end) and I'd like a longer butt on their 7' models.

[mjseverson24]

I don't own a st. croix above the rage line up, but i do own at least one of each of the other lines, and I love all of them. Are they the best rods I have ever used??? No, but If you can't catch fish with a St. Croix you cant catch with any brand...

 

Mitch

[tomustang]

Regardless of the brand, its the assumption of others and not opinions that are expressed more.

[F14A-B]

When St. Croix had the triumph made in China, it was a well made rod, great cork, great build quaity, I grabbed a 7' ml spinning to back up my 7' avid ml it was very close to the avid and @ $69

A bargain, rods are now made in Mexico and the quality suffers, at least in build quality, prices are exaggerated as well.

[FishTank]

  On 1/4/2015 at 10:19 PM, Alonerankin2 said:

When St. Croix had the triumph made in China, it was a well made rod, great cork, great build quaity, I grabbed a 7' ml spinning to back up my 7' avid ml it was very close to the avid and @ $69

A bargain, rods are now made in Mexico and the quality suffers, at least in build quality, prices are exaggerated as well.

 

I had two of the China made Triumph rods when they first came out and I had the same issue as the original poster.  I had one break and the other made a creaking noise at the reel seat.   I ended up returning both, later purchased two Avids and these rods far exceed the Triumph. The only comparison I can draw that felt close in the Triumph's price range was the BPS Bionic Blade or the newer version of the Ugly Stick with the Ugly Stick being slightly better.  I also think the Berkley Lightning Rod also comes close.  All Star also had a rod that was out around at the same time the Triumphs debuted, at this same price point, that I thought was a better offering.