7' light action st croix eyecon

[dubz]

Looking to buy to a 7' light action eyecon for river smallmouth. I would be throwing light plastics. Thoughts? Should I get the medium light? I think the light would be super fun

[Gonzer]

I use a 6'10 light for my drop shot rod in Lake Erie and have got some pigs on it. It's a ton of fun. If the current isn't too strong, go for it!

[dubz]

Thanks goner! I'm just afraid of the light action being under powered. Any other light action advocates out there?

[roadwarrior]

Not me...I fish a St. Croix Legend Elite LES70MF and a G. Loomis PR844S.

 

[dubz]

I have a 7' medium avid x that is my go to

[olegs]

I use St. Croix  LES70MLF for drop shot and Ned Rig.

[TyF]

I use an Avid 6'6" ML for most of my smallmouth applications. When I am just messing around in a creek I use a ST Croix L Trout rod. I have used that rod with a small 4" case fluke with lots of success and fun. My hookup ratio is definitely less with the light rod as it just doesn't have the backbone I need but I have also caught some decent fish (17") on it and that was a blast. I have also had a lot of heart breaks getting a solid hit and not getting the hook in them. I fish on the Shenandoah and Potomac most of the time so yes it is possible but I wouldn't use it as my main smallmouth rod. The ML is still super fun and I have caught some hogs on it in current with no problem.

[dubz]

I'm kinda thinking maybe I should get the medium light

[Kevin22]

I've had both the L and ML eyecon. Get the ML, its the perfect smallie rod. The L is too whippy to get a good hookset when penetrating plastics such as trick worms, shakey heads, or stick baits. I actually used my ML for creek smallies quite a bit, good action on it. However, I have heard the mojo bass 6'9 MLXF is the sweet spot in the lower end croix lineup. Not a fan of mojo bass rods at all, but I have to say it feels great. Its nearly the same action and feel as the legend 6'9MLXF which is a favorite among walleye and smallie anglers, just heavier and less sensitive. 

[dubz]

I'll have to check the mojo. I like the reel seat on the eyecon

[Frenchman83]

I use St. Croix  LES70MLF for anything from light tubes and wacky rigs to small crankbaits.  

Great Rod!

[S Hovanec]

The ML would be my choice.

[Turkey sandwich]

I'm on the Susquehanna whenever I can be and keep the following spinning rods on deck on every trip:

7' Med weight Fast Premier  (tubes, stick baits, light jig/trailer, flukes, jerkbaits, and virtually anything not a crankbait or a spook)

6'9 ML XF Avid X (light tubes, drop shot, weightless plastics, grubs, light topwater)

6' light or ultra light (grub on 1/16th oz jig)

 

the he light or ultra light is kind of a bonus rod that I keep around for whoever is with me to pitch grubs at fish following a hooked fish to the boat or throwing small inline spinners if we can't buy a bite.  Otherwise, it's way too whippy for good hook sets or any real sensitivity in the current.  That said, while it's completely impractical for much else, it's also a lot of fun for playing anything over 1 1/2lb in the current.  

 

If I were choosing just one to wade with, it would be the ML Avid X 75% of the time.  For light lures, it's the best river smallmouth rod I've ever fished.  If it's a bit pricey for your budget, I would suggest going with the Mojo Bass over the Eyecon because an SCIII blank is much, much better than the SCII.  

 

 

[Allen Der]

I really like the Eyecon 7' ML rod and dont think I'd want to go lighter than that.  even though it is SCII it is light and well balanced with a 30 size Pflueger supreme.  The Mojo bass line is very limited in spinning rod options compared to the Eyecon.

[Turkey sandwich]

The SCII is still a good graphite for a $100 rod.  I have had a Premier for the past 17 years that still sees a lot of action.  The length makes a difference based on height, the technique you're using, and what kind of boat/kayak/tube/wading/etc you're doing.  Still, that being said, the difference between those two blanks is really big.  

[FuzzyGrub]

FWIW: Unless you are fishing for small fish only, step it up to ML.  if your river produces 4-5lbers and need to fight them in current, a M is more appropriate. 

My river smallie "goto" rod has been a 68MXF action/power, be it Mojo, Avid, Walleye or Bass Tournament St Croix's.

 

["hamma"]

athought a light or med. light would be a fun rod for smallies they really dont offer the backbone for the hookset a single hooked lure requires for "consistent"  hooksets. For treble hookes lures? sure they will perform. but plastics? i go with at least a med action for smallies

I came to this same crossroad many years ago, i was looking at high end rods, G loomis, st. croix, etc and realized that they really didnt offer much more than a traditional diawa tony bean smallie rod matched with the td1300 reel... so i went with that, and havent bought another high end rod since. I havent had any issues with hookup/catch rates, saved some cash, and still use that same setup 20 years later without any issues at all. it casts fine, has the action i was looking for, and works for jerkbaits and topwaters as well. It may be shorter in length, but the hooksets were more important to me back then, as i was tourney fishing with it.

 everyone has their own opinion/preferances and i respect that. But when it comes to gear you need the right stuff to be consistent.  That one hookset that fails may be your personal best swimming away. just my honest opinion.

[Justjigger]

The 7ft medium mojo bass works great for me. If I start buying $500 dollar rods my wife will kill me.

[fvogel67]

I'm using the old Mojo 6'8"mxf,Probably my favorite rod.I'll also use the Abu Villian 6'9"mlf.

[WIGuide]

I'd probably go to a ML. I love my ML/XF drop shot rod and think it'd be a killer rod for river smallies!

[WI_Angler1989]

On 4/11/2016 at 10:36 AM, WIGuide said:

I'd probably go to a ML. I love my ML/XF drop shot rod and think it'd be a killer rod for river smallies!

Oh it is! That's my go to for any and all finesse and bottom contact lures: tubes, worms, craws, finesse jigs and hopping grubs. 

[basscatcher8]

I have a 7' 6" eyecon ML and I love it in the river. There are days when the bite is super light and hard to feel and I'll go to that rod and I feel every bite and seem to land more fish.

[Airman4754]

I'd say fish both and see what you like. I loathe ML rods for drop shotting and use a M, but I really like the ML for Ned and Hula grub fishing. 

Any bass that isn't a largemouth in just a few areas can be landed with ease on a Light action rod. The question is does it fit your technique? 

[Wildbillb]

I use a 6'6" ml in a premier for river smallies.  It works good, but most of the fish are 12-16 inches with very few larger than that.