2018 St Croix Legend Tournament Bass

[Scuba Steve]

This season I bought a 7' MH-F in the regular avid casting. Used it for 5 minutes and knew I didn't like it. It's wayyy tip heavy.

 

I got a 6'8 MH-F 2018 LTB instead. The balance point with my Revo X is where the spin down cork meets the rod, just in front of the reel. It feels almost weightless in my hand. I put a furniture leg cap on the butt with a few quarters in it and the balance point was dead center of the reel. I love it. 

[WRangler506]

18 hours ago, Scuba Steve said:

This season I bought a 7' MH-F in the regular avid casting. Used it for 5 minutes and knew I didn't like it. It's wayyy tip heavy.

 

I got a 6'8 MH-F 2018 LTB instead. The balance point with my Revo X is where the spin down cork meets the rod, just in front of the reel. It feels almost weightless in my hand. I put a furniture leg cap on the butt with a few quarters in it and the balance point was dead center of the reel. I love it. 

Im looking at similar rods. Was the balance corrected by going with the 68, or going to the LTB? I guess Im assuming they have the 68 in the Avid line but havent checked.  Im looking for a well balanced 68-71 MH/F casting rod....

[Scuba Steve]

On 4/24/2018 at 8:59 AM, WRangler506 said:

Im looking at similar rods. Was the balance corrected by going with the 68, or going to the LTB? I guess Im assuming they have the 68 in the Avid line but havent checked.  Im looking for a well balanced 68-71 MH/F casting rod....

I believe the Avid only came in a 6'8 M-XF. I wanted a MH and I don't care for XF. The LTB came in a 6'8 MH-F. It weighs only 4 oz. My Abu Revo X weighs 7.8 oz I believe, and without adding weight the balance point is an inch or two in front of the reel seat. Best feeling combo I've used so far. 

[waymont]

The 6'8 MH-F 2018 LTB is the business. I think the balance is incredible with a Daiwa Tatula Type R and a Lew's Pro G. It floats in the hand. It's super sensitive and is my main bottom contact rod for jigs and texas rigs.

The handle is super comfortable. I also have a LT Walleye 6'6" ML spinning rod and it's amazing too.

It's a perfect all around rod for spinning rod finesse bass styles. I used to have older Loomis IMX rods which I loved but these new Legends are just plain more comfortable and fun to fish.

[fishwizzard]

Does anyone have strong opinions about the spinning reel seat on the new LTB rods?  From looking at pictures I cannot get a sense of how all the cut-outs “work”.  I grip spinning rods with my entite hand infront of the reel stem so that rules out a lot of reel seats. 

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

Does anyone have strong opinions about the spinning reel seat on the new LTB rods?  From looking at pictures I cannot get a sense of how all the cut-outs “work”.  I grip spinning rods with my entite hand infront of the reel stem so that rules out a lot of reel seats. 

As a ST Croix stick fan - I fish several in the LTB line.

I have & rather like the previous spinner rod handle but have not yet fished the new one.

Have checked it out (in store).

It's nice & perhaps even better than the older model.

 

All that said & on a separate note, I ventured into the world of the Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rods last spring.

At about the same price point as the LTB - IMO it's a better stick. 

Love everything about it especially the lighter weight and carbon graphite guide frames. 

I'll not purchase another ST Croix spinner choosing instead to go with these Diawa rods.

 Might want to check these out prior to making your decision, I'm glad I did.  

A-Jay

 

 

[fishwizzard]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

All that said & on a separate note, I ventured into the world of the Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rods last spring.

At about the same price point as the LTB - IMO it's a better stick. 

Love everything about it especially the lighter weight and carbon graphite guide frames. 

I'll not purchase another ST Croix spinner choosing instead to go with these Diawa rods.

 Might want to check these out prior to making your decision, I'm glad I did.  

A-Jay

 

I only have a single St Croix rod, an Avid 62m/XF, and I really like it which has given me the itch to try an other one from one of their higher-end lines. I was thinking a LBS68MLF spinning rod as I have far more casting rods then spinning at this point.  

 

I do agree that the new Daiwa rods seem like something special.  I got to hold one of the AGS rods over the summer, the long Neko/Hair Jig model.  It was crazy light and the reel seat/forgrip is about perfect for how I like to hold a spinning rod.  Just swinging it around the store without a reel on it made me want to take it home.  I am not convinced I would use one enough to justify it but have thought up a specific inshore presentation I think it would be great for, so one might find it's way home next spring.