Something other than an Avid X casting for Curado K

[MUSLENUTZ]

I feel like the micro guides are slowing me down. What would be a comparable brand and model to a St. Croix Avid X. It will be my main rod for just about everything. 7ft and above. 

[Scott F]

St Croix Avid. Same rod, full handle, normal size guides.

[MUSLENUTZ]

6 minutes ago, Scott F said:

St Croix Avid. Same rod, full handle, normal size guides.

I wasn’t getting good casting on the Avid x, I’m afraid it would be the same on the Avid. MH and it felt like a Medium. 

[Scott F]

You said you were looking for a comparable rod to the Avid X. If you aren't getting "good casting", it's not because of the rod. Thousands of guys have been using St. Croix Avids for years, including myself, with no casting issues.

[MUSLENUTZ]

14 minutes ago, Scott F said:

You said you were looking for a comparable rod to the Avid X. If you aren't getting "good casting", it's not because of the rod. Thousands of guys have been using St. Croix Avids for years, including myself, with no casting issues.

I had a Bass Mojo 71mhf and a Avid X 7mhf. Same reel and line and the Bass Mojo outcasted the Avid X by 15-20 percent each time with all different lines. I felt the micro guides slowed it down and it wasn’t as stiff. What are some other decent rods.  

[WRB]

Lots of choices in $200-$230 price range.

St Croix has very good customer service, so that limits the choices.

Casting distance is affected by the number of guides and placement more then guide ring size. Balance along with how the rod flexes with your casting motion is critical, lower power rod tends to cast easier then a higher power do to the rods action with the same weight lures.

Dobyns Champion series have very good casting performance for example but tend to be a littler lower in power verses St Croix.

Tom

[islandbass]

Wow. That is an interesting case. I too would have recommended going with the regular avid. 

 

I take it no possible chance it could be casting mechanics, all else being equal?

 

It might also be worth checking to see how the guides are lined up between the two rods when juxtaposed. 

 

If the guides are placed roughly the same that would have me stumped. 

[Turkey sandwich]

5 hours ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

I wasn’t getting good casting on the Avid x, I’m afraid it would be the same on the Avid. MH and it felt like a Medium. 

 

I'm with Scott F.  St Croix tends to run "heavier" or even "faster" than a lot of other manufacturers, so there's no reason they should feel like they're casting light for their power.  I would check the lure weights you're trying to cast against the ratings for the rod and the break settings on that Curado.   Otherwise, I would check casting mechanics.  I run braid to leader on my casting rods 90% of the time and have had very few issues with micro guides that some slight adjustments to leader length and my casting mechanics couldn't fix.  If you already own the rod, I'd check all of the above before trading it out.  They're been considered by many to be the best rod under $250-$300 (If we include the Avid and Avid X) for literally decades.  

 

If you want St. Croix's amazing customer service and similar performance, the Avid is a great rod. 

 

If you want something different, Fenwick's Aetos is also an awesome rod for the $200 range.  I have a 7' MHF.  It fishes heavy for a MH, but it's a great handling rod with a ton of backbone, good sensitivity, and comfortable grips.  The guides are small, but probably not as small as the Avid X.  I liked the blank so much, I also own an Aetos 4wt that's a rocket launcher for dry flies.  

 

If you spend a bit more, a Loomis IMX is really great stick.  They tend to run a little lighter in power than the St. Croix or Aetos, but they're the lower end of where the Loomis line really gets good.  

 

If you like EVA grips, Abu's Ike series and above are good quality rods, but I haven't fished them.  They also tend to run a bit heavier than the rated power. I don't like foam grips as much as cork, and Abu's customer service compared to St Croix sucks, so I don't own any Abu rods other than Veritas crank bait rods.

[TBAG]

I'm going to have to go with the majority here, go with the Avid. I own several and they're great.

[Joshua van Wyk]

4 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

 

I'm with Scott F.  St Croix tends to run "heavier" or even "faster" than a lot of other manufacturers, so there's no reason they should feel like they're casting light for their power.  I would check the lure weights you're trying to cast against the ratings for the rod and the break settings on that Curado.   Otherwise, I would check casting mechanics.  I run braid to leader on my casting rods 90% of the time and have had very few issues with micro guides that some slight adjustments to leader length and my casting mechanics couldn't fix.  If you already own the rod, I'd check all of the above before trading it out.  They're been considered by many to be the best rod under $250-$300 (If we include the Avid and Avid X) for literally decades.  

 

If you want St. Croix's amazing customer service and similar performance, the Avid is a great rod. 

 

If you want something different, Fenwick's Aetos is also an awesome rod for the $200 range.  I have a 7' MHF.  It fishes heavy for a MH, but it's a great handling rod with a ton of backbone, good sensitivity, and comfortable grips.  The guides are small, but probably not as small as the Avid X.  I liked the blank so much, I also own an Aetos 4wt that's a rocket launcher for dry flies.  

 

If you spend a bit more, a Loomis IMX is really great stick.  They tend to run a little lighter in power than the St. Croix or Aetos, but they're the lower end of where the Loomis line really gets good.  

 

If you like EVA grips, Abu's Ike series and above are good quality rods, but I haven't fished them.  They also tend to run a bit heavier than the rated power. I don't like foam grips as much as cork, and Abu's customer service compared to St Croix sucks, so I don't own any Abu rods other than Veritas crank bait rods.

In my experience Abu customer service was amazing.  I broke my rod 2 inches from the top and it was 100% my fault.  They sent me a new rod for $10 no questions asked. 

[Dens228]

10 hours ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

I had a Bass Mojo 71mhf and a Avid X 7mhf. Same reel and line and the Bass Mojo outcasted the Avid X by 15-20 percent each time with all different lines. I felt the micro guides slowed it down and it wasn’t as stiff. What are some other decent rods.  

I have the same Mojo and AvidX and have the opposite results as you.  I find the X outcasts the Mojo.  I'll be replacing the Mojo with another X. 

[Troy85]

I have a Curado K on my Abu Ike Signature series.  Rod is 7'2", MH, Fast.  Its a little cheaper than your Avid, runs about $150.  Its my soft plastic rod, works great for flipping, pitching, and I can chunk it way out there if needed. 

[junyer357]

I also reccomend the standard avid. It has been widely reguarded an axcellent rod for many years, long before the microeye fad. I have the 7' mhf avid. It is a stout rod. It has good tip action, but loads quickly when you get more into the rod. All i use mine for is 3/8-1/2 jigs. Handles them beautifully casting and pitching/flipping. I have thrown 3/4jigs on it as well and it handles them well, even though its a touch over spec weight with a trailer.

Before you switch, have you made sure you didnt miss an eye? Super easy to do in those tiny wretched eyes. Also what line are you using? Is it the same? Same lures too? What weight lures? What makes you feel like its a med not a mh? 

[new2BC4bass]

One of the benefits often cited for micro guides is longer casts.    Personally I am not good enough to notice a difference.

 

When I first started using my first Aetos (older model), the trigger hurt my fingers after awhile.  Guess I got use to it because I don't notice it now.  Very nice rods otherwise.  Beautiful, too. 

 

Could look at an ALX Deputy.  They have smaller guides, but not the real mini ones.  I also like my Okuma Helios rods.  Walmart has the 7' MH for $102.46 (2 left).  Of course you will need to pay tax.  Definitely get in store delivery, and take the rod out while their.   One of mine arrived at the house broken.  Had no problem getting a refund so I could order a second one.  After that I decided I would rather get in store delivery so I didn't have to wait in the Customer Service line.  Usually pick-up line is much shorter and quicker.

[WRB]

Micro guides can enhance casting if the guide train uses the right size rings at the right locations on the blank. The most important guides are the 1st closest to the reel and the second guide, they must be exactly the height and diameter to align with the line comming off the reel spool without creating a sine wave in the line, then guide the line down the blank through the guide train with minimal resistance. Because micro guides are lower on the blank the rod usually has more guides then a standard size guide train, so they won't be in the same locations. 

A good line dressing will help to reduce friction with the line going through the guide train.

Tom

[Matt_3479]

It’s funny your experience I have an avid x spinning rod and my dad fishes an avid x casting rod and boy can he ever bomb a lure with that combo! Medium heavy casting rod little tip heavy but light overall weight and plenty of power. If you don’t like the micro’s I’m going have to suggest the avid as well as it’s in the price range, same quality without micro guides and full grip.

 

personally I’m a loomis guy so I’d look at the imx pro, love the way these things fish! Don’t even mind the 2 different e6x’s I’ve fished. Have 1 dobyns too, Sierra series but very impressed with it as well! 

[MUSLENUTZ]

On 11/2/2018 at 9:57 AM, junyer357 said:

I also reccomend the standard avid. It has been widely reguarded an axcellent rod for many years, long before the microeye fad. I have the 7' mhf avid. It is a stout rod. It has good tip action, but loads quickly when you get more into the rod. All i use mine for is 3/8-1/2 jigs. Handles them beautifully casting and pitching/flipping. I have thrown 3/4jigs on it as well and it handles them well, even though its a touch over spec weight with a trailer.

Before you switch, have you made sure you didnt miss an eye? Super easy to do in those tiny wretched eyes. Also what line are you using? Is it the same? Same lures too? What weight lures? What makes you feel like its a med not a mh? 

Yes no eyes were missed. Same everything during my comparison. All different. If I am using a 1oz plopper I should be able to bomb it better than my ugly stick that’s a medium and 6 inches shorter. It just has a lot of flex to it, where the Bass mojo felt more powerful

[WRB]

Not so fast, now we are comparing a moderate action low tensile strength rod to a fast action high tensile strength rod, apples and oranges.

A moderate rod casts easier with less effort then a fast action rod, it's the reason there bass anglers prefer crankbait rods. The moderate action rod loads up bending more of the rod blank, releases slower giving the angler a wider range to launch the lure and allows the baitcasting reel to get to speed a little slower reducing backlashes.

Everything being equal the only difference is the operators casting skills.

Tom

 

[MUSLENUTZ]

44 minutes ago, WRB said:

Not so fast, now we are comparing a moderate action low tensile strength rod to a fast action high tensile strength rod, apples and oranges.

A moderate rod casts easier with less effort then a fast action rod, it's the reason there bass anglers prefer crankbait rods. The moderate action rod loads up bending more of the rod blank, releases slower giving the angler a wider range to launch the lure and allows the baitcasting reel to get to speed a little slower reducing backlashes.

Everything being equal the only difference is the operators casting skills.

Tom

 

Both rods are MHF?? I don’t follow, I just said that the Avid felt more like a medium. 

[WRB]

2 minutes ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

Both rods are MHF?? I don’t follow, I just said that the Avid felt more like a medium. 

You made a comparison to your 6'6" Ugly stick.

Not being familiar to the Avid rods you are having a issue with, if the rod blank is the same they shoukd cast the same. The difference could be the reel seat is lower on Avid X and the foregrip is higher creating a condition where the line coming off the reel hits the foregrip slowing it down. You already checked guide for damage, bent, cracked etc, etc.

The bottom line is you are not happy with the rod and that happens to all of us.

Tom

[LxVE Bassin]

What lure or lures are you trying to get further casting with and how much do they weigh? How far are you trying to cast?

[junyer357]

Thats just odd. I know mine doesnt move past around 2' down from the tip. No matter what weight lure im using.

[Hulkster]

I have a curado (200i model) on a G. Loomis E6X MBR 903c

 

its the 7'6 MH power fast action mag bass rod. I really like the fast action combined with the extra length. its a great all purpose rod. I have caught everything on it, from bass, to pike and even rainbow trout (while casting a #5 Mepps spinner):

[MUSLENUTZ]

5 hours ago, LxVE Bassin said:

What lure or lures are you trying to get further casting with and how much do they weigh? How far are you trying to cast?

I’m casting 180 ft with the mojo and like 140-150 with the Avid 

[LxVE Bassin]

2 hours ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

I’m casting 180 ft with the mojo and like 140-150 with the Avid 

140 feet is a pretty long cast for bass fishing. Anything longer may lead to hook set issues for most techniques.  What lure are you throwing?