St. Croix Avid X MHXF for Plastics?

[Jbuckwild]

Thinking about jumping into a Croix Avid X 7'1" MH XF casting rod for weightless senkos and other plastics (anything else i could throw?) but having trouble pulling the trigger.. should i opt for a medium or a different length? Hoping to be convinced into this MH. I fish riverside quite often and jump in and put of the slop but already have a few MH already just nothing XF. Would probably pair it up with a Chronarch MGL but might be toi light of a reel. 

 

Also wondering if the micro guides would be a problem for an alberto knot for my a leader setup. Im hearing mixed reviews on having knots get caught in the guides and the heavy tip i hear it has. Convince me into this rod guys! ?

[FryDog62]

I had the Avid X MH XF but found it to be rather tip heavy, a bit of a broomstick too and sold it.  I’ve bought 3 similar rods since and like them a lot better - very light, excellent balance and far superior sensitivity IMO:

 

•Daiwa Tatula 

•ALX Zolo 

•Kistler Helium 3

 

Same general price range as the Avid X, some a little higher/lower depending on sale price.  

 

Wouldn't think you'd have a problem with knots going through the guides on these rods.  I throw braid/co-polymer leader with an FG knot, works great.  

[FishTank]

I had the old 7' MH XF regular Avid and also thought it was tip heavy.  I also returned mine.  I wanted to use it for senkos and t-rigged soft plastic but it just didn't do it for me.  Granted I have 3 other St. Croix Avid spinning rods that I love and have no issues with.  Back in the day, I put my rod return credit towards a G. Loomis 844C IMX and it has turned into the most versatile rod I have. 

 

If I had to choose a St. Croix Avid over again, I would go with the 7' M Fast for weightless senkos.  I have not been a fan of the Avid X.  I tend to like a full cork grip on a soft plastic rod but it's not a deal breaker.  I think if I wanted the split grip from St. Croix,  I would save up a little more and go with the 6'8'' Legend Tournament MH Fast Jig N Worm Rod.  It seems to not to be as stiff as the XF Avid I had, it definitely has some back bone, and it is slight step up in sensitivity.  

[Dens228]

I agree with Fishtank.  I love my St. Croix rods, especially the AvidX.  I have two along with the Avid Crankbait rod.

I'd go with the mod/fast for weightless plastics though. 

[TBAG]

I'll add my .02 to this topic, although I could be totally wrong. I am a self proclaimed St. Croix fanboy and own several Avids, Mojo Bass and a glass CB rod. I'm currently shopping for a new T-rig/Jig rod (currently using a 68 MH/F Avid and it has been great but I want something different. I handled an Avid X 70 MH/F and 70 M/F in store and yeah, way too tip heavy and unbalanced. Now here is where my opinion could be way off but handled a Dobyns Fury 71 MH/XF along with the Avid X and the Dobyns was much more balanced and lighter. Granted I didn't have a reel on it but just holding the two side by side I felt the Dobyns was a better rod, and not to mention cheaper. YMMV........

[J Francho]

You'll enjoy throwing an unweighted senko on a mf or mxf Avid over a mh power rod.

[PhishLI]

I'm not gonna to try to convince you either way regarding that particular St.Croix. I own a St.Croix Mojo CB stick. Nothing against St.Croix. I will suggest you take a look at an offbeat choice in the Powell Inferno 7 MHXF. 703MH CEF.

 

I fish a nearby puddle I call Senko Lake. I've caught fish on a number of different types of baits there, but nothing comes close to a weightless Watermelon BLK flake 6" senko. I've also done well with 10" Power worms and Zoom Fluke Stiks in that color. Soft stick baits rule there, for me anyway.

 

 No boats are allowed in this lake. It's ringed by trees with occasional gaps where the shore is fishable. Kinda tough to overhead cast though, but not impossible. A little pitching here and there. It's best to wade. That really doesn't add up to much more than target casting and bombing. Sort of tough to skip waist deep in water.

 

So, I really dug in for a rod to throw light plastics with, including Avids. My first thought was that a medium action 6'7" -6'8" would be the ticket. Less chance to swat a branch on overhead casts when I didn't want to wade. Those rods worked, or, I made them work. Stepped up to some 7' mediums. Same thing. They worked, and I figured that was it, but was never really thrilled.

 

The Powell purchase was a "just by chance" thing. In one cast I knew it was a winner for me. An Ahhhh moment. Finally. It's rated to 3/4 ounce, so a lighter MH. Speaking of light, it's a light stick. Combined with a Chronarch CI4+, it's a featherweight combo. It balances an inch in front of the reel nut. Very comfortable. Love this combo. It will really launch a senko when called for.

 

Another lake I fish is really a "boat only" spot. Skipped whacky Senkos kill it here. Lots of overhung trees and docks. Here I pair the Powell with a Tat SV.  Skipping senkos and finesse jigs is a pleasure all day with this combo. Not as light as the Chronarch/Inferno combo but still light.

 

However, it does use micro guides. I use straight Sufix Copoly and avoid the leader knot issue. Light line and a good FG should be fine, I just haven't bothered. The copoly is working out for me.

 

Maybe it's odd to put pricey reels on this rod, like ketchup on steak, but I think it's a great stick for the $. Plus, if it gets killed somehow it won't be too painful. I'd replace it with another in a second.