St. Croix Premier M or ML?

[Otter17]

I wanted to buy a nice general purpose smallmouth Spinning Rod. I mostly own ugly stiks, but do own a Mojo Bass casting rod for largemouth fishing. And decided to try another nice St.  Croix(My budget Nice). So I just got the M. But am wondering if the ML would be a better pick. 

 

I really liked the Premier at the store and heard good things about them.

 

Im fishing shallow rivers, and lures I’ll be using most are:

 

4” flukes(unweighted-1/8oz.)

4” senkos(unweighted)

2.5-3.5” tubes(1/8-1/4oz.)

zara puppys

zara Spook jr.

Bitsy bug jigs w/small trailers(1/8oz.- 1/4oz.)

3” Grubs(1/8- 1/4oz.)

3”-3.5” paddletails(1/8-1/4oz.)

 

Would the ML or M be the best fit for these types of lures?

 

And if I stuck with the M would it still cast these lighter weights fine? 

 

Thankyou kindly

 

 

 

 

[NHBull]

Could you get away with a Med, yes.

The Med would be more versatile and do more.

 

My fishing partner went through the same thing and now only has 1 ML in his quiver

[Spankey]

The ML will be just fine. The MED will be great for throwing heavier Senko styles. 

 

The Premier Series is a great series of rods. You do not have to spend $300 on a SC. Totally not necessary. The 7’ ML spin is a great rod for fishing finesse light plastics. 

[Team9nine]

General consensus seems to be that St.Croix rods run slightly heavier than rated. I’ve got both Premiers you mention and would lean toward the ML for what you are looking to do. The M is noticeably stiffer, on par with several of my other rods rated as MH.

[PAbasser927]

I don’t have any expirience with the Premiers, but I do have a ML and M spinning in the Avid X lineup.  For everything on that list except the bitsy bug jigs, I would use the ML.  Bitsy bigs would get the M.  I agree with @Team9nine, the M is far stiffer than the ML.  It almost feels like there should be a power in between the two.

[Vilas15]

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

The 7’ ML spin is a great rod for fishing finesse light plastics. 

I've got one and it's great for everything listed. That 1/8 to 1/4 oz range is perfect.

[Jleebesaw]

In shallow water either would probably be ok. Where I fish smallmouth, there is so much line out and the water is so deep(most of the time) I like a rod with a lot of backbone. It just feels like a ml wouldn't do very well to me, but the weights you mention seem light too, so a lighter action may work well for you.

[Otter17]

21 minutes ago, Jleebesaw said:

In shallow water either would probably be ok. Where I fish smallmouth, there is so much line out and the water is so deep(most of the time) I like a rod with a lot of backbone. It just feels like a ml wouldn't do very well to me, but the weights you mention seem light too, so a lighter action may work well for you.

That makes sense there. The  river I’m fishing in is anywhere from 1’-3’ mostly, with periodic small holes of 4’-6’ deep.

[Munkin]

I agree with everyone that says St. Croix runs heavier that other rods (I just think they run true of their ratings) but think the Medium would be more versatile overall. I f you are using braid the ML would work but mono or floro I would go with the M.

 

Allen

[davecon]

Have both. Prefer the ML. Odd thing is I like the cast ability of the Premier series over the Avid series and I have both. Seems I’m always picking up that 7’ ML Premier. 

 

Recently added a Premier L. Had to special order it because it’s usually not stocked. Paired it with a 1000 series reel and 5 lb braid. It’s not as versatile but boy is it a lot of fun !

[Otter17]

3 hours ago, Munkin said:

I agree with everyone that says St. Croix runs heavier that other rods (I just think they run true of their ratings) but think the Medium would be more versatile overall. I f you are using braid the ML would work but mono or floro I would go with the M.

 

Allen

Thankyou everyone for all your help. You’re suggestions have steered me to go with the ML. Can’t wait to enjoy it!

??

 

[Turkey sandwich]

Man... am I the only one to prefer the Medium for most of those baits? 

[Spankey]

4 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

Man... am I the only one to prefer the Medium for most of those baits? 

I have that 6’9” to 7’ M rod with me but to throw a bit larger plastics or weighted a bit heavier plastics. Bit heavier cover. 

[Junk Fisherman]

17 hours ago, PAbasser927 said:

I don’t have any expirience with the Premiers, but I do have a ML and M spinning in the Avid X lineup.  For everything on that list except the bitsy bug jigs, I would use the ML.  Bitsy bigs would get the M.  I agree with @Team9nine, the M is far stiffer than the ML.  It almost feels like there should be a power in between the two.

 

I agree 100%.  Get the ML.  

[Allen Der]

6 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

Man... am I the only one to prefer the Medium for most of those baits? 

No.  For the 1/4 oz baits and senkos I'd opt for the medium as well.  1/8 oz and under I like medium light

[Brad Reid]

I really love both an ML or a M power in spinning rods from St. Croix.

 

I'd have to go look but one that'd sort of be a split between the two would be an M power in a moderate action. You'd have the greater stiffness of M over ML for fighting fish; and, the fact that its moderate action would flex the rod more, thus shorten the rod's lifting point (lever), you'd have more power than a faster action (lifting point farther away from the hands).

 

To this, a moderate action M power/Mod action would cast a bit farther with its additional springiness so it might give you better casting with the heavier sorts of presentations on your list, still retain the ability to cast the lighter ones, too.

 

I guess the other thing is a moderate action loads up well for those of us using spinning gear as intended: fighting fish with the rod more than the reel.

 

Brad

 

 

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, Brad Reid said:

I really love both an ML or a M power in spinning rods from St. Croix.

 

I'd have to go look but one that'd sort of be a split between the two would be an M power in a moderate action. You'd have the greater stiffness of M over ML for fighting fish; and, the fact that its moderate action would flex the rod more, thus shorten the rod's lifting point (lever), you'd have more power than a faster action (lifting point farther away from the hands).

 

To this, a moderate action M power/Mod action would cast a bit farther with its additional springiness so it might give you better casting with the heavier sorts of presentations on your list, still retain the ability to cast the lighter ones, too.

 

I guess the other thing is a moderate action loads up well for those of us using spinning gear as intended: fighting fish with the rod more than the reel.

 

Brad

 

 

Could be wrong but I don’t think the spinning version will come in moderate action. Most likely both in fast. I would agree with the flexibility of a medium with a moderate action. Would be great for 1/4 to 3/8 oz. crankbaits. Bait action increases with the bit slower rod. Hard to find a decent spinning rod for lighter crankbaits. And have a moderate action. I picked one up a few weeks ago. Went on an all out search but found it. Was between SC Walleye series and a Abu Garcia Veritas 7’ medium w/ moderate action. Abu won out. The feel was like heaven. Had to go with it. But I am and always be a SC fan. The action and quality was really what I was looking for not really the super sensitivity. 

[WI_Angler1989]

I have both. A 6' 6" Medium Fast St Croix Avid, and a 6' 10" ML XF St Croix Legend Tournament Bass. Both are great and versatile. The XF makes for a stouter rod than it would be otherwise.

[GeekOutdoors]

On 4/1/2019 at 11:14 PM, davecon said:

Have both. Prefer the ML. Odd thing is I like the cast ability of the Premier series over the Avid series and I have both. Seems I’m always picking up that 7’ ML Premier. 

 

Recently added a Premier L. Had to special order it because it’s usually not stocked. Paired it with a 1000 series reel and 5 lb braid. It’s not as versatile but boy is it a lot of fun !

Which light model did you pick ?

[Otter17]

14 minutes ago, GeekFisher said:

Which light model did you pick ?

I ended getting the ML GeekFisher.

[GeekOutdoors]

9 minutes ago, Otter17 said:

I ended getting the ML GeekFisher.

Ok ! I am looking at the 5'6" LF to add to my trout fishing arsenal !

[Otter17]

Niiice!

[Spankey]

Great post. I’m pretty much a St. Croix guy. Premiers, Avids and Mojos. Don’t overlook the Primier series Casting Crankbait Rods. 

 

Love them for my river smallmouth fishing. 

[MickD]

The one thing the ML will not do well, IMHO, compared to the M, is tube fishing.  I like the power of an M (Rodgeeks-same as SC SC4 and SC SC5) is the power to set the hook and control the fish better.

 

But there are things the ML will do better.  When snapping 3/16 oz darter head jigs with swim baits off the bottom, the M is too powerful to give the snap the right "acceleration." It comes too sharply off the bottom and loses contact on the fall.  The ML is also fine for casting light cranks.

 

So, the logical conclusion is, get them both.  One cannot have too many rods.

 

 

[Spankey]

Mick, great post. I know it’s easy for me to spend your money but I buy both also. One thing for sure of the Premier Series is that it doesn’t break the bank. It’s a quality rod. 

 

You’ll find night and day difference between them and those ugly sticks. No dis to ugly sticks. The fast action will change your fishing.