Avid X thoughts?

[dgkasper58]

Looking into buying the 7' ML Avid X wanted to hear thoughts on the rod.  Have to burn some gift cards and may also trade in an old premier to upgrade.  Was going to use the rod for weightless flukes and ned rig type applications.

 

Also is upgrading the way to go with st croix?

[NHBull]

A couple years ago I was thinking the same and went St Croix and would do the same again.  Not dissing the Avid, just prefer the SC

 

edit....senior moment...meant x over the avid

[dgkasper58]

1 minute ago, NHBull said:

A couple years ago I was thinking the same and went St Croix and would do the same again.  Not dissing the Avid, just prefer the SC

st croix avid x is the rod...

 

when I brought up upgrading I meant using their upgrade policy.

[dodgeguy]

Why would anybody spend that much money and not get sic guides? 

[dgkasper58]

2 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Why would anybody spend that much money and not get sic guides? 

I know- downfall for the rod and I am not sold on the micro's but it is not much more for the upgrade- basically its 120 with a trade in and I am not sure if its worth that.

[jimmyjoe]

  I have the 7' 2-pc ML with a Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500 on it. I've used quite a few different lines. This is my favorite rod, hands down. Not that it will horse with the big boys. That's not what I mean. I mean it's the all-around best, most fun, fighting-est rod, least trouble rod, most accurate rod that I have. I use it for everything from crappie, to white bass, to flukes for LMB.

   Yes, there are probably better rods out there, but I need 2-pc rods, and that limits my choices considerably. And I didn't know how I would like the Kigan Z-guides when I first got the rod, but now I love them. One thing: they seem to work better with mono rather than braid. Don't know why.   ?    jj

  

[dgkasper58]

2 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

  I have the 7' 2-pc ML with a Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500 on it. I've used quite a few different lines. This is my favorite rod, hands down. Not that it will horse with the big boys. That's not what I mean. I mean it's the all-around best, most fun, fighting-est rod, least trouble rod, most accurate rod that I have. I use it for everything from crappie, to white bass, to flukes for LMB.

   Yes, there are probably better rods out there, but I need 2-pc rods, and that limits my choices considerably. And I didn't know how I would like the Kigan Z-guides when I first got the rod, but now I love them. One thing: they seem to work better with mono rather than braid. Don't know why.   ?    jj

  

braid usually takes off your spool wider and with the smaller guides has more resistance and potential for tangle since its shooting off the spool so quickly.  

 

I think they went with these guides for it to be lighter- not sure how much lighter it is compared to sic?

[jimmyjoe]

6 minutes ago, dgkasper58 said:

I think they went with these guides for it to be lighter- not sure how much lighter it is compared to sic?

  Given same blank, same size and spacing, I don't believe there's a perceptible difference.  Why the interest in SIC?    jj

 

[dgkasper58]

I know they are "better" but that's what someone else posted- why pay so much for something that doesn't have the sic guides.

[jimmyjoe]

1 minute ago, dgkasper58 said:

I know they are "better" but that's what someone else posted- why pay so much for something that doesn't have the sic guides.

  I see ... that was @dodgeguy.  Got it straight now.  ?    jj

[Matt_3479]

I had a 7’ medium avid x. I have recently sold it but here’s what I can tell you about it. It was a little tip heavy but not bad with a nasci and stradic fk. Sensitivity was good, not the best but I’d say on point for value. Power was impressive, definitely had some serious back bone to it yet a decently soft tip. I liked it but it didn’t win me over and it has since moved on to a buddy who loves it. Micro guides were okay, still able to get an fg knot through them

[LCG]

I had the 6'6" mh-f casting rod. Fantastic rod with great sensitivity, excellent workmanship, strong backbone. The only reason I sold it was the micro guides. I am a braid to leader guy and it just didn't work for me. St Croix is a solid choice and if your ok with micro guides, I am sure you will be very happy. 

 

I replaced it with a BPS Carbonlite 2.0 with semi micro guides which work much better for me. YMMV. 

[FishTank]

I have a few Avids and when I went to look for a new one, I debated between the X and the regular Avid.  And after looking at them side by side, I just thought the regular Avid fit my needs.  

 

On a side note, I thought the regular Avid felt like a better rod in hand.  I couldn't tell you why that it is but it was just a gut choice.  I have not been disappointed so far.  They are great rods. 

[r83srock]

The Avid is St. Croix’s IMX. It’s the benchmark in their lineup. The Alconite guides and guide spacing, the Ecs seat, and sc3 blank are proven. The finish has changed over the years, croix used to not gloss the blank, which I preferred. I have owned many, one is 17 years old, and I bought used when it was 10, never broke one. The X is just the split grip, snazzed up version. I have used the X with braid and it fished well. Not sure on the 7’, but I have a 6’9” ml casting that I use for drop shotting and it’s probably the most versatile finesse rod I’ve used. 

[dodgeguy]

According to what I've read they are plain aluminum oxide guides. Not even alconite. To me that's sub standard on a rod of that price. It's the exact reason I didn't buy one.

[Spankey]

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. If it feels right go for it. The only X series I own is ML-Xfast. I also have a Nasci on it. 

 

I fish Premiere and Avid Series Rods with full grips. Love them. Great factory warranty in case you need it. Only had to use it a couple of times and had no issues with them and I don’t believe I had to put out anything from my end. 

 

I got turned on to St. Croix Rods back in the late 80’s by some Susquehanna River Rats boys and have never looked back. I don’t own anything above the Avid Series. Good luck. 

[Mikeltee]

Good rod but you are paying double for the name. There are a lot better rods at that price point where the extra money goes in components and not branding and marketing. If you need a rod and your local store has it get it. I sometimes have to because my wife complains when the UPS guy comes by. Luckily I have a Cabela's 5 minutes away. I had an Avid and shut it in a car door.  I turned it into a fly swatter. I did get to throw with it and it did fine. I caught hundreds of trophy pike with it in the artic for a week the biggest being 49" and some big ars lake trout. Makes a great fly swatter too!

[CountryboyinDC]

The Avids have Alconite ring coatings, I think the Avid X has another aluminum oxide (read cheesy) insert.  As for SiC rings, I still wonder why people are so hung up on these.  I understand Torzite - it's harder and lighter than Alconite, but SiC is just harder and it cost more.  Avids and Avid Xs are right at the $200 mark for your standard 7' rod - which rod offers SiC rings for that price (someone will probably mention one of the BPS lines, and that would be true).  In Loomis, I think you have to go to the GLX line, and they start at double the price.  For me, micro guides are not the ticket for most of my rods, so the Avid X is not a consideration, but I still think the Avid is pretty solid in its price range.

[punch]

If you think Avid X's spinning rods are tip heavy, try a Legend Tournament Bass spinning rod. Oooofda. 

[Allen Der]

Have you looked at the Eyecon 7ft ML rod?  I love the reel seat and foregrip on the Eyecon.  It's a good ned rig and grub rod.  Only downside is that it's not made in the USA

[MickD]

Avids are not the IMX of St Croix.  The SCV would be more accurately called the IMX of St Croix.  They are good rods for the money, well up  on the cost/value curve.  Meaning that as you spend more you are not getting that much more value.

 

Alconite is not a coating on rings; it is the material the ring is made from.  It is a premium ring just under the hardness of SIC, comparable to zirconium.

 

Has anyone ever grooved an alconite guide?  SIC is somewhat harder, but is harder needed?  SIC is also more brittle, so more apt to break if knocked against the boat while jerking.  Since SIC is more brittle, most SIC is thicker than alconite and other similar ring materials.  Fuji has a slim SIC that is thinner than usual SIC.

 

I have grooved some old cheapie tiptops, but never a guide, even an old cheapie guide.

 

Avids are no more tip heavy than other rods of the same length, using the same reel, and the same approx cost

 

There have been a bazillion fish caught on rods that are heavier, less sensitive, and that have lower performance guides than the Avid.  Some of the favorite lines of rods today have much lower quality cork and workmanship.   

[dodgeguy]

I have never broken or grooved a Fuji alconite or sic guide.

[CountryboyinDC]

14 hours ago, MickD said:

Alconite is not a coating on rings; it is the material the ring is made from.  It is a premium ring just under the hardness of SIC, comparable to zirconium.

 

That's right - I misspoke that in my post.  The rings are surrounded by guide frames, but the rings themselves are not coatings.

[Randy Price]

I have an Avid X and several original Avids.  For the $$ IMO Avids are where SC rods start to shine!

 

[Bluebasser86]

I had an Avid X. It wasn't bad but I hated the guides so bad that I sold it. I agree with dodgeguy that the guides are very subpar for a rod that price.