Triumph or HMG?

[Spoons]

Hey guys got 100$ in bass pro gift cards gonna head tonight and get a medium light rod for float fishing/soft plastics. What do you guys think, St Croix Triumph or Fenwick HMG? Or is it worth bumping up a little and adding cash for the St Croix Premier or Fenwick walleye series? 

[MN Fisher]

TW still has the Dobyns Sierras on sale - 702SF (ML/F) for $120...better than your other choices IMO.

[Spoons]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

TW still has the Dobyns Sierras on sale - 702SF (ML/F) for $120...better than your other choices IMO.

Sorry I edited the post, the gift cards I have are for bass pro so I would like to try to stick there if i can. 

[Spankey]

Can't comment on the Fenwick stuff but the SC Premiere Series Rods are great rods. 1 pc. ML 6'6" Fast rod is a nice stick. I don't own the 7 foot version but wish I did.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Spoons said:

Sorry I edited the post, the gift cards I have are for bass pro so I would like to try to stick there if i can. 

That would make a difference - I'd personally go with the St Croix Premier then.

[Mobasser]

I've never used a St Croix Triumph, but do have a Fenwick med action HMG, I bought 3 yrs ago. It's been a good rod so far.

[GReb]

Triumph is the worst rod I ever owned. I’d rather buy one of the bass pro house branded rods 

[Spoons]

4 minutes ago, GReb said:

Triumph is the worst rod I ever owned. I’d rather buy one of the bass pro house branded rods 

I own the medium and love it but I do feel it runs a little heavy for a medium. Haven't used the medium light version tho.

[new2BC4bass]

No experience with the Triumph.  Enjoy my HMGs. 

[FishTank]

I would go with the St. Croix Premier or even the Mojo.  The Triumph is one of the worst rods I have ever owned.   I have tried the HMG and it's a good rod for the money.  The Fenwick Elite Tech though >  I have had two and both have now broken on hook sets, both in the same spot.  Pure fishing replaced them but I don't think I will buy another one.  When not snapping like a twig, they're not bad. 

[LCG]

Owned a Fenwick hmg 6'9"ML-F. It was good, sensitive, action was good, so was balance.

 

Never owned a triumph, but did have a st croix Mojo Bass 6'8" M-Xf, it was also good but a bit stout for what I wanted.

 

Replaced both with a BPS Carbonlite 2.0 6'8" M-Xf rated 1/8-1/2oz. It's the perfect blend between the hmg and Mojo Bass. Not too light, not too stiff, action is faster than hmg and slower the Mojo Bass. It's now my only spinning rod.

 

Highly recommend you check it out. Have it paired with a Shimano stradic FL 2500 and it balances well, not perfect but close enough for me. 

[Finessegenics]

First I must admit that I have never fished a triumph. But an employee at a local tackle shop summed up the triumph like this “It’s like wanting to buy a BMW and going with a 3 series”. Insinuating that you’re paying for the name on the rod but the rod itself being junk. Or he was trying to say people want to say they own a st Croix but then go out and buy the cheapest, worst one there is because they can’t afford a higher quality one, which usually means more $$$. Interpret that how you wish. Before anyone comes at me; they were his words, not mine. What’s ironic is St Croix actually offers good products in that price range (more on that below). 
 

Now, if you’re dead set on those two I’d go with the HMG, which I have fished. Good rod for the price and probably one of the best < 100$ rod. And this is coming from someone who currently has an all St Croix lineup ?. Others have mentioned the Mojo which is out of your budget. Within your price range, if you want to go with St Croix, I’d take a look at the Bass X. They make a 6’10 ML/XF. I picked up a 7/4 H casting model late in the fall and only fished it a few hours but I was impressed with it. The evidence all points to it being a considerably better rod than the Triumph.  

Best of luck with your purchase!

 

[BrianMDTX]

Never fished either, but I do like my Fenwick HMX 66M-FS-2. 

[craww]

Get the fenwick...The triumph blank is dead feeling & tip heavy. Honestly those rods are the about the worst value you can get in terms of feel.

[Vilas15]

2 hours ago, FishTank said:

I would go with the St. Croix Premier or even the Mojo.  The Triumph is one of the worst rods I have ever owned.

 

1 hour ago, Finessegenics said:

First I must admit that I have never fished a triumph. But an employee at a local tackle shop summed up the triumph like this “It’s like wanting to buy a BMW and going with a 3 series”. Insinuating that you’re paying for the name on the rod but the rod itself being junk.

 

Within your price range, if you want to go with St Croix, I’d take a look at the Bass X.

FYI Triumph, Bass X, and Premier are all the same SCII graphite. Triumph and Bass X are made in Mexico, Premier is made in US which likely accounts for most of the price difference.

 

Ive got a triumph 6'6" M/F and a premier 7'0" ML/F. I like both. Also enjoy legend tournaments and avids. The triumph is fine but I'm looking to upgrade to an Avid at some point.

[Finessegenics]

2 minutes ago, Vilas15 said:

 

FYI Triumph, Bass X, and Premier are all the same SCII graphite. Triumph and Bass X are made in Mexico, Premier is made in US which likely accounts for most of the price difference.

 

Ive got a triumph 6'6" M/F and a premier 7'0" ML/F. I like both. Also enjoy legend tournaments and avids. The triumph is fine but I'm looking to upgrade to an Avid at some point.

I am aware. The Mojo and Avid  have the same situation going. One made overseas, other made in US but same blank. Yet, the avid x feels better to me. Would you say the same about the Triumph and Premier? 
 

[DomQ]

I hooked up into a 9kb pound musky on a medium modfast hmg a couple years back and the rod handled it with ease. Ended up picking up 3 more hmg rods in other actions. Highly recommend.

[Bluebasser86]

I like my St. Croix rods, but the Triumph is no bueno.

 

I've owned an HMG or two and they're nice rods, I'd buy another over a Triumph no question.

[Spoons]

I ended up going with a 6'10 mojo bass guys. I appreciate the advice, this rod feels great honestly. 

[Spankey]

8 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

I am aware. The Mojo and Avid  have the same situation going. One made overseas, other made in US but same blank. Yet, the avid x feels better to me. Would you say the same about the Triumph and Premier? 
 

I would say so. 

[new2BC4bass]

5 hours ago, Spoons said:

I ended up going with a 6'10 mojo bass guys. I appreciate the advice, this rod feels great honestly. 

    I  Personally I don't mind the purple.  Much prefer it to white.  I think you will like the rod.

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

The Mojo and Avid  have the same situation going. One made overseas, other made in US but same blank.

 

   The Mojo is made in Fresnillo, Mexico, not overseas.    jj

[Spankey]

4 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   The Mojo is made in Fresnillo, Mexico, not overseas.    jj

Not my quote. Who cares. Most of this rod stuff comes from China ??. 

[Spoons]

5 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

    I  Personally I don't mind the purple.  Much prefer it to white.  I think you will like the rod.

Its my favorite color lol. I believe so too, its very comfortable and feels sensitive enough. Gonna start looking for the perfect reel size for it. 

[zell_pop1]

8 hours ago, Spankey said:

Not my quote. Who cares. Most of this rod stuff comes from China ??. 

Ya St Croix's factory in Mexico makes Triumphs and I think the only difference is Premiers are made in Wisconsin and look better too IMO. Now before they opened that plant Triumphs came fron China so maybe those are the ones people are complaining about.