St Croix Legend 6’8 MXF vs 7’ MF Spinning for Kayaks

[Scud_Muffin]

Howdy y’all,

 

Trying to decide between the Legend Elite 6’8” MXF and the Legend X 7’ MF. I keep going back and forth so I am opting for the expert consult.

 

I am in a paddle kayak (12’4”) and looking for a rod for mostly soft plastics (Neko, mojo, light texas, shakyhead, finesse swim baits, but also some hard plastics). It needs to be fairly versatile since I am not trying to bring more than 4 rods out at once. I haven’t had one as short as 6’8” and I haven’t yet run into an issue I’ve heard about in kayaks: that the bass will run across the bow and too short of a rod is a problem for that. I like the idea of the 6’8” for controlling the fish and casting accurately with the rod into little pockets. That particular elite also has a shorter length behind the handle than the same sized X. 
 

I’m wondering though if I would be better served the longer 7’ rod to get extra flexibility down the blank for keeping fish pinned and could theoretically perform better with a wider variety of baits. The handle section behind the reel is substantially longer as well, which seems annoying when sitting but fine when standing. 
 

Anyone with experience of either or both of these two rods in a kayak that can offer their opinion? Still very new to the kayak and trying to figure out what works best. Thanks!!!

[FishTank]

I would say the 6'8'' would be the the way to go but I would take a look at the Mojo yak rods.  I know they are not an LE (I have two) but they are better suited for a sitting kayak fisherman and the tapers are better as well.  Also, these rods seem more versatile than the LE line but are definitely less sensitive.  It only took me one dip in water with these rods to appreciate the Winn grips.  They do work but I prefer cork when fishing pretty much any other time. 

[Randy Price]

I agree with @FishTank.  The 68MXF is my go to plastics rod in a Legend Xtreme, however, I do not kayak.

[Scud_Muffin]

Thanks y’all! I was leaning 6’8” a bit but wondering if I would miss the extra length or find it lacking in versatility. 
 

I haven’t really done much to play with the kayak rod series. I will give them a look with fresh eyes. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the 6’8” comes in that series.

[Fishingmickey]

Hi Scud,

     You already hit the nail on the head as far as my opinion on length. If you've got long arms or are tall. The only issue I see is being able to get across the tip of the bow with the rod tip if the fish decides to go under your kayak and come up on the other side. 

     I've been tournament kayak fishing for about seven years now and I think my shortest rods are 6'10" and longest is 7'4". St. Croix makes a fine rod. I really like the Dobyns Sierra series rods too.  

Good luck in your quest!

Fishingmickey

 

[Deephaven]

I have a 6'8" blank kicked out to 7'0 and it is my favorite spinning rod.

 

[Koz]

I have a 12' 3" pedal kayak and I recently purchased a 7' M St. Croix Mojo Yak rod and it's perfect for fishing in my kayak. I love it because the butt end is short enough so it doesn't catch on my PFD but not so short like a pistol grip where it's hard to gain any leverage.

 

The other primary rod I use on my kayak is a 7' MH Dobyn's Fury 703C. It's another rod that I love, but not as comfortable to fish out of the kayak because the butt end occasionally jams into my PFD.

 

The one thing I wish is that St. Croix made the Mojo Yak in a 7' MH model. Their MH model is 7' 6" and I find rods that long to be a bit unwieldy on a kayak.

[Boomstick]

I have the 6'8" M/XF and my youngest son has the 7'1" M/F. They are pretty similar, the M/F has a slightly longer tip to it and a little more backbone, more like a M+  and the 6'8" has less tip but is a true medium so the rod bends all the way through.

They both work for a lot of the same things, but the 6'8" is great for jerkbaits and poppers and about the right length as well especially from a kayak and the 7'1" is good for lightly weighted or weightless soft plastics and finesse jigs. Considering you are mostly looking for lighter soft plastics, I would think the 6'8" would be fine.

[aceman387]

I use both the 7’medium fast legend elite and the 7’6” medium fast elite ( both spinning) in my kayak all the time. Only two rods I take.I use the 7 footer for drop shotting and the 7’6” for Texas rigs,light Carolina rigs.

[Scud_Muffin]

Thanks y’all, so it looks fair to say personal preference is really a big factor. Seems that enough folks like the shorter rod to prove it isn’t a problem controlling fish trying to go under the front of the boat without the extra length, and enough people like the long ones that they aren’t too unwieldy even on small boats for them to be a viable option. 
 

I’m looking for a light plastics sniper rifle for this one so I think the 68 may be the ticket, but then I’m likely to want a deeper fishing spinning rod, and will definitely be looking at the 7’3”+/- range at that point.

[Rob St Croix]

My 5'10" St Croix LTB is a regular when I kayak the Great Miami.

Big Channels and Shovelheads are always in play and the LTB never has a problem landing them.

It's awesome for pinpoint casting.

[NYWayfarer]

I go with short rods 6’6” to 6’8” in my sit inside kayak. I have no issues with fish that swim across the bow. 
 

I chose the shorter length after having to feed my line through the guides after a nasty break off while jig fishing. No fun dipping my reel in the water to reach the top guides. 
 

The shorter rods parked in the yak rod holders are better for fishing areas with low hanging trees.

 

Where the hook keeper is also a minor consideration of mine. I don’t like hook keeper on the split grip rod butt as this interferes with putting baited rods in the rod holders.

[Koz]

37 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

No fun dipping my reel in the water to reach the top guides.

 

That's definitely one of the issues depending upon the size of your kayak. There's also trying to net a fish with a longer rod as well.