St. Croix Victory Spinning 6'10" ML

[UNC1078]

I fished my new Victory spinning rod (6'10") ML for the first time today.  First off, this thing is light. I mean like crazy light. It helps that I paired it with a JDM Shimano Vanquish 2000. The vanquish is 5.1 oz, so the whole combo clocks in at 8.2 oz.  I used the rod for 2 presentations: 1/15 oz ned rig with trd, and (2) drop shot with KVD dreamshot and 3/16 oz cylinder weight.

 

The rod has a soft/spongy tip.  I didn't love the rod for the ned rig - it just felt too disconnected (most rods do with a 1/15 oz weight). I like my Megabass Addermine better for the ned.  Eager to try the NRX+ 821 NRR ned rig rod someday.

 

But I loved the Victory for drop shot.  I had no problem feeling bites, sensitivity was good. Probably not as sensitive as my Addermine or my NRX 852s.  But the tip is perfect for drop shot.  Very soft but then transitions to backbone pretty quickly.  I lost my first fish because my drag was way too loose (I was scared I would break off with 6 lb test).  I tightened my drag and then landed my second bass.  It was around 2 lbs, and fought above its class.  The rod handled the fish well.  It's a lighter weight rod (on the lighter side of medium light), so you definitely enjoy the fight more than usual.  Although I had tightened my drag for this one, the fish still made two or three runs where it was pulling line and the drag clicker was singing.

 

By the way, the Vanquish is insane.  I have a certate lt 2500 , a luvias lt 2000FC, and stradic fl 3000.  The vanquish is the smoothest of the bunch with so little start up inertia.  I put 8 lb Berkley x9 braid (which is fantastic by the way) coupled with 6 lb trilelene sensation as a leader.

 

 

 

[Boomstick]

What do you think about the medium light rating? I recall @J Francho mentioned on one of the zoom calls that he had one and it was a solid medium, which would probably explain how it isn't great with the NED rig.

 

My experience with the Victory rod, the Full Contact Finesse that I got to use has been very good. I would say that the sensitivity is well above its price point no question.

[UNC1078]

I actually think it is on the lighter side of medium light. But that is mostly a seat of my pants determination, and I am far from an expert.  I think the spongy tip is what I didn't like about using it for the ned rig.  But the tip is really great for stationary and slowly dragging a drop shot.  

[S Hovanec]

My 610 mlxf victory feels way less powerful than my mlxf Legend Elites.  I would call it more of a light power.