St Croix premier split grip, Cabela's

[Jer1983]

Hi I'm wondering what anybody knows about these rods? I was looking at St Croix rods, the premiere is about the range I want to be in. However the split grip model from Cabela's and Bass pro shops is only a couple dollars more and has a nicer look to it. However I've invested in a rod model from Cabela's before and ended up burned when they shortly discontinued them. I also can't seem to find a lot of I also can't seem to find a lot of info on the St Croix premiere either and the stock is spotty. I know it's a somewhat older rod I'm wondering if they are going to get replaced with a newer version? I want to buy four rods but not necessarily all at once and it is nice to know that you can replace one of something happens, yes it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when all of my s*** matches

[FishTank]

I have one of these that I bought at their Spring Sale.  I got the 7' Heavy and its a beast of a rod.  Well made but not very sensitive and somewhat heavy.   I use it as a general purpose kayak rod for bigger stuff.  

 

My thoughts on getting four of these.....  they are an exclusive rod which generally means exactly that.  You get it at a select store, they make a limited run, and when they're gone they're gone.  St. Croix would probably replace it with the regular full grip if you needed to warranty the rod.  Since you are buying them one at a time, I would go with Avid instead.  Much better rod.  

[Crankin4Bass]

I think they have had that model at Cabela's for around 3 years now. Sorry I don't know about when or if they are going to replace it. I bought a 6' M spinning rod for kayak fishing. It looked great and build quality was really good for the price. Like most St. Croix rods, it was a little stronger than other companies medium power rods and tip heavy. I really don't like tip heavy rods so I returned it.

[GreenPig]

I fish two of 7' Med Premier Spinning rods and have no complaints.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

They arent the best rods out there especially for what they charge for them now.  My biggest issue is that SC just took a full handle premier and slapped a split grip on it which makes the rods really tip heavy.  The 13 Omen Blacks are lighter, more sensitive and the Phenix Feather will blow the Premier away.

[S Hovanec]

I don't know why they charge more for the split grip model when less cork is used.  Are there some other better components on it that make up the difference in price?

[Spankey]

I fish the full cork Premieres and Avids. I’ve touched the Split Grip Exclusives at Cabelas. But never walked out with one. 
They have a great warranty. BPS and Cabelas most likely take back anything. Try one if you like it. No Premiere or Avid I have is tip heavy. 

[Bankbeater]

I bought a full cork premier last year.  I looked at the split grip and the full cork, and to me they both felt the same.  I ended up saving some $$$ and going with the full cork model.

[Jer1983]

2 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

They arent the best rods out there especially for what they charge for them now.  My biggest issue is that SC just took a full handle premier and slapped a split grip on it which makes the rods really tip heavy.  The 13 Omen Blacks are lighter, more sensitive and the Phenix Feather will blow the Premier away.

Interesting, who is this Phenix brand? I looked up some reviews but most seem to be from 2018, are the 13 fishing a safer bet?

[GetFishorDieTryin]

13 is a good company, but Phenix is a great one.  I don't think Phenix has a rod line that isn't one of the best at its particular price point.  Phenix rods are also built in the US.  13 is a younger company and it shows a little bit.  The 13s are good rods they just arent as refined.

 

7 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

I don't know why they charge more for the split grip model when less cork is used.  Are there some other better components on it that make up the difference in price?

Nope, just the good ole 10% Johnny Morris mark up.  In fact the black hoods they use on the split grip are cheaper then the frosted hoods on the standard premier. 

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Phenix rods are also built in the US. 

 

Sure about that?   This was from 2008.    jj

 

A message from one of the Phenix guys off another site earlier this year...

Hi Everybody,

I am pleased to see there is some discussion about Phenix rods again. We just came back from the Fred Hall show and it was a tremendous experience. The reception to our new product line for both freshwater and saltwater was great.

I wanted to clarify a few things about our rod materials, where they are made, etc. The raw material for our rod blanks comes from Toray. That was essential for us. We wanted our line to be made of only the highest quality material. It is a carbon fiber and graphite weave which makes our blanks both light and strong.

Our blanks are not made in Japan. They are not made in the US. They are MIC (Made in China). In fact, the reason why we chose our Chinese partner is the fact that they use Toray materials. Most rod manufacturers use Chinese graphite which we feel is an inferior product. As much as I would have loved our blanks to be made in Japan, it is not financially feasible for us to do so at the price point that we want to offer the consumer. I believe having our blanks made in China does not diminish the quality of the product. In fact our Chinese partner OEM's a lot of rods and blanks for very high quality, well-known manufacturers.

Sorry, if myself or any of the partners caused any confusion at the Fred Hall Show. We wanted to highlight the fact that our blanks use material from Toray. I do believe that is a selling point. We do not want to mislead anybody into thinking that our blanks are spun in Japan.

[Jer1983]

10 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

Sure about that?   This was from 2008.    jj

 

A message from one of the Phenix guys off another site earlier this year...

Hi Everybody,

I am pleased to see there is some discussion about Phenix rods again. We just came back from the Fred Hall show and it was a tremendous experience. The reception to our new product line for both freshwater and saltwater was great.

I wanted to clarify a few things about our rod materials, where they are made, etc. The raw material for our rod blanks comes from Toray. That was essential for us. We wanted our line to be made of only the highest quality material. It is a carbon fiber and graphite weave which makes our blanks both light and strong.

Our blanks are not made in Japan. They are not made in the US. They are MIC (Made in China). In fact, the reason why we chose our Chinese partner is the fact that they use Toray materials. Most rod manufacturers use Chinese graphite which we feel is an inferior product. As much as I would have loved our blanks to be made in Japan, it is not financially feasible for us to do so at the price point that we want to offer the consumer. I believe having our blanks made in China does not diminish the quality of the product. In fact our Chinese partner OEM's a lot of rods and blanks for very high quality, well-known manufacturers.

Sorry, if myself or any of the partners caused any confusion at the Fred Hall Show. We wanted to highlight the fact that our blanks use material from Toray. I do believe that is a selling point. We do not want to mislead anybody into thinking that our blanks are spun in Japan.

So idk why this would be a problem. Likely the blank is made overseas. A lot of things are like this and simply the better product is from another country. That's how they started Yeti. It would be nice to hear that they are assembled here however. I'm really digging this brand

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

12 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

Sure about that?   This was from 2008.    jj

 

A message from one of the Phenix guys off another site earlier this year...

Hi Everybody,

I am pleased to see there is some discussion about Phenix rods again. We just came back from the Fred Hall show and it was a tremendous experience. The reception to our new product line for both freshwater and saltwater was great.

I wanted to clarify a few things about our rod materials, where they are made, etc. The raw material for our rod blanks comes from Toray. That was essential for us. We wanted our line to be made of only the highest quality material. It is a carbon fiber and graphite weave which makes our blanks both light and strong.

Our blanks are not made in Japan. They are not made in the US. They are MIC (Made in China). In fact, the reason why we chose our Chinese partner is the fact that they use Toray materials. Most rod manufacturers use Chinese graphite which we feel is an inferior product. As much as I would have loved our blanks to be made in Japan, it is not financially feasible for us to do so at the price point that we want to offer the consumer. I believe having our blanks made in China does not diminish the quality of the product. In fact our Chinese partner OEM's a lot of rods and blanks for very high quality, well-known manufacturers.

Sorry, if myself or any of the partners caused any confusion at the Fred Hall Show. We wanted to highlight the fact that our blanks use material from Toray. I do believe that is a selling point. We do not want to mislead anybody into thinking that our blanks are spun in Japan.

Yes I am sure about that.  The blanks aren't spun here, but rods are built here in the U.S. by people who know how to build them.  Thats why the fit and finish on them is so good.

[djhands]

i have a Phenix M1 and the new Maxim both are amazing rods and light

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Yes I am sure about that.  The blanks aren't spun here, but rods are built here in the U.S. by people who know how to build them.  Thats why the fit and finish on them is so good.

 

I see. I was equating "Made in America" with the blanks being made here, like St. Croix. I suppose with the complicated trail of parts and materials that we have today, "Made in America" and "Assembled in America" are really about the same thing.

   I'm too old.  Too many things have changed for me to keep up.   ??         jj

[S Hovanec]

18 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

I see. I was equating "Made in America" with the blanks being made here, like St. Croix.

 

Remember, "made in America" doesn't mean USA.  St Croix used to put that on the rods made in their Mexico facility.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

I see. I was equating "Made in America" with the blanks being made here, like St. Croix. I suppose with the complicated trail of parts and materials that we have today, "Made in America" and "Assembled in America" are really about the same thing.

   I'm too old.  Too many things have changed for me to keep up.   ??         jj

I know what you mean.  Phenix uses the build as a selling point, but they try to say they're 100% US built.  Most of their blanks are custom made for Phenix so they aren't clone blanks like some other companies.  You can actually the blanks through Phenix for custom builds which a lot of people do.  

Unfortunately the cost of US sourced materials and labor is considerably higher.  A $200 rod made in china can be equal to a $350 U.S. made rod in some cases.  You gotta give credit to SC for finding a way to put a rod like the Victory on the market at its price point, I'm really happy to see that.  

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

I'm too old.  Too many things have changed for me to keep up.   ??  

 

   I got to thinking about this a bit.

   There was an old cowboy movie. I can't be sure who the star was, but it might have been Randolph Scott. Anyway, the bad guy asks something like, "Why you here? You wanna be a hero?". The good guy replies, "All my heroes are dead."

 

   I understand.               jj

[JS8588]

I have yet to purchase a Phenix, but I've emailed them twice with product questions & heard back both times within 48 hours. 

 

They will be getting my business in the future.

 

I have 4 St. Croix's. I will also be buying more of those.

 

Variety is the spice, etc...