St Croix LTB

[PBBrandon]

This morning I got an email that Omnia was having a buy one get one free on St Croix rods. In the couple of hours I was debating which rods to get, a lot of them sold out and luckily I jumped on it in time to grab the 7’3” HXF and 7’2” MHM carbon cranker legend tournament rods. Punchfishing said that the 7’3” HXF Victory is good for Texas rigs in grass. I assume the LTB is very similar. havent heard much on the carbon cranker but I plan on throwing squarebills and medium divers on it, and making my 705cb Fury a dedicated Jerkbait rod.

 

anyone have any experience with the new Legend tournament rods or these 2 models? I can’t wait to get them next week and am curious on y’all’s thoughts on them

[padon]

i have 2 new ltb rods but not those models. a 7ft medium spinning and a 7ft medium heavy casting. nice rods. better balanced than the old ones good sensitivity etc.

[CountryboyinDC]

I don't have a lot of either series - just 1 Victory and 2 LTB.  I was not a fan of the Victory myself (7'1 MH/F casting), probably because I liked the Avid series quite a bit at that price point.  A lot of the contributors on this forum found that the Victory series fish a little lighter than the other St. Croix lines.  The Victory rods are themselves a little lighter in weight than the Avid or LTB series in the same lengths/tapers in general.  So will you probably like the LTBs , especially at the BYGO price point.  But they are a different series, and while I strongly prefer the Avid or LTB series over the Victory, I don't know that you won't.

[Tatulatard]

Can anyone comment on the ripping chatter rod as a chatterbait rod for 1/2 oz baits?  

[waymont]

4 minutes ago, Tatulatard said:

Can anyone comment on the ripping chatter rod as a chatterbait rod for 1/2 oz baits?  

I have one coming in a few days I'll let you know. I felt one in the store last week and it felt amazing, so I jumped on the BYGO deal.

Victory series

[WIGuide]

The carbon cranker I believe is the straight graphite model. I haven't fished that specific LTB model, but they're lighter and thinner than the glass rods with the same type of taper. I do have an older graphite LTB M/M and Premier MH/M cranking rod along with an LTB Glass H/M and can say they've all have a good moderate action. I feel like for the power the graphite rods have a little more power as they load deeper. The 7'3" H/XF will be a good rod around grass. It might be just a tad stiffer than the Victory, but pretty dang close. 

 

On 3/16/2023 at 12:46 PM, Tatulatard said:

Can anyone comment on the ripping chatter rod as a chatterbait rod for 1/2 oz baits?  

The H/M Glass LTB that I have is the rip n chatter and I love it for fishing chatterbaits. I usually have it spooled with fluoro, but I'd probably switch to braid if I wanted to do some serious ripping out of grass. 

[roadwarrior]

On 3/16/2023 at 12:46 PM, Tatulatard said:

Can anyone comment on the ripping chatter rod as a chatterbait rod for 1/2 oz baits?  

You won't find a better rod for twice the price!

 

 

 

                                                     

[waymont]

On 3/16/2023 at 12:46 PM, Tatulatard said:

Can anyone comment on the ripping chatter rod as a chatterbait rod for 1/2 oz baits?  

Ok, got my Victory R&Chatter today.

havent fished it yet, it feels great w 3/8 and 1/2pz chatterbaits. I don’t think it would feel good with heavier baits. I casted this 1/2oz and it feels good. The taper is great. Slightly tip heavy with a Zillion G, but is pretty light in hand.

I think it would make a 2.5 square bill rod too.

[PBBrandon]

Got to try the new sticks out this morning and I have to say I am very impressed. The 7’2” MHM is exactly what I was expecting from St. Croix. Definitely a little whippy but works really well for fishing squarebills and medium divers. 
The 7’3” HXF is my favorite of the two. It’s a wonderful open water/light cover t-rig rod. Sensitivity is on par with my 7’2” MHF Expride B.

The only real concern I had with these was the fact that St. Croix rods, especially the LTB line, are really tip heavy. I found that on the water, it doesn’t end up being a big deal to me. I had a 6.5oz Curado 150 MGL on the cranking rod and a 6.2oz JDM Zillion SV on the t-rig rod and they felt fine. The latter was a bit more tip heavy but I bet a ~7oz reel would negate that issue. 
Overall I’m super happy I got these, especially for buy one get one free. Made in the USA, very good warranty, and very good rods for the money, I think St. Croix has earned my future business with these bad boys.

I forgot to mention they are gorgeous in the sunlight

[msgf91]

I have a 7'4 Frog and slosh LTB and it is a little tip heavy with a Bantam.  I got 2 St. Croix rods recently and really like them.  Planning to get more 

[GReb]

St croix makes a beautiful rod but I’ve sold all 4 or 5 I’ve owned. I have found other rods that fit me better for the price. But I always want to try more just because of their fit and finish.