Rod for a Stradic?

[nboucher]

Upgraded my spinning reel to a Stradic 2500 for my birthday, and now I'm wondering what rod to match it with. I'm thinking a St. Croix Avid AS70MF.

Opinions? Alternatives?

Thanks,

Norman

[roadwarrior]

I think you will like that rod, a lot!

[RiskKid.]

Norm,

I agree with roadwarrior. I have an AVID baitcaster and love it.

Here is an alternative. I have one of these 6'6" with my stradic and really love it. This would be a bit more than the avid but this ebay seller is selling these about $100 under list. I have bought one from him with no problems. It was shipped in a heavy cardboard tube just like it came from any of the major retailers (it actually seemed like it was in St Croix packaging).

http://cgi.ebay.com/St-Croix-Legend-Elite-ES70MF-Spinning-Rod-NEW_W0QQitemZ190045073674QQihZ009QQcategoryZ23819QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190045073674

Either way we're gonna reel em in on the Fork!

Happy shopping!

Carl

[Chris at Tech]

What sort of applications are you anticipating with this rig?

[nboucher]

Thanks, all. I was also considering the G Loomis IMX rod, but it's a bit more than I want to pay at the moment.

Carl, that is a sweet price for that rod. I actually got the Stradic new on e-bay for $95, so I was browsing there a bit the other day. I'm probably going to mull this one over until the holidays come. I've also got my Red Sox season tickets to pay for next month.   The Fork trip is what inspired the Stradic purchase; I need to hold my own on that boat!

Chris, I'll use this rod for soft plastics mostly and some crankbaits and finesse jigs. Because I fish out of a kayak, I never take more than two rods with me, so I need to be a generalist with them.

I know this has been discussed to death on these forums, but I still find myself wondering whether a Legend Elite or a Loomis GLX would be wasted on someone like me. I'm an average angler who's still learning tons whenever he goes out, but I'm not sure I'd feel the difference between fishing with an Avid or a GLX. I'm not sure I'm that good. Plus, when I go out with LBH and see his success with a Pfleuger President on an inexpensive rod, I wonder how much the gear has to do with it. It's like those weekend cyclists you see with the bright biking clothes and the thousand-dollar bikes. I don't want to be impersonating fishing's equivalent of Lance Armstrong, when I'm really just a guy on a bike . . .  

[Al Wolbach]

MHO, buy the best you can afford and never wonder what might have been............Al

[RiskKid.]

Carl, that is a sweet price for that rod. I actually got the Stradic new on e-bay for $95, so I was browsing there a bit the other day. I'm probably going to mull this one over until the holidays come. I've also got my Red Sox season tickets to pay for next month. The Fork trip is what inspired the Stradic purchase; I need to hold my own on that boat!

Forget the Red Sox tickets.....I'll have made you a Yankee fan after the Fork trip anyway    That way you can get a GLX and a Legend Elite....no way either one of us will do as well as LBH but we can look cooler with our new fishin bling  ;D ;D

[HomersTomaco]

I was going to help until you said you were a red sox fan

[nboucher]

I was going to help until you said you were a red sox fan

After all, Ted Williams is in the Fishing Hall of Fame.  

[FishTank]

I had a St. Croix Avid casting rod and did not care for it pesonally.  I ended up returning it for a Loomis but oddly enough I bought a spinning version of the Avid and I love it.  The comfort, feel, and sensitivity are all top notch.  I would it would be a nice choice for your Stradic.

[erice97699]

After all, Ted Williams is in the Fishing Hall of Fame.

Did the taxidermist use a full mount or just mount the head on a board.... lol

Eric

[BassnJoe]

No, man...didn't you hear?  He was cryogenically frozen!  

[New Bass Man]

I have my Stradic 2500 mounted on a 7' G Loomis IMX rod.  It's sweet!

[Hot n Tot]

You will love the Avid rod, they seem to be more powerful than the Loomis rods as far as the 'medium' or 'medium heavy' terms. A St. Croix Avid rod rated Med power would have approximately the same line size and lure weight recommendations as a MH Loomis IMX rod. I think there are better choices for crankbaits, but not for soft plastics and jigs. I really like both manufacturers rods, but you gotta determine what the applications will be, the St. Croix Avid will have a very fast action which I wouldn't like for crankbaits, although I've had success fishing minnow baits such as Rapalas with them...go figure. If you are a two rod man, purchase a similar rod with a moderate action and those two would cover most everything you want to do. I still think you need a casting setup for frogging and spinnerbaiting, so about that third rod.............. ;D

[nboucher]

riskkid talked me into the St. Croix Legend Elite, which is on e-Bay for almost $100 off list price. So I've got an ES70MF on the way.

Hot n Tot, you're right about the baitcasting rod. My next purchase will probably be a Loomis IMX, unless I find a GLX on e-Bay for an IMX price. I'll put my Citica on that, unless I decide the family can go without food for a while, in which case I'll of course HAVE to get a Curado 100 for it.

Man, this time of year, when I'm not fishing as much, kills me. I start spending . . .

[roadwarrior]

I have that rod!

The ES70MF is my main rod for soft plastics and light/ medium weight jigs. I think you will be quite pleased.

[nboucher]

Great recommendation, RW. Now all I need is a Stella, and we'll be twins. Oh, then there's that skill part . . . I've got a ways to go there.  ;D

[Hot n Tot]

Legend Elites are truly great rods for that price. I have several and prefer them to the Loomis IMX. I'm sure you will be very pleased with it.

[erice97699]

I have one of my 2500 stradics on a 783 6.6 g loomis gl2

and one on a 783 imx.

My 2500 stella is on a glx 721 and that casts like a rocket.  

All three rods work super and I love them all.

Eric