Shimano crucial vs. st croix avid

[Fish Fast]

Anyone out there use both of these in spinning rod (medium lt. application...7 footers).  If so, can you compare the two?

[BassThumb]

FWIW, I have both Avid and Crucial 7' MHF casting rods.

The Crucial is lighter and a bit faster with a hair more backbone. I use it for Senkos and larger T-Rigs.

The Avid is clearly the more sensitive rod, and has a slightly more parabolic action making it the better choice for reaction lures. This is my heavy spinnerbait rod and it gets a lot of use.

[tracker01]

FWIW, I have both Avid and Crucial 7' MHF casting rods.

The Crucial is lighter and a bit faster with a hair more backbone. I use it for Senkos and larger T-Rigs.

The Avid is clearly the more sensitive rod, and has a slightly more parabolic action making it the better choice for reaction lures. This is my heavy spinnerbait rod and it gets a lot of use.

Do you think that the Avid would be to whipy for bottom bouncing baits? I am thinking about the hook set on a med. light 7 footer. Would there be too much rod bending before you get to the meat of the hook-set? I was close to getting Avid 6'9" mlxf and considered a 7' ml myself but backed off because of the whipyness. I could see these rods for reaction baits (less sensitivity needed), but for bottom bouncing plastics (more sensitivity needed)?

[Lard_Bass]

Ahh, a question I asked about over 2 years ago when I looked at the Avid MF, MLF, and MXF. I ended up with the MF and MXF. The MF amd MLF is too whippy for jigs and plastics so I went with the MXF for that application. Here's the forum that talked about all three rods:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1194961598

FYI, I was quite happy with both MF and MXF rods for the applications listed in that forum. However, my MF recently broke and St. Croix replaced but gave me the chance to upgrade to the Legend Tournament line which I did for both rods.

[BassThumb]

FWIW, I have both Avid and Crucial 7' MHF casting rods.

The Crucial is lighter and a bit faster with a hair more backbone. I use it for Senkos and larger T-Rigs.

The Avid is clearly the more sensitive rod, and has a slightly more parabolic action making it the better choice for reaction lures. This is my heavy spinnerbait rod and it gets a lot of use.

Do you think that the Avid would be to whipy for bottom bouncing baits? I am thinking about the hook set on a med. light 7 footer. Would there be too much rod bending before you get to the meat of the hook-set? I was close to getting Avid 6'9" mlxf and considered a 7' ml myself but backed off because of the whipyness. I could see these rods for reaction baits (less sensitivity needed), but for bottom bouncing plastics (more sensitivity needed)?

No, there's plenty of backbone to deliver a good hookset on smaller, finesse soft plastics, like jigworms, tubes and small Tex rigs. I have the 7' MLF in the Premier series. It's a great multi-purpose rod, a good setup for finesse plastics, 1/8 oz spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, and light crankbaits and stickbaits like the Rapala Floater.

If you're looking to throw 7" worms with 4/0 hooks and jigs with the fiber brushguard, then you're going to want to step it up to a notch or two because this rod will not be powerful enough.

Have you looked into the Avid 7' MHF spinning rod? Thats a killer rod for 3/16 and 1/4 oz Tex rigs, light bass jigs, and Senkos. It has a nice, soft tip to propel the bait but a wicked backbone to cross the fishes eyes on the hookset. It's a very useful multipurpose rod as well, due to the combo of soft tip and stiff backbone. I use it as my primary Senko rod, and it works great for skipping a Senko or finesse jig up under docks.

[Fish Fast]

Sounds like the AS68MXF might be just the rod for me.  Most of my fishing has been with cranks and the AS68MXF should set up as a great rod to learn the finesse/plastics side of fishing that I have SO NEGLECTED TO LEARN!  Gonna have to slow it down and be patient! 

Thanks for the advice and for the link to your old thread, Lard_Bass!  I always feel better spending money on something when I have someone else that can give a good honest review on a product they have used, and not just read about!

[Gone_Phishin]

FWIW, I have both Avid and Crucial 7' MHF casting rods.

The Crucial is lighter and a bit faster with a hair more backbone. I use it for Senkos and larger T-Rigs.

The Avid is clearly the more sensitive rod, and has a slightly more parabolic action making it the better choice for reaction lures. This is my heavy spinnerbait rod and it gets a lot of use.

Do you think that the Avid would be to whipy for bottom bouncing baits? I am thinking about the hook set on a med. light 7 footer. Would there be too much rod bending before you get to the meat of the hook-set? I was close to getting Avid 6'9" mlxf and considered a 7' ml myself but backed off because of the whipyness. I could see these rods for reaction baits (less sensitivity needed), but for bottom bouncing plastics (more sensitivity needed)?

I have a 6'9"MLXF Avid spinning rod, and it works great for bottom contact baits.  In fact, when I am casting very small leadheads for spring walleye, I sometimes find the 6'9" MLXF rods a bit too stout and opt for their 7'MLF sticks.

[Gone_Phishin]

Sounds like the AS68MXF might be just the rod for me. Most of my fishing has been with cranks and the AS68MXF should set up as a great rod to learn the finesse/plastics side of fishing that I have SO NEGLECTED TO LEARN! Gonna have to slow it down and be patient!

Thanks for the advice and for the link to your old thread, Lard_Bass! I always feel better spending money on something when I have someone else that can give a good honest review on a product they have used, and not just read about!

If you frequently fish light-moderate cover, you have the right stick.  If not, and you fish more open water, I think you'll get more finesse out of Croix's MLXF spinning rods, than the MXF's  JMO. 

[bigfruits]

i own an avid 69mlxf. i have the legend elite version of the 68mxf and it is a great stick. for bottom baits id get one of those two. the ml will be a bit more sensitive and great for 1/8oz lead with finesse plastics and thin good quality hooks. the mxf is going to be a better all-around stick for heavier bait (1/4 jigs and t-rigs, 5" senkos) and for fishing moderate cover.

hope this helps you make your decision.

[Fish Fast]

i own an avid 69mlxf. i have the legend elite version of the 68mxf and it is a great stick. for bottom baits id get one of those two. the ml will be a bit more sensitive and great for 1/8oz lead with finesse plastics and thin good quality hooks. the mxf is going to be a better all-around stick for heavier bait (1/4 jigs and t-rigs, 5" senkos) and for fishing moderate cover.

hope this helps you make your decision.

I pretty much have it narrowed down to the two mxf and mlxf.  It's just a tough call because I would like the sensitivity of the mlxf....but what if I wanna use some of the heavier stuff.  I guess the moral of the story is...'you don't know what you don't know!'  What I mean is since I have not finesse fished that much I am not sure when I bass fish what my primary jigs for bottom fishing are gonna weigh??  And what if I wanna walleye fish with it too?  Is the MLXF to whippy...I would think but the guy above states it may even be a little too stiff!?!?!?!?  Decisions, decisions!

[Fish Fast]

Pretty sure im going with the mxf.

[Gone_Phishin]

Pretty sure im going with the mxf.

If possible, and you can wait to save up a bit more dough, the best bet would be to buy both.  That way you'll have both ends of the spectrum covered, and it will definitely add to your confidence on the water.

[Lard_Bass]

Sounds like the AS68MXF might be just the rod for me. Most of my fishing has been with cranks and the AS68MXF should set up as a great rod to learn the finesse/plastics side of fishing that I have SO NEGLECTED TO LEARN! Gonna have to slow it down and be patient!

Thanks for the advice and for the link to your old thread, Lard_Bass! I always feel better spending money on something when I have someone else that can give a good honest review on a product they have used, and not just read about!

Fish Fast, you are welcome.  I think you will be quite happy with the MXF.  I know it's a little more but you may want to look at the Legend Tournament Bass line.  The rods are almost 10% lighter and I like the split cork.  Also, if you get the Avid you can always upgrade from the Avid to another line with St. Croix.  St. Croix will only depreciate the rod $10 per year.  If your rod breaks (normal usage) and St. Croix determines it can be covered by warranty, you can upgrade at original retail price.  This is how I upgraded my Avids (one broke and I decided to upgrade the other).

[bigfruits]

if this is your only spinning rod go for the medium.