St Croix 2012 Legend Tournament Bass

[Dwight Hottle]

I picked up a new TBS71MF spinning rod to try out. My reason for picking this particular rod was to use it as a jerk bait rod on lake erie. I have fished with it four or five times bank fishing for bass in florida. It has been a good plastic bait rod. My reason for purchasing the rod was to find out if the K-series guides really do eliminate braid wind knots. I use predominately 10lb braid for smallmouths fishing on lake erie. Thin braid with lots of wind has been a major pain for me. I'm happy to report during my outings so far NO wind knots or guide wraps with this new rod. I would highly recommend the K-series guides to anyone having problems with braid/wind/knots. I matched the rod with a certate 2000 spinning reel. The rod intially felt tip heavy with the balance point right at the hook keeper. The new fuji reel seat felt strange at first but has become comfortable with use. The blank has plenty of power for landing bass in cover & helping to swing them up a graded bank for landing. I'm anxious to try it out on smallies next spring.

[bigfishbk86]

How does this blank compare to the "old" LTB 7' MF? Thanks for the review!

[Dwight Hottle]

How does this blank compare to the "old" LTB 7' MF? Thanks for the review!

Same blank retooled with NSi resin.

[S Hovanec]

I've built a few rods with the K-Frames and they work as advertised. The only problem left is tip-wrap, but I hear there's a matching tip for them on the horizon.

[Hooligan]

Nice pairing, the reel in particular. It's likely one of my very favorite spinning reels of all time, and one of the most rare to find now.

[Dwight Hottle]

Nice pairing, the reel in particular. It's likely one of my very favorite spinning reels of all time, and one of the most rare to find now.

They are great reels & almost bulletproof. I picked up a 2000 & 2500 for $200 each a few year back & can't really see much difference compared to a friend older stella at twice the price.

[Dave T.]

Dwight,

 

I know this is an old thread, but I'm wondering if you can update your experience with this rod. I'm thinking of adding one to my collection.

 

Thanks

[Bluebasser86]

I have a couple of the newest models of LTB rods in spinning and casting. One of the spinning rods I use Nanofil on almost exclusively. While it isn't a braid it will wind knot on other rods, but never has on my LTB rod with the K-frame guides. 

[Got1Fishing]

I purchased this rod recently, and fell in love with it. I bought a LTB Small Cranker, and just casted a couple of times from the bank, I could tell a big difference from my Premier. Love it. i wish I had enough money to buy every single LTB I wanted... broke college kid problems lol

[Bluebasser86]

I purchased this rod recently, and fell in love with it. I bought a LTB Small Cranker, and just casted a couple of times from the bank, I could tell a big difference from my Premier. Love it. i wish I had enough money to buy every single LTB I wanted... broke college kid problems lol

Keep an eye on their bargain room on the St.Croix website. I picked up 2 discontinued LTB rods last winter for $120 apiece. With shipping I paid just over what one of the rods would have cost. 

[Dave T.]

Thanks guys. 

 

I noticed that Dwight mentioned that the rod was a little bit tip heavy, and the new reel seat was a bit uncomfortable at first. What's your take on these points? Not that being a little tip heavy bothers me much. I find that most off the shelf rods are a bit tip heavy, but it's really not noticeable when fishing, but I'm curious on just how tip heavy these rods are. 

 

Thanks again.

[Capt.Bob]

Thanks guys. 

 

I noticed that Dwight mentioned that the rod was a little bit tip heavy, and the new reel seat was a bit uncomfortable at first. What's your take on these points? Not that being a little tip heavy bothers me much. I find that most off the shelf rods are a bit tip heavy, but it's really not noticeable when fishing, but I'm curious on just how tip heavy these rods are. 

 

Thanks again.

I wouldn't let the tip heavy part bother me, but I will say it will be noticeable fishing it. With that said I bought a pair of Extreme's in the bargain room last year and as Bluebasser said 1/2 price actually 2 for less than the price of one delivered!! Even with the REC guides they were both tip heavy, and after a couple outings and the fact I "hated" the half cork two piece handle I had my rod builder take care of both aggravation's. the handle and balance was $50.00 per rod, and custom made the way I wanted it, and still less than 1/2 the price of the new 2013's which are heavier and,,,,,,,,well no cork, to each their own. But for 7 dollars my rod builder will internally balance any rod!! so if it is what you like and you will like the sensitivity and perfect taper of these blanks actions and backbone of the legend blanks,  you can have it comfortably and perfectly balanced where you want it balanced, for your type of fishing for around "7 buck's" by a reputable builder, what is not to like, so there is how you have your cake and eat it too, My extremes are the most sensitive rods I have owned in 58 years of fishing most everything out there,,,,,,,,you will love that LTB I am confident!!! 

There it is my way, perfectly balanced with an open hand right where I hold the rod, by having it balanced by a rod builder you never have a chance of the weight coming loose or seeing it and you have it balanced where you want it, it's your choice!!!

 

Gotta say you can trust Dwight's recommendations, he has fished enough high end tackle to make an educated recommendation,,,,I did and couldn't be happier with the 6'10 MXF or the 7'2 MHM, THANK'S AGAIN DWIGHT!!!! You nailed it and I couldn't be happier!!!

[Dave T.]

Thanks Capt. Bob,

 

Yea, I'm sure the rod will be fine. Being that Dwight has the exact one I want, and he uses it for smallies, I was looking for his input.

 

I already have a 6'6" ML Tournament spin (previous version). I also have a  Custom 6'9" MLXF Extreme spin (my fav  ), and a 7' MF LE spin. I also have a Legend Ultra and an Imperial fly rod. I've never been disappointed in any of my Croix's.

 

As far as balance goes, I've never really checked that close. I use several different reels of varying weights on the spinning rods. So, it might be difficult to perfectly balance an outfit. Plus, with a 3/8 oz or 1/2 lure hanging 12" off the end of a rod, I'm not sure how much the balancing helps. However, there could be more to it than I think? 

[Mitch G.]

Hey Dwight, I have a LTB 70MXF that I use for drip shot and it is excellent rod...Harvey at St. Croix recommended it to me and promised me it would be my new fav rod(I have @ 10 St. Croix Avids and Legend Elites already).....He was right....I cannot wait to hit the fall and start catching some pigs w/ this rod....So far all the 3 pounders felt awesome, I can only imagine the next few weeks of NJ fall fishing coming up how great this rod is going to be....I have it matched up w/ a Quantum Smoke SL25 reel w/ 8 lb Trilene XL and a Flouro leader.....It already has become my new fav....I was throwing a LC Sammy the other day and it cast a MILE!!!!.......Have a great weekend!!!

[Dwight Hottle]

Dwight,

 

I know this is an old thread, but I'm wondering if you can update your experience with this rod. I'm thinking of adding one to my collection.

 

Thanks

 

 

Sorry I just saw this old thread had been updated. My experience with this rod has been limited. It works well for straight braid or mono but I had problems with a back to back uni knot hanging up in the V side supports of the tip top guide.  Consequently I did not give it any boat time fishing for smallies.  

[Dwight Hottle]

Hey Dwight, I have a LTB 70MXF that I use for drip shot and it is excellent rod...Harvey at St. Croix recommended it to me and promised me it would be my new fav rod(I have @ 10 St. Croix Avids and Legend Elites already).....He was right....I cannot wait to hit the fall and start catching some pigs w/ this rod....So far all the 3 pounders felt awesome, I can only imagine the next few weeks of NJ fall fishing coming up how great this rod is going to be....I have it matched up w/ a Quantum Smoke SL25 reel w/ 8 lb Trilene XL and a Flouro leader.....It already has become my new fav....I was throwing a LC Sammy the other day and it cast a MILE!!!!.......Have a great weekend!!!

 

Glad you like it Mitch. Those are great blanks.

[Dwight Hottle]

I wouldn't let the tip heavy part bother me, but I will say it will be noticeable fishing it. With that said I bought a pair of Extreme's in the bargain room last year and as Bluebasser said 1/2 price actually 2 for less than the price of one delivered!! Even with the REC guides they were both tip heavy, and after a couple outings and the fact I "hated" the half cork two piece handle I had my rod builder take care of both aggravation's. the handle and balance was $50.00 per rod, and custom made the way I wanted it, and still less than 1/2 the price of the new 2013's which are heavier and,,,,,,,,well no cork, to each their own. But for 7 dollars my rod builder will internally balance any rod!! so if it is what you like and you will like the sensitivity and perfect taper of these blanks actions and backbone of the legend blanks,  you can have it comfortably and perfectly balanced where you want it balanced, for your type of fishing for around "7 buck's" by a reputable builder, what is not to like, so there is how you have your cake and eat it too, My extremes are the most sensitive rods I have owned in 58 years of fishing most everything out there,,,,,,,,you will love that LTB I am confident!!! 

There it is my way, perfectly balanced with an open hand right where I hold the rod, by having it balanced by a rod builder you never have a chance of the weight coming loose or seeing it and you have it balanced where you want it, it's your choice!!!

 

Gotta say you can trust Dwight's recommendations, he has fished enough high end tackle to make an educated recommendation,,,,I did and couldn't be happier with the 6'10 MXF or the 7'2 MHM, THANK'S AGAIN DWIGHT!!!! You nailed it and I couldn't be happier!!!

 

 

Capt. Bob those are great blanks. I really love that 7'2" MHM.