The St. Croix name is synonymous with quality rods. They have earned their top reputation by crafting many of their excellent rods in Park Falls, Wisconsin. They are trusted by everything from ice fishermen to walleye and muskie anglers and more. They have a line of rods for any species you can think of and have rods to match just about every budget.
Their stellar lineup of rods also includes many options for bass fishermen. They added several more at this year's ICAST, including the new and improved Legend Tournament Bass series, X-Trek combos, and a very unique new rod handle. For the serious panfish and walleye angler, the Avid Panfish and Walleye are a must-see.
Here's a rundown of what's new with St. Croix Rods.
New St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Series
Included in the new lineup are 19 technique-specific casting models and eight spinning rods for 27 total new rods. In this bunch are three new swimbait models that have a unique GRASP reel seat designed for better control when fishing and fighting big fish.
The three new swimbait rods include a 7-foot, 10-inch heavy that can handle ¾ to 3-ounce lures. The next is a 7-foot, 10-inch extra-heavy power rated for 2 to 5-ounce baits. The largest is an 8-foot, 6-inch extra-extra-heavy power built for lures between 4 and 8 ounces. These three new rods will fit the most popular big baits on the market.
These revamped Legend Tournament Bass rods have a new SCIV+ carbon rod blank as well as the iACT Glass for a handful of reaction bait rods. They have changed the look with new cosmetics and the best rod technologies St. Croix offers. They have a 15-year warranty and retail between $290-$395, depending on the model.
GRASP Reel Seat
One of the most talked about new items at ICAST was the unique handle on the St. Croix rods. It gives a new meaning to "pistol grip," and it's a St. Croix exclusive. While it may look unusual or unnecessary, it has a solid feel and makes sense for throwing big baits and maybe even deep cranking.
The design is patent pending for St. Croix and provides excellent ergonomics and control. It's also available on their pike and muskie rod models and was built for better control during casting and retrieving heavy baits. It also helps tremendously when fighting big fish. It's said to reduce the wrist fatigue that happens, which we all know can happen when fishing with heavy lures all day and fighting powerful fish. In your hand, it also has a soft feel that they call the SoftTouch coating.
It was meticulously designed to stay tacky with excellent grip, even when wet. It's a unique design with plenty of thought put into it and if it's a success, other rod makers are sure to follow.
X-Trek Freshwater Combos
The X-Trek, pronounced "cross-trek," are combos or "fishing systems," as St. Croix calls them. There are four different models that are lightweight and balanced perfectly with the reels. The reels are smooth and strong and round out the quality combo. The rods have a five-year warranty and the warranty on the reel is one year. They retail between $175 and $190, depending on the model.
The four combos include a 6-foot, 6-inch medium-light power, fast action spinning rod with a 2000-sized reel, and a 6-foot, 6-inch medium with the same specifications. These two are two pieces. There is also a 7-foot medium with a 2500-reel two-piece and a 7-foot medium in a one-piece design. These four cover the needs of just about every technique that bass anglers fish with spinning gear.
Avid Panfish and Walleye
The Avid name is a staple in the St. Croix lineup and the new version is a line of rods designed for panfish. They are high-end rods designed to catch your favorite panfish species from bluegill to crappie and they retail between $200 and $250. There is also a revamped Avid Walleye series with new blanks designed for popular walleye techniques.
The blanks feature the lightweight SCIII+ carbon and have a host of different St. Croix technologies like IPC, ART, TET, and FRS. Their techy names, but in real-world terms, they make them exceptionally light, strong, and sensitive. These are the ultimate rods for the panfish and walleye angler that wants the best quality they can find. They have a 15-year warranty and come in nine different lengths and actions in the panfish line and 17 for the walleye rods.
St. Croix continues to innovate with quality rods that are built for the serious angler. They have a rod for everyone, no matter what species you like to target and will continue to add more rods every year.
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