Rod Review: St. Croix Premier Spinning Rod (6' light power fast action)
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- This is a review of St. Croix's Premier Spinning Rod, specifically the 6' light power, fast action, version. The video covers both the positives and negatives we have experienced using the rod. The positives are that it is light weight, good looking, made in the USA, and has solid casting distance. The negatives are the price, the skinny handle grip, fast action, and the fact that it's fragile.
Nice review! This has been my trout rod for about 3 years now and it hasn't broke yet thankfully. I love it's light weight and sensitivity.
They are super light!
Just spent 5 days fishing from shore with the 6’6” version,,,
This video is 100% wrong, great rod caught pike, bass, pan fish, no issues , spent hours a day fishing
Buy this rod, this reviewer is wrong
Glad you liked it and worked well for you, Ron.
Team Cramer Fishing
I actually have the Primer , heavy and medium action rods too.
I find them to be a sweet spot.
The heavy can handle 60 in class musky ( bait broke at the boat)
And the medium is great for bass , even worked well on a 30’ hybrid musky. Good luck to you
@@ronritter4813 Yeah, I would certainly consider the bigger Premier for Musky fishing. I think Musky and Walleye are St. Croix's strongest niches. I'm just starting to legitimately target Musky for the first time this fall, and I am considering a St. Croix. For smaller fish from shore I really prefer a more moderate action in the rod, though. And last time I checked St. Croix didn't have much selection in that regard (at least not in 6' light). Flinging small lures and baits from shore it really helps to be able to get some whip in the rod, and it's more fun fighting them when the rod has a smooth bend to it, IMO. If I was fishing from a boat, and say, jigging with a fast action light Premiere, it would probably be fine (and possibly preferable because it would be more sensitive) but I don't think St. Croix is thinking about the shore fisherman with the design of these light rods.
Team Cramer Fishing
I’d agree that for them, shore fishing is not a major market.
I think your biggest issue musky fishing from shore, may be covering enough area, ( not covering enough water) suppose you could put on a big sucker / bobber and have it swim around.
Good
@@ronritter4813 I just got a kayak, so, while it will be challenging I can at least get out on the water and give it a try :)
I actually use that same ST.Croix. i love mine. The 6ft has amazing feel and excellent action. Ive had mine for 3 years with zero hiccups or broken tips. It bangs around in my truck for 3 seasons a year
Thanks for sharing, shockey49. I have this love/hate relationship with St. Croix. I want to love them, but their rods a fairly specialized whereas I like multi-purpose, multi-species rods. Also, I'm usually fishing from the bank and I feel like their rods are mostly designed for boat fishing. They are pretty expensive, too. I have decided to try one of their 8'6" Triumphs for bigger fish next year. We'll see how it goes.
Did have you see the model 6'6''? Is the action the same?
yes almost of their rods are expensive and fragile, most of the reviews break the tip of it, while you can buy any rods half the price of it that could lay twice as big as those st. croix could and multispecies rod.
In my experience, St. Croix's version of fast isn't very fast. I grew up fishing true fast action ultralight rods (yep, that's a thing), mostly made by Falcon back when they were US based. I find St. Croix's to be comparatively noodlish.
That's interesting, JC. I will say that most of my other lighter rods are very noodlish, which is how I prefer them, so it's totally possible that this one isn't any faster than what one might find in some other rods, and maybe even more noodlish by comparison. But compared to the Fenwick light HMX and Eagle, and light Ugly Stix gx2, the St. Croix Premier is faster than those at least.
Have you found a light action rod that you like more than the ugly stick gx2 light? I have the gx2 6’ light and was wondering if you’ve found something with a little better sensitivity. Also what size reel are you putting on the Ugly stick gx2? I was thinking of moving up from the sienna 1000 to a nicer 2000 or 2500 series reel that I could put 20lb braid on to increase the sensitivity but not have as bad of issues with wind knots that I did with the 10lb. Thanks as always for the great reviews
For better sensitivity, I like the Daiwa Presso or the Fenwick HMX. For a better reel, Daiwa's new "LT" style reels in the 2500 size are really nice. I'm currently testing an Emcast baitfeeder of that style, but the Legalis or the Excellor are regular 2500 reels that are both lightweight and pretty tough. I think the Legalis is $50 to $60 on Amazon and the Excellor is a little more but has a screw-in handle, which I like better. I've only tested them out in the store, but they are very similar to the Emcast baitfeeder (or, bite and run as Daiwa calls them) that I'm using right now and I really like it so far.
The other main reels you see me use are Penns. At a 2500 size they are pretty heavy for a light rod IMO, but they basically bullet proof. The Fierce II (the think they have a fierce 3 out now) can be found at a reasonable price. The Penn Battle 2 that I have in a 1000 size is more like $90. At the small size the weight isn't a problem but at a 2500 size, it might be a little heavy for a light set-up compared to the Daiwas which are very light at that size.
Ugly sticks are great.. for beginner fisherman but I'll never go back after using St Croix Rods. For one- the ugly stik has terrible balance- the handles have way too much weight and I've never been able to get nearly the distance out of them with small lures. I don't know maybe it's just the blank that isn't so responsive or maybe it's that soft tip that absorbs all the spring when casting. Love st croix rods- i'll never go back- but I agree $140 for rod hurts. I've not had one of my St Croix break and i've been using a few for a couple years now. I'm hoping that doesn't happen but a lot of times a rod breaks because people aren't using them properly.
Thanks for sharing.
@@teamcramerfishing8441 After another year, I've determined that the Ugly Stik is terrible for anyone, even beginners. So many better options for the price and even for less.
Every review is opinion and nothing more. I like opinions on things I haven’t experienced myself.
I like the positive opinions on the Gx2 ugly sticks. I have the old original ugly sticks and they are a good dead stick rod but like holding a baseball bat to hold on to. Compared to the graphite rods.
I’ll have to check out the new uglies. They are favorable priced for me.
Thanks for sharing.
Still use my Ugly Stick from 1985.
To me fit and finish matter , I don't own a St Croix but I bought an ugly gx2 at Wally world and returned it a day later as the sloppy details began to become very noticeable. I would absolutely buy a St Croix and likely will in the future . I know most people don't care what their pole looks like and that's ok too but for me if I'm going to spend money I want it to be obvious that the people who made the rid actually care about their craft and with the ugly stick there were so many poor finish details that just annoyed me. I went and picked up a favorite white bird 6'8" light spinning rod and white it's not impeccable it's far higher quality all around than the ugly.
The finish is great on these.
I m also in search for the best and affordable spinning rod for bass. I own the Ugly Stik GX2 6 footer medium, the Ugly Stik Elite and a Fenwick HMG. Time and time again I find myself reaching for the GX2. Those other fancier rods are nice but they feel fragile and Im always concerned about breaking the tips (which I have done more than once). Anyway, have you found anything that beats the Ugly Stiks?
I totally agree 💯 I have rods that are nicer than my gx2, but they can't handle bigger fish like the gx2. I have a video of my daughter catching a 7lb Catfish with a 9ft gx2 and a shimano sienna reel. At no point in fighting that fish was I worrying about breaking the rod. If it can handle a shark it can definitely handle carp, catfish, bass, and trout in the lakes we fish😂🤘🏽🔥
What an amazing honest review you did an awesome job I hadn't seen a video from start to finish in a while I did it today thank you
Thanks, Elstan. As you know from personal experience, these reviews can be tricky to do. I try my best to cover all the bases as well as I can, though.
Hi from italy! Good video! Can you control with sensitivity for example yo zuri pins minnows 4 grams with this Rod?
It's a pretty sensitive rod. I think it would do fine with 4 grams.
Really want a one of these rods or maybe the bass x. I broke my gxt but i think it was stepped on. Also have the fendwick eagle. Broke the tip off that but fixed it and didn't have to cut. But id like to get a new combo. Use to lime uglysticks but i want more of a respectable rod
Bass X would probably be a pretty sweet rod.
I've fished these, uglies and Kastkings. The St Croix is head and shoulders better. Granted, I fish from a boat for trout and LM bass. I would never lift a fish on this rod (but then I think fish are better handled from the net). You can break most rods with poor techniques - but I don't know how you break and ugly stick - they are are beasts. But the finesse of these rods (6-0"' 6"- 6" and 7--0") makes them a joy to use. I have used then them to spin, bait fish, sliding floats and finesse rigs for bass. Sheer pleasure. Pay the money and respect the tool.
I have the opposite problem. I have 3 St. Croix from different product lines. In my experience St. Croix SAYS fast, but it's almost always a moderate action OR it's fast action (bend closer to tip) but the tip is suuuuper soft.
I fish a lot of spring creeks for smallmouth and big redeye. I've had a really hard time finding ultralight or light rods currently in production from any company that are truly stiff but throw a 1/32oz jig a good way and have the sensitivity to detect a smallmouth sipping it off the bottom. Falcon HD in ultralight was amazing, but they don't make that rod anymore.
I have a st croix bass x rod 6'10 med lite. i catch 12 lb carp all the time and its holding pretty well, i love it.
Have you tried the Fennwick HMX? I have the 6'6" Light/Moderate-Fast and have been really impressed with it. The split grip is the most comfortable split grip I have ever used, the entire cork bottom part of the grip screws up to seat the reel and none of the threads are exposed so you never feel the reel seats and threads digging into your hands while holding the rod. It is really light weight like the St Croix and balances perfectly with a 1000 series reel. I have the St Croix Premiere split grip from Bass Pro too and I think the Fennwick is a much better rod. It seems like it might be a little fragile like the St Croix, but I have been using it for 4 years now putting it in the bed of my truck and and fishing it 20-30 times a year and haven't so much as bent a line guide so I think a lot of the percieved fragility is due to how light the rods feels in hand. Side by side I much prefer the Fennwick and at $99 it is a much better value than the St Croix too.
Great review my friend..I've had a St. Croix rod in my hands before when I helped Luke with the catfish rod review..It was a bigger catfish rod..It was one heck of a rod...Too rich for my blood but a great rod...
They aren't cheap, that's for sure. I was glad I got to use one for awhile at least, and I might still try them again in the future if I win the lottery :)
I have a 6' medium for bassin' and it's great. Use it for senkos and 1/4 oz jigging and it's just the best I've ever used. Incredible light. Paired with an Abu Garcia Revo X and it casts a mile.
They are crazy light.
Been using mine for pier and surf fishing absolutely amazing rod all my other rods have been left untuched ive been looking for a high quality multi purpose rod for a while
Hi. Can you do a review on the St. Croix Triumph Spinning rod? It would really be appreciated.
Sorry I just noticed this comment. I'll put the Triumph on my list. I've been eyeing their travel rod for a while.
I think I'm going to try one of their big 8'6" Triumph casting rods next year. I'll let you know how it goes.
I was about to buy the rod until now.
I just share my experience and preference. There are lots of people who love these rods. Generally speaking, for the ultra-light through medium-light power rods, I think you get more for your money with Diawa Presso or Fenwick HMX. They are still fragile rods, but the components are better and I like the hand grip better on those two. I also like the bend of the rods more because they aren't as fast as the St. Croix. I prefer more of an even bend throughout the rod.
I swear every time I research one of these medium fast action St Croix rods someone is saying that the tip breaks. I know they have a warranty, but I've heard that St Croix skimped out on the cross section of the blank to keep the cost down or something like that. I was thinking about buying one, but I'm going to pass after hearing so many people saying that they break easily. I'll have to check out your Fenwick review
In St. Croix's defense, I think the Fenwicks and Daiwa's in the same length/weight break just as easily. There is a real trade-off in my experience between sensitivity and durability with all rods. What does come into play, though, is the price. It costs less money to break a Fenwick Eagle or HMX than it does a St. Croix.
I agree they are fragile if you don’t take care of if correctly. I’ll take a St.Croix over a ugly stick all day long. The sensitivity in the Saint Croix is by far superior. I own that rod & a Avid. Love them both
The sensitivity and weight of the rod is great.
Sorry dude I can't watch a video because I'm a straight Fenwick man probably good rod st. Croix but I'm Fenwick have a good day
I have Fenwick review, too :)
That is so true, " different companies rate their rods differently" even if the power of the rod is the same for each company, you can feel the differences in each by the back bone and action of the rod itself. You hit the nail on the head!
Thanks, LGFSF. A good example is I started testing a Fenwick Eagle light power a few months ago and it had so little backbone that it was more like an ultra light, which was tons of fun to catch fish on, but it made it difficult to tell the difference between a snag and a bite under the water. So I got the medium light version and it was the perfect balance and more like other companies' light power. Never know until you try them out!
So true, I just wish they all had a singular standard for rod power, action and back bone instead of us having to waste money trying to figure out which we like best. That would be a miracle. That's fishing for ya, not only are we trying to catch fish but we gotta fish for the rod we like too. Who said this sport was easy! lol
Well said, my friend.
the bigger problem is US rod manufacturers don't state fish species or technique the rod is meant for outside of bass casting rods. Take the St. Croix Premier its really an ultralight bass spinning rod as compared to the panfish series and trout series, when you consider the action and power of all three being labeled the same they feel different. So it isn't so much standardize the ratings of power, so much as it is advertise what technique it is meant for or what species, action should be standardized better though. no matter what you do an ultralight bass rod will be stiffer than an ultralight trout rod or panfish rod.
True the Croix is a species specific rod. They never advertise multi beater. They are more refined for a reason. I own both, enjoy both. Not sure what you might run into take the ugly. Targeting rainbow pull out the Croix. If you’re only going to buy 1 rod buy a 7 foot medium heavy.
Thanks for the feedback, Muddyh202.
Salve che casting ha la canna?? Sono sottostimate in potenza? Vorrei prendere la premiere 6,6 da 1/2oz per trota me la consiglia??? Grazie
The light version is rated 1/16 to 5/16oz, so 1/2oz is probably too heavy for the light model.
Very Happy with mine. Have the same exact one. Caught a 5+lb bass last month from the bank. Awesome fight. Was worried the rod might break but it held on masterfully. My favorite rod so far.
Thanks for sharing.
My ugly stick and Johnny Moris is over 25yrs old and still going strong like day one
They last a long time. Hard to beat for durability.
What's your top recommend for premium ultral light one pice spinning rod with fast action for trout fishing on a creek under 150 dollars. I tried out st croix 6ft4 trout editions but did not like the feel of the hand like you mentioned on the video, it's a small hand with cheap feel. Thank you
I haven't tried every rod out there, but my favorite is the 6'6" Diawa Presso ultra light. I review it here ua-cam.com/video/bdOidw0XrMo/v-deo.html I also like the Fenwick HMX. If you like fast action, the Fenwick might be more what you're looking for. The Presso is more moderate action, which I like for trout because it's more forgiving when using light line.
I use the Daiwa Presso for trout fishing. My daughter has a okuma sst that is nicer IMO. You can get both of these rods for under $150
Try the bass pro panfish elite.. amazing rod for 80 bucks
good info.....seems like you can't beat the ugly sticks for the price
This Fenwick Eagle ML I'm using is giving it a run for its money right now. Only question is how it does on big fish (if I could only find some big fish:)
Thanks for your review, and coming to Manitoba my first rod was an Ugly Stik GX2. Found out that it was slow on the hookset. Too limber tip, and no control so I gave them away. I gravitated to G Loomis E6X Walleye Universal 7"6". That set the bar of my multi-species bank fishing. Fast on hookset, but has a forgiving arc, I got two of them. Now am waiting for Spring, with a new St Croix Legend Elite Tournament. 7"6 ML, of almost same specs as the E6X. Time will tell though. Tight lines then...
Thanks for the comment, Noel. I'll probably give some different rods a try soon. The GX2 does have a slow hookset. I like to have my everyday multi-species rod be about 6' though because I'm usually fishing from the bank, under trees, etc. and it's traveling in and out of the house and car a lot. I've been using a Fenwick Eagle medium-light lately and for a $50 rod it has better sensitivity and a quicker hookest than the GX2, but it's more fragile. It's pretty nice to have a couple rods around that nearly indestructible, don't cost a lot of money, and can be used for just about everything if you need to.
@@teamcramerfishing8441 Thanks for the reply, and indeed, as the saying goes "you cannot enough of them rods..". That goes to say too that you cannot just throw these delicate and (expensive) rods down on the ground unlike these Ugly Stiks. Just an observation for Ugly Stik: be sure to sight the blanks before buying them, found out that some of them aren't straight. Tight lines! :)
Honest review! 👍
Best review I've seen for a rod. Have you tried the panfish series? I'm looking to get that and haven't seen any good reviews on it.
Thanks! I haven't tried the panfish series, yet, but I think next year I might try the Triumph travel rod. I do a lot of camping with the family and it really helps if I can pack my gear down as small as possible.
I used the 7’ version last year, did not care for it at all
The guides are not “lined” just metal.
No backbone at all ( in the event something larger than a bluegill gets caught)
And frankly just worm fishing it’s not an easy catch - whippy is what I’d call it
Save your money
I've got a 6'6 panfish and I love it. It's one of those rods where if I am going fishing this rod is coming with me. Caught many bluegill, trout, crappie and bass with it.
Great review, great info on the St. Croix!Very useful info!
Thanks, ETOKC.
Very thorough information, thanks Cory.
Thanks, Chris.
great perspective!!!
Thanks, Jay. I must have missed this comment a while back.
That's why you hold your hand in the middle off rod when you lift it up
wayne w they specifically tell you not to do that because instead of the rod doing what it does you are creating a pivot point
My St Croix rod snapped at the tip after just one fish! Hate to say it, but I get much better production with those cheap Chinese rods!
Thank you for this honest and very valuable review.
Thanks, Daniel.
They have an 8 foot moderate in the premier
Right now I'm focusing on the shorter rods around 6'. The reason for that is that I tend to do a lot of shorter 1-2hr fishing outings and my rods are in and out of the car and house and garage a lot and the 6'ers are easier to get around (especially if I have rods for all four of us). Also, 99% of the time I'm fishing from shore, hiking through woods and casting from under trees along the bank and the 6' size is great for that. I'm probably going to get a kayak next year, though, and I might focus on a different style of rod for the kayak. Also, if I start fishing the bigger rivers I might step up the rod so that I can throw more weight, but right now I've really been targeting the 6' light power (with a little leeway in either direction).
Very nice review.
Thanks, Jake.
Have u tried one yet?
Nope. Not yet.
great review! I’m in the market for a new ultralight/light rod for river trout and this helped a lot!
Thanks.
ninjabic hey I’m in the market too did you end up deciding on a rod ? If so which one? I’m trying g to pair mine with Daiwa exceller 2500
lol still so torn. waiting to see all the new rods that were revealed at icast last month. Came super close to the st croix 6’ trout series and the g loomis 6’2 trout series rod. Lamiglas is supposed to be updating their website soon too with new rods. Gonna keep using my UL uglystick for now.
ninjabic damn I’m torn too I got some cash for bass pro like 33 bucks so I’m leaning towards something from there and they have a awesome warranty.... what is the advantages of the St. Croix trout series? (they have that there)I’m. A shore fisherman would it be good for that ? They also have the Fenwick HMX and HMG. It’s so tough to decide
ninjabic Also what reel are you using ?
I love the St. Croix premier 6'0" light. Bought it for perch and crappie fishing. I discovered that the rod is strong enough for larger fish. Used it for a couple of years smallmouth bass and walleye fishing. Extremely sensitive rod and comfortable grip. Being a light powered rod, key is to take your time. So far, so good, no issues.
Thanks for sharing.