Every rod I've built over the years has been on a St Croix blank. They are consistently trouble free and I love the power and feel and sensitivity they provide.

But . . . . . while trying to duplicate an old favorite for a friend of mine I discovered that at least one blank, the 2S56LF, has undergone MAJOR changes between 2005 and 2006.

I should have known by comparing their 2005 and 2006 Rodbuilding catalogs that something was different (the butt diameter changed from .370 to .315) but I assumed that since the model number did not change, that the action should be similar if not exactly the same, that I was dealing with a materials or profile change only.

WRONG!!

The new model is definitely not "fast" action and, in fact, is less than moderate action. The rod I built on the new blank (hoping that adding the guides would stiffen the action) was not even close, feeling more like a "noodle rod" than a fast action, high modulus graphite rod. A call to St Croix confirmed that in fact it was not a misprint or an incorrect shipment but in fact was a major change to that (and probably other) models.

I've contacted a number of the board's sponsors hoping that someone has old inventory with a few of the original 2S56LF's in stock but no luck.

So . . . . . just a heads up to you rod builders out there to be sure and compare the specs in the St Croix catalogs before assuming that a particular model number remains consistent from year to year.

Personally, I think they should have changed the model number completely to make it clear it was something entirely different.

Skip Kerwin

Oh yes they did a big change up, lots of series changed, the SCIII almost went up to the price of the olds SCIV's, and You a can't buy a SCIII 9'-6" in a 2 pc blank anymore...and the SCIII's are just a step above their entry level graphite, now they want $260 for them.

Look to Skip's last post where he was searching for a 2S56LF and my comments there. Croix skinnied up all the butt dimensions. And adding guides, while they might stiffen the blank directly under a double foot guide, overall they add more weight and then there is more mass to dampen and effect the blank making it whippier

Just some things to remember...

You can't stiffen an action - action is where the rod initially flexes, not how stiff it is. Adding guides won't change that.

Adding guides always reduces the efficiency of the rod, making it behave as if it were softer, not stiffer.

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