Joel, (and the rest of you guys) thanks very much for your reply. This is always what I seek, concise info based on experience! I'm too cheap to spring for that St. Croix edge you mentioned!! Lol..

It is an expensive blank; I've a wholesale account so it takes the edge off a bit.

Of course, when you buy an expensive blank, an inexpensive set of guides just won't do, Neither will an inexpensive reel. It's a slippery, slippery slope... Lol.

I've built ten or twelve of them, and have had nothing but glowing feedback from the owners of the ones I've sold.

They also make excellent spybait rods, a presentation that often closely follows or parallels a hair jig bite.

Agree on the spybait and hair jig correlation.

It's a shame St Croix no longer sells to rod builders.
Their new Victory line is created from the SCII+ graphite. The Crosshair rod coming in at $200 is a good price point for us mere mortals. Reviews are also good.
As stated earlier, no real reason to pay for high end sensitivity blanks when all you need them for is to throw light stuff a long distance,
Hard to even build a quality rod for that price.

The St. Croix blanks come from Rod Geeks and are listed as St. Croix SCV blanks.

Of the 2 pros I looked up regarding this technique, Feider and Gustafson, neither used x-tra fast. Both are 7'6" m-lite fast. Tatula elite AGS, NRX+ 901F. Anyone care to comment on why X-fast might be more desirable.

maybe the NFC SJ 762 would be an option too? Or extend a RodGeeks Carbon4 70 mlf to get the 7’ 6” length?

I like the XF because the tip loads better for casting. The Tatula and the NRX are both rated similarly but, the NRX has a softer tip and overall less power.

Yeah, certainly no need for the expense of the SCV or HMX, HM etc graphite for this technique. The IM6, SCII (or equivalent) would work just fine. No sensitivity needed. Just a good load up and solid bend to keep them pinned. They usually have nowhere to go and the drag does its job.

I think a great deal of sensitivity is beneficial, even required.

Perhaps, Todd, you've been missing a few by using less sensitive rods? After all, how would you know? (laugh)

Swimming hair jigs higher in the water column is very effective during mid/late pre-spawn, but they also excel in early pre-spawn, just after ice-out, when fished much slower. Takes are often fish just mouthing the bait and holding still. I'll take the most sensitive rod I can build!

I prefer an XF rod in order to have a lighter powered tip to throw very light jigs accurately and a good distance, yet still be able to throw heavier ones as well. I also like a lighter tip because, with a long rod, it seems I can more easily shake the jig in place, making the hair and marabou flutter, dance, and pulsate.

Anybody have a clue what kind of warranty comes with the St. Croix SCV? I can find little info.

Here you go, Lynn, from their site/terms and conditions:

Customer Satisfaction Limited Warranty

RODgeeks will promptly repair or replace, at our option, your rod blank free of charge if it becomes damaged due to defective materials or workmanship for a period of five (5) years from your date of purchase. The RODgeeks warranty decal must be visibly displayed on the blank for the warranty to be valid. There is a $15 fee for return shipping and handling.

The warranty address is in Park Falls, WI.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2021 06:04PM by Joel Wick.

Thanks Joel, St. Croix it is. Ya only live once.

Amen, Lynn; who deserves it more than you?

Let us know how the rod turns out!

I'll tell you who!! My kid!! Lol. If it was for me I know I'd have gone with the SJ9000. He's getting a spool of Hitena Silky to go with it. So Merry X-mas. Besides, I guess the SJ's are sitting off Calif. waiting to be unloaded?? I know they ain't where they're supposed to be! By the way, since when does the President have to tell the ports to unload freighters? Seems like they'd have the hang of it by now!! "Hey guys, there's pretty many boats out there do you think maybe we should unload some of them?" We shot Kirk into space though, hooray!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/2021 06:40PM by Lynn Behler.