Tag: st. croix rods

What Type of Fishing Pole Do You Need?

If you’re new to the sport, one of the first questions you might ask is “what type of fishing pole do I need?” While I’ll go into more detail as to why, I’ll cut right to the chase: Beginners should buy a 7′ medium-heavy power, fast action spinning rod as your first fishing pole.  This is a versatile set up that allows you to fish fast or slow in a variety of cover and situations and is the all around best fishing pole for a beginner.

Let’s break down why a 7′ medium-heavy power, fast action spinning rod is the best fishing pole for beginners.

Note: while the correct term is technically “fishing rod” many beginners are going to call it a “pole.” As this website is designed to help newcomers, I will use the term interchangeably.

Why a 7′ Fishing Pole is What Beginners Need

While you can get a fishing pole that is longer or shorter than 7′, I find the 7′ length to be the sweet spot that allows you to do anything with it.  For example, I prefer slightly shorter rods for techniques like jerkbaits and slightly longer ones for frogging or jigs.  7′ is an acceptable medium between all of these.

7′ is also the perfect rod length for spinnerbaits and plastic worms, which are outstanding beginner fishing lures.  Since these are two of the lures you should plan on using when you’re first starting out, it stands to reason that the best beginner fishing pole would be one that can use them well!

7′ fishing poles will also fit in most rod lockers on boats, if you have one.  It was only fairly recently that manufacturers started making larger rod lockers so if you have an older boat (or might be in the market for one eventually), that’s an added plus of this length.

Given all this, a 7′ fishing pole is clearly the type you need as a beginner.

Why I Suggest Spinning Rods

If you’re a beginner purchasing your first fishing pole, I highly suggest that it be a spinning rod rather than a casting rod.  While you’re probably going to notice that the professionals have far more baitcasters in their rod boxes than spinning gear, remember, they’re pros.  Baitcasters vs. Spinning rods are very much akin to a manual transmission vs. Automatic transmission car.  Whlie anyone could learn either first, it’s just easier if you can concentrate on driving / fishing rather than worrying about shifting or keeping a baitcaster under control.

A spinning rod, in my opinion, is also more versatile than a baitcaster, even if it isn’t as good as a baitcaster in several situations.  A big enough spinning rod can throw any kind of lure.  Anyone who claims you can’t throw a frog or jig on one is incorrect.  True, it will be more difficult, especially in heavy cover, but it isn’t impossible.

On the other hand, try throwing a tiny lure any distance on a baitcaster.  While I suppose it too isn’t “impossible” it’s so much more difficult.  Buying a spinning gear is going to make techniques like tiny drop shots accessible to you, which is important when you’re starting out.

Why Medium-Heavy Power Fast Action Rods Are Perfect for Beginners

While you might think a “medium” rod is the middle ground with fishing poles, that’s not really true.  For most manufacturers, a medium power fishing rod is actually pretty light.  The true middle ground is really a medium-heay rod.  This is the beast that’s going to let you fish anything you want, with reasonable success.

While most medium-heavy power fishing rods are designed primarily for spinnerbaits and plastic worms, they’re also heavy enough to fish frogs through heavy cover and light enough to toss a crankbait with some success (you might just want to loosen the drag a little).  If you could have only ONE fishing pole, a medium-heavy power rod will give you the most options.

As for action, it’s simply how extensive the tip bends.  Again, a fast action is a good all-around option that will allow you to fish many lures successfully.

What are Some Good Fishing Lures for a Medium-Heavy Power, Fast Action Rod?

While a medium-heavy power, fast action rod can throw pretty much anything successfully, they’re really designed for spinnerbaits and soft plastic worms.  Point in fact, on several rods, they specifically state this right on the label. 

If you’re using spinnerbaits on a medium-heavy power, fast action rod, I’d recommned going with lures in the 1/2 oz size.  While doable, 3/8 oz won’t cast as far or as well.  If you prefer the more compact size of the 3/8 oz spinnerbaits, several brands such as War Eagle make a version of their spinnerbaits that weigh 1/2 oz but have a small and compact size.

As for soft plastic worms, you really can use whatever type you like.  I have one medium-heavy power, fast action rod that is dedicated to wacky-rigged Senkos, with another rigged up for Texas Rigs when I need something a little more weedless.  Both work great on this type of rod.

Which 7′ Medium-Heavy Power, Fast Action Spinning Rod Should a Beginner Buy?

If you’re a complete beginner and are uncertain if you’re going to like this sport, I would suggest getting an inexpensive fishing rod.  That doesn’t mean you should get a cheap fishing rod, however.  Luckily, Ugly Stik has a 7′ medium-heavy fast action spinning rod in their GX2 series that is perfect for someone starting out. Really, its the only type of fishing pole you need to get into this sport.

True, it’s not as flashy as a nice St. Croix (which I’d definitely treat yourself to once you get the hang of things), but it is durable, effective, and efficient.  I recommend folks stock up on Ugly Stiks early in life. They tend to be the sort of rods that sticks with them all through life and get handed down to the kids one day.  We still have some Ugly Stiks in our arsenal that have been going strong for close to thirty years now. 

While they aren’t the most sensitive rods, you really don’t need that with many techniques (for example, there’s absolutely no doubt when a fish slams a spinnerbait or topwater lure, and even most takes on a worm are quite discernable).  What you do need is a rod you can count on not to break when a monster hits, and Ugly Stiks are renowned for their durability. 

I understand that if you stick with the sport, you’re evenutally going to upgrade. All the same, an Ugly Stik GX2 is not a purchase you’re going to regret.  We’ve all been there where we’ve bought something inexpensive and then thought to ourselves, “man, now I have to buy something twice!”

an ugly stik is a great type of fishing pole for beginners.
An Ugly Stik will never let you down.

What Are Some Other Good Types of Fishing Poles?

While I do maintain that an Ugly Stik is a great type of fishing pole for a beginner, if you want something a little higher end, I am a big believer in the St. Croix lineup.  I’ve more or less been buying nothing but Ugly Stiks and St. Croix (with a few Browning Silaflexs thrown in) for the past 10 years.  I have an article that goes into the different St. Croixs that you could buy here, but their baseline Triumph line is a very affordable entry into their world.  Here is an article I wrote reviewing the St. Croix Triumph series in detail.

Conclusions

If you ever ask yourself “what type of fishing pole do I need?” the answer is simple. A 7′ medium-heavy power, fast action spinning rod is the pole you should buy if you’re a beginner.  It’s versatile and will let you fish a wide variety of lures.  Further, it’s also relatively fool-proof being a spinning rod.  It’s the sort of rod you can count on using throughout your life and you can fish fast (spinnerbaits) or slow (worms) while also skimming lures across the surface (frogs) or reaching the depths (dropshots).  There’s really no downside to this being your first fishing rod.  I hope you enjoy!

Thanks,

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St. Croix Premier Spinning and Casting Rods Review

Those familiar with my blog know that I love St. Croix rods, so much so that I’m now investing some time to go through and review the entire lineup (or, at least the models I own). If you’ve been thinking about buying a St. Croix Premier Spinning or Casting rod, keep on reading. I’ll tell you why I think they’re one of the most versatile tools in your rod box.

Is the St. Croix Premier a Good Fishing Rod?

The St. Croix Premier lineup is what I’d consider their “entry level American-made” offering. There are certainly rods (such as the Triumph and Mojo series) that are more “entry level” but these are manufactured elsewhere. These rods feature SCII graphite, which is solid but comparable to what the lower-end St. Croix’s have, and then feature some additions such as upgraded reel seats and line guides.

I probably should have been up front by saying that no St. Croix is truly an “entry level” rod. It’s basically like calling the base model Cadillac an “entry level” vehicle. So, any St. Croix you purchase is going to be a good one.

The Premier lineup have cork handles and dark rod blanks which I find aesthetically pleasing as I’m not really one for flashy rods. They hold up well and as we’ll see have a decent warranty.

All in all, the St. Croix Premier rods are keepers. The main reason being its versatility. Let’s take a moment to discuss that in detail:

Versatility

I am convinced that there is no rod model more versatile than the St. Croix Premier. Its versatility comes primarily from its wide ranger of models. The St. Croix Premier has more available models than any other in St. Croix’s lineup. As of writing, their website claims 38 spinning models and 30 casting models.

It would create a needless wall of text to list every type offered, but I did want to touch on a few specific models to showcase just how versatile this rod lineup truly is.

St. Croix Premier Spinning Rods of Note

The following four rods give you a pretty good idea of just what you can accomplish with the St. Croix Premier spinning rod lineup.

Perfect Panfish Rods

The smallest spinning rod offered by St. Croix in their Premier line is a 4’6″ Ultra Light Power, Moderate Action noodle that would make an exceptional panfish rod as well as a great Christmas gift for any young anglers in your life. Personally, I’d go with the 5′ model as you’ll get a few more years out of it.

In all fairness, however, if you’re buying a fishing rod for a small child and they haven’t yet shown an aptitude for and love of fishing, don’t pony up the cash for one of the St. Croix’s. Read my article on the much more affordable Ugly Stik Elite and buy one of those instead. Alternately, you could read my article on the best fishing rods for kids where I discuss a few other St. Croix models I personally prefer for children over the Premier.

My Son’s First Spinnerbait Rod

Shortly before the pandemic hit I had a little money burning a hole in my pocket and took my son off to the local tackle shop to see what we might find. He was four years old at the time, but as those of you who follow this blog have seen, he’s a good angler.

We picked up a 6′ Medium Power, Fast Action St. Croix Premier spinning rod. This is small enough for him to handle well, but long and stout enough to toss spinnerbaits. While most will tell you that you really want a Medium-Heavy power for a spinnerbait rod, St. Croix rods run a little on the heavy side with their power, and a medium does just fine for throwing 3/8 ounce spinnerbaits and other lures.

My son loves this rod and we’d certainly recommend it. It is lightweight but high quality and the perfect size for those children who are still small. He’s managed to catch some decent bass on it so far, and I can’t wait to get him up to Lake Champlain for a pickerel or pike. You can pick up your own right at this link with confidence. Go ahead and pick one up and then leave a comment about how much you love it!

The All-Arounder

If you want to treat yourself to an American-made fishing rod that is of high-quality, but not ridiculously expensive, it would be hard to beat the St. Croix Premier Medium-Heavy Power, Fast Action rod in either spinning or casting models.

This is a good all-around option that will allow you to throw most lures successfully. It’s great for (really, designed for) spinnerbaits and plastic worms and could be used with jigs well enough. While a little too powerful for my liking, it can handle crankbaits and top water lures fairly well too.

A Spinning Rod that Can Handle Frogs

The reason I bought my first St. Croix Premier spinning rod was because I wanted a spinning rod that could be used effectively for throwing frogs. As any frog fisherman will tell you, this technique requires specialized equipment that isn’t that easy to find in a spinning rod setup (at least not with bass tackle).

The 7′ St. Croix Premier Heavy Power, Fast Action rod is what I purchased for my wife and other guests to use when I take them frog fishing. If they aren’t comfortable with baitcasters and prefer a spinning rod, this gives them enough power to drag largemouth bass out of a pile of slop. You will need to pair it with a reel that can handle heavy braid, but the rod itself will not let you down.

It’s very challenging to find a non-Musky, freshwater spinning rod that can handle these lures, and the fact that St. Croix offers one is a testament to the versatility of the St. Croix Premier lineup.

As an aside, this same rod does a great job as a catfish rod or for tossing out any type of heavy lure or sinker. You can pick one up here though this link is for a two-piece rod. This is an added plus if you’re just starting out and fishing from the back of your car, and if you’re throwing frogs, any slight reduction in sensitivity a two-piece offers will be negligible.

The St. Croix premier features heavy power spinning rod models - fairly unique amongst bass fishing gear.
I purchased this rod primarily as a spinning rod option for frogs, but it also handles large swimbaits very well.

Where are St. Croix Premier Rods Made?

As mentioned above, you will be happy to note that the St. Croix Premier lineup is designed and handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin. Thus, purchasing one of these rods means supporting an American business and American workers which is all the more important during these trying times. Consider heading over to Amazon and buying one now.

Do St. Croix Premier Rods Come With A Warranty?

The St. Croix Premier lineup comes with a five year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service. You can read all about the company’s great warranty at their website.

I would like to share a little personal experience regarding the warranty that St. Croix Rods offers. While I’ve generally found their products to be free of defects, years ago I did purchase a road that had a significant chip in one of the line guides, which was fraying my line and causing me to lose some lures.

I was worried because it’s the kind of issue that a company could easily say I created, however I got absolutely no pushback from the company. I followed their warranty program and had my rod repaired and returned to me quickly.

In all honesty, it was probably the sort of issue I could have fixed myself with some epoxy, but it was early on to my buying days with the company, and I wanted give them a chance to fix things and make things right. I was so impressed by the quick turnaround and lack of any pushback that it made me a lifelong customer and advocate.

What Reels Pair Well With a St. Croix Premier?

I’m a huge fan of pairing Pflueger reels with my St. Croix rods and have written a large article all about why here. I match my St. Croix Premiers with a Pflueger President spinning reel in various sizes and recommend that you do as well. They pair up and balance well and can handle most anything you throw at them.

Conclusions

The St. Croix Premier lineup is an American-made, versatile rod lineup that has a model for anything and everything you’d ever dream of. It is less expensive than some of the company’s flagship offerings, but at a higher price point than their true entry level models, which sets it up as somewhat “middle of the road” and therefore a good balance between performance and price.

I’d recommend this line to anyone who wants to start building a high-quality rod box with classic, subdued colors and looks.

Remember, if the price of a new model is too much for you, I have an entire article about how to buy used rods with confidence that can help you pick a few of these up on eBay with piece of mind.

I hope this article was helpful. If it was, you might consider purchasing my book, Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guide, as it is filled with other tips to help you enjoy this great sport.

Have a great day for fishing,

John Paxton