Do you love big bluegill?

new rod

first i was wondering if any body ever use a st croix avid rod? which we all know why i am looking for a new rod is because of the new puppy chewed the old one up but let me say why i am looking at this rod 1st it is made in the usa (which i always try my best to buy made in usa) 2nd is that it has a life time warrenty even if my dog chewed it up. lol 3rd i have a st croix preimier casting rod and it is very nice but the avid is suppose to be better 4th is if i buy the same rod back it is 100 before tax and dosnt have that kind of warrenty like i want this time but the avid rod is 140 before tax.. let me knoe if anyone has used the avid rod..Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Tony Livingston on June 30, 2011 at 9:24am

I have a 54" Avid ultralight.....

Best rod I've ever owned.

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Permalink Reply by Fish Chris on June 30, 2011 at 8:05pm

Well, I don't think they are made in the USA, but my absolute favorite rods on the whole planet, are my G Loomis SR720's :) They are 6ft, 1 piece, rated for 1-4 lb mono. They just have such a sweet, smooth action. And I've caught all kinds of huge fish on them also.... up to a 75", 165 lb Sturgeon a couple months ago :) Some people might not like the sliding ring reel seat rings, but I tape "all" of my reel footings with grip tape anyway, so this makes no difference to me. Actually, it makes a small positive difference, in that I can position my reel farther forward, for better rod / reel balance. Then again, I balance all of my rods with weighted but caps anyway.

Anyway, what could be better than a sweet little micro-light thats good for panfish, to Sturgeon, and everything in between ? :)

Oh, and SR720's are just about the cheapest G Loomis rods sold. Just over $100 :)

Peace.

Fish

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Condello on June 30, 2011 at 8:40pm

SR720 is the best rod ever made.

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Permalink Reply by Fish Chris on July 1, 2011 at 7:26am

Bruce ! > SR720 is the best rod ever made. /p>

Right on :) Great minds must think alike :)

But Mark, I have to admit, the SR720 is not what I would call "even" a fast rod (I can't remember what they classify it). Seems pretty much moderate to me, if anything.

Actually, I greatly prefer this, being a braided line guy all the way, a softer, slower action rod is usually a plus.

Also, I greatly prefer "at least" a 6ft rod. I've looked at that higher series G Loomis 6 1/2ft, 1 piece, 1-4 for a long time. Love to try one, but won't pay more than double, just for the extra 6".

All I can say is, if they ever stop making the SR720, I don't know what I'd do. Their just isn't another comparable rod on the market. And I've searched high and low !

Peace,

Fish

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Permalink Reply by Mark McKinney on July 1, 2011 at 5:52am

you must be talking about the tennessee handles, i looked at them rods and was going to go with it but the reason i didnt was i couldnt not get a fast action in a 5' rod they only make a moderate action in 5' and you have to go to a 6' just to get a mad fast and then a 6'6" to get a fast action, i wade the creeks alot with my kids and also friends and anything over a 5' is just to long, and went back to st croix web site again and check the avid rods again and it says Designed and handcrafted in the Park Falls, U.S.A.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Livingston on July 1, 2011 at 8:36am

Yes!

Another fan of shorter ultralight rods!

Anytime you're wading the creek, or the brush and trees come right down to the water's edge, (all the time for me), a short rod is your best friend.

Grab that 54" Avid. It's amazing. If you fish primarily on foot, you'll love it.

Be aware, that particular rod was special order only when I bought mine......

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Permalink Reply by Fish Chris on July 1, 2011 at 10:39am

I really wish I preferred a shorter micro-light, as then my choices would be nearly endless. 6ft or greater, 1 piece micro-lights are really hard to come by, but they give me much better casting, and greater handling, especially for big fish (Stripers, Sturgeon, etc) when they run under the boat (which they almost always do). But then I guess their are not too many guys out there fishing for Stripers and Sturgeon with a pan fish rod ;-) LOL

Peace,

Fish

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Permalink Reply by Mark McKinney on July 1, 2011 at 11:25am

hey Tony so do you like the fast action on the avid? i always use mono in the creeks and we r looking for the big gills and a few large mouths and small mouths,the fenwick hmg i had was a mod. action rod but i want a fast action because i will use a 4'lizard in the creeks and i think the fast action will be better because i use them texas rig and just to get that extra hook set means alot sometimes.. guys i really wanted to get sr720 but the action is stopping me!!

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Permalink Reply by Tony Livingston on July 1, 2011 at 12:07pm

Mark:

Yeah, I get along great with the fast action Avid. I am strictly a Bluegill fisherman, although I did accidently land a 10.5 lb. channel cat with the rod about a month ago. No problem getting hooked up with that fish, just took a little longer to get it in!

I've got more money in the rod than I do the reel, I paired it up with a Pfleuger President micro, and they work together real well.