Poolshark

This ^

For the record, I'm not trashing st Croix. My real point to be specific is....... The differences listed on the website are as follows guides-The avid uses fugi alconite, the mojo kigan master cork- the avid uses select grade, the mojo premium grade and less of it. Handle- the avid uses ECS or TCS, the mojo ECS casting and DPS spinning tapers- they are both technique specific but their own tapers both rods incorporate IPC tooling and have 2 coats of flex coat finish one assembled in the US, one assembled in Mexico

The wage disparity alone between the average American and the average Mexican worker could cover that gap easily. Now... With that said I don't know what st Croix chooses to pay their Mexican staff.... But I can tell you its dirt cheap compared to our standards. I'll bet by doing what they are doing, like many other corporations in the states, not only could retail that much less... But according to OECD statistics, they are increasing the gross margin of the same product considerably. Ultimately it's our decision to support this. Which is why the mojo bass is such a popular series. The ACTUAL differences between the mojo and avid are listed on st Croix website. These are the technologies they use in every rod series. A quick look will answer anyone in question.

its a good choice for your first st Croix. You'll like it so much I'm sure you will end up with some of the higher end rods after awhile, but if you're like me you'll still keep this in the rotation. Good luck to you... Have fun with it

It caught my eye, but I feel like with the Curado at 149.... And the lews mb at 139. I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger on one. I need to hear more reviews before I buy a couple

Nice! I have been amazed what I can find in pawn shops and flea markets down here. That reel will serve you well.

The 7'1 mhf is the rod you are looking for. It fishes worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, light swim jigs, soft jerk baits, senkos, finesse swimbaits and small frogs well. i don't usually care about what are rod is labeled as... But this one is labeled as jigs/baits. Its a fast action, not extra fast. It had a soft tip to cast better. If you like the mojo bass, this would be a great start.

Noise on the retrieve and not the cast? One of mine started doing that. I sent to have it cleaned and lubed and it came back quiet. One of mine started a year after I bought it. The other one is still quiet. Also, in addition to that, as said above, keep the break drum oiled every 5 outings or so. This will keep it quiet on the cast.

As to how many is reccomended? I'd say 3 rods for the average shore angler can cover most things. There is a great thread on this pinned on this board. My sweet spot is 5 or 6 setups with me out on a boat. Two or three from shore. This really depends on the body of water and technique you want to use. Btw, we can help!!! Start with what you plan on above and build it from there based on what techniques you end up taking to. Keep it fun and enjoy it most of all

It depends on the type of cover that you will fishing. How much weight is needed to get the bait where you want it. You say you fish northern, clear water...and you feel 50 pound braid seems overkill. That is the only reason I mentioned it. Personally in Light to moderate cover, with a 1/4 to 1/2 ounce weight needed, 40 pound braid... 1/4 to 1/2 ounce swim jig.....the 7 mhf is powerful enough. In technicality the avid is really a heavy powered rod compared to other brands. Pockets of thick pads, thick grass, 1/2 ounce or higher needed, .... Then I'd use the 7'4 heavy. As for floro leader with the swim jig.... You'll get a lot of opinions, but I use a leader in clear water and I feel like I get more bites. In dirty water it probably doesn't matter. I use a simple knot to join braid and it has never failed me once. It's easy and I feel more confident with it.

Do you fish from a boat? I always advise people to spend time on the water so that the process of acquiring gear meets your individual needs. It's more fun that way. A couple years back I badly damaged my rods in a freak accident. I bought a few setups to cover me until I could afford more specialized gear. I now have many more combos but if I had to start again these would be my preference in this order. 7 ft mf spinning setup 2500 sized spinning reel 7 ft mh f casting setup high speed casting reel 7 to 7'6 composite rod. I like a mod fast so it can double top water, lipless cranks, squarebills and medium divers. I'd use a 6 ish ratio reel here. But that's my preference Lastly - a 7'6 parobolic flipping rod. Spool it with 50/60 lb braid and use it for anything super heavy cover. I prefer a high speed reel for this, but if you buy a low speed reel, you could get a couple extra spools and use this setup for deep diving cranks and some moderately sized swimbaits. Are there more choices of rods out there? Sure. But If chosen carefully, these could cover most everything. Btw... I like almost everything st Croix makes, especially the avid, mojo bass and LTB lines. I own a few g loomis rods and Im about to get another, but I don't love the e6x for the price. Your call on that one. I am a fan of the mag bass tapers though. For reel brands... Most of my casting reels are curados of all models, but there are other good ones out there as well. Preference....

You most certainly have a beast of a rod. The 7'4 heavy model is designed for pulling bass out of very heavy cover. It will winch them out of super thick pads no problem. That is where the 50 pound braid comes in. If a big taker runs you down in that stuff the braid will winch it out, cutting right through the pads, weeds, grass etc. To me there are two types of frog fishing and I use two different rods regularly for them. One is a standard 7 mhf avid model spooled with 40 pound braid and sometimes with a fluorocarbon leader mostly without. I use it when fishing lighter frogs in moderate cover. Or when working the edges of vegetation. That is all the rod and line you'll need for that. I also use this rod when using frogs like horny toads along weed lines or above shallow grass. The other is a 7'4 heavy powered rod (by st Croix) I use it to cast 3/8 or bigger frogs directly in and through the pads, or directly on/over grass mats. I use non other than 50 pound braid, no leader. Almost every time I hook a bass in that stuff I either get him out of it quickly and play it to the boat once it's out or I have to wrestle with the mess around it. 50 pound or higher is all I will use in that situation. Other wise I risk loosing the bass and now it has a giant lure stuck in its mouth. Ask yourself how and where you'll be frog fishing, and adjust your setup accordingly.

They perform well, look good, have a small profile, but for me personally, I'd like to get a reel at minimum with an aluminum frame. Id personally be looking at used Curado or citica first. It will last a long time and have no flex under load.

They are all you you really need. I've evolved to enjoy some really nice equipment but looking back on all the rods that I own and have owned..... Some of the absolute biggest bass of my life were caught on these, with a lot of good memories as well. My ONLY gripe with them, ( I have a couple at our vacation spot) is that I've seen a couple reels seats break. But i don't know what one would/should expect for the price tag.

Initially I was going to buy another 843 imx. But before I did, I wanted to gather some opinions on some other rods in the lineup.

I have always felt that the avid line and the mojo line despite both having sc111 graphite have different actions and power. My avids definitely are stiffer than my mojos. I'm comparing the 71 mhf mojo to the 7 mhf avid. The mojo definitely has a softer tip. The warranty is a good point. You get a better warranty with st Croix avid. But my personal problem with a lifetime warranty is every time I damaged I rod, it was my fault. So I never cashed in on it. But maybe the warranty is clue on the disparity in build quality... Guides? Reel seat? Not sure.

The new sc111 mojo is a good rod. I own a couple legend tournaments and many from the avid/new mojo lines and they are all good rods. i will always be partial to the avid line of rods because of the clean build but I also want some technique specific stuff that the LTB and new mojo series offer. With that said I use all of them side by side for different things and they are perform well. I recently wanted some rods for flipping, pitching and frog fishing and I settled in on the sc111 mojo bass series for all of them. I couldn't be happier that I did. Well balanced, quality build, comfortable handles and cost efficient. The newer sc111 mojo bass is leaps and bounds better than the old version and to me is worth a few extra dollars.

I've decided that I do so much fishing with weightless plastics, that I've decided to get a dedicated setup for it. I am considering one of these rods to pair with a lews tp spooled with 40 pound braid/flouro leader. I am trying to decide between the the loomis 843, 893 or 903. It's going to be used for senkos, Ikas, flukes, Light Texas Riggs. I have been fishing a lot of clearer deeper water lately so there will be sometimes making hooksets on Long casts. I know that the 893 is a good senko rod but how do the the 843 and 903 compare to it? Which would work best? Are there any other options in the g loomis lineup I should consider? I should add that I own an imx 843 and I like it, but before I buy another rod I wanted to know how the other two compare to it for this app.

take a look into st Croix rods....I own quite a few from these series and love them. legend tournament bass series 7'4 heavy fast 3/8 to 1 1/4 ounce 7'9 heavy mod fast 1/2 to 2 ounce 7'11 heavy mod fast 1/2 to 2 ounce mojo bass series 7'4 heavy fast 3/8 to 1 1/4 7'6 medium/heavy mod fast 3/8 to 1 1/4 7'11 heavy mod fast 1/2 to 2

i use and like both but I will always say it's more comfortable to use a graphite rod. It's lighter and more sensitive. with that said, it is simply personal preference. Use what works for you. For cranks that size I would be using the lightest rod I could get away with....

Try it out sometime. I've been using them now with 2/0 and 3/0 mesquito hooks and I've eliminated the occasional fling off/backlash and my senkos last many more fish. It's saved me money and it makes for an effortless hookset

The gambler ace and the bass pro stick o are excellent choices. I've also learned to throw wacky rigged senkos on an o ring. They last ALOT longer

Don't overthink your setups.the brands you listed are fine. I carry many on a boat but If I'm hitting the bank I take two or three depending on where I'm going. A 7ft mf spinning setup with 20lb braid and 10 lb Floro leader a 7 to 76 mhf casting with 40 lb braid and optional Floro leader and a 7 to 76 mm casting. With plain old 12lb big game i throw everything in the box but giant swimbaits with these setups and never have an issue

Tighten the tension knob

73 mmf ike delay series lipless special - Curado I hg 7 mhmf st Croix mojo - Curado I hg for the heavier grass