Hey y'all,

 

So I just bought: St. Croix LGC88HM Legend Glass Casting Fishing Rod with IPC Technology, 8-feet 8-inches, Honey Pearl for a nice little deal

 

And I wanted to know if this would be a good rod for swimbait applications since I plan to use it for fishing saltwater such as jetties/surf here on the Southern California shore. Does anyone else know what I could throw with it? Would it be good for luckycrafts?

8' 8" rod has handle 4.

It looks like designed for surf casting.

 

 

Karl

 

Hi! Yes! It is a huge  rod but I realized that - being in SoCal - lakes/ponds are so overfished that Saltwater is my best bet. I caught a mackerel and barracuda from a jetty the other day and had so much fun that I am addicted now.

 

So I am going to prioritize saltwater fishing. I love St. Croix Rods, but the problem is that I am not too good at reel pairing. I also tend to find St. Croix's for good deals so I snag them up even if I don't exactly know how to use them. 

 

Right now I own 2 baitcasting reels:  

 

1)  SLX XT 7.3 gear ratio 

 

2) 13 Fishing Concept C 7.3 gear ratio

 

I don't know if they have the line capacity for this rod? Do you have a recommendation for a surf-fishing/casting baitcaster?

 

Thanks!

   If you have big hands, try the Ambassadeur 5500c3. The 'glass blanks are large diameter, plus the trigger on the 8'-08" rod is a palmer configuration, which in some peoples'  opinion is better with round reels. These reels are fine for saltwater, and they're easy to maintain and lube.

   If you have smaller hands, try the Shimano TranX. I have the 300a, but you might like higher gear ratios, or you might like the 400-size TranX. It's also OK for saltwater.

   The heavier St. Croix glass rods are very versatile, and they're fine as long as you pay attention to the weight limits that they publish.

   Good luck!     jj

 

p.s. - I have my 300a on a St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass 7'-02" Heavy/Moderate. I love that combination!

4 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   If you have big hands, try the Ambassadeur 5500c3. The 'glass blanks are large diameter, plus the trigger on the 8'-08" rod is a palmer configuration, which in some peoples'  opinion is better with round reels. These reels are fine for saltwater, and they're easy to maintain and lube.

   If you have smaller hands, try the Shimano TranX. I have the 300a, but you might like higher gear ratios, or you might like the 400-size TranX. It's also OK for saltwater.

   The heavier St. Croix glass rods are very versatile, and they're fine as long as you pay attention to the weight limits that they publish.

   Good luck!     jj

 

p.s. - I have my 300a on a St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass 7'-02" Heavy/Moderate. I love that combination!

Jimmy, thanks so much! I definitely have smaller to medium hands (cries inside) . I will look up those Shimanos you mentioned! 

What lures have you had success with throwing on your setup? I currently have been reading and heard things like "all treble hook applications"...also, crankbaits, chatterbait, and swim jigs. However, I was really curious about swimbaits? Seemed like fun! Also I have a ton of topwater goodies like whopper ploppers I wanted to throw. Also, if you're familiar,  Lucky Craft Flash Minnow 110s  are the way to go here in SoCal, so I was planning on cranking these? What do you think?

   I bought the H rather than the MH power because I fish places where there are pike or musky, and I wanted a rod with "authority". It's hard for me to explain "authority" except to say that there is no doubt in the fisherman's mind that the rod will handle whatever comes their way.

   I use 1/2-5/8 oz. spinnerbaits, Mepps Musky Killers, 1 oz. Dardevle spoons (a specialty with this rod) and various 1 oz. trap-type and shallow-diver lures. I plan on getting Giant Killers and 1-and-1/4 oz. spoons this winter.

   The rod is rated 1/2 oz. to 1-and-3/8 oz. for lure weights. I know that some rods feel like they can handle more than their rating, and some feel like they're over-rated. This particular rod feels like it's rated just about right.

   As for swimbaits, I don't use them, so I can't comment. The 110-size minnows are 5/8 oz., which is a little light for this rod. It'll cast them OK, but not the greatest distance. (I'm biased; I'm a shorecaster, and I like a little distance.) The 190-size is over 2 oz., and way too heavy for this rod. It will probably be too much for yours, too.

   I don't do topwater. However, I use twitchbaits. This rod does OK for that.

   One last thing: you said you have smaller hands. Try out any and every reel that you are considering for this rod. Depending on the line you want to use, you might be better off with the TranX 200-series. Just a thought. Personally, I'd make sure any reel I'd buy for use with that rod would be a heavy-duty design. And of course, it needs to be saltwater-safe if you expect it to last.

   I hope everything works out for you.    ?   jj

8' 8" rod specs:

 

Line 12 - 25 lb

Lure 1/2 - 1 3/8 oz

 

As mentioned, an Ambassadeur 5500 C3 would be a good pairing.

 

Karl