So I picked up my new St. Croix Bass X MLXF rod yesterday. I also spooled new 6 lb. Berkeley XL on my new Daiwa Revros LT2000 and my new rig was set. 
 

Started off with a Ned rig and nothing. Switched to a weightless Zoom Trick worm TR and then a 5” Senko. Nothing. Switched over to a purple Zoom Mag 2 and on the third cast I distinctly felt a bass pick up the worm without swimming off. I reeled in the slack and set the hook. A dink, but my first January bass ever! 
 

I switched over to my baitcaster with a jerkbait but no action there, either. Went back to the spinning rig and put on a weightless Strike King Rage Tail craw. Once again, on my third cast as I was working it back slowly, it stopped and I felt the bass take it without swimming off. I set the hook and I could tell it was a better fish. Weighed out at 1.94 lbs. 

 

 

Two things. 
 

One, that is my first bass on a soft craw. I fished them several times last year weightless and weighted and never got a strike. Maybe. 
 

Two, I realize that in the pantheon of rods that the Bass X is not in the upper echelon, but I felt things I think I missed previously. I may have to rethink rod choices lol! 

Great! Don't sell that SC rod you bought short. That's a great stick.

Nice catch Brian..

9 minutes ago, Spankey said:

Great! Don't sell that SC rod you bought short. That's a great stick.

Trust me, I’m not in the least! It’s just that it’s making me rethink my other rods lol. 

 

I’d hate to try a real top-shelf stick. Probably lead to divorce court after 32 years! ?

3 minutes ago, GaryH said:

Nice catch Brian..

Thanks. It took the bait slow but took off like a bat out of hell after I set the hook. 

10 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

Trust me, I’m not in the least! It’s just that it’s making me rethink my other rods lol. 

 

I’d hate to try a real top-shelf stick. Probably lead to divorce court after 32 years! ?

Thanks. It took the bait slow but took off like a bat out of hell after I set the hook. 

You made a good choice with that Bass X. I bought my grandson one. He had choices and chose one of those. He caught his biggest bass on it this past season. Now he has a true pb to try to break this upcoming season. I’ll try to talk my younger grandson into the ML version of the Bass X. Have fun with it. 

I bought that rod with wacky, Neko and Ned rigs in mind, but it had no problems with hooksets on a Texas rig. 

Nice catch!

Good to hear.  I am looking at trying a St. Croix or two in the near future. Nice catches!