So yesterday I broke about the last 6” of my rod yesterday. 7’1 St Croix Mojo Bass. Looking to replace it now. Was looking at the Levante JDM series from The HookUp. Wondering if this is “the best” option for a sub $200 rod (not a custom/home built), and if so, which model would you recommend? 
 

Current stable:

SCMB 7’10 HF

13 Fishing HF

Dobyns Fury MHF

Mach Spinning Rod MM (I believe)

Home built MLF

 

I normally fish moving baits, TR and jigs. I know I have what I need available, but I need to replace that broken rod anyway…

Have you tried looking into getting covered under St.Croix's warranty program?  I think they have a 5 year warranty. 

Yeah, that’s my first option. I just haven’t contacted them yet. However, the bait monkey told me not to contact SC

Don't listen to the Bait Monkey.  I had a 4 YO Kistler that fractured above the handle.  They sent me another one, prorated, for a lot less than a new one.

 

Phone calls/emails are free.  Give St. Croix a call.  You never know what'll happen.

 

Good luck.

You can even upgrade within the warranty program. I upgraded my snapped Victory to a Legend tournament and only had to pay the difference. I think Mojo to LTB is $150-200. Would smoke any rod under 200 bucks. You could get the 7’3” MHF or the 7’3” HXF (it’s really a MHF, just has a stiff backbone) for T-rigs and jigs, and move your Fury to moving bait duties. 
 

if you wanna go another direction, the Shimano Zodias, Daiwa Tatula Elite, or a Dobyns Champion XP on a discount would be my top 3 rods under 200 bucks. The St. Croix Victory rods are good too and I’d put them up there.

 

Never used a Levante but I’ve held them in the store and they feel very nice in hand.

If it were me and the rod was less than 5 years old I'd tell the bait monkey to get lost and ask St. Croix about an upgrade to a comparable Victory. If they still have the upgrade discount they had going a few months ago when I broke my mojo my guess is you won't be disappointed.

14 hours ago, Brian11719 said:

If it were me and the rod was less than 5 years old I'd tell the bait monkey to get lost and ask St. Croix about an upgrade to a comparable Victory. If they still have the upgrade discount they had going a few months ago when I broke my mojo my guess is you won't be disappointed.

I’m spending some time with my granddaughter this weekend, so I’ll get on it first thing Monday. Appreciate the tips on the upgrade…

18 hours ago, Smirak said:

Yeah, that’s my first option. I just haven’t contacted them yet. However, the bait monkey told me not to contact SC

I love this reply ahahaha

I’m in agreement with telling the bait monkey to take a hike. Upgrade that mojo to a comparable victory or LTB and enjoy! Those two series are great rods and worth the upgrade.

I’ve owned and sold a bunch of St Croix rods but the only one I regret is a LTB. Instead of spending that $200 on Megabass’s cheapest offering, use it to upgrade the Mojo to the LTB. 

I agree with the monkey, you can do much better than a SC. 

4 hours ago, F14A-B said:

I agree with the monkey, you can do much better than a SC. 

What would you suggest? I just filled out the warranty form for SC.

Loomis GLX 

If that's not typical of this site, I don't know what is! LOL!!

 

Original question was looking for sub $200 option to a Mojo and gets recommended a $500 GLX. 

 

You ARE the bait monkey, aren't you?!? 😂😂

Funniest of all is a new in package GLX just showed up on my Craigslist. 6’8 MXF. Don’t “need” that one…

4 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

If that's not typical of this site, I don't know what is! LOL!!

 

Original question was looking for sub $200 option to a Mojo and gets recommended a $500 GLX. 

 

You ARE the bait monkey, aren't you?!? 😂😂

Haha, hey all things considered I’m glad I made you laugh! Also I’m thinking the bait monkey lives in my house if you wanna know the truth! 🤣😂🤣

57 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Haha, hey all things considered I’m glad I made you laugh! Also I’m thinking the bait monkey lives in my house if you wanna know the truth! 🤣😂🤣

I think he shares time at my place too!! 😆

I have a variety of rods and my favorites are my Exprides. However, this year I bought two St. Croix Bass X rods and for $125 each I have to say that I really like them.

 

I have paired them up with different reels at different times and have used them for a wide variety of applications.

I’ve decided to upgrade through St Croix to a victory casting rod. When you upgrade, the warranty fee drops from $60 to $30. 
 

What would you consider the “most versatile” victory casting rod? Im looking at the full contact, but I already have two H rods and don’t know if I need to throw a third in there?

1 hour ago, Smirak said:

What would you consider the “most versatile” victory casting rod?

The Marshall is probably the best 'all around' rod.

7 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

The Marshall is probably the best 'all around' rod.

^ I also have one and like it a lot for jigs, underspins, big worms and spinnerbaits...plenty of other stuff you could throw with it but it's usually one of these for me. If I already had a few heavy rods (oh wait I do) this would probably be my next pick in the series.

St. Croix rods snapping like twigs these days, social media is a sea of broken rod posts, including many having their replacements break too. 

 

I would get a Loomis, even a GCX. it will be better and won't break easily like SC rods do. 

On 10/23/2024 at 8:11 AM, Hulkster said:

St. Croix rods snapping like twigs these days, social media is a sea of broken rod posts, including many having their replacements break too. 

 

I would get a Loomis, even a GCX. it will be better and won't break easily like SC rods do. 

I have recently bought a number of SC rods(and have 15 older SC rods) and don't really believe all the haters on them snapping, just saying.

On 10/23/2024 at 8:11 AM, Hulkster said:

St. Croix rods snapping like twigs these days, social media is a sea of broken rod posts, including many having their replacements break too. 

 

I would get a Loomis, even a GCX. it will be better and won't break easily like SC rods do. 

I wouldn't believe half of what you read on social media. Especially when in comes to fishing rods with all the pretenders out there who broke it on a hook set on a 1 pound fish.

Personally, I wish manufacturers would just do away with the warranty or go to 30 days and adjust the pricing accordingly. 

 

I've got mainly St Croix in my lineup and never had and issue - I'd suspect dissers paid by another brand.