hello, I currently have a st. croix avid 6'6 med-fast spinning which i love and am thinking of getting the avid 6'8 med extra fast. i am trying to focus on tubes this year so I would like a good rod for this.  So I am wondering fast vs extra fast just how much would that help me with tubes. If you have any other suggestions i would appreciate them. I would like to stick with st croix or g-loomis as i get a really good discount on them.

thanks.

I've heard MANY, MANY people rave (and never a single complaint) about that particular rod so I bet you'll like it. (maybe for tubes, maybe for something else)

Ex-fast means that the rods bends, to load, more in the tip section of the rod.... oversimply translated- you get a longer backbone area and a lighter tip.  

 

You might also look at the SJR series from Loomis, depending on your likes- 782/3 or 842/3.  I don't think you can go wrong with any of these rods... all are great rods.  

My $0.02 recommendations-  If IMX or GLX is in your budget, I would buy Loomis over St.Croix for this specific rod, if the choice is GL2 or 3 I would go with the St. Croix for sure.

I have the 6'8" Xfast in the Legend Tounrey.  I have only been fishing three times so far this year with it, but so far it's PERFECT.  Exactly what I was looking for.  I tend to prefer slightly stouter rods than most people it seems like.  With this rod you get the great castability of a medium rod  and your still able to get some "jazz" behind hooksets.  This rod is now my finesse plastics rod.