Hi. Past week I broke a St Croix Legend Tournament LBTC68MXF. Something weird about this model is that it doesnt feel overpowered like most St Croix rods. In fact I think it is not a true Medium power rod.

Im processing the warranty claim through the official representative, so that will take some time. In the meantime, Im looking for something similar, 6'8 medium to medium heavy power and I need an extra fast action to hookset the strong mouth bones of the Golden Dorados. Throwing jerkbaits no more that 20grms

I saw the IMX Pro 803C JWR at 50% off. Any thoughts about this rod?

Is that the new model ? I'm not sure but I think a new model came out a few weeks ago.

4 minutes ago, Reel said:

Is that the new model ? I'm not sure but I think a new model came out a few weeks ago.

No, the old model.

I'd have already bought one if I saw them for half price 😁

BTW...803 is kinda stiff for jerkbaits in the glx/nrx line. Folks generally use the 852 up to 3/8oz, and then the mbr783/843 for weights over that.

I have the 803C GLX and to me it's too fast to be a jerkbait rod. It works great for worms and smaller jigs but I really like it for the Dark Sleeper. Also, I have the St. Croix 6'8 M Fast Legend Elite. This rod isn't bad for 3/8oz jerkbaits like the 110 jr but it feels under powered for the regular version and it might be slightly too fast for both. I can't imagine using an St. Croix X-fast rod for jerkbaits.

For the price though, I would jump on it but not as a jerkbait rod.

13 hours ago, KP Duty said:

I'd have already bought one if I saw them for half price 😁

Im clicking the button right now

13 hours ago, KP Duty said:

BTW...803 is kinda stiff for jerkbaits in the glx/nrx line. Folks generally use the 852 up to 3/8oz, and then the mbr783/843 for weights over that.

2 hours ago, FishTank said:

I have the 803C GLX and to me it's too fast to be a jerkbait rod. It works great for worms and smaller jigs but I really like it for the Dark Sleeper. Also, I have the St. Croix 6'8 M Fast Legend Elite. This rod isn't bad for 3/8oz jerkbaits like the 110 jr but it feels under powered for the regular version and it might be slightly too fast for both. I can't imagine using an St. Croix X-fast rod for jerkbaits.

For the price though, I would jump on it but not as a jerkbait rod.

Stiff and too fast its what I need to hear. Its difficult to penetrate a single/treble hook into the tought mouth of these fishes. In my experience the chance to land a golden dorado into the boat decreases with a moderate action.

If you were bass fishing, I’d say no. But for what you’re doing, it’s the right rod. Has good power to set the hooks home and a strong butt section to horse them in when you need to.

On 5/24/2026 at 6:35 PM, Westcoast said:

If you were bass fishing, I’d say no. But for what you’re doing, it’s the right rod. Has good power to set the hooks home and a strong butt section to horse them in when you need to.

803 JWR is perfect, well balanced and good power for what I need. Liked so much that I bought the 804 for more power.

On 4/12/2026 at 10:13 PM, FishTank said:

I have the 803C GLX and to me it's too fast to be a jerkbait rod. It works great for worms and smaller jigs but I really like it for the Dark Sleeper. Also, I have the St. Croix 6'8 M Fast Legend Elite. This rod isn't bad for 3/8oz jerkbaits like the 110 jr but it feels under powered for the regular version and it might be slightly too fast for both. I can't imagine using an St. Croix X-fast rod for jerkbaits.

For the price though, I would jump on it but not as a jerkbait rod.

A strange bit of knowledge is the St. Croix XF actions tend to have a softer tip than their Fast counterparts. They just shut off into the backbone a bit sooner. For a medium powered rod the XF does work well for rip and jerk baits. I used a legend x 6’10mxf for a couple years and it performed well. Anything above M and the backbone overpowers the action by a large degree.

15 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

A strange bit of knowledge is the St. Croix XF actions tend to have a softer tip than their Fast counterparts. They just shut off into the backbone a bit sooner. For a medium powered rod the XF does work well for rip and jerk baits. I used a legend x 6’10mxf for a couple years and it performed well. Anything above M and the backbone overpowers the action by a large degree.

Based on the ones I have owned over the years, that has not been the case. Granted I have mainly owned Avids but any of X-fast rods I have had, have been really fast at the tip and slightly stiff, especially the MH rods. The Legend X rods may be totally different. I haven't owned one. I didn't care for how it felt in hand.

I would say St. Croix X-fast rods overall are stiffer at the tip more so than any rod manufacturer I have used. Its not a bad thing but my personal use is limited to the Premier, Avid, Legend Tournament, and Legend Elite lines of the past. I would not use any of the X-fast St.Croix rods I have owned for jerkbaits.