I am going to make a spinning rod for my grandson and have selected 6 1/2 feet for the length based on his height. I am agonizing over the following blanks, all described as medium fast actions. He will be using it for general plastics fishing and will be casting lures with it also.

St Croix:  SCIII 3S66MF  

              SCII  2S66MF - Any significant difference between these two?

Loomis:    GL2 SJ782  - The GL3 version of this rod is getting a little pricey.

I would appreciate your input as to your opinons as to which of these blanks is best and why you feel that way.  Both the St Croix blanks are advertised to be the same weight, and weight and quality of the actions (sensitivity/smoothness/"feel") are my primary priorities.  I expect the Loomis is very close if not the same as the St Croix in weight.  Durability is secondary, but I don't want to be getting into a really fragile blank.

Is there another blank that you think makes more sense than these, maybe equivalent weight and action, but less expensive?

Thanks for your help.

Mick

St Croix:  SCIII 3S66MF  

             SCII  2S66MF - Any significant difference between these two?

theres a big difference IMO .... one the avid blank is a huge step up from the premiere blank .... the scIII is liter and offers great feel .... the scII is heavyier and the feel seems dull ... now i not saying the premiere blanks are crap ... im just saying the avid blanks are a huge step up ... the avids are a must have rod IMO they are nice in almost every aspect .... well worth the extra money IMO go with the scIII  ;D

I'm not familiar with the st croix avid or premier but dont waste your money on gloomis gl3.

Go atleast with the imx.

I'm not familiar with the st croix avid or premier but dont waste your money on gloomis gl3.

Go atleast with the imx.

X2, if you are going to spend in GLoomis go straight ahead for the IMX. I have several GL2s, good rods but there are other rods as good for that money, no significant advantage, GL3s are in the same wagon, IMXs ---> now we 're talking business.  

Ditto on all comments.

The lowest you should go is the SCIII and the IMX.  This is where there is a noticible difference in performance.

SCIII Would be perfect... Good for an all around rod.

I agree on the Avid SCIII. The St. Croix med power rod is a much better rod for plastics than the Loomis medium..If you decide on the Loomis get the 3 power..SJR783. I don't think their is anything at all wrong with the GL2 or GL3, they have the same tapers as the IMX rods.

. I don't think their is anything at all wrong with the GL2 or GL3, they have the same tapers as the IMX rods.

It 's not the taper what counts.

for the money the scIII blank is great ,, the med would be perfect for what you want ...