Berkley vs. St. Croix spring bobber rods?

[reddogadventures]

This question may fall into the Ford vs. Chevy, Cat vs. SkiDoo thing, but I'm going to ask anyway.

I recently bought two St. Croix Legend rods and put them to work on Mille Lacs. One of them broke the first night of use, the second one broke the third day. Both rods broke right near the tips of the rods. They were not being abused at all. Mine broke while I was changing lures with the rod sitting in my lap. I was not happy! $100 worth of rods laying on the table unfit for use!!! I loved the way they worked when they did work but this has left me questioning their toughness.

My buddy has a Berkley with a spring bobber set up on it. He's had it for quite some time and it has made numerous trips to LOTW, Leech, etc., and rides along in his junkie bucket with no cover and holds up like a trooper.

What's the scoop folks? Did I just get two bad rods or was I misled by the salesman?

I'm confident that St. Croix will take care of the problem but I'm just a little gun shy. I need a little direction.

[CrappieJohn]

I'd march them right back to where I bought them and say, "what gives here"?

[reddogadventures]

I'm waiting to cool off before I do. I've got to send them back to St. Croix and they will decide wether I get new rods or they repair them.

By the way, I just watched the Backwater get together and enjoyed it very much. I like your hat. Don't give it up.

[CrappieJohn]

lol....good luck with the rods.

[Tyler Holm]

The 2nd day I had one of my legends out, the tip fell off. It was like the glue just released its hold. I glued it on again when I got home, but I wasn't impressed.

I've been using those 2 legends heavily for the rest of the season without any problems. I take special precautions to make sure I'm gentle on those rods as I know they are fragile.

In this case, more money doesn't mean more durable. I don't mean this in a bad way though. Your paying for an UL rod with an outstanding spring bobber setup. The tip on these rods is 2mm and they need to be treated as such. I'm happy with my purchase. The rods flat out catch fish with the help of that spring bobber.

[nytelyter]

i know i have posted this before. but i have a few of the frabill panfish [PoorWordUsage]pers in 20 and 24 inch lengths each set me back about 15 bucks and have spring bobbers on them. i swear by them. i must admit i have never spent the big bucks on the customs. i see very little difference in preformance issues. all are ultra sensitive. i would definnatly get them fixed or replaced if i were you. esp. for what you spent on them. but for me. unless i am gifted a custom i am sticking to these. ..... paul

[V-12 Merlin]

I've got the cheap ones, but that's because I'm a hopeless angler!

As for adding to the debate, how about Old Milwaukee -vs- Pabst Blue Ribbon???

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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As for adding to the debate, how about Old Milwaukee -vs- Pabst Blue Ribbon???

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What about Hamm's?

[JohnMickish]

Strohs, Olympia and Blatz.

[ozzie]

i have a legend and my buddy has a legend and we both love them and use them for everything from sunfish to walleye. both of us have med light. I have yet to have aproblem and I don't think he has had one yet either. sounds like a bad batch you got yours from.....but i guess only time will tell if they last or not but so far so good!!!

[harvey lee]

You guys forgot my old favorite,Northstar-a case for 4 bucks.

[smmurphy]

What about Black Label and Maeter Brew, I remember getting them for 4.50 a case and getting 75 cents back on the returnable bottles.

I didn't want to be the one down wind, but it wasn't always bad beer.

[walterman]

I have a legend and another st croix ice rod both teamed witha abu garcia reel and are great combos, I have nothing but good to say about st.croix. Sorry to hear about your bad experience. They should take care of you and give you new ones!

[CrappieJohn]

I remember NorthStar, Shells, and yes, Old Millwaukee going for 4 cases for 10 clams. I also remember Old Mill 12 pks

going for 1.45. This of course when slop and foam was a lifestyle....I haven't had a drink in 17 years aside from communion wine.

[Rick]

I have the Legends and have had tip issues as well. St Croix took care of it and had them back to me three days after I shipped to them. They won't let Cabelas or another store exchange them so don't even go there.

They are however awesome when it comes to fishing and bite detection.

Those spring bobbers are the absolute best hands down in doors our outdoors.

[Tony Boshold]

Rick,

St.Croix IS a great company that stands behind their products with a great warranty. My experience with them has been top notch. I toured the factory in January and you could eat off the floors. They run a seamless manufacturing facility with a high attention to datail right in Park Falls, WI. They employ around 200 people there and everyone takes pride in making some of the finest rods in America. I seemed to have lost your email you sent and am interested, please email me with your # again. My private messaging does not work either.

I must tell you all though, I have 7 of the Legend Elite Ice Rods with spring bobber from them. Let's see at $50 ea. plus $50 reels thats $700 in ice combos. The best and safest way to carry them is in a rod bag of some sort. I have not broken one since putting them in the St.Croix rod bags I picked up for $20 each. I never busted one on a fish, always while getting rigged up. Break things is my middle name.

I know there is a great sale on rod bags going on this site and they will work too! I understand it's not the bucket storage you got for free but really, its not $10 rods getting tossed in there either.

The thing about a high quality solid rod is the higher the quality of material the more brittle and unfortunately more sensitive to breakage. All high end rods suffer this. That's why they come with great warranties backed by great service.

As for the spring and moving it in the grommet, a tip that Bob Horn gave us is to lube that spring and it will move much more easily, in fact almost too easy. While moving the spring make sure the rod and reel are supported accross your lap and use one hand on the grommet and the other on the spring. The spring is most sensitive in the 30 degree position. Adjusting it for different jig weights makes this an incredibly sensitive and versatile set up.

Many have rod lockers on there boats and would never leave a high end rod laying on the floor...twice (shame on me). We can all learn from this, a couple of bucks and a few seconds to put them in a bag is time and $$$$ well spent.

I have saw many portable modifications on sites and not many devise a "rod locker" other than the trusty bucket.

When storing the St.croix legends putting the lure in the lure keeper and tighten it down until the spring folds over and the tip bends SLIGHTLY will help it stay put during storage. You may want to tighten the drag while in storage just remember to back it off when you start fishing.

Treat your Legend rods nice and they will return the favor (maybe $10,000 times over ).

[ozzie]

Great post Tony..Thanks for the info on storing the legend rods...So far I have treated mine like a fragile glass carry it out in my hand and keep it stored by itself in the house. But I guess I can start putting it in the bag with my other st croix rod and reel set-up. THANKS

[Bob Horn]

I have posted many times on how much I love my Croix Legends. One thing I have learned is the Legend is a tool to catch fish not a rod that you can just throw in your bucket. As for the spring. I use vaseline(non-scented). If your wifey has some just get it from her. I put enough to just lube up the spring not have a gob that can collect junk. This helps in moving the spring even in cold temps.

[Tony Boshold]

Thanks Ozzie.

Bob, the vaseline is just what I used, thanks for the tip. It works great.

[CNYFrank]

I have a ML Legend also and have had success with jumbo perch (14in), crappie (14in) and smallmouth bass (approx 3 lbs) . . .it held up fine, but have to admit the spring can be a challenge to move (try some silicone, works great) and I was a little uneasy about the quality of the rod since the cork on the handle is chincy for a $50 rod. A buddy of mine has snapped 2 UL Legends however while setting the hook, so St Croix should be well aware of a quality problem they are having . . .point it out to them and you should have no problems getting a replacement.

[PikeBayCommanche]

Just snapped the end of my St.Croix setting the hook on a small perch. Will they fix it I hardly even got a chance to use the thing. I payed 50 bucks for the rod and it didn't last long and wasn't like it was a big fish.

[fievel9922]

The first legend i bought i took it out in my car when i walked out the store and started to play with the spring and snap the tip broke. walked back in and got a new one. had it for a year and just last weekend i snapped the tip off. instead of sending it back in i heated the eye up and pulled the tip out and re glued it and i only lost less then half an inch. i broke it this time because of carelessness. i will say when i do use it especially for finess perching or pannies you cano not beat the spring set up. oh by the way they are 30% off at joes right now and they have UL, L, maybe one or two ML and Med left so not a bad deal.

[Northlander]

Same happened to mine so I returned it and just got some spring bobbers for the rods I have. Great rods when they are working right though. I use St.Croixs a lot and most of my rods are either Croixs or rods made from Croix blanks. Never had a problem with their long rods.

[mattkimk]

Yeah they are great rods when they are not broken. I have had the same problem with my open water spinning rods too. Had two tips break off while cathcing small norhterns. Yeah they did fix them for me, but I had to pay $10 bucks for shipping and they just should not be that fragile.

[augernaut]

you want sensitive, you get brittle. No way around it, and St. Croix is no exception.