Now that I have had the new 2012 St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass rods for about 4 months and have put them through their paces it’s time to talk about how they performed. I purchased the new TBC73MHF Carolina Rig, TBC74HF Slop-N-Frog/Swim Jig, TBC71MF Plastics (my absolute favorite all ‘round rod), TBC71MHF Spinnerbait/Jig-N-Worm, and the TBC710HM Magnum Cranker models and the new improvements are readily apparent right out of the tube. The new NSi (Nano Silica), 3M matrix resin provides for 30% more strength with no added weight to the already super light rods (a great bonus but I have never had any issues with strength in the St Croix’s and the latest video posted to my You Tube Channel will show evidence to that). The new small-sized Fuji® K Series tangle-free guides and the slightly different paint scheme give impressive aesthetics as well as function. The new Fuji reel seats on all the 2012 models was an instant winner with me,while mounting my new Ardent Edge Elite reels the reel seats seem to be tougher, easier to handle, with bigger grips for us old folks. I had to think twice about mounting reels and using the new rods as they were so impressive looking I wanted to put them in my trophy case to impress the fishin’ buddies when they come over. But in South Texas pretty don’t cut it with the biggest average Bass in the country and some of the harshest, toughest cover and conditions it takes only the best equipment to cut it.
First stop was Coleto Creek, a power plant lake in the dead of winter with cold temperatures, raining sideways, and 20 to 30 MPH winds. (It was tough on me even if the rods did not feel a thing.) Couple the weather conditons with thick hydrilla mats and pre-spawn conditions the perfect arena to give the new Spinnerbait and Plastics rods a workout. The attributes of the closely spaced small guides was apparent right away in the screaming wind. Around these parts braid is the primary line which has a nasty habit of getting “blown out” from the space between eyelets, bowing the line in multiple places along the rod slowing the cast and increasing backlash issues (even worse when wet). The closely spaced small Fuji® guides held the line along the rod with no “blow out” and I was impressed by the noticeable additional casting distance. The first fish came on a spinnerbait as it crept across a small pocket in the heavy hydrilla. The 7 lb plus bass smashed it and dug straight into the thick weeds. Despite the braided line screaming under the strain of the fish and 50 pounds of hydrilla the Spinnerbait/Jig combination power of the rod pulled the fish out without breaking a sweat. The TBC71MHF Spinnerbait/Jig-N-Worm has the backbone you need for powerful hook sets or winching fish from heavy cover coupled with right amount of speed at the tip to accurately cast spinnerbaits even in tight places.
As I said earlier my favorite all around St.Croix rod has been the Plastics model, I have 4 in the MOJO BASS series (MBC70MF). Again right out of tube there are some noticeable differences the (Bass Series) Legend Tournament TBC71MF Plastics is 1 inch longer than its predecessor and seems to have an overall thinner diameter blank and very nice “long” taper. The 2012 model seems to be noticeable light and feels slightly “stiffer” to me resulting in much better feel/sensitivity.
The Mojo series has 9 eyelets (including tip) and the 2012 Plastics has 12 small-sized Fuji® K Series tangle-free guides (a true work of art). During the tournament that day I had to transfer a reel to the new rod and with freezing wet hand the new Fuji reel seat was worth its weight in gold. This rod got the most workout as I used it to “Rip” a rattle trap, crank a square bill and my secret weapon on Coleto a swimmin’ worm. Usually wary about changes in my favorite tools the new Plastics rod far surpassed my expectations and is now even more versatile than before with added power and lighter weight. I fished this new St. Croix for over 6 hours that day with little to no fatigue, a tournament win, with no fish losses or missed strikes, and the majority of the fish coming out of super thick grass. St. Croix has truly oudone themselves with the great improvements in the new 2012 rod series.
Next stop legendary Lake Falcon watch for the second part of this Rod Review and If you find yourself in South Texas check out the selection of St. Croix Rods at Roy’s Bait and Tackle Outfitters.
