St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore Casting Rods
St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore Casting Rods
By Perry Mack
St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore Casting Rods
This tough enough for saltwater fishing rod took the award for Best Saltwater Rod at iCast 2017. Building it for both strength and durability, St.Croix engineers started with a high-modulus/high-strain SCIV graphite with FRS, added a Fuji Palm Trigger Seat (PST) blank-touch reel seat lined up with Kigan Master Hand Zero Tangle guides with slim, strong aluminum-oxide rings and titanium frames to beat back the effects of saltwater. Perfect for the serious weekend angler or the committed tournament angler moving up through the ranks.
Three fast action models for your arsenal from 7’0” – 8’0” , designed for 8-40 lb test, 3/8 – 3 oz lures, with medium to heavy power.
MSRP: $280 - $340 USD - stcroixrods.com
St. Croix Legend X Casting Rods
St. Croix Legend X Casting Rods
St. Croix Legend X Casting Rods
This new freshwater series combines the super high-modulus SCVI graphite with FRS in the lower section for max strength and high-modulus/high-strain SCV graphite with FRS and carbon-matte scrim for durability, strength, and sensitivity. All engineered with St. Croix exemplary technology including; Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) tooling technology, Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) blank design, and Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART).
The blank then gets Fuji Torzite titanium frame guides, a Fuji PTS blank-touch reel seat with built-in hood, a Kigan titanium hook-keeper all of which you can slip in the included protective rod sack.
Ten models from 6’8” to 8’8”, designed for 10-80 lb test, 3/16 – 11 ½ oz lures, with moderate fast to extra-fast action and medium to heavy power.
MSRP: $390 - 420 USD - stcroixrods.com
G. Loomis GLX Casting
G. Loomis GLX Casting
G. Loomis GLX Casting
The self-proclaimed cornerstone of the product line for 20 years, the GLX has been redesigned for 2018 to be even lighter than before while retaining its legendary power. The GLX received a new proprietary reel seat, split grip handle (although Mag bass and Spin Jig rods have full cork grips), Fuji K-frame and SiC guides. Some tapers are also new, increasing the sensitivity even further than before.
11 models from 6’8” to 7’5”, designed for 10-25 lb test, 1/8 - 1 oz lures, with fast to extra-fast action and medium to extra heavy power.
MSRP: $420-$465 USD - gloomis.com
G. Loomis Conquest Mag Bass
G. Loomis Conquest Mag Bass
G. Loomis Conquest Mag Bass
All I want for Christmas is a new rod … this new rod. Two of the heavyweights in the industry joined forces to engineer this new rod, G. Loomis and Shimano. How could this happen? Shimano bought G. Loomis. Twist in the graphite was eliminated using Shimano’s Spiral-X technology – improving casting distance and accuracy. They also increased the rod strength to help set your hook and fight the fish all the way to the boat. The blanks are built in Shimano’s Japanese factory then shipped to G. Loomis in the USA to be finished. The rods also feature Fuji Torzite guides and custom reel seats. Sensitivity is further enhanced through using a blank-through-handle construction (just what it sounds like), the handles being full cork.
Eight fast action models from 6’6” to 7’6”, designed for 8-25 lb test, ¼ - 1 1/4 oz lures, with medium-heavy to extra-heavy power.
MSRP: $650 - $675 USD - gloomis.com
The Sport Fishing Gear Guide is available on newsstands from coast to coast, including Walmart, Chapters and Shopper's Drug Mart, or get a digital copy by clicking right here.
Connect with The Sportfishing Guide on social media: twitter; instagram; facebook