Gear Review: St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass

WHAT IS IT?

St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass

WHAT SETS IT APART?

During the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Marathon at the Greenville Convention Center, St. Croix introduced a new line of rods with a lighter, stronger design created for improved balance and performance. With a lineup of 24 models — baitcasting and spinning rods — the Legend Tournament Bass family features next-generation hybrid SCIV+ carbon fiber blanks, with certain models built on technique-specific iACT SCIV+ and linear S-Glass composite blanks. 

HOW DO I USE IT?

Complementing their unique combinations of proprietary materials, St. Croix’s new rods include the company’stop technologies such as Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology, Advanced Reinforcing Technology, Integrated Poly Curve mandrel technology, and Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) blank design. Premium components include Fuji K-Series tangle-free guides with Alconite rings, split-grip, super-grade cork handles customized per model (full-grip super grade cork handles on select models) and model specific hook keepers placed according to technique.

HOW MUCH?

$290 to $345

MORE INFORMATION: 

Stcroixrods.com

ANGLER’S INSIGHT:

Is it a rod factory or a science lab? Maybe some of both describes the intense design diligence that occurs in St. Croix’s Park Falls, Wisconsin facility, as reflected in this new Legend Tournament Bass line’s hybrid blank designs. What that means is each individual blank contains a different and distinct combination of materials that allow it to excel in its intended application. Just the right flex, just enough backbone — easier said than done, but St. Croix finishes each rod model with a sensitivity test on its SC Dynamic Analyzer, which helps the design team determine the “where” and “how much” of SCVI material. The result is a tantamount to a purebred bird dog that was born and raised to do one thing and do it at a superior level.