This beast kicked my ass! Popping cork was in right place at the right time when she came through feeding on grass shrimp in the back of small pocket after LT. A long run to the left and then a long run to right (weak knees held up!). Then a final hard dive under the boat and SNAP!
I never really considered that they could snap a rod. Expensive one at that. The drag was set correctly but not for an up close hard run. Next time I’ll know to back off the drag when fighting in close quarters!
Bummer! These bait-fattened reds can fight.
What lb test braid and leader were you using?
30 lb power pro slick v…20lb seagar. FG knot for mono to braid and palomar on the glup…trout eye short shank 3/16
Warranty & Registration – St. Croix Rod Warranty & Registration – St. Croix Rod
It was a gift, right?
Sure it was, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I didn’t read all the link I posted, but I think for three of your Andrew Jacksons they’ll send you a replacement.
Yes. This will be my third st croix rod that was replaced. Shipping is usually $50
I my opinion, now don’t take this the wrong way please, but in my way of thinking 30 pound braid and 20 pound leader just might be a little overkill for both that rod and your target species.
I get it, when the big one comes along you gotta be ready, ,but case in point, when he came you weren’t ready due to the light rod OR the heavy line.
That penn battle only has 15 lbs of drag anyway, so you got that working against that rigging too.
Again, just my humble opinion and my 2 cents, and as always advice is generally worth what you pay for it, so there’s that.
Keep the feedback coming @EF1 !!! I would be on the bank holding a spinning reel upside-down if it were not for this site! 
I hardly think that’s the case, but I was in my 50’s before somebody pointed it out to me.
I was always popping the rod eyes too, and then blaming it on cheap stuff
I fished last week with a friend that had a couple of the St Croix Avid 7 foot medium heavy- fast action rods and he shared one with me for an hour or so
I liked it a lot, all around a good stick, ,maybe Santa will drop one off later
Them expensive rods break real easy.
The only time I use one is when the water is very cold and I have to stay in contact with my trout trick.
Had a brand new St. Crap 7’ med. heavy rod and the 1st fish was a 27 3/4"…broken. 1 piece tuned into a 2 piece trashcan ornament.
There might be other rods on the market but St Croix is the only one that is sensitive enough to feel the small tick of a winter trout bite. There is probably a trade off between a sensitive rod and fragile structure.
My new st croix replacement is being shipped this week. $60 for the rod includes shipping
I’ve been liking a Fenwick 7 foot medium- fast action a lot in the past few I’ve bought.
Fenwick Elite is the one I’m talking about
No matter what I’m using
I hate it when a big spotail destroys my nice little trout set up
He will usually get invited home for chowder.haha
I use fenwick hmc for my 1000 size penns. With 10lb braid I can easily throw the 1/8 and 1/16 voodoos long distance. This setup is all I use in fall/winter for reds when they are pushing the grass shrimp at LT
When water temps hit the 70s like now, it seems like that is a redfish’s optimal temperature. They fight harder than ever when the water is at the temp it is right now. So that 27 probably felt like a 34 if I had to guess.
Being a former pole vaulter I know a thing or 2 about poles. When a PV pole breaks clean in 2, it is always a result of a nick. Maybe it fell on a pebble when it was dropped, or someone stepped on it with a spike. At max tension the fibers snap at the weakest point, aka when the red shoots under the boat bending the rod 100 ish degrees. Don’t tell that to your warranty ppl tho
Now when the pole breaks into 5 pcs, that’s just overstressing it. Ask me how I know
When I break one in several pieces it’s absolutely due to excess stress
I get in a hurry and the stress of the tailgate closing too fast or an oak tree on the way home snatching one is the excess stress that usually gets mines anymore, lol
@Optiker Its very possible. I had problems with rod tips breaking when I switched to an aluminum boat. Once I installed a mount for my rods it stopped. But I have to drive 3 hours to fish salt so bouncing on the rough roads could have caused a nick…@ All - Can I get a witness on SC roads conditions!!!
