New Fishing Pole

[VillainousHero]

So, I just bought a St. Croix Eyecon rod to fit my Shimano Stradic reel.

But now I have to decide what line type or poundage
to use for it and if I should us this set-up for lunkers or just panfish like
crappies.

Tough decision.

Blaque Phrydai deal?

The Eyecon is sort of tailored for walleyes in design but any rod can be used for anything one wants.  Just have to have the specs that one is looking for.  Or whatever your own hands likes best for feel.

[Prude]

Blaque Phrydai deal?

The Eyecon is sort of tailored for walleyes in design but any rod can be used for anything one wants.  Just have to have the specs that one is looking for.  Or whatever your own hands likes best for feel.

Yes, it was the Black Friday thing.

There are only three kinds of fish I care to fish for these days: eyes, crappies, and white basses.

I think this rod will work for all of them if I used a 6-lb to 8-lb line.

Does the Suffix flouro fly well? I don't care too much about braids.

[VillainousHero]

Yes, it was the Black Friday thing.

There are only three kinds of fish I care to fish for these days: eyes, crappies, and white basses.

I think this rod will work for all of them if I used a 6-lb to 8-lb line.

Does the Suffix flouro fly well? I don't care too much about braids.

I have never used Sufix flouro, so I don't know.

Typical 6 or 8 lb test lines will cover most application.

[VillainousHero]

Shimano Zodias - new updates coming 2026

https://kenshikuroda.com/expride_zodias/46149/

[VillainousHero]

So my favorite Saint Croix rods price hiked

Legend Elite retails for $515-540 now.

didn't see that coming.  That's a huge price increase from it's original rod price that was like $300 from about 20 or so years ago.  Rod prices for them were like in the $400+ price just last year.  It was just in the upper $400's retail price just over the summer to fall prices.  Wow it is now over $500 now.

It's a great rod. One of the best.

Legend X retails for $455-480 now.

It split grip version of the Legend Elite and has always matched exact retail price.  Not right now for current price.

Legend X2 retails for $615-640

Introduced this year after ICAST and they moved the Titanium Torzite line guides from the Legend Elite and wrapped them on this brand.  The Legend Elites drops back down to the Titanium SiC guides.

Fuji Components are still subjected to tariffs.

[Prude]

I'd like to get a high-end Loomis some times. But I see that my
St. Croixes are enough for my purposes for now.

I tried Japanese in college but didn't go far. I realized
that the language changed my personality. I didn't
want that. So now I wish I at least learned it, because
of things that Shimano comes up with for the lakes
and rivers.

[VillainousHero]

Oh my...New Zodias BFS rod for 2026.

two released power and lengths.

6'8" Ultra Light+
7'1" Light

I definitely would consider the 6'8" Ultra Light+

In a way I'm kind of glad I did not get the just discontinued 7' Light BFS model - which barely even had one year released.  In part that rod had a 15" handle length of which I wouldn't want.  For whatever reason while fishing, that length just rubs contact onto my clothing or sleeves.  As experienced from other rods of those lengths.  Hopeing the newer one will be shorter.  As the information on it is not quite listed yet.

[Prude]

I don't like long rods. My 6' truck bed is not enough to hold it in.
Also, it's too awkward for me.

Ultra light has been a problem for me on big fish. The rod just
doesn't  help the hook pierce  the lips, gills, throat or what-not else...

I like medium to fast action, fast power rods.

[VillainousHero]

I don't put the rods in the truck bed anymore.  It bounces and slides around, then the chances of damage is more likely to happen.  A long time ago, my Ugly Sticks goes in the truck bed.

The rods that have broken on me were that someone stepped on one.  Then somebody was too rough when removing the rods from trunk and snapped the upper portion of a rod.  Then once when a rod slid into the anchor tie of the boat and when I reach to lift it, it caught onto it and cracked right at the pressure point.  They were all kind of cheapo rods but those situations could also happen to the expensive rods too.

I've also removed lures from rods and tie down the sinkers with some straps/wraps.  Also hate how rods tangled together or a lure especially the hooks gets caught into something else like the upholstery on vehicles.

*******

Typical UL rods are often too flimsy for me.  BFS for bass fishing models are sort of different in that they're usually designed to have a backbone on the lower half section of the rod.  The new Zodias BFS rod is listing as an UL+ so it should be more powerful than a typical UL rod. 

[Prude]

I've broken rod tips on car doors and house doors before.  I know what that's like.
I'm extra careful these days as I own only one-piece rods and not those
that come apart. I am also using pole sleeves to keep hooks from cutting my fingers
and going through clothes.




When I put my rods in the trunk bed, I put sand bags under them. That somehow
keeps them in place and give me some cushion.

Medium power is the lowest I'll go with. When I dink the catch and let the rhythm
run through the line to the hook, that usually cuts
right through a lip or throat somewhere.

[VillainousHero]

I used to just put the tackle bag onto the rod handles in the truck bed.  It will hold it fairly secure and prevent bouncing around.  If just normal driving.

However, knowing how terrible other drivers are on the road.  Yeah when one has to swerve or slam brakes just avoid those types of other drivers. 

[VillainousHero]

St. Croix Legend Xtreme Casting Rods

retail priced hiked to $740.00 - $775.00

yowzers.

[VillainousHero]

So I stopped into Joe's - Daddy Day Sale...As usual by this time of the year the pickings were slim...by what I mean is there's almost no good selection but typical stuff.  Well there were a few good rods, but they were returned intems as the original decal tags were missing.  I get people buy, then change mind and return, but if the decal tags are removed = it's used.

I was really looking for the new version of Zodias rods.  Joe's had some selection, but the one I was looking for is the BFS 6'8" UL+ casting rod.  They didn't have any, so it's fated that I wasn't meant to have one.  They did have one 7'1" Light power casting rod.  I held it in hand and examine it a little bit.  I say the build quality is pretty good.  I know from experience that that one extra inch doesn't seem much but when put together with other 7' rods, that one inch is problem. It pokes into everything else.  Plus I still have that Phenix Feather 7'1" rod and I really don't like that so much either.

I looked at some of the new Zodias spinning rods.  Yeah, the new build featured a smaller stripper line guide, so it's probably feel a bit lighter in casting motion.  Overall the slight build changes may improve the overall rod performances.

Oh well no hurry...

[Prude]

Wowzers! I ain't buyin'...

I've  moved from St. Croix to the TFO walleye rods after rolling up my backseat window
cut off the tips of my two medium light St. Croix rods.

When I was still in your environment, I went to
Joe's, too, and got a discount on one of the holidays. 20%. Not as Daddy's time of 30% off, but
still better than originally. A guy there suggested UL for trouts. But I took that extra fast
action rod. I told him I was worried about penetration and that I would  just adjust the drag.

The rod has been my new, versatile, favorite pet.

St. Croix Legend Xtreme Casting Rods

retail priced hiked to $740.00 - $775.00

yowzers.

[VillainousHero]

Wowzers! I ain't buyin'...

I've  moved from St. Croix to the TFO walleye rods after rolling up my backseat window
cut off the tips of my two medium light St. Croix rods.

When I was still in your environment, I went to
Joe's, too, and got a discount on one of the holidays. 20%. Not as Daddy's time of 30% off, but
still better than originally. A guy there suggested UL for trouts. But I took that extra fast
action rod. I told him I was worried about penetration and that I would  just adjust the drag.

The rod has been my new, versatile, favorite pet.

Ouch...that's St. Croix abuse!!!! 

The whole UL for trouts or even panfish.  Is that catching a 6" trout is definitely suited on an UL rod.  Trout in the 10-13" is better on a L powered rod.  14" and up ML or M powered rods.
But everyone will fish what they like best.