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Posts: 267
| Howdy,
I'm looking to get some new rods and would like to stay in the St. Croix Family. That said, these new reel seats are holding me back so I'd like some input.
I had the chance to use one of the Legend Tournament rods with a Tranx and the new reel seat two summers ago for a full day of fishing. It was awful. Normally I have no problem fishing and palming a Tranx all week with a Premier. But after a day with the new palming reel seat it felt like I had carpal tunnel and my forearm hurt for days.
I have done a lot of reading from people who say they felt the same way but, after using it more, got used to it and, in some cases, prefer it now. I have also seen the pics on how to hold it, etc. So, whats the secret?
Also, and this may be important. I am left handed. I cast with my left, reel with my right, and the rod never leaves my left hand. I suspect this is part of the problem as my normal "casting grip" with a traditional trigger reel seat is two fingers in front of the trigger (middle and index) and three fingers (ring, middle and index) in front of the tiger on the retrieve.
Obviously this didn't work with the new reel seat so I tried to reposition my hand in front of it, but with the palming reel seat I struggled to find a position that gave me easy access to the release button on the thumb bar and a good grip on the reel and the rod during the cast and the retrieve. I felt like I was going to throw the rod in the lake. I was casting a cowgirl but working a glider or a twitch bait also seemed like it would be a real challenge.
I thought maybe a smaller reel would make it easier but never tried one. I also thought maybe I just need more time with it because so many people seem to love it. But I also thought maybe the reel seat isn't for me because of the way I cast, particularly with being a lefty.
Anyways, does anyone have anything they can share? Also, filing off the trigger isn't an option for me as I'm too anal to live with that. I'd like to be able to stay with St. Croix over Loomis but I also don't want to spend a lot of money and them have to sell the rods. Also, while I know its an option, I would prefer not to go custom if I don't have too.
Finally, are the reel seats on the Legend Tournament and the Legend Elite exactly the same? They look slightly different online but I have never seen the Elites so I can't tell for sure. It looks a bit more ergonomic on the Elites, and perhaps more user friendly for people like me, but maybe thats just the picture.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Take care,
Ruddiger |
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Posts: 668
Location: mercer wi | The elites are slimmer the legands. I started having more hand issues since they changed to palming seats. Not sure if I'm getting old or it is the reel seat. I looked in to cost to put older style grips on LT but will cost any were between $70-$100. That included shipping. Miss old grips. Thinkin bout selling my lt. Just exchanged my nasty n sling blade because I broke them when cleaning out boat for year. |
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Posts: 89
| I thought it was my issue because of my hand/forearm problems from last year's use. I see it's not just me. After 2 weeks in canada, I still haven't got feeling completely back in fingers. Went to message therapy for forearm.. Never had a issue like this before. This was the first year with only new reel seats on my new croix rods. Interesting. ... |
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Posts: 267
| Howdy,
Interesting indeed! What you described is EXACTLY what I had. Fortunately for me it only lasted a week or so. I was really surprised since I have been fishing muskies for close to 20 years and never had a problem like that before or since.
I wish someone from Park Falls was reading this and would realize that there are customers who want these rods with a normal reel seat. At the very least it would be nice to have a choice, even if it was only for special orders and not something carried in inventory.
I want to replace my Premiers with 6-8 of them depending upon the model but I feel like I can't for the reasons described, which is very frustrating because I have only muskie fished with St. Croix rods. Surely I can't be the only customer they are losing?
Take care,
Ruddiger |
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Posts: 668
Location: mercer wi | I talked to one of the guys at St croix bout option of regular seats. They said since the majority like the palming seat it's not cost efficient to offer both. They can do custom because it would take time away from production.
I understand were they are coming from. I live not to far from park falls. Got to know some of the guys there over the years. Just sucks. |
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Posts: 353
Location: Western U.P. | I was in a similar situation this past season. Wanted to change up some rods, and upgrade some others, but couldn't find anything that really got my attention. I've tried the palming seat on 2 Legend Tournaments, and really disliked them. Dislike to the point of no desire to try one again. I lose comfort & control using a palming seat vs a trigger seat, and gave them a fair chance with both round and low profile reels. If I forced myself, could adapt over time... but I don't want to do that. This will be my 40th year Musky fishing, and I'm getting old. Just don't feel like having to adapt to what the market is pushing.
I do like the the new Legend Elites, but there is that reel seat again. It is unfortunate that St Croix (and Abu Garcia with their new rods) only has that option for most of their better rods. I'm well aware of market demand, product development/costing, etc., but why (St Croix if you're listening) would you try to steer the market that way by only offering palming seats on most LT's & LE's. I have no facts to base the next statement other than my own opinion/experience, but the majority of Musky fisherman in general, and those looking for a higher end rod probably still prefer the traditional trigger seat. Offering both styles might be better for sales (just my opinion). I could be wrong, as it wouldn't be the first time, but I think that previous statement is more correct than not. Maybe a poll thread is in order for this Winternet.
I know that you said that you didn't want to go custom, but if you are unable to get what you want off of the shelf, make your own, or have a rod builder do it for you. Was able to get my hands on a Predator (the steel blue colored one), and 2 LE blanks a while ago, and am building them at a rod builder friend's shop this winter. My friend builds a nice rod, but I am really anal about my rods, and wanted to make my own. My point is that for the price of a LE off of the shelf, you could buy a LE blank, and have one built exactly how you want it for a comparable price. Best of both worlds in my opinion. Good luck in your search, and next season. |
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Posts: 89
| I'm going with the thorne bros and selling the legends with the new seat. Love the elite blank. I think a custom built one would be great. |
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Posts: 668
Location: mercer wi | Think I'm Goin to do the same. Been thinking about that all season. |
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Posts: 1716
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I would not buy a rod without the palming seat. Relax your grip a little and your forearm issues will go away. I cast with both hands so that the reel is not stuck in the same hand all day long without moving the hand. I spend about 150 days on the water a year and haven't had an issue since I relaxed the grip and alternate casting hands. Your shoulders will thank you also. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Rather than buy a factory rod, what about looking into getting a custom made (Thornes or somebody else that carries the St. Croix blanks) and having them made with a standard seat? Not usually THAT must more expensive than stock. |
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Posts: 1348
Location: Pewaukee, WI | I'm 76 yrs. old and was a reel palmer as well. After a week in Canada of palming a reel nearly 12 hrs. a day it finally caught up to me. I chose to ignore the numbness in 4 of my 5 digets for the better part of 2 yrs. This winter I finally had surgery when the numbness started interfering with my sleep. I guess what I'm trying to say is to use the fore grip on the rod (that's what its there for) and don't palm your reel and you'll save yourself a lot of grief later on. |
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Posts: 267
| Howdy,
For those of you who have tried both rods, the Legend Tournament and the Legend Elite, is the reel seat on the Legend Elite more ergonomic and more comfortable?
In the St. Croix literature for the Elite rods it shows a guy flipping out a Phantom Softail and he is holding the reel seat like a traditional trigger reel seat (i.e. with his index finger in front of the trigger). In comparing the reel seats of both rods online, it looks like the palming trigger on the Elite is thinner, slightly further forward from where it meets the cork handle and has a contoured gap on the back side of the "trigger" that the Legend Tournament does not.
Do any of these differences make the reel seat on the Elites easier to use and less cumbersome than the ones on the Legend Tournament?
Take care,
Ruddiger
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