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Location: Colorado/Birch Point, Lake Vermilion | So I'm looking into getting a new rod for big bucktails and larger rubber baits. I have decided I want to get a St Croix Legend Musky rod and have it narrowed down to the 8'6" Heavy or X-heavy. I wanted to get everyones opinion, this will be my 3rd musky rod but would still like it to be fairly versatile. I haven't ever thrown pounders or magdawgs but would like the option. Thanks in advance. |
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Posts: 2378
| xh |
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Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | Im with Baldy on this one, XH all the way!
Peter |
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Posts: 20
| XH here too. |
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Posts: 64
| The 8' 6" Heavy is the "Slingblade" which i love and is a very versatile rod and the "Big Dawg" rod is the XH which is awesome also. I'll be adding that to the collection soon. GET BOTH!!! |
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| I have both rods. Thowing a big bulldawg on the sling blade (HF) may be a bit much for it but not for the XH. Get both if you can swing the $$$ but the XHF would be a good universal approach. You could throw both with the XH. |
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Location: Oswego, IL | I have both and I figured the I would use Slingblade would be what it was "designed" for, big blades. My opinion, I think the tip is to light for the 8's or 0's whater you may do. Its can cast them great but boatside not my cup of tea. I found I use this rod for everything smaller, suicks, mepps, top h20, jakes, blah blah blah. I use the big dawg for my bucktails now, and plastics/swimbaits. Its tough and feels great. I am glad I have both, and am going to also get the jerkbait one as well just because I personally like a shorter rod for this. Cant go wrong with Croix. In fact if you have older one(s) you can trade them up for a new tourney if you wanted. I did this myself and saved a lot of money. I am happy with both, but what your asking my opinion is the Big Dawg. |
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Location: Colorado/Birch Point, Lake Vermilion | Thanks for all of your opinions, I'm now leaning toward the Big Dawg or both if I can trade up. muskiewhored, how do you go about trading up for a tournament legend? |
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | I think going a liitle too heavy in a muskie rod is always a way better option than going a little too light. Sort of like a rainsuit or pair of boots..you can always make a bigger one work but if it's too small, you're out of luck. |
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Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | http://www.stcroixrods.com/content.asp?id=14
Peter |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | 1-800-826-7042 Dan at ext. 139 or Andy at ext. 135. |
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Posts: 388
| I've got the Premier 86XHF and really like this rod. Not sure how the Premier compares with its Legend counterpart. I throw 13" Suzy Suckers with this rod and it has more than enough backbone for those lures which weigh nearly 1#. Also throw the Mammoth Curly Sue with this rod which weighs nearly 1.5#. I think that some part of my anatomy is more likely to break than this rod when casting these lures!!!
Took a little getting used to its lack of "load up" on the big bucktails but once you do that it works really well. Would be nice with little longer handle to give more leverage with the cast. I would consider an 86HF Premier rod if that is offered by St. Croix next year for the big bucktails and likely some other appications as well. |
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Location: Oswego, IL | Flambeauski - 9/1/2009 10:04 AM
1-800-826-7042 Dan at ext. 139 or Andy at ext. 135.
Like he said, call in. Also check the web if you dont want to call in and read about the program. Also you will need the serial number if you are calling in to see exactly how much you would get for your used one. I am not saying its the best for everyone, but sure helped me out! I love my tourneys! |
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | Yake, I have the 8'6 Premier and the 8'6 Big Dawg Tournament. There was over $120 difference between them, new. To me it's laughable the upcharge for the blue rod, that Premier is just a great rod. I only got the Big Dawg thru a buddy who has a deal with Croix at the resort he guides at. Yah, the blue rod (really, really goofy looking IMO) is lighter but for the extra money they cost I think that Premier is every bit as good. I use them both a lot and like them both, but I think there comes a point in lots of rods and reels where you're paying for a little bit of status. Five years from now Croix will be selling a 'Master Legend Super Magnum Trophy Hall of Fame Champion' rod that will be tied on a pink blank and the old blue Tournamnets will be unloaded left and right on Ebay in favour of the new toy. You can't lose with a Premier rod for the money, plus them bumped up the warranty on them too. |
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Posts: 388
| JBush - LOL
I dig Premier rods. Waiting patiently for an 86HF action. The 86XHF rocks |
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Location: Oswego, IL | JBush - 9/2/2009 7:17 PM
Yake, I have the 8'6 Premier and the 8'6 Big Dawg Tournament. There was over $120 difference between them, new. To me it's laughable the upcharge for the blue rod, that Premier is just a great rod. I only got the Big Dawg thru a buddy who has a deal with Croix at the resort he guides at. Yah, the blue rod (really, really goofy looking IMO) is lighter but for the extra money they cost I think that Premier is every bit as good. I use them both a lot and like them both, but I think there comes a point in lots of rods and reels where you're paying for a little bit of status. Five years from now Croix will be selling a 'Master Legend Super Magnum Trophy Hall of Fame Champion' rod that will be tied on a pink blank and the old blue Tournamnets will be unloaded left and right on Ebay in favour of the new toy. You can't lose with a Premier rod for the money, plus them bumped up the warranty on them too.
I'd buy any rod called the "Master Legend Super Magnum Trophy Hall of Fame Champion" But only if its Blue!
Edited by muskiewhored 9/3/2009 7:04 PM
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | Just hope Croix never aquires the Carrot Stick boys! |
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Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | I'll second that!
Peter |
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Posts: 375
| just buy the croix legend / premier xh 8'6" and get it over with then watch the mid to lower end products duke it out! it's pretty funny...better than pay-per-view! |
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Posts: 375
| flam, what you heard is true and it also will have a volume control as well! |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | And handwarmers built into the cork! Seriously if I could only fish with one rod it would be the TM86XHF, its a little much for the double 8's and small dawgs but perfect for 13's, heavy 10's, bigger rubber and big jerkbaits. |
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Posts: 375
| thanks flam, through process of elimination i figured out that the one wire coming out of the bottom of the prototype blank was meant to go to the stereo speakers but just didn't realize the other was meant to go directly to the battery for warming purposes! oops! the croix cat is out of the bag! |
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Location: Oswego, IL | The wire is for an electric blanket to keep the kid in the reel seat warm in fall
Edited by muskiewhored 9/4/2009 2:40 PM
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Posts: 375
| and we were all lead to beleive that the "croix sling blade" was the best of the best! you aint heard / felt / seen nothing yet from croix:)
Edited by STUSHSKY 9/4/2009 2:49 PM
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | You have to be kidding me I just bought 2 new LT's now there's a even better one comeing out! Stop makeing me spend all my money St.Croix. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | How does the Big Dawg do Pounders? I only throw them occasionally, but do throw them. I have a MI now for my plastics, it's the 4-16 oz rod, and it works fine...but good enough never being good enough and all. I'd like my Sling Blade to have a matching brother. lol Just curious if anyone's thrown Pounders or the big Medussas on one yet. |
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | Esoxfly that's all that I throw with my big dawg and love it. My buddy has the same MI rod you do but says it's a real chore to huck compaired to mine. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | What Tim said. I think the pounder weighs 14oz and Dawg is rated 10 conservatively. So pounders yes, 2 pounders no. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Well crap, now I gotta get a Big Dawg. |
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | Don't feel so bad fly I just bought another 1! |
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