Phenix Bass Recon Elite vs St. Croix Legend Elite

[freelancer27]

Hi all,

In the market for a Jig/Chatterbait rod.

I chose these rods since they have a long, full handle. I have a Avid X with a broken guide that I am considering to use for the Gold program with St.Croix to upgrade to the Legend Elite.

Considering the following:

* Phenix Bass Recon Elite Casting Rod 7'6" Heavy

* Phenix Bass Recon Elite Casting Rod 7'9" Heavy

* St. Croix Legend Elite Casting Rod 7'4" Heavy


Legend Elite would cost me: 280 USD

Phenix would cost me: 200-210 USD (I could sell the Avid X additionally, not sure though how much I could get for it...)


What are you guys thinking?


Thanks!

[tacklejunkie2]

St. Croix Legend Elite in a heartbeat! Check out the TT review of the St. Croix Legend Elite. A friend of mine has both of these rods (in different powers) and I'm fairly confident that he would choose the St. Croix. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the Phenix Recon, but you get more bang for your buck with the St. Croix.

[freelancer27]

St. Croix Legend Elite in a heartbeat! Check out the TT review of the St. Croix Legend Elite. A friend of mine has both of these rods (in different powers) and I'm fairly confident that he would choose the St. Croix. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the Phenix Recon, but you get more bang for your buck with the St. Croix.

Thanks mate.

Wondering if should also consider the St. Croix Legend Elite Casting Rod 7'6" Med Hvy...

[timsford]

I would also choose the legend elite between those two. 7'6"is a little too long for me for chatterbaits. Id look at either the 7ft mh fast or 7'1" mh xfastdepending on line and cover

[freelancer27]

* St. Croix Legend Elite Casting Rod 7'1" Med Hvy
* St. Croix Legend Elite Casting Rod 7'4" Heavy

Heavy or Medium Heavy?

[BlaineFred]

I believe the St C's fish heavier than their rating....

It used to be that way, but I'm not sure about the LE's.

Experts please weigh in here.,..

[robsone79]

im a phenix guy. either recon will serve you well for jigs. I tend to go 1/2 oz or lower for most of my jigging, for this I prefer a MH, but that's my preference. as for chattaerbaits I throw them on x-10. really heavy grass situation ultra mbx 7 foot mh.
good luck, let us know what you end up with.

[freelancer27]

I believe the St C's fish heavier than their rating....

It used to be that way, but I'm not sure about the LE's.

Experts please weigh in here.,..

Yeah, that is true my Avid X MH feels more like a Heavy compared to other MH rods that I have.

im a phenix guy. either recon will serve you well for jigs. I tend to go 1/2 oz or lower for most of my jigging, for this I prefer a MH, but that's my preference. as for chattaerbaits I throw them on x-10. really heavy grass situation ultra mbx 7 foot mh.
good luck, let us know what you end up with.

I am not sure yet what to do. Heavy or Medium- Heavy, St.Croix or Phenix or even something else like a Megabass... Those first world problems... lol

What would you guys choose and why?

[BlaineFred]

On jigs, St. Croix's Dan Czerwinski, their warranty guy, may move you up to a Legend Xtreme. I had an Xtreme MH, and it was a very sensitive rod, enabling me to feel the jig move along the bottom and feel the very light bites. The MH fished like a H, so I didn't like it. I should have obtained the M.

[freelancer27]

On jigs, St. Croix's Dan Czerwinski, their warranty guy, may move you up to a Legend Xtreme. I had an Xtreme MH, and it was a very sensitive rod, enabling me to feel the jig move along the bottom and feel the very light bites. The MH fished like a H, so I didn't like it. I should have obtained the M.

I tried the Elite Extreme. Nice rod but I did not like the handle. My hand hurt after a bit... Interesting that you prefer a lower powered rod for Jig fishing. You must have to set the hook like there is no morning to drive it in..

[timsford]

I used to use my avid 7ft mh fast for trigs, jigs, Carolina rigs, swimjigs, chatterbaits, buzzbaits, and large night spinnerbaits. It had plenty of power to fish all these well in sparse grass and moderate wood cover. I've used a medium power for light trigs, jigs, and spinnerbaits in light grass and it has plenty of power to set The hook and fight fish as long as you aren't planning on skiing in a 6 pounder out of heavy grass. The st Croix rods are a little more powerful than most rods rated the same power by other manufacturers. Abu Garcia rods also feel that way to me, and imho they are more powerful per rating than the Croix rods. Some rods seem a little lighter in power than rated. I only bring this up because the only recon I fished felt lighter in power than rated compared with most mh rods I've fished. Sensitivity is subjective but the legend elite is st croixs flagship rod on their best blank with torzite guides and quality cork. They also have a great warranty. The phenix is no slouch but it's a lower prices rod than the legend elite and the blank isn't as sensitive and the guides aren't as good as the Croix either. Phoenix makes good rods but I've fished the last model recon, an m1, and a umbx and none were as sensitive as the last generation legend elite I fished with. Both rods have been redone since I used them so take this for what it's worth but the legend elite is a step above the recon imho. If you choose the Croix I'd think a mh power would be perfect unless you fish heavy mats or pads. If it's the recon then the older model mh wasn't powerful enough unless I used it only in open water. I would have rather had a mh for anything with a thick hook like skirted baits or around any cover. Everyone prefers different rods even fishing the same spot and technique though so hopefully some others will chime in. Also just out of curiosity for anyone who has fished both, how do the new record compare against the old ones?

[freelancer27]

I used to use my avid 7ft mh fast for trigs, jigs, Carolina rigs, swimjigs, chatterbaits, buzzbaits, and large night spinnerbaits. It had plenty of power to fish all these well in sparse grass and moderate wood cover. I've used a medium power for light trigs, jigs, and spinnerbaits in light grass and it has plenty of power to set The hook and fight fish as long as you aren't planning on skiing in a 6 pounder out of heavy grass. The st Croix rods are a little more powerful than most rods rated the same power by other manufacturers. Abu Garcia rods also feel that way to me, and imho they are more powerful per rating than the Croix rods. Some rods seem a little lighter in power than rated. I only bring this up because the only recon I fished felt lighter in power than rated compared with most mh rods I've fished. Sensitivity is subjective but the legend elite is st croixs flagship rod on their best blank with torzite guides and quality cork. They also have a great warranty. The phenix is no slouch but it's a lower prices rod than the legend elite and the blank isn't as sensitive and the guides aren't as good as the Croix either. Phoenix makes good rods but I've fished the last model recon, an m1, and a umbx and none were as sensitive as the last generation legend elite I fished with. Both rods have been redone since I used them so take this for what it's worth but the legend elite is a step above the recon imho. If you choose the Croix I'd think a mh power would be perfect unless you fish heavy mats or pads. If it's the recon then the older model mh wasn't powerful enough unless I used it only in open water. I would have rather had a mh for anything with a thick hook like skirted baits or around any cover. Everyone prefers different rods even fishing the same spot and technique though so hopefully some others will chime in. Also just out of curiosity for anyone who has fished both, how do the new record compare against the old ones?

great reply, thanks!

[freelancer27]

Ok here is my current list of options:

* Phenix Bass Recon Elite Casting Rod 7'6" Heavy
* St. Croix Legend Elite Casting Rod 7'4" Heavy
* St. Croix Legend Elite Casting Rod 7'6" Med Hvy
* Phenix Bass Recon Elite Casting Rod 7'4" Med Hvy
* Orochi XX Casting Rod 7'2" XH Perfect Pitch
* St. Croix Avid X Series Cast Rod 7'4" Med Hvy

How would you rank them and which would you choose?

[goldrod]

Question for OP,
Are you looking for rods at a certain price point because you have other options with the price point outside of the two brands.

[freelancer27]

Question for OP,
Are you looking for rods at a certain price point because you have other options with the price point outside of the two brands.

I am flexible.

Characteristics that I am looking out for in the rod are:
* Length (7'1'' - 7'9'')
* Handle (preferred is a full handle with at least 16 inch)
* Sensitivity
* Light

* Applications: 80 % Jigs (1/2 oz - 1oz), 10% single hook paddle tail swimbiat, 10% chatterbait