Edge Black Widow Vs St Croix Legend Elite 2025
Fisher Guy reply :
I trying to decide between a st croix lend elite or an edge black widow. Anyone have an opinion on these spinning rods? I fish mostly large mouth with some large pickerel every now and then. i would pair it with a shimano stella 2500. I usually gw with a light rode but am thinking the 7' med-light for both choices. Not a lot on line about the black widow. Any opinions would be so helpful. Thanks
S Hovanec reply :
Before I dropped $500+ on the Edge, I'd get a custom built on a NFC. My first choice would be a custom on a St Croix SCV though.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
I can't imagine dropping $500 on a cookie cutter Rod.
skno reply :
St. Croix would be me.
WRB reply :
If a $550 spinning rod is in your budget you can choose between Loomis NRX, MegaBass Destroyer, Edge Black widow. Lamiglas, St Croix and Dobyns are in the under $400 range.
Having a custom rod built to you exact requirements from state of the art components would be under $400 price point.
I am not familiar with Edge other than Gary Loomis started the company with his brother after selling Loomis to Shimano.
You need to touch and feel before you buy.
Tom
kickerfish1 reply :
St Croix will have the better warranty. Frankly I would probably go custom build or NRX rep sample/dealer demo.
Fisher Guy reply :
thanks for the feedback. went to bass pro shop yesterday. Touched and liked the st croix a lot. Not sure how to go about getting a custom st croix though? Im off the edge after reading up some more. sounds like you guys prefer the nrx over the st croix?
Edited by Fisher Guyspelling
MIbassyaker reply :
Hmm...maybe I'm just a cheapskate, but I'm having a hard time getting my head around the notion of deciding to spend $500 on a rod without already knowing exactly what I wanted.
0119 reply :
Last year I got to talk to Mr. Loomis at a small local shop and handle his unique rods. Nothing about them was cookie cutter and everything about them was amazing. I'm apparently the only person who has less than stellar customer service from St.Croix. Anyway the edge was on an entirely different planet from even the very top end of St.Croix and I regret everyday that didn't buy one.
S Hovanec reply :
On 3/20/2016 at 11:56 PM, 119 said:Last year I got to talk to Mr. Loomis at a small local shop and handle his unique rods. Nothing about them was cookie cutter
If it's a production rod, it's cookie cutter. I believe they are just a production rod built on a NFC HM blank. You can get a one of a kind built on the same blank fir less. Why buy something that others have?
Fisher Guy reply :
don't really want something others have. King really seems to like the black widow so i should probably not rule out. again how do i get a custom rod built? also my wife recently left me as i caught her with another guy. she had some bucks so i just got a lump sum in the split and therefore feel i deserve a really nice rod after what i been through. Or else i wouldn't spend $500 on one. the St croix is 400. also any thoughts on a med lt 4-8 lbs test vs 6-6 light 4-8 test. catching mostly large mouth bass 2-5 lbs. Thanks for all the advice.
WRB reply :
Contact DVT site sponsor and discuss his thoughts on a custom spinning rod.
ALX is who I used in the past, Alex uses state of the art components.
Customer service, warranty, trail period and shipping all factor in who anyone should buy from.
Tom
kickerfish1 reply :
There are many rod builders out there that can build you a rod. Some are members of this forum that build for fun and for their own clients, some are sponsors, and some will pop up on a Google search. To me it is kind of like finding a good, honest, and reputable mechanic. Lots of guys do it but their style and craftsmanship may not be what you are looking for either. The builder you choose should be able to execute your build idea and help with questions and fitment issues among parts you choose.
Also keep in mind the hidden costs that most builders won't always tell you up front.
-Labor cost to build the rod - This may vary a bit depending upon who you go with - I would figure a good $50 - 100 here
-Shipping the rod - They aren't like a larger retailer who will ship a rod for free - expect $25-35 here
-Shipping the rod components - All places that I am aware of will hit you with a $10 charge for all rod blanks shipped
- MSC supplies - Rod epoxy, finishing products, and other supplies that they may need to use
-All of your components - Blank, guides, reel seat, cork/foam grips, but caps, foregrip parts, thread wrap, etc.
Pick a custom rod if you have the funds and the want to have something unique and built in specific way with certain components. Keep in mind that more bling and trim pieces you add the more the cost goes up.
Choose a shelf rod if you want a lower cost, ability to recoup more of your cost should you sell it and overall better warranty support. If your custom rod fails it may only cover the blank. You still need to worry about having the rod re-done with what components could be salvaged from your failed rod.
Customs and factory rods appeal to folks for different reasons. I would look into both before pulling the trigger either way...
Fisher Guy reply :
thanks a lot. very helpful.
0119 reply :
On 3/21/2016 at 2:07 AM, S Hovanec said:Why buy something that others have?
I say that all the time about my custom made Ambassadeurs, and the world thinks I'm nuts.
.ghoti. reply :
contact this guy
http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/profile/23280-delaware-valley-tackle/?wr=eyJhcHAiOiJmb3J1bXMiLCJtb2R1bGUiOiJmb3J1bXMtY29tbWVudCIsImlkXzEiOjE3MTQyNSwiaWRfMiI6MTk0MjA1Mn0%3D
"nuff said
KP Duty reply :
The lifetime transferable warranty loomis provides is worth $500 alone. When my great grandson breaks the glx I pass on to him, he will get a brand spanking new one. Almost doesn't seem right.
John G reply :
Try selling that custom rod for anything close to what you paid for it. No thanks! I'll buy my cookie cutter JDM rods and be happy with my choice.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 3:04 PM, John G said:Try selling that custom rod for anything close to what you paid for it. No thanks! I'll buy my cookie cutter JDM rods and be happy with my choice.
The idea is you get a rod made for you, and only for you that you plan to keep. Not everyone plays that game of buying high end rods and then sell them 3 years down the road to get something else, that is like leasing cars.
roadwarrior reply :
I have never considered resale value.
S Hovanec reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 12:06 PM, KP Duty said:The lifetime transferable warranty loomis provides is worth $500 alone. When my great grandson breaks the glx I pass on to him, he will get a brand spanking new one. Almost doesn't seem right.
You're absolutely correct, it isn't right. If that rod didn't break on the first couple trips, then there isn't anything wrong with it and any break after that is operator error. I wish all the companies would do away with the unconditional, no fault lifetime replacement BS. It lets people abuse their rods with no consequences. But this is a whole other topic.
On 3/27/2016 at 3:04 PM, John G said:Try selling that custom rod for anything close to what you paid for it. No thanks! I'll buy my cookie cutter JDM rods and be happy with my choice.
I have no problem selling my customs for what I paid for them. 
Fisher Guy reply :
i bought the st croix 7' legend elite. paired with a stella fi 2500. tried today for first time. liked it but too cold still to catch
MPM IV reply :
Congrats man. I hope you enjoy it.
Capt.Bob reply :
On 3/19/2016 at 8:09 PM, S Hovanec said:Before I dropped $500+ on the Edge, I'd get a custom built on a NFC. My first choice would be a custom on a St Croix SCV though.
X2 excellent advice! You could have the Legend Elite custom built for with the finest components and custom built handles fer around $400.00 I agree the St. Croix is a better blank SCV,, or the Extreme Blank w/SCVI in the lower section when you can have it with full cork, both better than the SCIV Legend Tournament blanks!!
On 3/27/2016 at 9:26 PM, S Hovanec said:
On 3/27/2016 at 9:26 PM, S Hovanec said:I have no problem selling my customs for what I paid for them.
All my custom rods go up in resale value every year I own and responsibly use them!! Take care of them and you will never loose money on a properly built custom rod that has been properly assembled with top quality components!
On 4/10/2016 at 7:55 AM, Fisher Guy said:i bought the st croix 7' legend elite. paired with a stella fi 2500. tried today for first time. liked it but too cold still to catch
Congrats on a great rod,,,, I almost always buy the Legend Elite over the Extreme when I purchase the factory built rod's, as I will take the full cork rear and front grip over the skeletonized any day!! The difference in that and the lighter weight are both a bigger defference with the Elite, the difference in sensativity between the two, which is excellent with both.
I own two Legend Extreme rods and both are casting, I would have bought neither if I didn't get them on sale at 50% off, as I knew I would have another 100 bucks in getting full cork rear grips custom installed on both,,, that and the fact they were the year models that came with REC Recoil guides made them a no brainer fer me!!
Enjoy that new Legend Elite rod,, EXCELLENT CHOICE!!
Kevin22 reply :
If you lose money by selling a custom made rod you goofed. You either got completely ripped off, had your name printed on it (I did that one!), or order some completely oddball colors or graphics. Otherwise you are buying componants and selling componants. The blank always has a value, as do the guides, they can be reused. A hand built "custom" rod with a good blank, good guides, a good reel seat, and a "normal" color scheme will have no problem selling at or near what you paid.. as long as your builder doesn't charge you $200 labor. The reason being is that just as someone else pointed out, it will be LESS than a comparable factory rod when talking high dollar rods.
kickerfish1 reply :
Kevin - Also consider the fact that there won't be any warranty for the 2nd owner. Typically blanks like those are of the Mudhole brand, will have the user register their blank for warranty purposes. The other issue lies in the fact that some will have the rod spiral wrapped which again is something that doesn't appeal to everyone. Like you noted graphics, colors, and reel seats are the other piece. The fact is that most custom builds never will be sold at what the original owner paid. You have depreciation and the fact the 2nd owner doesn't care what you have tied up in labor and small materials costs.
Here is an example:
Lets assume you have $250 tied up in materials for the build. Lets assume you are charged $100 shipping and labor by the builder. Total cost for the 1st owner is $350 out of his pocket. There is no way he is selling that rod to the next guy for $350. I know a good amount of guys that fish a lot of customs. When they sell them they barely get the cost of the guides and blank back. There is NFC custom build on TT that has sat there for weeks now at $300 YTD. The guides and blank alone clear $300 easily.
At the end of the day the right rod, built to look a certain way, and with components that link up to what a secondary buyer is looking for could be sold for not much of a loss. It just isn't something that happens all that often.
Fisher Guy reply :
hey bob thanks for that makes me feel better about the purchase. can't wait to start catching
EllisJuan reply :
Those that say they don't lose money on their custom rods please explain. Who are you selling them to? Why is someone buying a second hand custom rod for the same price they could have one built to their personal taste?
Everytime I see a custom for sale it is a good bit cheaper than when it would cost to have built...usually not even the price of the materials.
kickerfish1 reply :
On 4/16/2016 at 10:19 PM, EllisJuan said:Those that say they don't lose money on their custom rods please explain. Who are you selling them to? Why is someone buying a second hand custom rod for the same price they could have one built to their personal taste?
Everytime I see a custom for sale it is a good bit cheaper than when it would cost to have built...usually not even the price of the materials.
They simply aren't getting every dime back they have in the rod when the sell. They may be able to sell the rod for parts cost if they are lucky but they aren't getting labor and msc materials out of it. Two years ago I bought a custom rod for $225 shipped. The blank on this build alone was $219. There were no names like "Built By" or "Built for" on it and it was only used once or twice and you could hardly tell it from new. As far as I am concerned anybody that says differently is full of it.
deaknh03 reply :
Here is the only caveat to the custom rod reselling topic. If your reselling one of the cheap customs, I've seen them custom made at $100 or so, you might be able to recoup most of your money, but when you talking about a true, CUSTOMIZED rod made with QUALITY materials, made by a CRAFTSMAN, you will never recoup all or often even most of your money. there is too much labor and craftsmanship put into a higher quality rod that cannot be recouped in a resale.
S Hovanec reply :
On 4/17/2016 at 12:01 AM, kickerfish1 said:They simply aren't getting every dime back they have in the rod when the sell. As far as I am concerned anybody that says differently is full of it.
No, I'm not getting every dime, sometimes I'm getting a few more. I'm probably an anolomy though, as I build my rods in my spare time between customers rods. I get every bit of what I pay for parts out of my personal builds. I don't put my name on my rods with the intent of selling them some day.
sarcazmo reply :
Im of the opinion most high end blanks perform VERY similarly and the biggest difference comes down to getting the specific action you want and brand preference.
If you built a custom on any high end, NFC, K2, SCV, Eternity2 etc I'm sure you'd be more than happy. I love the competition as it tends to breed innovation and we as anglers win.
I'm slowly phasing out my off the shelf rods for customs. I like knowing exactly what I'm getting every single time.
Fisher Guy reply :
cool sarc what action do you use?
new2BC4bass reply :
My used RX7 Rainshadow custom was $100 and my used RX8 was $105. I feel quite certain these rods cost quite a bit more originally. I had a cheap $100 casting rod built for my daughter. Quality didn't compare anywhere near these two rods.
WRB reply :
Last I looked Loomis sells thier NRX warranty for $100, it's not included in the price of the rods.
Tom
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