Shimano or St.Croix 2025
Hitch reply :
Looking at getting some new rods and was wanting to get some opinons on these two brands.I was looking at the Crucial's and the Avids.Any help would be great.
preemptive strike reply :
I was having this exact decision in Bass Pro yesterday, had both of these in my hands just trying to pick the one to get. I ended up purchasing the Crucial. It just felt better to me I guess. I think it's much easier when you can hold the rods and see them rather than buying online. Of course I have only had the Crucial for a day now, but I really love it so far. I don't think you can go wrong with either rod though. I have heard great things about them both. Maybe someone who owns them both can help you out more.
Raul reply :
QuoteLooking at getting some new rods and was wanting to get some opinons on these two brands.I was looking at the Crucial's and the Avids.Any help would be great.
Tha Avid is a better rod than the Crucial or the GLoomis GL2.
Tin reply :
Crucial
JellyMan reply :
I bet the Avaid is a better "bassin" rod but the Crucial is a nice rod period. I am latley leaning toward specie specific rods instead if kinda "all around" rods. Shimano seems to make more rods that please the masses and if I am correct, the Avid is a Bass rod. I may be wrong tho.
Captain Obvious reply :
Uh oh the Shimano and St.Croix guys are going at it may the best brand win lol
reo reply :
Avid = Made in USA 8-)
Bass Pro reply :
I've used both and the Crucial is a much better rod. They are lighter and balance better and feel more sensitive. The Crucial really is a very nice rod for the money.
dmac14 reply :
I love my Avid, and my crucial's. Pretty equally actually. I have a drop shot Crucial, and a crucial flipping stick, these rods are very light and sensitive. IMO the avid is a little bit more sensitive, but also feels a little heavier and the power hump grip is something to get used to.
skno reply :
my vote goes to the avid
Bassaholic84 reply :
The Avid is a much better rod in my opinion. I was never really impressed with the crucial. The cumara is more of a comparison to the avid i feel. Except in the price range. Cant go wrong with St. Croix. Made in USA best service out of any company i have ever dealt with. And no questions asked when it comes to their warranty. St. Croix is one of the best rod manufacturers and they take much pride in their work.
The Yankee Fist reply :
I got to shake alot of rods at Cabela's last night and those were the 2 brands I looked at most...just my impressions here:
St Croix has very nice build quality and nice tapers. I did like the Avids better than the Legend Tment and the LE for some reason. They felt good and seemed well thought out as far as a simple, conservative high quality rod goes. Tickss on the GL2 and is pretty damned close to an IMX....a little less stiff and tapers among comparable models had the IMX being a little quicker feeling and a little more rigid and the IMX *may* have a touch more sensitivity. St Croix's handles are very nice too. The whole rod was very nice and I can clearly see why people like them so much.
Shimano makes really nice stuff, the Crucial is a REALLY NICE feeling rod...Cumara is too...I think overpriced on both ends..why? okay, they feel JUST like the other expensive Chinese rods such as the top end Cabela's and the other offshore sources so you can get close to the Shimano for less cash. Still though they have a nice feel, well built and look nice but lack a little something next to the Avid but I can totally see why people like them and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one at all.
Both mfrs produce good stuff but I still liked the Avids best overall for that price point.
Just my 2 cents.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
Crucial
Dave T. reply :
QuoteTha Avid is a better rod than the Crucial or the GLoomis GL2.
Raul,
Value your opinion highly... why do you feel the Avid is a better rod? Like Hitch, I plan on getting a little lighter power spinning rod than my MF LE. I was also comparing the Crucial to the Avid. So, can you elaborate on why you prefer the Avid?
kms399 reply :
get the avid, all shimano rods are garbage my friends, sisters boyfriend has a shimano rod and he said it broke when he stepped on it. I would never fish shimano rods. 
Bassoholics Anonymous reply :
Avid. I really like my Crucial, but I love my Avid. My Avid is number 2 only to my IMX.
Quoteget the avid, all shimano rods are garbage my friends, sisters boyfriend has a shimano rod and he said it broke when he stepped on it. I would never fish shimano rods.
Better get an Ugly Stik then.
coryjames reply :
Quoteget the avid, all shimano rods are garbage my friends, sisters boyfriend has a shimano rod and he said it broke when he stepped on it. I would never fish shimano rods.
now this guy know what hes talking about.
just last week i closed the door on my car and my shimano rod was there and the cheap cumara thing broke and crushed into two pieces : ;D
preemptive strike reply :
QuoteQuoteget the avid, all shimano rods are garbage my friends, sisters boyfriend has a shimano rod and he said it broke when he stepped on it. I would never fish shimano rods.now this guy know what hes talking about.
just last week i closed the door on my car and my shimano rod was there and the cheap cumara thing broke and crushed into two pieces :
Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't just about any rod get damaged if a car door closed on it?
S I G M A reply :
St. Croix for fishing rods, shimano for bicycles...
rubba bubba reply :
QuoteMaybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't just about any rod get damaged if a car door closed on it?
So even with the smilies you still missed it?
uicdent11 reply :
I have used both brands in both spinning and casting. I find that the Avid is a much better spinning rod. I find it more sensitive and the feel is much better in my hands. Now, the casting rods make for a much closer race. I will say that holding each rod w/o a reel that the Crucial feels better. Once fitted with the same reel I think they feel the same. I really can't comment on the sensitivity bc I used both rods for moving baits. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up either. I would have more of each if I didn't just pick up my first IMX.
Jeff H reply :
The best answer is to get one of each!! Both great rods!
adclem reply :
I have never fished with a Crucial, I have always used St Croix rods for the most part. I don't think you can go wrong with either one. Would like to hear more from others that have fished both and their thoughts. I personally just upgraded to some new rods and I went with the Avids over the Crucials, except for my jig rod I went with a Falcon Cara T7, another outstanding line of rods.
Later,
burleytog reply :
The Avid would be a nice rod if St Croix would trash those awful handles.
pk reply :
I had this same problem last week. I went into BPS held both and fell in love with the Crucial 6'8 M Drop Shot. I used it twice last week with finesse worms and 4" senkos and was able to set the hook on every bass that struck.
I liked it so much I sold one of my carrots and went back to BPS and got a drop shot rod for one of my new baitcasters.
The Avid has some nice crankbait rods, but I hate crankbait rods and usually just use a stiff worm rod for that. But if you were looking at crankbait rods I'd check the Avid.
Bassaholic84 reply :
QuoteI had this same problem last week. I went into BPS held both and fell in love with the Crucial 6'8 M Drop Shot. I used it twice last week with finesse worms and 4" senkos and was able to set the hook on every bass that struck.I liked it so much I sold one of my carrots and went back to BPS and got a drop shot rod for one of my new baitcasters.
The Avid has some nice crankbait rods, but I hate crankbait rods and usually just use a stiff worm rod for that. But if you were looking at crankbait rods I'd check the Avid.
You use a stiff worm rod for cranks? Thats the total opposite of a crankbait rod.
pk reply :
QuoteQuoteI had this same problem last week. I went into BPS held both and fell in love with the Crucial 6'8 M Drop Shot. I used it twice last week with finesse worms and 4" senkos and was able to set the hook on every bass that struck.I liked it so much I sold one of my carrots and went back to BPS and got a drop shot rod for one of my new baitcasters.
The Avid has some nice crankbait rods, but I hate crankbait rods and usually just use a stiff worm rod for that. But if you were looking at crankbait rods I'd check the Avid.
You use a stiff worm rod for cranks? Thats the total opposite of a crankbait rod.
Yeah. It works fine. I just don't like the bendy parabolic feel of crankbait rods when reeling in a heavy deep diving crank. Too much pressure on the rod makes my hand tired plus I'd rather just muscle my cranks in on a stiff rod.
coryjames reply :
i guess it would work.you just wouldnt get the same distance,but not always needed.i use a fast action.only because i dont use cranks much where i fish.
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