ST. CROIX AVID INSHORE RODS

St. Croix has been in the business of making some of the best fishing rods that proudly wear the “Made in USA” label for over 65 years. Founded in 1948 to manufacture jointed bamboo fishing poles for a Minneapolis hardware store chain, St. Croix has grown to become the largest manufacturer of fishing rods in North America.
St. Croix’s new Avid Inshore spinners include two 6-1/2-foot models; six 7-footers; a quartet of 7-1/2-footers; and four 8-footers. Actions range from moderate to fast, with power factors that cover the spectrum from light, medium-light, medium, medium-heavy to heavy. The casting series of the Avid inshore rods are less diverse, consisting of two each in the 7-foot, 7-1/2-foot and 8-foot ranges. All of the casting rods offer fast action blanks with your choice of either medium-heavy or heavy.
Speaking of blanks, this is where St Croix puts some distance between themselves and the competition. All Avid Inshore rods are built on an SCIII graphite blank, featuring St. Croix’s exclusive Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) tooling technology. This exclusive process yields continuous curve tapers, increased hoop strength and improved sensitivity.
Raising the stakes, Avid Inshore rods feature an enhanced guide platform with Kigan Master Hand “Zero Tangle” guides with solid-titanium frames for 100% protection from saltwater conditions. All see-through thread wraps are protected by two coats of Flex Coat slow-cure finish for lasting durability over the seasons. Fuji DPS graphite reel seats with gunsmoke hoods offer a comfortable grip and solid foundation for the casting rods; while Avid Inshore spinning models sport trusted Fuji ECS or TCS reel seats. All Avid Inshore rods are crafted with super-grade cork handles tipped with corrosion-proof wind checks. The Kigan titanium hook keeper is a nice finishing touch.
I field tested the model VIS66MHF spinner, which is a 6-1/2-foot fast-action stick with medium heavy power. Predictably, when inspecting the rod, the guides were positioned perfectly on the spline of the blank, something that you would expect from a top-notch rod builder. I was amazed at the fit and finish of this precision fishing tool, in addition to its strength and relatively light weight (only 4-1/2 ounces). It’s light as a feather, but has the power of Thor’s hammer, so you can fish it all day long without fatigue.
The Avid Inshore wears a thematic seafoam green skin that gives these rods classic good looks. Designed and handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin, the all-new Avid Inshore rods retail for $230 to $290 and come with a 15-year transferable warranty backed by St. Croix’s Superstar Service