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Does anyone know how the action of the new Imperial line of rods from St. Croix compares to the Legend Ultra? They both are rated as fast. St. Croix just doesn't give much differentiating information between their rods on their website.
I was going to choose an Avid 908.4 until I discovered the new Imperial line. Is the slower action of Avid quite noticeable?
I'm just "casting around" for input. Thanks in advance.
Ole
Is this any help to you?
A Post in FFF (UK site) - by Grommit who has brought the St. Croix range in again to the UK.
"The Imperial is a fast actioned rod wheras the Avid is a moderate/fast rod. The main difference between them, as with any different range of rods from the same manufacturer, is the quality of the blank and fittings used.
In all honesty, I wouldn't have any hesitation in recommending either range as I was impressed with all of the St Croix rods when I first saw them. From what I can gather, the Imperial was actually relaunched as there was an outcry when it was discontinued and going off the number of enquiries we are getting about them, they will remain a very popular rod."
I think that when you get down into the shorter rods and lighter weight lines that a fast action is not really that necessary as you want more 'feel' to your casting.
TLs
IMHO the Avid and LU give you a better feel for rod loading. I've fished a 7wt Avid 4-pc (pre-IPC) for years, and while the Imperial is definitely faster, it's not my preference. And note, I also have a couple fast-action rods in the 5-9 wt range that I absolutely LOVE...so it's not so much the "action" that I didn't like in the Imperial. I have a TFO TiCr and a TiCrX that are way faster than the avid, but those rods too give a good indication of loading.
Cast as many as you can. I'd rather drop $300 on a rod that I really enjoy casting than $150 on something I didn't like much.