I had the chance to test drive two St Croix Mojo Bass series rods. Although these rods are marketed as technique-specific bass rods, they are well suited for many other applications. My mission was to find a good rod for pitching ¼ oz blade baits with no-stretch braided line. I’m new to the technique so Dean Marshall of Everts Resort has been coaching me. As with most bait/techniques, there is a “system” to maximize the presentation. The right line and rod combination is critical. I won’t go into the details but through trial and error Dean has come up with a “system” for this technique. It consists of 8 lb test no-stretch fusion or braided (hard) line coupled with a six and a half foot medium light action, extra fast taper spinning rod.
Dean sent me out with a St Croix MBS 69 MLXF, and is marketed as a drop shot rod. I added a St Croix reel spooled with 10 lb Power Pro braided line. The rod is 6’9” medium light, extra fast taper. The Mojo series features all of the good components such as silicone-carbide guides, Fuji reel seats and split cork handles.
I’m a little gun shy of ML action rods but I was very impressed with this rod. The extra fast taper of the rod really changes performance. It cast well, has excellent back bone with just enough tip action to cushion the surges and head shakes of a walleye on no-stretch line. As Dean predicted, the rod is well suited for blade baits. I didn’t take the time to switch reels but I suspect it would perform nicely with 6-8 lb mono for vertical jigging and an all-around walleye rod.
There wasn’t a chance to try its designed application. However, it has all of the right attributes to be a great drop shot rod. It has the extra length, the backbone one needs to lean on the fish to set the hook and the cushion of a soft tip.
The second rod I tested was a MBS 68 MXF marketed for Wacky rigging. This rod is more to my preference for all-around bass rod for light line presentations. The medium, extra fast action has the umpf to handle a nasty smallmouth bass. I took it out to pitch and drag ringworms. I set it up with 6 lb gold Stren mono on a St Croix reel. The dragging bite has been very tough this year and the only way I can make it work is by feeling every rock and rough spot on the bottom. When I get the “right feel” I stop the boat and let the worm soak in place, then ease it over the object. With an 1/8 oz jig head and 50 yards of 6 lb mono out, you need all of the help you can get. The rod was super sensitive and it helped me make the technique work. Towards evening I started casting the rip-rap and wing dams with a 3/32 oz head and mini-paddletail combination. The rod cast the light combo with ease and was sensitize enough to telegraph the bites. The fish were very cooperative so I had land lots of fish. The tip protected the 6 lb line but the backbone let me land the fish quickly (the more casts the more fish). Again, this is an excellent rod for a lot of different walleye applications.
For the bass guys, this is rod that will work for a lot of applications besides wacky rigging. I can see it used for jig worming, shaky heads, either Texas rigged or exposed hook tubes for skipping docks and for all of your other light-line applications.
The Mojo series falls between the Premier and Avid rods in the St Croix lineup. They have the quality components such as silicone-carbide guides, Fuji reel seats and split cork handles and a 5 year warrantee. They are reasonable priced around the $100 mark. From my prospective, they are a great value. I have to add I consider myself a bit of a rod slob. When I compare the $300 rods to a $100 rod I just can’t tell the difference. I don’t know why but I doubt that it has affected my fishing. My preference would be to use the $200 difference for another fishing trip. Dean has the whole Mojo line at Everts and is willing to let you try a rod before you buy it.
The photo is from the St Croix website.
John
