Which Fishing Rod Is On Your Wish List?

I had the good fortune of catching up with the President of St. Croix Rods, Mr. Paul Schluter, during ICAST in Orlando. There certainly was quite a bit of buzz surrounding the Avid Pearl line of spinning rods, so it was my duty as a fisherwoman to investigate. Would it be just another “girlie” rod in a pinkish hue that had no real backbone on the water? And, how much thought had actually been put into the design and materials used?

Well, I picked up the 7-foot fast action spinning rod and fell in love almost instantly after noticing the following key features:

• Made with premium, high-modulus SC^III graphite.
• Zirconium guides with 316 stainless-steel frames for outstanding corrosion resistance
• An amazingly lightweight and sensitive feel
• A split-grip cork handle
• Beautiful abalone trim
• Ergonomically correct handle design that better fits the grip of a ladies hand
• Designed and produced in the good old U.S.A.
• An attractive purple-ish pink Flex Coat finish that is far from garish
• Slim-profile ferrules
• Limited lifetime warranty

My take? If you’re serious about fishing and want a rod that performs while also looking lady-like, save your cash. Make the $200 investment in a St. Croix Avid Pearl — especially given the limited lifetime warranty and top notch customer service that St. Croix is known for providing.