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Winter Jerkbait Fishing with St.
Croix’s Application Specific Legend Tournament Rod
(continued)
  Real
World Tests: To
test the St. Croix LTBC66MF we fished through two winters targeting bass in the
California Delta and Clear Lake. Though designed for fishing jerkbaits we also
used the rod for fishing a variety of plastics to test the rod’s range. We
paired the LTBC66MF with a Daiwa Sol and a Shimano Calais and spooled up with
Toray Fluorocarbon for fishing plastics and Trilene Big Game for fishing
jerkbaits and ripbaits.
The
rod casts lures up to 5/8oz well
Casting:
Some anglers like to fish
jerkbaits with spinning gear
but I much prefer using
baitcasting rigs as they
allows me to get casts out
quicker, and with jerkbaits
one of the things that you
will want to do is cover a
lot of water quickly
searching for fish willing
to give chase. The LTBC66MF
is 6’6” in length and offers
a reasonable casting
distance, and while it can
be out-cast by longer rods
it is designed to offer a
proper blend of casting and
control.
Geared up in warm clothes we hit the Delta and Clear Lake
Retrieving:
Jerkbaits are great in the
winter and as long as the
fish are not lockjawed and
sitting right on the bottom
the variable action of these
baits is usually enough to
get inquisitive fish to
strike. When fish are in the
mood to chase bait then hang
on tight, strikes are sudden
and intense.
A
small cork grip is placed below the reel seat
The LTBC66MF is a great
length rod for medium sized jerkbaits that do not dive too deep. The tip on the
rod feels crisp and I found it easy to work jerkbaits and the moment I felt any
tick or resistance on the line it was easy to set to the side or upwards without
the tip getting in the way. Sets are quick with this fast action rod and because
the rod is not very long or forgiving you will want to loosen up the drag a bit
as the tip will only absorb so much shock.
A
foam butt finishes the rod off and serves as a cushion against your forearm when
ripping lures
If you prefer a steady
retrieve while fishing jerkbaits the LTBC66MF can accommodate the method but if
you are like me and like to routinely mix it up with a series of pauses and
jerks to illicit a more erratic motion then you will absolutely love the
accurate response and control offered by the LTBC66MF.
A
look at the bare Fuji ECS reel seat
When fishing at Clear Lake
the water was so clear that I could see over 30 feet down and actually witnessed
both fishing chasing the jerkbaits and even strikes. The LTBC66MF is so
responsive that I could the lures to pause or surge forward right in front of
fish in an effort to draw more strikes. Sight fishing with jerkbaits is
phenomenal fun, and the LTBC66MF is a great tool for teasing fish into striking.
The
rod is loaded with Fuji Alconite guides supported with chrome frames
Power:
When field testing the
LTBC66MF in the stained
water of the California
Delta I drew most of the
strikes on the pause right
between jerks. The water
clarity was 3 feet at best
and less than 2 feet on most
days. I never saw the bass
take the bait, the minute I
felt anything I set the bait
and the battle would ensue.
There were even two
occasions when I
unexpectedly caught schoolie
stripers and even these
three pound striped bass
were a lot for the LTBC66MF
to handle.
The
graphite looks solid in color with pearl flakes through the reel seat...
The LTBC66MF is just as the
name implies, a jerkbait
rod, not a heavy ripbait
rod. While great for soft
jerkbaits and smaller hard
ripbaits this rod feels
burdened with deep diving
ripbaits in tow. This is a
good medium powered rod for
ripping up bass but if you
intend to target stripers
with ripbaits a longer rod
with more power to handle
bigger fish is desirable.
...but look closer under the sun and you can see the tightly woven fiber
graphite fiber
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