Sensitivity: Unfortunately, the paddletail bite never materialized for me while fishing the BAC710HF so in order to get bit and at the same time test the rod's sensitivity, on a subsequent trip I tied on an actual jig - a Berkley PowerBait Football Head Jig tipped with a MaxScent Chigger Craw trailer (0.9oz on the scale). I'm really enjoying some of these new extensions of the PowerBait brand. They instill an unexpected level of confidence with that infusion of PowerBait.

The running guides are stainless steel with polished centers (SeaGuide Atlas Performance)

Fishing the BAC710HF in this manner with my straight fluorocarbon setup, the stick delivered positive results in the sensitivity department. Obviously, given its price point and blank construction, I'm not expecting or looking for something hyper crisp, but I'd say it's on par with what I'd expect with a leaning towards above average for the price point. I think part of this is due to the hybrid guide train.

I think that hybrid guide train contributes to good sensitivity on this stick

All metal guides, whether they be REC Recoils or the SeaGuide Atlas Performance guides on the BAC710HF are often criticized due to concerns of durability. Specifically the concern that without the ceramic insert, the metal rings can develop grooving. However, the advantage of guides like this is increased sensitivity. With fewer materials and material transitions to travel through, those critical vibrations coming through your fishing line, to the guides, down the length of your blank, and into your hands can do so more efficiently. With a hybrid strategy, it's not unreasonable to assume, that by using these metal guides only in the position of the running guides, you mitigate that potential for grooving - especially at the tip top.

Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our St. Croix Rods BassX BAC710HF against the historical averages of similarly powered rods we've tested over the past twenty years.

Power: An area of little concern with regards to the BAC710HF is power. This stick has plenty of backbone to set with single, jig style baits yet there's enough give in that tip to be suitable with treble hook baits as well. It's a unique combination not all "fast" tapered sticks possess, but of which the BAC710HF is perfectly capable. It has a nice, smooth power curve that exerts enough pressure to allow you control of your catch, yet not so much that (with a properly set drag) you risk pulling hooks from the fish's mouth.

Checking out that taper

Design & Ergonomics: Overall weight, power, balance for the BAC710HF matches up almost perfectly with our historical average for rods we'd classify as all purpose swimbait sticks. These are typically sticks that can handle up to four to six ounces in lure weight comfortably. The BAC710HF's balance is actually better than average and it has a sufficiently, long fourteen inch handle for two handed casting with big baits. That's really the minimal length needed on sticks designed to launch big baits. Of course, on the conventional side, like when I fished it as a jig stick, depending on how you're working your bait, that longer handle can get in the way.

Composite cork elements towards the end of the BAC710HF's grip assembly

The BAC710HF comes with a closed loop hook hangar

Cosmetically, everything comes down to a matter of taste. The BAC710BHF features a full rear grip and foregrip made mostly of EVA foam. There are some bands of composite cork towards the butt end and at the end cap, and the foregrip is integrated into the reel seat locking mechanism. The reel seat does not have a cutaway at the bottom giving the overall build a very heavy and bulky look, yet as I stated, overall weight and balance for this stick is good. It's a classic case of looks being deceiving with the BAC710HF.

The non-cutaway reel seat gives the handle assembly a bulkier appearance than what it actually feels like in hand

Price & Applications: Another great feature of the BAC710HF is its price point of only $150. Anglers looking for their first big bait stick or those simply on a budget will appreciate the accessibility of St. Croix's BassX line in general and the BAC710HF specifically. As stated earlier, I find this stick suitable for both vertical and horizontal bait presentations with single jig style or treble hooked baits. It's far more versatile than its ratings might suggest.

St. Croix's BassX BAC710HF is sneaky good at the $150 dollar price point

Conclusion: The BAC710HF is an interesting stick. The handle assembly gives the stick a very bulky appearance leading one to believe it's heavy and cumbersome to fish. Quite the opposite is true. If you manage to get your hands on this stick, you'll discover it's lighter and better balanced than it appears and out on the water, it's a very comfortable stick to fish for extended periods of time or even all day. The hybrid guide train is something most anglers shopping at this price point might not understand or frankly even notice, but I'm certain it contributes to the stick's sensitivity. If you're an angler on a budget or simply looking for a good value stick for tossing big baits and the occasionally heavy jig, you need to take a closer look at St. Croix's BassX BAC710HF. It's sneaky good.

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