Why Is Hunting Allowed On Ossabaw Island and Why Did the Atlanta Constitution Push To Open It for Development

Sometimes the “news” amazes me. Ossabaw Island has been the subject of several articles recently. Most of them complain that Georgia is running the island as a hunting preserve and only allows hunters the privilege of going there. The articles say more people should be allowed to visit and vacation on this state owned island off our coast. They say it is not right that the general public can not go there for recreation.

Ossabaw Island is in the Heritage Preserve Program that limits its use, by state law, to “natural, scientific and cultural study, research and education, and environmentally sound preservation, conservation and management.” That law prevents recreation for the public. Hunting is used only as a management tool on the island.

During the past few years, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has reduced the deer population by 20 per cent on the island, and tried to eliminate as many feral hogs as possible. Although hunting does provide recreation, it is used to keep the numbers of animals in check on the island, and that is specifically allowed in the law creating it.

I know the people who equate growth and progress would probably like this natural preserve to be built up like Panama City Beach or Myrtle Beach, but that kind of recreation is prohibited by state law. Ossabaw Island is preserved in a natural state for research and education, and allowing more public access for recreation would limit its use in these areas.

The reasons some papers like the Atlanta Constitution are pushing for more recreation on the island are unclear. They may have connections to developers standing to make lots of money from changing the island, or they may just hate hunters and everything associated with them. It is a shame their reporting can not be more balanced, though.

Can Fishing With A Good Bass Fisherman Help You Catch More Fish?

I found out last week how much fishing with a good bass fisherman can help. Bobby Ferris had taken me to Oconee Sunday before last to show me some patterns for a March Georgia Outdoor News article. I met him through my bass club partner, Carson Browning. Bobby and Carson’s mother work together and Carson had been telling me what a good fisherman Bobby was.

Bobby took Carson to Jackson Saturday morning to practice for our tournament the following day. Either they hit it just right on the warm, cloudy morning, or Bobby’s knowledge put them on fish. When I picked Carson up Sunday morning he was so excited he could not wait to get to the lake.

Fishing for just a few hours Saturday morning they had caught a lot of big bass, including a 7 pounder and several more over 4 pounds. Carson said their best five, a tournament limit, would have weighed 25 pounds. That is the kind of bass you see caught on the TV shows!

Carson and I headed to the first spot Bobby had shown him, and we were a little disappointed to see the water temperature had dropped 10 degrees overnight. The cold night and wind had cooled the surface temperature from 60 on Saturday morning to 50 Sunday morning. That is not good for bass fishing this time of year!

I did manage to catch two keepers in that cove but they were small one-pound fish. We headed to the next spot, and I soon caught a 1 3/4 pound fish, my best of the day. Since it was still early morning, I was sure I would get a five fish limit before weigh-in at 4:00! I felt a little sorry for Carson since he had not caught a fish, but not too much!

Soon after I caught my third bass Carson set the hook and started saying he had a huge fish on. He fought it to the boat and I put the net in the water, but could not see the fish because the water was so muddy. When it came close enough, I was able to net it and it was big – 9 or 10 pounds!

I was picking at Carson, holding his huge fish over the water in the net, when it gave a mighty flip and jumped back out of the net! Carson’s plug had tangled the net and the hooks were keeping it closed, so the fish was not down in it like it was supposed to be. When the fish flipped out of the net back into the water, the plug stayed tangled in the net. Carson lost his huge fish.

We both would have been real sick, and I would have never been playing with the net like that, but Carson’s big fish was a bowfin. It was the first mudfish I have ever seen at Jackson, and it was a big one! I really did not want it in the boat, anyway!

I guess that changed Carson’s luck. He caught five bass before I landed another keeper! He ended up winning the tournament with five weighing 5-1, smaller fish than the day before but enough to win. My four weighed 4-9 for second. Kwong Yu had two at 3-8 for third and Billy Roberts’ two at 2-11 placed 4th.

Sixteen members of the club fished for 8 hours for a total of 23 keeper bass, so Carson’s guide really helped us, even thought the big bass never showed up on Sunday. I hope he can show Carson where to fish in all our tournaments this year!

What Are Florida Fish Attractors and Why Should I Care?

Florida Fish Attractors Provide Fast Action

By Bob Wattendorf, with Brandon Thompson
from The Fishing Wire

State brush piles attract fish in Florida

So this holiday season, how would it be if the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) put some more fish under the tree? Well, that is exactly what we have done for you all around the state.

The typical fish attractor in Florida is a cluster of hardwood trees, anchored by cinder blocks. State-constructed structures are marked with a bright yellow or white bouy so boaters and anglers know where they are. These attractors are strategically placed to congregate fish, making them more accessible to anglers.

Fishery managers have experimented with alternate materials such as evergreen trees, wooden pallets, stake beds, rock piles, gravel, concrete blocks, car tires and plastic fish-attracting devices. Studies comparing material types revealed variable results. Early data showed evergreen trees did not last as long as hardwood, and environmental and navigational concerns eliminated the use of car tires and concrete in most freshwater systems.

These attractors work by providing areas that algae can grow, which attracts insects that in turn bring small fish around to feed on the bugs. The small fish attract larger fish. The fact attractors also provide shelter for concealment makes the areas havens for a variety of fishes.

More recently, fisheries managers in Florida focused on comparing the productivity, longevity and cost of brush and plastic fish attractors. New models of plastic fish attractors look and act somewhat like natural trees. Preliminary results, from the first year of a three-year study, indicate plastic attractors are typically yielding more bass than brush attractors. So despite additional material cost, they may be the wave of the future, especially if they prove as durable as hoped, because brush attractors need to be frequently refurbished.

Results show anglers caught more fish around plastic attractors than either brush treatment in 68 percent of weeks sampled. In four of six sample areas, anglers caught more bass near plastic, and the four attractors with the highest catch rates were all plastic. Of 197 total bass caught, 78 percent were caught on crankbaits and 99 lures were lost but only 10 percent of those were on plastic attractors. Moreover, in the last 10 weeks, no lures were lost on plastic attractors, as anglers learned to recover them.

Fishery biologists also conducted electrofishing surveys, where an electric current temporarily stuns fish and allows them to be collected, counted and live released. The number of bass was similar near brush and plastic attractors. Therefore, plastic and natural trees may concentrate similar numbers of bass, but bass near plastic attractors may be more vulnerable to angling. Plastic and brush also concentrated similar numbers of black crappie.

The FWC operates under a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection when placing attractors in public waters. A permit is also needed by individuals or organizations to place natural or artificial attractors in public waters or lakes owned by two or more parties. Apply for permits from DEP and/or the local water management district. Litter laws also apply to depositing materials in public waters.

The FWC still constructs gravel or shell attractors that create excellent spawning substrate for sunfish, including bass, bream and crappie. These effectively concentrate fish during spring in areas that otherwise have mostly muddy bottoms.

For coordinates to more than 150 attractors in public waters around the state, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing and under “Freshwater Fishing” select “Fishing Sites/Forecasts” then “Fish Attractors.” Click the map for an interactive tool. A video of hardwood fish-attractor construction is also available, along with more information about freshwater attractors.

State fish attractors are built in several ways

Fish attractors aren’t the only way the FWC is putting more fish under the “tree” for you! Stocking programs, habitat enhancement and special regulations contribute to fishing success. These efforts are funded in part by fishing license sales. Other funds come from a fee on the sale of fishing tackle and motor boat fuels, which is collected at the national level and returned to the states for Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration projects.

Consider purchasing a “Go Fishing” largemouth bass tag for fishing enthusiasts’ vehicle or boat trailer (see BuyAPlate.com). The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issues specialty license plate gift certificates that allow anyone to purchase a specialty license plate as a gift for a motor vehicle registrant. The bass tag directly supports FWC efforts to improve fishing in Florida.

Another useful gift idea is to help bass anglers register at TrophyCatchFlorida.com and buy them a fishing scale. Just registering enters them in a drawing for a $40,000 Phoenix bass boat. Everytime they take a photo of an eight-pound or heavier bass on the scale, submit it according to the rules and release it, they’ll earn at least $100 in gift cards, club shirts, decals and certificates – all year long.

A Florida fishing license also makes a great gift. Visit License.MyFWC.com, where you will find licenses for residents and visitors, and a youth fishing license that is good until they turn 17, locking in the price and bragging rights as a card-carrying sportsman.

A Lifetime Sportsman License for Florida children and young adults covers hunting, and freshwater and saltwater fishing! The license is available through Dec. 31 for about half its usual price. So for a limited time you can buy it for $500 plus processing fees. It can be purchased for Florida residents ages 5 to 21 online, by calling 888-347-4356 or at local tax collectors’ offices. For details, go to License.MyFWC.com.

All of us at the FWC wish you a happy holiday season and hope you enjoy the great outdoor experiences the new year has to offer here in the “Fishing Capital of the World.”

Instant licenses are available at License.MyFWC.com or by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). Report violators by calling 888-404-3922, *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or texting to Tip@MyFWC.com. Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and select “more news,” or bit.ly/FishBusters for more Fish Busters’ Bulletins. To subscribe to FWC columns or to receive news releases, visit MyFWC.com/Contact.

Fishing West Point Lake with Ken Bearden

After fishing area lakes in two bass clubs for about 40 years, I often think I know them pretty well. But when I go to a lake with a guide who fishes one lake over 200 days every year, and has been doing that for 15 years, it amazes me how they know ever little detail of what is under the water.

Wednesday I fished West Point Lake with Ken Bearden, getting information for a Georgia Outdoor News January article. After some boat problems first thing that morning we got on the water at about ten. We tried several patterns and caught a few fish on one of them by noon so, for the next six hours, we fished that specific pattern from Yellowjacket Creek to the dam.

That morning while waiting on a friend to bring us a boat to borrow for the day to replace Ken’s disabled one, he explained there are three good patterns at West Point in the winter. One is jigging a spoon in deep water. One is swimming a bucktail through standing timber in deep water. And the third, the one we relied on, was fishing a crankbait on rocky points.

Ken told me you could catch large numbers of fish quickly on the first two patterns, but the third was a matter of run and gun, hitting as many points as possible. He didn’t expect to catch more than one or two bass on each spot, and many would not have any fish, but if you hit enough places you could get a good limit.

It worked. Ken landed six largemouth weighing between two and four pounds each and three spots weighing about 2.5 pounds each. The best five weighed about 14 pounds. I would love to have those fish in any tournament.

We also caught several striped bass and hybrids that morning casting an Alabama rig on roadbeds. They fought hard and the biggest weighed just under ten pounds. He said we could fish roadbeds and catch them like that all day right now.

We put ten places on a map, with GPS coordinates and details on how to fish them. That information will be in the magazine article. You can set up a guide trip with Ken by calling 706-884-0494 to get him to show you how well he knows the lake and how he fishes it.

What Is Ice Fishing Like In the Midwest?

Ice Fishing The Midwest

by Bob Jensen
from The Fishing Wire

There is no question that ice-fishing season has arrived early in the Midwest. For those of us who like to go ice-fishing, that’s a good thing.

I and some of my friends are going about our ice-fishing a little differently this year. It’s going to be even more fun, and even more productive. We’re going to be headquartering out of an “Ice Castle”. Ice Castles ( http://www.icecastlefh.com) are hard-sided ice houses on wheels. They’re heated inside so you don’t need a bunch of warm clothing. You can get them with as many features as you want, or as few as you want. We’re going to be much more comfortable in our ice-fishing this year. That should make our fishing more productive and more fun. But, just because our primary shelter will be in a fixed position, that doesn’t mean we won’t be covering a large area on the ice. We will. Here’s how.

Ice Castle from the outside

We’ll be headquartering in the Ice Castle, but we’ll still be moving around looking for fish that are willing to bite. Before we start fishing, we’ll drill a good number of holes around our headquarters. When the bite in the “Castle” slows down, we’ll get out and move around to those holes. We’ll keep a close eye on the depth-finder watching for fish life below our hole. If we don’t see something within five minutes, it’s off to another hole.

Inside the Ice Castle

In the past few years there has been a lot of clothing developed for the ice-angler. But if you’ve got exposed skin, like your face or hands, you’re still going to get cold, and cold is not much fun. This year, when we start to get cold, we’ll go back to our “headquarters” and warm up. We’ll keep fishing, as the Ice Castle’s have several holes in strategic locations, and they don’t freeze over. We’ll have a coffee or hot chocolate or whatever it is that the group is drinking, and maybe a hamburger or brat, and we’ll tell fish stories or whatever until we warm up again. If we see fish under the holes in the shelter, we’ll probably stay there until we don’t see any more fish. Then we’ll go back outside and move from hole to hole again until we need more warmth. This is a great way to spend time on the ice with family or friends.

Catch fish like this walleye

When you see fish under your hole that won’t bite, this is the time to experiment. The Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon is a time-proven bait for walleyes and perch through the ice and is a good bait to start with anytime, anywhere. But sometimes the fish don’t want the rattles. This is when you go to something quiet or smaller or a different color: A Forage Minnow would be a good choice, but most importantly, just try something different.

Fish in comfort

Ice-fishing is fun and it can be a great way to put fresh fish on the table. But ice-fishing also has a social flavor to it. Boys and girls of all ages really enjoy just getting out together. They have fun trying to get a fish to bite, but they also enjoy hanging out with each other in an environment other than a living room. Ice-fishing is a bit of an adventure to some. Headquartering out of a warm shelter while ice-fishing isn’t a new concept, but it is gaining in popularity in a big way. There are a good number of places across the Midwest where you can rent an Ice Castle for a day or a weekend to experience this style of ice-fishing. I’m guessing that if you try it once, you’ll want to do it again.

To see the newest episodes of Fishing the Midwest television go to fishingthemidwest.com. Visit us at Facebook.com/fishingthemidwest

Should I Join A Bass Club?

Yesterday (Saturday, December 6, 2014) the Potato Creek Bassmasters fished their last tournament of the year at Jackson. Today the Spalding County Sportsman Club and the Flint River Bass Club are fishing a two club tournament at Jackson to end the year in both those clubs. The point standing winners for the year in all three clubs will be decided at this tournament.

I love bass club fishing. In 1974 I joined the Sportsman Club and four years later joined the Flint River club. I have missed very few club tournaments in the 40 years since I first joined a club. It is strange, I never was competitive in anything. I never played sports, don’t like games much and just don’t compete.

But after fishing my first bass tournament in April 1974 I was hooked. There is something that attracts me to competing in a sport that is supposed to be reflective and calming. I like that I am not really competing with others, I am competing with the fish. It really does not matter how others do, it depends on how I do.

All three clubs will start new years with January, 2015 tournaments That would be a good time to join a club and see how you like it. Dues range from $60 a year which affiliates you with BASS to $75 to be in the FLW federation. If you join the BASS federation you also have to pay dues to BASS. The FLW dues include annual membership in it.

Consider joining a bass club next year.

Gun Control Buzzards Never Change

Written back in 2000 this shows gun control fanatics never change.

I lived on a chicken farm while growing up. We had 11,000 laying hens, so I got an early education about gathering eggs, washing and grading them and other jobs that went with having that many chickens.

One of the jobs I hated most was hauling off the dead chickens. Several died each day, and for years we carried them to the corner of a field several hundred yards from the house and dumped them under a big pine tree. Putting up to ten dead chickens in a feed sack and dragging it that far was no fun.

I did learn a lot about buzzards from that chore. They would light in the big pine every morning just after sunrise and wait on a free lunch. They went somewhere else to roost at night, and I can still see the group of them leaving late in the afternoon, circling as they rose higher and higher, then heading out to their night time roost. The next morning they would reverse the process, flying in high and then circling as they dropped down to land in the tree.

That area stunk, and for years I thought it was the smell of dead chickens. I only killed one buzzard in my life, one I happened upon in the woods while hunting. It was at the base of a tree and obviously sick, so I shot it. Looking at it close up, I found out buzzards are very ugly – and they stink! I guess it is the carrion they associate with.

Those buzzards in the pine tree were very lazy. All they had to do was sit in the tree all day, waiting on us to bring them chickens. They did not have to hunt for food, it was delivered. And they were safe since we left them alone.

Each time a gun is misused and a child is killed, Clinton and his cronies remind me of those buzzards. They seem to sit there waiting until there is a tragedy and then gleefully proclaim the need for gun control that tragedy shows.

The last incident of a six year old shooting another six year old at school is used by Clinton to call for safety locks, waiting periods at gun shows and other assorted laws on the gun banners wish list.

I do not understand how anyone could say those laws would have had any effect. The kid that did the shooting lived in a crack house where drugs were used and sold openly. He lived with a 19 year old uncle and was so well taken care of he slept on the floor anyplace he could find room.. His father is in jail and his mother admitted on TV that it was her fault she never saw him or took any time with him.

The gun he used was stolen, as was another gun in the house. I guess Clinton and his flock believe a crack dealer would steal a gun and leave a child safety lock on it. What they really believe is all guns are bad and should be banned. If not, they would enforce the laws already on the books!

There are a wide variety of numbers used to promote gun control. Clinton saying 12 children die each day from gunfire is not the same kind of lie as looking into a camera and telling a bald face lie to the American people, and it is not the same as lying under oath in court as he did, but it is not truthful.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 10 of those 12 “children” Clinton perches over were 15 to 19 years old. I do not consider a 19 year old drug dealing gang member that is shot while trying to sell drugs a child! And I do not think any law passed will have any effect on those kinds of deaths.

According to the National Safety Council, there were 4100 accidental drownings in 1998, compared to 900 accidental firearm deaths. Where is Clinton on this issue? There were 41,200 deaths related to motor vehicles. Does Clinton not care about the thousands of children dying from those causes?

My car has a bumper sticker that says “My President is Charlton Heston.” Maybe after the next election I will not be ashamed of the president of the United States.

By the way – why didn’t Gore mention gun control laws when he was fund-raising in Georgia along side a democratic Governor who opposes almost all kinds of gun control laws? In my opinion, it is all politics!

Can Idaho Sockeye Salmon Be Restored?

Once nearly extinct, endangered Idaho sockeye regaining fitness advantage

Sockeye salmon

Contributed by Michael Milstein, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA
from The Fishing Wire

Endangered Snake River sockeye salmon are regaining the fitness of their wild ancestors, with naturally spawned juvenile sockeye migrating to the ocean and returning as adults at a much higher rate than others released from hatcheries, according to a newly published analysis. The analysis indicates that the program to save the species has succeeded and is now increasingly shifting to rebuilding populations in the wild. Biologists believe the increased return rate of sockeye spawned naturally by hatchery-produced parents is high enough for the species to eventually sustain itself in the wild again.

“This is a real American endangered species success story,” said Will Stelle, Administrator of NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region. “With only a handful of remaining fish, biologists brought the best genetic science to bear and the region lent its lasting support. Now there is real potential that this species will be self-sustaining again. The sockeye didn’t give up hope and neither did we.”

Biologists Paul Kline of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Thomas Flagg of NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center report the promising results in the November issue of Fisheries, the magazine of the American Fisheries Society.

These findings demonstrate that the program to save Snake River sockeye can indeed reverse the so-called “extinction vortex,” where too few individuals remain for the species to sustain itself. Some thought that Snake River sockeye had entered that vortex in the 1990s, highlighted in 1992 when the sole returning male Redfish Lake sockeye, known as “Lonesome Larry” captured national attention.

NOAA Fisheries earlier this year released a proposed recovery plan for Snake River sockeye, which calls for an average of 1,000 naturally spawned sockeye returning to Redfish Lake each year, with similar targets for other lakes in Idaho’s Sawtooth Valley. About 460 naturally spawned sockeye returned to Redfish Lake this year – the most since the program began – out of an overall record return of about 1,600.

The article in Fisheries recounts the 20-year history of the scientific program to save the Snake River sockeye. The program began with 16 remaining adult sockeye – 11 males and five females – taken into captivity from 1991 to 1998. Through advanced aquaculture techniques, the program has retained about 95 percent of the species’ remaining genetic variability, while boosting surviving offspring about 2,000 percent beyond what could be expected in the wild.

Without such advances, the scientists write, “extinction would have been all but certain.”

Spawning salmon colors

The program funded by the Bonneville Power Administration has released more than 3.8 million sockeye eggs and fish into lakes and streams in the Sawtooth Valley, and tracks the fish that return from the ocean. Hatchery fish returning as adults have also begun spawning again in Redfish Lake, increasingly producing naturally spawned offspring that are now also returning.

A new analysis of those returns shows that the naturally spawned sockeye are returning at rates up to three times higher than those released from hatcheries as smolts, and more than 10 times greater than those released as even younger pre-smolts.

The higher returns indicate the naturally spawned fish are regaining the fitness the species needs to better survive their 900-mile migration to the ocean, their years at sea, and the return trip to Redfish Lake. A salmon population must produce at least one returning offspring per adult to sustain itself. Naturally spawned sockeye have returned at more than twice that rate in some recent years, indicating that under the right conditions they can not only sustain the species but add to it.

The results also suggest that hatchery-produced sockeye may regain the fitness advantages they need to sustain their species in the wild much faster than had been previously estimated, the scientists reported. Biologists caution that the current results span only three years so far, but indicate that fitness – and, in turn, survival – can improve in as little as only one generation in the wild. “We hoped we could get returns equivalent to what you’d expect to see from a hatchery,” said Flagg, manager of the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries’ Science Center’s Manchester Research Station. “We’ve seen the population respond even better than that, which bodes well for the idea that the lakes can produce the juveniles you’d want to see to get to recovery.”

More information on Northwest Fisheries Science Center/Salmon captive broodstock programs is available at: http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/efs/hatchery/salmon_captive/index.cfm

Dreaming of Early Spring Fishing

Early spring fishing can be crazy

If it wasn’t for bad luck with the weather, I wouldn’t have any luck at all. Two weeks ago it was uncomfortably cold the whole day during the Flint River Bass club tournament. By the middle of the next week it had warmed up and fishing would have been great – if I had not been stuck at work.

By the time I got a chance to go fishing last Sunday, it was cold, cloudy and foggy. After a nice day Saturday I was really looking forward to a trip to Oconee for a Georgia Outdoor News article, but the weather did not cooperate. Going fishing was more fun than sitting at home, but much less comfortable!

On Saturday, I fished with Bobby Ferris from Jackson and he really made me feel bad talking about the 17 bass he caught the day before at Jackson Lake. The fish were on the shallow water pattern we would fish at Oconee, moving up into the warming water in the backs of coves.

Without the sun on Sunday there was no warming water and the bass stayed hidden. Bobby caught one nice keeper the first place we stopped that morning, but that was it. We fished until 3:30 without hooking another bass.

The places we fished will be good in March, especially after a few warm days like we had last week. I wish I could have gone back to them on Wednesday or Thursday, but I was back at work. I bet the bass would have almost jumped in the boat those two days!

Spalding County Sportsman Club members are fishing today at Jackson for our February tournament. If my luck holds, it will be cold and windy, and probably raining. Maybe the fish will bite, though. Catching fish always makes the bad weather much more tolerable!

And the tournament on Sunday:

Are the St Croix Triumph X Rod Cool Rods?

Just Call it the “Cool Tool”

Triumph X backs its sporty, confident looks with the performance you expect from St. Croix
from Traditions Media

St. Croix’s new Triumph X rod series

Park Falls, WI (November 24, 2014) – Even in fishing, style sells. In a sport where product performance should be the ultimate measure – even the deciding factor in sealing the deal at the cash register – looks do matter. Regrettably, some rod makers prey on this premise by putting “lipstick on the pig.”

Fortunately, there are proud, legacy manufacturers like St. Croix Rod who embrace the coolness factor while never succumbing to cheapness.

While visually alluring, even radical in appearance, St. Croix’s new Triumph X rod series owns its price-range in quality and performance. But long before the vibrant, airbrushed colors visually distinguish Triumph X from surrounding rods on the rack, technology and decades of advanced St. Croix engineering underpin its stature.

Beneath the striking burnt-orange and purplish-black façade is an SCII graphite blank that begs to accompany a more expensive rod. But at a hundred bucks, Triumph X is a triumph in blank construction at a reasonable price.

Component wise, the Triumph X features an EVA split-grip handle – again, a feat for the dollars. Split-grip practitioners embrace the progressive design’s balanced casting, comfort and lessened overall weight. Triumph X users will appreciate said benefits, which were once reserved for more expensive rods.

Fuji® DPS or ECS reel seat with black hood(s) complement the blank cosmetics while providing all-day casting comfort. Hard aluminum-oxide guides set in distinctive black frames support casting distance while holding up to the rigors of the sport. And this while precision-wound thread-wraps are safely situated beneath two coats of Flex Coat slow-cure finish.

All 12 spinning and casting rods in the Triumph X series are cultured for outstanding strength, sensitivity and hook-setting power. And amongst those dozen members are select rods for targeting bass, walleyes, pike, panfish and whatever else swims across your path.

Backed by a 5-year warranty and St. Croix’s celebrated Superstar Service, your affordably priced Triumph X rod doubles as a capital investment.

The Triumph X series is designed and engineered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, and handcrafted in St. Croix’s advanced facility in Fresnillo, Mexico. They retail for $90 to $100.

About St. Croix Rod

St. Croix Rod is a family-owned and managed manufacturer of high-performance fishing rods headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin with a 65-year heritage of USA manufacturing. Utilizing proprietary technologies, St. Croix controls every step of the rod-making process, from conception and design to manufacturing and inspection, in two company-owned facilities. The company offers a complete line of premium, American-made fly, spinning and casting rods under their Legend Elite®, Legend® Xtreme, Legend Tournament®, Avid Series®, Premier®, Wild River®, Tidemaster®, Imperial® and other trademarks through a global distribution network of full-service fishing tackle dealers. The company’s mid-priced Triumph®, Mojo Bass/Musky/Inshore/Surf, Eyecon® and Rio Santo series rods are designed and engineered in Park Falls, Wisconsin and built in a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Fresnillo, Mexico. Founded in 1948 to manufacture jointed bamboo fishing poles for a Minneapolis hardware store chain, St. Croix has grown to become the largest manufacturer of fishing rods in North America.

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