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Rod Review


 

Sneaky Good : St. Croix's BassX BAC710HF

 

Date: 5/14/22
Tackle Type: Rod
Manufacturer: St. Croix Rods
Reviewer: Cal






Total Score: 7.58 - GOOD

Introduction:
Revamped and refreshed for 2022, St. Croix's Bass X series has been a go to choice for anglers seeking substance and value over flair and breaking the bank. Let's face it, at the rate costs are increasing in bass fishing across almost every aspect of the game. For anglers with more self control than I, the attraction of more value driven tackle has never been more strong. St. Croix's BassX features an updated blank and an intriguing new, hybrid guide train. Here's our look at one of the sticks in this refreshed lineup, introducing the BassX BAC710HF.

 

St. Croix Rods BassX BAC710HF Specifications

Material SCII Graphite
Length 7'-10"
Line Wt. 14-80lb
Lure Wt. 3/4-3oz
Pieces One
Guides 7+tip Hybrid Train featuring SeaGuide Aluminum Oxide Stripper and Transition Guides + SeaGuide Atlas SS Runners, and SeaGuide black PVD Coated Tip Top
Rear Handle Length 14"
Power Rating Heavy
Taper Fast
Rod Weight 6.8oz
Origin Made in Mexico
MSRP $150


St. Croix recently refreshed their BassX Series

Impressions: St. Croix's BassX BAC710HF has a very interesting spec. It is a seven foot, ten inch (7'-10") stick built with a fourteen inch (14") handle and a fast taper rated up to three ounces (3oz) in lure weight. Part of this rod's specification makes me think of it as a swimbait rod, but another part of it makes me think of it as a rod for heavy cover. Given a rod's length, the first thing I look at is the lure rating. That 3oz max lure weight is just shy of swimbait territory. Together with its fast taper leads me to think this is a stick for heavy cover with soft plastics.

 


Here's a look at the BAC710HF

 

However, once in hand, you realize that 14" rear handle (measured from the back of the reel seat to the butt) is a bit long for pitching, flipping, and punching, so maybe big baits is the way to go. In fact, the rod's normal sized guides better accommodate large diameter lines and connection knots, so I came to the conclusion the BAC710HF may just be ideal for soft plastic swimbaits.


Paired with an Abu Garcia RevoX and ready for action

Real World Tests: To uncover the BAC710HF's capabilities, I dusted off my Abu Garcia RevoX and filled it with a fresh supply of seventeen pound (17lb) Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon. Ironically, with the BAC710HF, I decided not to use any type of braid filler, so I had no connection knot even though the BAC710HF's guides can easily accommodate the knot. The strategy of straight fluoro won out because I wanted to try this new strength in Tatsu and also wanted the slack line sensitivity only fluorocarbon can deliver.


The BAC710HF's tip performs really well during a cast

Casting: The BAC710HF's best feature immediately reveals itself on that very first cast. Given the rod's taper, I treated it like an oversized jig stick. The first bait I fished with it was a six inch, Working Class Zero, Citizen paddletail swimbait. The BAC710HF allowed me to sling that bait combo comfortably in any manner of cast I chose whether that be overhead, sidearm, back swing, etc. The rod's tip loads easily and releases that energy in a precise manner. Though rated to only three ounces in lure weight, I feel the BAC710HF can handle more - at least up to four.


The stripper, transition, and tip top guides are stainless steel framed with Aluminum Oxide inserts (SeaGuide)

Next Section: Hybrid design for $150 dollars...

 

   

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