Unveiled at ICAST Online 2020, St. Croix’s flagship inshore series employs new technologies and designs, delivering unmatched sensitivity and performance for the most dedicated of inshore anglers.

Park Falls, WI (July, 2020) – It’s hard to imagine St. Croix Rod’s renown Legend® Xtreme Inshore Rod Series could get any better, but it has. Designed for the rigors of inshore fishing and awash with St. Croix proprietary technologies, these rods are extreme in design and on-water capability. Yet advancements in technology and materials continue to offer new horizons, allowing St. Croix to bring performance to even greater heights with amazing strength, increased durability… and new levels of sensitivity, never before achieved in any St. Croix saltwater rod. Indeed, the new Legend® Xtreme Inshore Series is so solid, it will improve success and heighten the angling experience for anyone – especially an expert.

Building on the 2020 Bassmaster Classic rollout of St. Croix’s most sensitive rods ever – the new Legend Xtreme Freshwater collection – new Legend Xtreme Inshore rods are now receiving similar upgrades for 2021. Blanks feature super high-modulus SCVI carbon with St. Croix’s Fortified Resin System (FRS) in the lower section for maximum power and strength with reduced weight. Blanks also feature SCV carbon with externally overlaid Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART^TM) to construct the highest level of carbon fiber density ever used by St. Croix. New manufacturing processes employ a resin that significantly increases strength in compression during the hookset and flexural strength as the rod is under load.

A beautiful new Sandbar finish completes the upgrade to the new Legend Xtreme Inshore’s incredibly sensitive, high-performance blank – the ultimate canvas for additional sensitivity-enhancing features and components.

New St. Croix Legend Xtreme Inshore rods take sensitivity to insane levels via the all-new, exotic Daiwa AGS^TM carbon fiber guide train. Their rigid frames are what really set these guides apart and make them so unique. They transfer energy much more efficiently than other traditional guide platforms, and their rigidity increases responsiveness, which is beneficial in every fishing situation… not just the obvious ones; they reduce recovery time when making a cast, for example. The bottom line is that the angler is always feeling what’s happening with their line and lure.

A rod this sensitive shouldn’t ignore the critical connection point between rod and angler. That’s why St. Croix pairs its new Legend Xtreme Inshore rods with the new Gen2 Xtreme-Skin handle – a high-density raindrop-textured grip which improves handling in both wet and dry conditions and transmits feedback from the rod better than ever before. It’s also extremely resilient, as St. Croix Rod Engineering Supervisor, Gavin Falk explains. “Through our salt spray tests, we discovered it’s also very easy to clean and very durable,” says Falk, who opted to pair the new handle with the Fuji® SK2™ split reel seat. “The entire handle assembly is lightweight and extremely durable, while complementing the sensitivity of the overall package.”

“The end result,” says St. Croix Southeast Regional Account Manager, Randy Hamilton, “is by far the most sensitive fishing rod you’ve ever encountered. There’s just an excellent union of materials and technology that comes together in these sticks to set them apart from anything else you’ve ever tried.”

St. Croix pro-staffer and charter skipper, Captain Justin Carter, of Charleston, South Carolina, is also sold on the updated Legend® Xtreme Inshore Series. “The 7’6” medium power, fast action model knocked the ball out of the park when it came to tempting speckled trout on a cold, winter bite,” he reveals. “I could feel every shake of my small paddle tail lure as it fell though the water column, and I could detect exceptionally light bites I’m sure I wouldn’t have felt on any other rod. I could sense most pick-ups before the line or rod tip even moved. These new rods are incredibly sensitive – even when compared to other rods using the top Titanian guides on the market.”

Carter is convinced the revamped Legend Xtreme Inshore line-up is so sharp, it’s going to make people better anglers because they’ll feel things that they couldn’t feel before. “They’ll be able to distinguish between a rock, a shell and a light-pick up,” explains the perceptive charter skipper. “They’ll feel the vibrations of a small swimbait or shrimp as it drops to the bottom on a slack line, as well as the slight changes that indicate a subtle strike. That alone should increase any angler’s catches significantly.”

Sensitivity is vital to fishing success, of course, but you can’t catch ‘em if you can’t reach ‘em. Fortunately, the Legend® Xtreme Inshore Series excels at casting, too. “You’re not supposed to be able to toss light lures with medium and medium-heavy power rods,” notes Carter, “but the fast tips on these new blanks give me plenty of distance with superior accuracy. They also load-up well when throwing surface poppers, and have the power to muscle big fish out of dicey quarters.”

While Carter likes the 7’6” medium power rod for specks, Hamilton favors the 7-foot, medium-light spinning model. “Just like Justin,” he reveals, “I was blown away when I realized I could feel light bites in my hand as it grasped the handle. I like the 7’6” medium power rod a lot, too. It’s a phenomenal choice for redfish, stripers, weakfish and snook that won’t leave you lacking should a lunker grab your offering. I think the 7’ medium power conventional rod can be a good choice also, especially for anglers who need some extra control while fishing around boat docks, bridges, mangroves and other sticky or nasty structure.”

Designed and handcrafted at the St. Croix Rod factory in Park Falls, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Legend® Xtreme Inshore Series rods are available in three spinning models and one casting model to cover most inshore saltwater fishing situations. Spinning models range from 7’ to 7’6” and include medium and medium-heavy power choices, each with fast action. The conventional model is 7’ and comes in a medium power, fast action configuration.

NEW ST. CROIX LEGEND® XTREME INSHORE ROD MODELS

• 7’ one-piece, medium power, fast action spinning (XSS70MF)               $660.00
• 7’ one-piece, medium-heavy power, fast action spinning (XSS70MHF)               $670.00
• 7’6” one-piece, medium power, fast action spinning (XSS76MF)               $670.00
• 7’ one-piece, medium-heavy power, fast action casting (XSC70MHF)               $670.00

In addition to IPC technology, second-generation SCVI carbon, and lightweight Daiwa AGS carbon fiber guides, all rods in this series incorporate Advanced Reinforcing Technology™ (ART™) for added strength and durability, Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) for improved action with increased sensitivity, a Kigan titanium hook-keeper, plus an impact-dampening butt cap. Lastly, each carries a 15-year transferable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service for Xtreme protection of your prized investment. Retail prices range from $660 to $670.

NEW ST. CROIX LEGEND® XTREME INSHORE ROD FEATURES

• Integrated Poly Curve® (IPC®) mandrel technology
• Incorporates externally overlaid ART™ Technology to construct the highest level of carbon fiber-density ever used by St. Croix
• Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) blank design provides curved patterns for improved action with increased sensitivity
• Super high-modulus SCVI carbon with FRS in lower section for maximum power and strength with reduced weight
• Features resin that significantly increases strength in compression during the hookset and flexural strength as the rod is under load
• Daiwa AGS Carbon Fiber Guides with Fuji KG Tip Top with SiC ring
• Fuji® SK2™ split reel seat for the ultimate in light weight and sensitivity
• 2nd Generation Xtreme-Skin™ handle provides unparalleled control
• Kigan titanium hook-keeper
• Impact-dampening butt cap
• Two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish
• 15-year transferable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service
• Designed and handcrafted in Park Falls, U.S.A.
• Retail price $660 to $670

St. Croix’s new Legend Xtreme Inshore rods are  being introduced at ICAST Online 2020, and are expected to be available for purchase at St. Croix dealers worldwide this Fall.