I've been fishing with this reel this summer and early fall and finally found the perfect reel for it. I use finesse techniques in clear water for smallmouth bass and river guppies of all sorts. Ned rigs, light jigs, Hellgrammites, craws and light Rapala stick baits are my favorite poison here in Tennessee. I've fished for over 50 years and this is the most sensitive bottom contact rod I've ever used. I went with it yesterday wading a river all day and lost count of fish. It is an absolute honor to write a review for this rod and update it. I only wish it was made in a 5'10" MF with the short Premier grip. Never hurts to dream. Excellent rod and I make my oath on it. Don't hesitate to purchase one in your preferred style. Great investment.

I bought my first St. Croix rod in Wisconsin while stationed at Great Lakes in the early 80s for walleye, pike and Coho. That old Imperial was stolen last year along with 12 other St. Croix rods, 4 Loomis and 13 customs built with St. Croix blanks. I purchased the 63MLXF to fish the small streams here in Tennessee. It is as light and nimble as Tinker Bell's wand and strikes like Thor's hammer. From stump knockers to rainbows, sauger to smallmouth this is the absolute dream rod to have. It casts 1/32 to 1/4 ounce lures accurately half way across the county! Super sensitive, incredible backbone and a feather in your hand. For the anal fishermen like me it's simply amazing. Lighter action than the Loomis Mag Light action but much more sensitive and more backbone. I wade the streams of the southern US and this is my go to by far. My next one will be the 63MXF and I'll need no more spinning rods, period. Thanks to this engineering marvel, you guys made an Old Salt grin like he's got good sense. Thank you St. Croix! My best rod ever in over 50 years. Finding a reel of equal quality to match is going to be close to impossible, but it deserves it. I named it "The Wolf" because it is the perfect finesse predator. Buy one folks, you won't regret and that's for sure and for certain.

Lightweight, balanced, sensitive, comfortable grip, played fish nicely. Nothing left to be desired... not sure what else you would get from a rod hundreds of dollars more expensive, but ill definitely buy another one!