Thread: St Croix Panfish 7' xfast

Pop, I shortened my leader to avoid the knot getting nicked by the eye. I use a St. Croix 2 wt. for panfish.

I use a uni to unit knot and do not experience that.I trim the tag ends super close. I use 20lb power pro and 8# mono. I do not have that exact rod though and wonder if it has a really small tip eye? You might consider changing just the tip if it does. I like using a three or four foot leader or so starting out . If it gets down to 2ft or so I change it. I want to be able to throw the knot through the guides myself. I keep experimenting to see if my catch rate is affected by direct tieing and for me it is...I have to use leader or I do not catch as many, but that is just me. I know there are people who say that fish and wildlife had to change the regs for them because they were catchin so many tying directly to the lure. Course if somethings to easy for me somethings wrong I know cause I was born with the gift of a hard way to go LOL.

St Croix website says they use Pac Bay Minima guides on that series rod, but they don't say if they're "micro guides" ..... just (lighter weight) non-ceramic ring guides.

I have the same problem with my ESP rods ... their micro guides won't allow much of a knot, or most bobber stops, to pass thru the tip guide without totally hanging up or causing a serious decrease in distance.

If I was using a knot that wouldn't pass thru the tip ... I'd opt for a different knot, rather than take the chance on changing the action of the rod by replacing the tip with a larger diameter one. Either that or go with no leader & tie direct, or switch the braid out for mono, copoly, or fluorocarbon line.

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

... go with no leader & tie direct, or switch the braid out for mono, copoly, or fluorocarbon line.

This ^^^^^

Check out the Red Phillips knot. Its essentially half of a uni/uni with the half butted against a simple overhand knot.
Very small and very strong.

If it is NOT a micro guide, I'd switch the tip out to a larger diameter one. Most of your last guide eyes (before the tip) on a "non Micro" are somewhere around 4 to 8mm. The average size tiptop (ID) is 6mm.

If it DOES have micro guide eyes, I would change it out with a Fly rod tip top slightly larger than the one it currently has. Fly rod tops will get down with a smaller ID.

Changing the top top diameter isn't going to have that much (if any) felt effect on the rod or it's action. Many ways to skin a cat from changing your connecting knot, shortening it up, changing your line, to changing the top. You have options.

Thanks for the replies. I would say the guides are mini. I doubt there is a smaller knot than what I tied. smaller and flatter than a bobber stop knot. I think the best answer is to switch the line to mono. I am currently tying straight to the Berkley fire line. Thanks again, Pop

I have several rods with very small eyes, especially the tip tops. I use braid with a fluorocarbon leader connected with an Alberto knot. Have never had an issue with this knot going through the guides. The Alberto is not really a knot, but a braid of both lines into one small, long knot. Clipped close this knot will go through any guide.

I changed to the Alberto because I didn't like the "clicking" the Uni-Uni knot made in going through the guides. Since then, no problems, no worries.