I was given a St. Croix BASSX BXC74HF rod as a gift from someone who isn't quite an expert on the kind of bass fishing I do: bank fishing exclusively, mostly small local ponds maybe 5-10 acres in size with depths of maybe 25 feet at the most, some with heavy cover but also some that are quite clear. I fish mostly with Texas rig creature baits, rubber paddle tails on twist lock hooks and walking topwaters or frogs. The rod's been sitting in my garage for over a year, and I'm certain the person who gave it to me no longer has the receipt or anything. So I'm kind of stuck with it.

The BXC74HF is a 7' 4" casting rod with heavy power and fast action. It is longer than any of my other rods, the longest of which is 6' 11". It is also MUCH stiffer than any of my other rods, which vary from medium heavy power to a little ultralight rig I play with sometimes. So I'm not really used to the lack of "give" in this rod, particularly on the cast, which I sometimes like to have a little flex to really wing it out there...

I own a variety of casting reels that could work with this rod in differing gear ratios, including a couple of DC reels with faster gear ratios. I also have what is my all-time favorite casting reel, the Lews Speed Spool LFS in what I believe is a 7.1 ratio.

So I'm struggling to figure out where this rod would fit in my arsenal. I like a little more give on my Texas rig to help me feel the strikes. And I prefer a shorter rod for my topwaters because I tend to get better action out of them with a shorter rod. So I've considered using this BXC74HF as a crankbait/swimbait rod? My thought is that the length would allow me to cast further, since I'm confined to the bank, and get out to the middle and deeper water. It would also help me cover more water as a result. I could easily pair it up with one of my faster DC reels or even the Lews. But I'm worried about the lack of flex in the cast...

Welcome any suggestions or tips on how best to use this rod, especially from anyone who may own one themselves. Thanks!

put the lews reel on it fill it will 17lb seagar invizx fluorocarbon and use it as your new texas rig rod the stiffer backbone will enable you to get a better hookset on the long casts you have to make. You will feel more bites and loose less fish.

Carolina rig rod, with the DC on it. Perfect.

Good flipping and pitching rod. I have one with a broken eye. The fallout of loosing a fish touat would've put us in the money at TTO Cedar Creek. Partner stepped on it while trying to net a fish.

Would make a good Frog rod, use braided line no less than 50lbs.

A Very Good Frog Rod!!