July 19, 2021
By In-Fisherman Staff
The Victory cries of bass anglers were heard far and wide in March of this year, when St. Croix Rod – handcrafters of the Best Rods on Earth – announced availability of the first “Great Eight” models in its landmark Victory Series. Victory came at a time when anglers – and our fishing industry – needed it most.
“The new Victory Series is conceived to help bass anglers achieve their personal goals and earn their victories, whatever they may be,” says St. Croix CEO, Scott Forristall, referring to the technique-specific, American-made bass series that delivers new levels of performance in a mid-level retail price range of $180-$260 with a 15-year transferrable warranty. “These exciting new rods are helping us fulfill our promise to anglers by delivering an even greater choice of high-performance bass tools. Crafted right here in Park Falls, Wisconsin, USA, they combine all our current technologies with a brand new SCII+ material to give any bass angler distinct advantages on the water at an exceptional price. Now, we’re announcing the next 17 Victory rod models that complete this comprehensive series.”
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The new Victory 17 expands the Victory series to 25 total models, giving bass enthusiasts of all levels unprecedented choice in selecting the proper tools for a complete range of presentations, from bombing hair jigs and spy baits, to chatterbaits, to heaving and retrieving 8-ounce swimbaits. It’s all there in this complete and balanced assortment of high-performance, technology-laden, American-crafted rods that cost a fraction of other “elite-level” rods in the marketplace.
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The St. Croix Victory Line-Up St. Croix Victory Series Models *Tactical / VTS68MXF – 6’8” Medium Power, Extra-Fast Action Spinning – Retail $180 Lite-Weight / VTS610MLXF – 6’10” Medium-Light Power, Extra-Fast Action Spinning – Retail $180 Finesse / VTS71MF – 7’1” Medium Power, Fast Action Spinning – Retail $190 *Max Finesse / VTS71MHF – 7’1” Medium-Heavy Power, Fast Action Spinning – Retail $190 *Max Lite Weight / VTS73MLXF – 7’3” Medium-Light Power, Extra-Fast Action Spinning – Retail $200 Max-Tactical / VTS73MXF – 7’3” Medium Power, Extra-Fast Action Spinning – Retail $200 *Crosshair / VTS710MLXF – 7’10” Medium-Light Power, Extra-Fast Action Spinning – Retail $200 *Open Water / VTS73MLXF – 7’3” Medium Power, Moderate-Fast Action Spinning – Retail $200 *The Jerk / VTC68MXF – 6’8” Medium Power, Extra-Fast Action Casting – Retail $180 The Grunt / VTC71MHF – 7’1” Med-Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting – Retail $190 *Cranker / VTC72MHMF – 7’2”” Medium-Heavy Power, Moderate-Fast Action Casting – Retail $190 Power Target Cranker / VTC72MHM – 7’2” Med-Heavy Power, Moderate Action Casting – Retail $190 *Rip’N Chatter / VTC72HM – 7’2” Heavy Power, Moderate Action Casting – Retail $190 Full Contact Finesse / VTC73HXF – 7’3” Heavy Power, Extra-Fast Action Casting – Retail $200 The Marshal / VTC73MHF – 7’3” Med-Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting – Retail $200 *Flip’N / VTC7HMF – 7’3” Heavy Power, Moderate-Fast Action Casting – Retail $200 Full Contact / VTC74HF – 7’4” Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting – Retail $200 *Max Marshal / VTC75MHF – 7’5” Medium-Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting – Retail $200 *Power Flip’N / VTC76HMF – 7’6” Heavy Power, Moderate-Fast Action Casting – Retail $200 *Mid-Cranker / VTC710HM – 7’10”, Heavy Power, Moderate Action Casting / Retail $220 *Max-Cranker / VTC710XHM – 7’10”, Extra-Heavy Power, Moderate Action Casting / Retail $230 *S.B. Ranger / VTC710HF – 7’10”, Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting / Retail $250 *S.B. Avenger / VTC710XHF – 7’10”, Extra-Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting / Retail $260 *S.B. Brutus / VTC710XXHF – 7’10”, Extra-Extra-Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting / Retail $260 *Knockout / VTC711HMF – 7’11”, Heavy Power, Moderate-Fast Action Casting / Retail $230 *All-new model
St. Croix Victory Features Super high-modulus hybrid carbon fiber SCIII+ blanks matched with Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology offering maximum power and strength with a significantly reduced blank weight Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART) Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) mandrel technology Taper Enhancement Technology (TET) blank design provides curved patterns for improved action with increased sensitivity Fuji Concept “O” guides with deep press inserts Fuji SK2 reel seat on casting models with comfort-centric complimenting componentry Fuji VSS real seat on spinning models with comfort-centric complimenting componentry Fuji KDPS reel seat nut on spinning and casting models with thread covering hood Split-grip, super-grade cork handles customized per model Full-grip material combination handle on select models Model specific hook keepers selectively placed per technique Single coat sealer on blank with slow cure finish Two coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish on guides 15-year transferable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service Designed and handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Retail price $180 to $260 Victory rods are crafted with an all-new material known as SCIII+, a hybrid of St. Croix’s advanced SCIII carbon and exotic SCVI carbon. “In itself, SCIII is an exceptional material for building fishing rods,” says St. Croix Product Manager, Ryan Teach. “It’s a high-modulus high-strain carbon fiber that produces sensitive and lightweight rods with excellent durability, and can be found in our Avid, latest-generation Mojo Bass, Mojo Musky and other popular St. Croix rod series. SCVI is a super high-modulus high-strain carbon fiber that’s too stiff to be used as a primary material but can be efficiently combined in selective amounts and strategic locations with other materials – SCIII in this case – to add power while reducing overall weight. At the same time, durability and performance are further enhanced with our ART (Advanced Reinforcing Technology), FRS (Fortified Resin System), TET (Taper Enhancement Technology) and IPC (Integrated Poly Curve) technologies. These new technique-specific bass rods truly have it all, at a price that’s accessible for a wide variety of anglers.”
While lightweight performance and extreme durability are hallmarks across the entirety of this new series, Teach says the construction of each technique-specific model is customized to excel in its intended use. “The exact amount and location of SCVI material is optimized on each rod in the series. Each one is different and unique,” he says. “For the angler, that means each rod has the right power exactly where it’s needed, with a correctly balanced tip that supports the desired technique while minimizing rod torque. And it isn’t just the blanks that are unique,” Teach continues. “Handles, guide spacing, and even hook-keeper designs are customized and optimized on each of these rods.”
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There is a rod for every bass-fishing application. Whether you’re a tournament angler competing at the highest level, a passionate recreational basser, or anything in between, St. Croix’s all-new Victory Series of high-performance American-made technique-specific bass rods are poised bring you more wins. Whatever that means to you, know that St. Croix will be celebrating all of it right there with you. Because we only win when you do.
Joining the “Great Eight” all-new Victory models released in March, these 17 versatile new Victory spinning and casting models are being announced at ICAST 2021 and will be available to anglers at St. Croix dealers worldwide later this fall. See them all in the St. Croix Booth (#2223) at ICAST 2021 and check out the incredibly versatile model we call “The Marshal” – a 7-foot, 3-inch medium-heavy power, fast action Victory casting model that excels in multiple bass presentations – in the Freshwater Rod Category of the ICAST 2021 New Product Showcase</a.