Gear guide
St. Croix Mojo Bass spinning and casting sticks with Abu Garcia and Lew’s baitcast reels for Minnesota largemouth salad and smallmouth rock.
Minnesota bass do not need a press agent. Largemouth live in the salad. Smallmouth live on the granite a glacier installed like it was proud of the work. You can fish both on spinning or baitcast — the lake does not check your Instagram handle.
This tray stays St. Croix on the rods: Mojo Bass spinning for plastics, a short MH casting stick for jig-and-worm, and a glass cranking spinner when you want that softer load. Reels lean baitcast for the casting rods (Abu Garcia Revo SX and Lew’s Tournament Pro LFS); keep a mid-size spinning reel on the plastics stick if that is how you already fish. Line: 8–12 lb fluoro or braid+leader for spinning finesse, 12–17 mono or 30–50 braid for casting cover work.
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Typical lengths sit around 6’8”–7’2”. Spinning for lighter plastics and open-water cranking; baitcast when you are flipping wood or skipping docks like you mean it. We will not invent a dock that “always has one.” We will tell you to buy a rod that still feels good after a long Tuesday on a lake that looks like a rumor.
St. Croix
Spinning Mojo for soft plastics around docks, reeds, and the kind of lily pads that have opinions. Medium fast tip for Minnesota largemouth salad without needing a tournament trailer.
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St. Croix
Compact casting stick dialed for jigs and worms in wood and rock. Medium-heavy backbone for flipping cover on lakes that feel like a neighborhood and rivers that feel late for something.
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St. Croix
Glass cranking action on a spinning blank — softer load for squarebills and shallow runners when you want the rod to do some of the hookset for you. Friendly for Minnesota smallmouth rock and windy banks.
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Abu Garcia
Smooth low-profile baitcast for Minnesota bass days that involve wood, docks, and the occasional northern surprise. Carbon Matrix drag and casting brakes that forgive a hopeful afternoon.
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Lew's
Lightweight aluminum-frame baitcaster with QuietCast braking and enough drag to turn a fish away from a dock post. Tournament manners without requiring a sponsor hat.
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CastMN is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Read the affiliate disclosure.