Author Topic: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER  (Read 26625 times)

Offline spearinfool

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ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« on: Jan 13, 2012, 08:43 PM »
do any of u guys use these springs?  if so how do they work?  are they adjustable?  how do u attach to a non st. croix rod?  i saw alot of them on rods in pictures posted on this site. thanks.   just watin for ice!

Offline dkfry

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #1 on: Jan 14, 2012, 12:01 AM »
I use them all the time, they are my favorite spring bobber. To use them you need an eye with a grommet to hold them. They can added onto an existing rod by wrapping a single properly sized foot guide on, epoxy the thread and adding a grommet. They make different weight springs (different front bead colors for different weights) and you can slide the spring in and out of the grommet/holder to adjust it.

Offline Handy

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #2 on: Jan 22, 2012, 02:55 PM »
I have moded many of my rods to use the st croix spring bobber. I just couldnt justify the 50 bucks for an ice rod. But from what i have read and now seen with my own eyes there quality control is terible so that makes me feel better about modding some rods I already had. I love that spring bobber and the way its adjustable and am thinking about adding one to my new rod.


Paul

Offline silvercreeker

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #3 on: Jan 22, 2012, 03:30 PM »
I got one last winter, 24ul.  It is perfect, best I have ever owned. I use it all the time for gills, and the sping adjusts fine.
The Greenhornet's caught more fish then you've lied about, Gustafson!

Offline spearinfool

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #4 on: Jan 23, 2012, 12:28 PM »
can u adjust the sensitivity when changing to different size jig?

Offline cousin eddie

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #5 on: Jan 24, 2012, 01:40 PM »
To a degree, yes you can adjust sensitivity by sliding the spring in or out of the grommet.  St. Croix also makes replacement springs in four weights (UL thru MED) so you could pick up any weight you want and switch out when switching jigs if need be.

As for making your own, put the grommet in the guide before attaching to rod.  I just used a bit of super glue to "spot weld" the guide in place then came back and touched up JB weld.  Or you can follow the advice above and tie it on like a traditional guide if you have the equipment and want it to look pretty.  I think you need a #2 single foot guide (I went for one without an insert) and a 1/8" I.D. grommet.  Buy an extra grommet or two (they are cheap at the hardware store) in case you mutilate one like I did trying to pop the damn thing into the guide!

Offline wetsleeves

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #6 on: Jan 24, 2012, 01:44 PM »
There was a fantastic step by step DIY thread on making your own in the Jiggin forum not too long ago.

Offline Icefish4Life

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #7 on: Jan 25, 2012, 09:12 PM »
I got one last winter, 24ul.  It is perfect, best I have ever owned. I use it all the time for gills, and the sping adjusts fine.

Great to hear the positive feedback! I lucked out and was able to purchase one at Gander Mtn before they sold out.

Offline icejunky

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #8 on: Jan 25, 2012, 09:19 PM »
I carry two rods with them on while gill fishing, one is the L and the other the M, both work great, and are adjustable. much better then spring opperated bobbers

Offline bearbgone

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #9 on: Jan 31, 2012, 02:28 PM »
Cheap HT Rod with St. Croix spring. Ace hardware had the springs on sale for $5.99 so I purchased like 10 of them. I used JB Weld on mine.





Offline Gills-only

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #10 on: Feb 04, 2012, 01:12 PM »
#8 single foot eyelet, 1/8" inside diameter grommet.  Use this setup on my rods love it.  Don't ice up cause the line only goes thru the loop @ the end of spring.

Offline NEZ

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #11 on: Feb 04, 2012, 10:13 PM »
Used many different spring bobbers.  These are the best you can get.  They are adjustable by just sliding them in or out from the grommet.  They are also very easy to attach to any rod.  See previous post.  I actually attached one to my Frabill Quick tip rod.  This rod tip is very sensitive already and with this spring bobber, if the fish breathes on the bait, it will move the spring.

Offline Gills-only

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #12 on: Feb 08, 2012, 07:00 PM »
Slide the spring with 2 hands(one pushing the spring and one pulling lightly).  If it moves a little hard put a little vaseline on it for lube.  If you "stretch" the spring it wont work near as well.

Offline gillyman

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #13 on: Feb 09, 2012, 10:26 PM »
I followed the thread on the DIY St. Croix Spring bobbers, got my stuff from Ace and Janns Netcraft.  In 2 evenings I made up 2 doz. springs.  I used drill bits from my drill set instead of nails.  Easier to step up or down to get the diameter right.  It is pretty easy to do. 
I am fishing for mid season perch and they are picky.  Spring bobbers are the ticket. Oh and so are palm rods.

Offline kyl_me

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #14 on: Jan 11, 2014, 09:00 PM »
How do you all store your St Croix springs? With my first one, I stored the jig attached to the jig catch by the handle. It ended up leaving a kink in the bobber. I do not want to leave the line any looser, as it seems to get tangled with other rods of I do that.

Offline Gills-only

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #15 on: Jan 15, 2014, 05:13 PM »
Leave the spring extended all the way out, hook your hook in hook holder and tighten the line till taught.  After season take spring out of holder(take a 1/8" drill bit and push it out) and put it in the tube it came in, then all set for next year!   Make sure the spring is fully extended or u will kink the spring.

Offline Ifishbackwaters

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #16 on: Jan 16, 2014, 07:59 PM »
Picked up my first one this year and love it.  Bought a second with in a week.  The only thing I have to say is make sure to put a little Vaseline on the spring and I even ran a drill bit though the grommet with my fingers.  The tips of the rod will break very easy.  I found this out first hand.  The spring was sliding very hard and I slipped and snap.  They slide very nice now even cold. 

Offline jmillsp

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #17 on: Feb 09, 2014, 04:32 PM »
#8 single foot eyelet, 1/8" inside diameter grommet.  Use this setup on my rods love it.  Don't ice up cause the line only goes thru the loop @ the end of spring.
I just ordered a few #8 single foot eyelets and concluded the ones I ordered are a tad to big. They measure .292 inches and my little rubber grommet is .250. They would work but I don't like the looseness. I think a #7 would be about right. One thing to remember though, is ceramic guide vs. ones that aren't. I have a feeling the one Gills used may have been ceramic and the ones I got are not. Thoughts?
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Offline Gills-only

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #18 on: Feb 09, 2014, 04:44 PM »
No ceramic here, they pre make them up at the bait store I go to, said it was a # 8 don't know worked for me!  Maybe there is a size grommet in between that size.

Offline jmillsp

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #19 on: Feb 09, 2014, 04:53 PM »
No ceramic here, they pre make them up at the bait store I go to, said it was a # 8 don't know worked for me!  Maybe there is a size grommet in between that size.
Ya, I wondered about the grommet too. I hate to send my eyes back for #7's and find out they don't fit. I am wondering to if there might be some slight variations from one brand to the next. The brand I got was Berkley but I don't see where Netcraft sells a #7 in the same one I got.
KeepfishN4fun

Offline Gills-only

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #20 on: Feb 09, 2014, 04:55 PM »
Cant help ya there, sorry!

Offline gridtel

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #21 on: Feb 09, 2014, 05:05 PM »
St croix is highly sensitive. Love it.

Offline Van_Cleaver

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #22 on: Feb 09, 2014, 07:14 PM »
I got a St. Croix Legend several years (free with Cabelas points) and it is one of my favorites for gills, perch, and crappie. The rubber grommets tend  crack with age though; I think I'm on my third one now. As mentioned above, I found mine at a local hardware store and bought several. I sometimes put clear cellophane tape on the back part of mine up to the grommet. It's easy to get slack line caught in it, and a b***h to fix when the light goes down. Luckily it only seems to happen when the fish are on a tear. ::)

Offline Gills-only

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #23 on: Feb 10, 2014, 04:50 AM »
Never had a problem with rubber grommet cracking.  Do you store them in the garage up above?  The heat might have something to do with that, had mine for almost 6 yrs, have caught the line in spring from time to time, but the more u use it the better you know your spring!

Offline jmillsp

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #24 on: Feb 28, 2014, 01:18 PM »
Well, after going to the bother of sending the size 8's back and getting the 7's, I learn the 7's have the ceramic in them, I might end up breaking out the ceramic as the grommet might fit then.
KeepfishN4fun

Offline Gills-only

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #25 on: Feb 28, 2014, 02:14 PM »
Do a search and the guys that did their own I m pretty sure its a #8 but if it wont fit it wont fit!!

Offline mt.redneck

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #26 on: Nov 15, 2014, 12:30 AM »
I have been using the snake guides that are on fly rods, the nice thing with them is that you can bend them a bit to get the grommet to fit properly  :)
safe ice, tight lines and god bless!

Offline Van_Cleaver

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #27 on: Nov 17, 2014, 01:28 PM »
Gills- only, my rods are in the garage which means they get some extreme heat in the summer as you suggested. The only time I really seem to have trouble with line getting in the spring is when I am fishing past dark, and more so if it is windy. I know the set up well though ; I've been using it for years and it  is the one rig that is always on the sled.

Offline Gills-only

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #28 on: Nov 17, 2014, 03:44 PM »
When I first started using the spring I got it tangled in spring, what a mess, since I have been more careful and use every day and did not tangle once last year, I'm pretty fussy with my stuff!

Offline VanderLaan

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Re: ST. CROIX SPRING BOBBER
« Reply #29 on: Jan 22, 2015, 02:24 PM »
How do you all store your St Croix springs? With my first one, I stored the jig attached to the jig catch by the handle. It ended up leaving a kink in the bobber. I do not want to leave the line any looser, as it seems to get tangled with other rods of I do that.

I push the spring all the way through the grommet towards the reel, so the loop on the spring is resting on the eye of the grommet.  Then I attach the lure to the hook holder or eye and reel the line tight. 
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