St Croix Triumph Vs Premier – What Are The Differences, And Which One Should You Buy?
UPDATED 14 MAY 2023
by Robert Ceran
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Are you currently looking for a new St Croix rod, but not sure if the Premier or Triumph is the right rod for you?
For this article we tested the most important features of the St Croix Triumph vs Premier rods side by side, and will cover their main differences, to help you choose the best one for your purpose.
St Croix Triumph vs Premier compared
| Image | Price | Length | Power | Action | Line rating | Lure rating | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Croix Triumph spinning series |  |  | 5' to 7'6" | Ultra light to medium heavy | Moderate to fast | 2 to 17 lb | 1/32 to 3/4 oz. | 2.1 to 5.8 oz. |
| St Croix Premier spinning series |  | | 4'6" to 8'6" | Ultra light to extra heavy | Moderate to fast | 2 to 25 lb | 1/32 to 2 oz. | 2.1 to 6.4 oz. |
| St Croix Triumph casting series |  | | 6' to 7' | Medium to medium heavy | Fast | 10 to 20 lb | 1/4 to 1 oz. | 3.6 to 5.1 oz. |
| St Croix Premier casting series |  | | 5'6" to 7' | Medium light to heavy | Fast | 8 to 25 lb | 1/4 to 1 1/2 oz. | 3.7 to 6.2 oz. |
Above is a table comparing the main features of the 4 St Croix fishing rods that we tested, which we’ll use to discuss the most important differences further down the page.
If you’re wondering what fishing rod types they are available as, both series can be purchased as either a spinning or casting rod.
Both are of very high quality, and many of their specs are broadly similar. This raises the following questions: which one is better, and which one should you choose?
Let’s take a closer look at the main differences revealed by our testing.
The most important differences between the two series
Blank construction: Based on our testing, we found that the graphite blank of the Premier series is stronger than that of the Triumph, due to advanced reinforcement technology used by St Croix. This technology uses carbon fiber meshing to increase rod strength by a factor of 10.
Length: Both the spinning and casting lineups of the Premier series have a wider range of lengths, covering 4’6” to 8’6” and 5’6” to 7’, respectively.
The Triumph series only cover 5’ to 7’6” and 6’ to 7’, respectively. In other words, the Premier lineup gives you a greater choice in terms of length.
For an in-depth discussion of choosing the right length, check out our fishing rod length chart.
Power: Similar to the differences in length, the Premier lineups offer you a wider range of rod power to choose from.
The spinning lineup covers ‘ultra light’ to ‘extra heavy’, while the casting lineup covers ‘medium light’ to ‘heavy’. In contrast, the Triumph series only covers ‘ultra light’ to ‘medium heavy’, and ‘medium’ to ‘medium heavy’.
To get the full scoop on how to choose the right rod power, read our article: fishing rod weight explained.
Action: The differences between the two lineups are negligible in this area. In fact, the majority of both come as fast action rods, which is ideal for spinning and casting.
To learn more about which action to choose, read our article what is fishing rod action?
Line rating: Overall, the Premier series offers a wider range of line ratings, especially at the heavy end of the scale. Both the spinning and casting series go up to 25 lb, while the Triumph series only goes up to 20 lb.
Lure rating: Similar to the differences in the other categories, the Premium series covers a wider range, especially at the heavy end of the series. Its lure rating goes up to 2 oz., while the Triumph only goes up to 1 oz..
Weight: The two series are very similar in weight, with only very slight differences.
Bottom line: During our testing we found that if you look at the differences in the Power, length, line rating, and lure rating categories combined, it becomes clear that the Premier series was designed to handle heavier applications compared to the Triumph series.
Now let’s look at each of the lineups in more detail.
St Croix Triumph spinning rod review
This is a high quality graphite rod that combines strength with sensitivity. Constructed with St Croix’s premium graphite blank technology, during our tested we found that it feels light to hold in the hand, and is light enough to cast with all day long.
Features:
- Premium SC2 graphite blank
- Fuji reel seat
- Cork grip handle
- Stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts
St Croix Premier spinning rod review
This blank of this rod is constructed with the advanced reinforcement technology that meshes carbon fibers to increase strength by a factor of 10.
As a result, when we put it to the test, we found that this is an ideal choice for heavy applications, and whenever you’re targeting trophy sized bass, pike, salmon, or muskie.
Interestingly, the additional strength does not come at the cost of much heavier weight, and together with the full cork handle this makes for ergonomic handling.
This is a great option for bass fishing, which is why we included it in our review of the best bass spinning rods.
Features:
- High modulus graphite blank
- Fuji reel seat
- Cork grip handle
- Stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts
St Croix Triumph casting rod review
This model provides high value at a great price, and is one of the most affordable high end casting rods on the market.
When we tested it, we found that the high modulus graphite blank combines strength with sensitivity, and the cork handle is great for ergonomic handling.
Features:
- Premium SC2 graphite blank
- Fuji reel seat
- Cork grip handle
- Black aluminum oxide guides
St Croix Premier casting rod review
Similar to the spinning lineup, this model comes with enhanced strength due to advanced carbon fiber meshing technology.
When we put it to the test, we found that the extra strength and heavy power make it ideal for heavy casting applications, such as bass fishing in thick cover. Again, the lightweight construction and ergonomic cork handle make it a pleasure to handle.
Features:
- High modulus graphite blank
- Fuji reel seat
- Cork grip handle
- Stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts
Conclusion
For anyone who loves to fish, St Croix rods are among the best quality poles available on the market, and many anglers swear by them as their top choice for premium fishing rods.
To summarize, both lineups are extremely high quality products that won’t disappoint.
Overall, during our testing we found that t the Triumph series rods are great for lighter freshwater applications, such as light spinning or casting for panfish, bass and walleye. Due to their lightness, it’s a pleasure to fight even small crappie or bluegill on this kind of gear.
In contrast, the Premier lineups come with the advantage of their enhanced strengthening technology, which makes them ideal for targeting trophy sized fish. The extra strength is also great for high power hook setting, which is essential for many bass fishing applications close to cover.
The St Croix Premier rod can readily handle heavy duty jobs, including the largest freshwater fish, such as catfish, pike, salmon, and muskie. In addition, it’s also strong enough to deal with decent sized saltwater species without causing you any stress.
Gear and methods used for testing
For consistent testing results, we tested these rods under similar conditions on Lake Tarpon in 5 to 22 feet of water. We paired all of the rods with the same reel, a Shimano Stradic 2000HGFL for the spinning rods (spooled with 8 lb test Berkeley Trilene Fluorocarbon), or an Abu Garcia Revo X for the casting rods (spooled with 12 lb test Power Pro braid). We tested each rod with with jigs, crankbaits, and swimbaits in the 1/8 to 3/8 oz range.
