St. Croix Pacemaker - baitcasting rod
Note: While the focus of this site is vintage reels, vintage rods are a natural and logical pairing. This initial entry in the vintage rod information for this site will be expanded as more vintage rods become part of the library.
Since much of the interest in vintage rods focuses on how they work as part of a balanced tackle outfit with vintage reels, testing and usage will be a major part of these pages. As rods are tested the language in these pages will change to reflect the results.
The St. Croix Pacemaker 400 HD is a 4'6" one-piece teal fiberglass baitcasting rod, made by St. Croix Rods in Park Falls, Wisconsin. It has a deep-blue pistol-grip reel seat and cork rear grip.
This rod's length is at the lower limit of the range for mid-century baitcasting rods - this plus the HD designation place it provisionally in the heavy class — associated with lines in the 18 - 30 lb. test range, casting weights of 3/4 + oz., and heavy-duty reels. Target species include tarpon, salmon, and striped bass, and usage includes heavy duty freshwater trolling and saltwater casting.
This rod's overall length, guide spacing, and short, stout handle represents the compact, close-quarters casting-rod style that paired naturally with mid-century baitcasting reels. This example is being documented initially as a working companion to a vintage Nobby reel, although the Nobby is probably a bit light for this rod. However, while the rod may be genuinely heavy duty, the specific reel pairing need not exploit its whole capacity.
Manufacturer documentation is elusive. St. Croix’s original line and lure specification remains to be confirmed from the complete rod decal or catalog evidence. In the meantime, usage will be inferred from Shakespeare's recommendations and cautious testing.
Action
This rod will likely be slow to moderate in action, flexing well down the blank rather than behaving like a modern fast graphite rod. The short length gives excellent close-range control, especially for plug pitching, bank fishing, boat work, or confined water.
Fiberglass smooths the shock of a cast — useful with an older direct-drive or less-forgiving reel. The four-guide layout (3 guides + tip) is typical of an older short casting rod, but it is sparse by modern standards - line will not track the blank as closely under load.
Test casting
Shakespeare places such short HD rods in the heavy class but treat 3/4 + oz. casting weight as a careful test range, not an assumption that it is a true heavy-power rod. A 4'6" fiberglass rod can feel stout in hand while still having a tip and ferrule-free (one-piece) blank that dislikes repeated hard acceleration with 1 oz. + weights.
Start progressively:
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Cast a 1/2 oz. practice plug or sinker with a smooth lob.
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Move to 3/4 oz. and watch the top third of the blank during the cast.
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If it loads smoothly without the tip folding excessively or the butt feeling overstrained, try 1 oz—but avoid snap-casting.
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Stop if you hear guide-wrap ticking, see stress whitening/cracks, or feel a sharp “hinge” in the blank.
Specifications, colors / finishes, features
| Field | Working entry |
|---|---|
| Maker | St. Croix Rods, Park Falls, WI |
| Name / Series | Pacemaker |
| Model | 400 HD |
| No. of sections / material / type | one-piece fiberglass baitcasting rod |
| Ferrule material | -- |
| Length | 4'6" |
| Blank color / finish | teal / turquoise |
| Reel seat color / style | cobalt blue / pistol grip |
| Handle | cork |
| Butt cap | hard rubber |
| No. of guides / size, material | 3 + top / HD, steel |
| Guide wrap color | dark blue |
| Unusual features | -- |
Guide details
Heavy duty (HD) rings, 3 + top
Markings: "Allan" on both sides of each guide.
Spacing is from reel seat / to next guide.
| Guide | Spacing | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 3/8" | 8/64" |
| 2 | 11" | 7/64" |
| 3 | 8 7/8" | 7/64" |
| top | 7 1/4" | 7/64" |
Condition
Overall: very good, perfectly functional with minor blemishes
Guides: light rust
Reel seat: light wear with some bare metal showing through paint
Line wraps: very good
Blank: very good, a few minor scratches
Decals: fair with some worn spots
Locking nut for blank: unscrews OK, oiled lightly with penetrating oil. Blank to reel seat connection looks good, minimal corrosion 4 metal strips. Did not attempt to separate blank from reel seat.
Reel lock: works, utilizes a rubber knob and screw head. Some minor rust.
Balanced tackle outfit
Line lb. test: 18 - 30
Lures (oz.): 3/4 +
Reel: heavy duty baitcasting
Type of fishing: tarpon, striped bass, heavy-duty freshwater trolling, saltwater casting
References
- Shakespeare, Secrets of Successful Fishing (1962)
For full source details, see References.