St Croix Fly Rods
History of St Croix Fly Rods
from 1948 to present.
St Croix Fly Rods have been manufactured at The St Croix Rod company since 1948. Located in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St Croix was the first company to manufacture a multi-section bamboo fishing pole.
In 1956, fiberglass replaced bamboo with some innovative designs. The main one being the "Whip-out" tubular telescopic rod. Some of these rods extended to 20 feet and were manufactured until 1993. 1956 also saw the beginning of the 3 piece fiberglass travel fly rod
2001 was the year of SCI, SCII and SCIIW graphite blends for rod manufacturing.
2003 saw the release of the IPC (Integrated Poly Curve) technology for fly rod tapers to make the most delicate presentations over long distances. Used in the Legend Elite and Legend Ultra.
Traditional fly rod blank linear compound taper technology produces transition points where the wall thickness of the blank is slightly thicker to allow for the taper. These transition points can be weak spots in the blank or affect the feel of the fly rod.
St Croix's new IPC Technology solves the issue by transforming the compound taper points into a smooth "poly curve". The smooth poly curve fly rod building process produces a fly rod blank with uniform wall thickness along the entire blank.
"SO WHAT does all this mean to me as a fly fisherman?" you ask. Good question. Here is the answer:
- Smoother "actions" because the graphite is rolled and compacted onto the rod making mandrel in one continuous taper.
- Rod Action -- simply means where the rod flexes along the blank. Faster action rods flex mostly near the tip, moderate action near the middle and slower down into the butt section. (To me a slower action rod is forgiving of casting errors but has a mushy feel to it. I personally like a moderate to fast action rod. Learning good casting habits make using a moderate to fast action rod reasonably easy.)
- Power of a rod -- means how much pressure it takes to flex the rod. To select a rod power that will perform best for you, simply narrow your choices to rods designed to cast the weight of lures — and sizes of lines — you’ll fish with most often. It’s that simple
- Eliminates all transitional points of weakness on the blank
- Produces a stronger blank because stress is distributed along the entire blank.
- Results in superior graphite fiber alignment along the length of the blank.
IPC ensures better longitudinal strength because the fiber alignment is never distorted at transition points. It also results in more uniform strength, stiffness and sensitivity along the entire blank shaft for better vibration transmission and enhanced feel.
In short you get a better fly rod period. The IPC technology is used exclusively in the St. Croix Legend Ultra and Legend Elite Series fly rods featured on fly-fishing-colorado.com.
2003 was the year St Croix engineers developed SCIIW woven graphite combined with SCIII for Avid and Premier Surf rods.
2005 brings ART (Advanced Reinforcing Technology). ART wraps exceptionally thin graphite fibers around the rod blank at critical points to add strength without sacrificing weight or increasing rod diameter. Exclusive to the Legend Elite and Legend Ultra Series Fly Rods.
St Croix also makes ice fishing, surf rods, spin, casting, tournament, walleye, tournament bass and salt water rods in addition to their fine line of fly fishing rods.
They offer a full line of rod building materials too.
Altogether a remarkable history in developing innovative fly rod and other rod products and materials.
The Fly Rod series consists of (In order of quality)
- Top of line Legend Elite* -- generally 500 to 550 dollars
- Next best Grade Legend Ultra* -- a great mid price value at 300 to 320 dollars
- The Avid Series* -- a great bargain priced rod from 170 to 230 dollars
- Imperial* -- the Combo sets or individual rods. Individual rods from 140 to 180 dollars Combos from 240 to 260 dollars
- Premier -- 2 year warranty rods bargain priced from 80 to 120 dollars. Combos from 130 to 160. These rods are the least quality St Croix makes. Not recommended. For only a few dollars more, you can step up to the Imperial or the Avid Series.
* -- Limited lifetime warranty
Shop for All St Croix Fly Rods See the new rods here
St Croix Legend Elite Fly Rods -- Top of Line for the Serious Angler from $500 to $570
St Croix Legend Ultra Fly Rods -- Quality in a Mid-Priced Rod from $300 to $390
St Croix Avid Fly Rods -- Quality Value Priced Rods from $180
