FlyFishing Colorado
St Croix Triumph Fly Rod Review

A $99 St. Croix Triumph fly rod was Fly Fishing Colorado's find of the Denver Fly Fishing Show 2007.The Triumph line replaces the aging Premier fly rod and Premier fly fishing combo line.

• Product Description
  • St Croix Triumph fly rod 9'0" 4 pc for 6 wt line. 
  • Built with SCII graphite same as the Reign™ fly rod line. 
  • Aluminum-oxide stripper guides with black frame
  • Stainless steel snake guides
  • Uplocking aluminum reel seat
  • Quality cork handle
  • Two coats of Flex Coat slow cure finish
  • Protective Plastic Rod Case with cloth rod sack
  • 5 year warranty backed by unmatched St Croix service
  • Triumph Fly Rods and Fly Fishing Combos are available in lengths from 7'6" through 9'6" including a 7'6" models for youth.
  • All Triumph fly rods are a smooth moderate fast action making casting easier to learn for the beginner.
• The outfit I tested was equipped with a St Croix CLA456 fly reel for 4 - 6 line weights.  The CLA is a large arbor design reel with an adjustable disc style drag. 
• A 6 wt double taper line was spooled on the reel
• Attached was a 7 to 8 foot leader

Benefits of This product

• The first benefit for the Triumph Rod that purchasing one for $90 to $120 or a fly fishing combo for $140 - $170 won't break the bank.
  The 9' - 4 pc 6 line wt triumph fly fishing combo is priced at $160. 
  The triumph 9' 2 pc fly fishing combo for 6 wt line is priced at $140.
• I test cast the Triumph in the carpeted casting area where 100 feet of space was available.  I peeled off some 15 feet of line from the reel and and let it coil at my feet.  I flipped a small roll cast down the carpet and all 15 feet of line straightened out.
• Then I picked up and false cast twice to work some line out.  A nice 60 foot overhand cast was the result.
• Next I tried for a 50 foot roll cast.  The Triumph 9 foot laid it out as nice as could be.
• I tried several more roll casts from 10 feet to 30 feet.  The Triumph I tested performed each roll cast easily and accurately.  I did not note any rod bounce or wobble on back or forward casts or roll casts.

The main disadvantage I noted was the weight of the rod and reel was a bit heavy.  The nine foot 6 wt triumph flyrod weighs in at 3.9 oz.  The 2 pc model weighs 3.7 oz. But the rod had a solidly built feel to it with good wrapping on the guides and an excellent finish.

Recommendation:

Despite the rod and reel combo being a bit heavy, the moderate fast action was a joy to cast. It reminded me of some of my early fly rods which were a full or moderate action.  A moderate fast action rod allows for a more open casting loop and a slower casting stroke which can make learning to cast a lot easier for a beginner.

Also for $140 to $170, the Triumph fly fishing combo is a great buy for a beginning fly fisherman or for a spare outfit.

And I will bet that a st croix triumph fly fishing combo will catch fish just like an expensive sage, scott or g. loomis outfit.

Marshall, Editor
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