Rod Evolution

Driven by our relentless commitment to provide every angler the upper hand, our rod design process starts with understanding the angling equation we are trying to solve, which translates to a rod’s desired flex, feel, and functionality. We obsess over the minutia of rod action with a conviction to designing the most efficient casting and fishing tapers possible.

While refined flex patterns are the soul of our rods, technology is the engine that provides performance. Our desire to improve the angler experience pushes us to develop next-level blank materials, design lay-ups, and components. These advancements, working in union with carefully conceived actions, ultimately deliver peak performance, effectiveness, and durability.

Finally, thirty-two sets of skilled hands craft every St. Croix rod in the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the fishing world. We fixate on constant process improvement with an ever-present eye on efficiency, sustainability, and company culture. After all, an ethos is only as strong as the people who preach it.

UNDERSTANDING ROD ACTION

Rod action describes how and where the rod flexes, ultimately defining the performance attributes and capabilities of the rod. For example, a rod designed for a wide range of fishing applications and conditions needs adequate lifting capacity, high line speed, and dependable loop stability. If it is a freshwater rod, it must also mend well at distance. A fast-action rod features a stiff butt and mid-section with a softer tip and is ideal for these tasks. The location where the tip begins to soften affects power and accuracy. A freshwater fast action typically softens slightly lower on the blank compared to a fast/salt action, helping the angler generate tight loops off the tip of the rod, ideal for making precision casts. In contrast, a fast/salt action softens closer to the tip, which creates additional power necessary for both casting and fishing in saltwater environments.

Alternatively, a rod built specifically for technical dry fly fishing must lay down delicate casts, protect gossamer tippets, and possess the ability to hold a big fish on a small fly. For these reasons, a medium-fast or moderate action with a softer butt and mid-section are ideal choices.

An angler’s preferred casting stroke is a final consideration. Casters with a short, aggressive stroke will get maximum performance from a faster action. Conversely, casters with a long, smooth stroke will appreciate the reserve power of a medium-fast or moderate action. The most proficient anglers understand how to modify their casting stroke, allowing them to utilize the best tool in any given situation.

A. FAST/SALT
B. FAST
C. MEDIUM-FAST
D. MODERATE

ADVANCED CARBON FIBER

Our R&D engineers have decades of experience designing fly rods with our vast family of carbon fiber materials. In fact, we collaborate closely with our vendors to create proprietary materials designed and manufactured to our exact specifications. That level of control coupled with 75 years of rod-building knowledge allows us to create dynamic fishing tools that utilize a complex blend of carbon fiber in each rod, which allows us to precision craft the perfect flex, feel, and functionality for the tool’s intended purpose. /p>

FOR THE DISCRIMINATING ANGLER WHO APPRECIATES EXOTIC PERFORMANCE.

  • Super high-modulus, high-strain carbon fiber
  • Efficient material adds power with minimal weight
  • Used only to complement other carbon materials, as it is too high in modulus to be used as primary material
  • Includes FRS Technology

MADE FOR THOSE WHO OUTFISH THEIR BUDDIES AND RELY ON THEIR RODS TO DO IT

• High-modulus, high-strain carbon fiber with carbon-matte scrim
• Produces the lightest, most sensitive and strongest rods
• The finest blank material, exclusive to St. Croix
• Includes FRS Technology

IDEAL FOR THE ANGLER WHO INSISTS ON FISHING ONLY WITH TOP-GRADE RODS.

• High-modulus, high-strain carbon fiber produces extremely light and sensitive rods similar to the SCV, without the carbon-matte scrim
• Includes FRS Technology

THE CHOICE OF SERIOUS ANGLERS WHO DEMAND HIGH PERFORMANCE AND VALUE.

• High-modulus, high-strain carbon fiber produces sensitive and
lightweight rods with great durability

OUTSTANDING CHOICE FOR ANGLERS WHO APPRECIATE HIGH-PERFORMANCE WITHOUT HIGH COST.

• Mid-modulus carbon fiber with a higher strain rate than fibers commonly used by others. Most popular material that is lightweight, durable and sensitive, like you would expect from a St. Croix rod

TECHNOLOGY

Our relentless passion for improving the angler’s experience drives a continuous search for new technologies and manufacturing processes that will improve fly rod performance. Every new advancement – from new prepreg carbon to advanced resin systems – is put through scrupulous tests in our state-of-the-art engineering lab and in the field before it makes the roster.

Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) tooling technology eliminates all transition points in the rod blank, resulting in one continuous taper that delivers smoother actions with better feel, increased strength, and more efficient rod recovery.

Taper Enhancement Technology
(TET) incorporates precision-cut, curved blank patterns from state-of-the-art computer pattern-cutting machines. Curved TET patterns fit and lay up more precisely on IPC mandrels, resulting in stronger and more consistent actions with improved feel.

Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology combines a fortified super resin with computer-operated curing ovens delivering precise temperature and time
management throughout all stages of blank curing. FRS prevents microbuckling, keeping carbon fibers in proper alignment and resulting in blanks tested
to be 33% stronger than those built with standard resins and curing methods.

Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART) is an exotic carbon fiber material that adds a magnitude of 10X strength with virtually no increase in blank diameter or weight. ART reduces “ovaling” and the potential for rod failure under severe loads that occurs when casting heavy sinking lines or when lifting substantial fish boatside.

Slim Profile Ferrules design uses a “flag” of ART material on the ferrule area of the rod, which reduces blank ovalization and increases the strength by a magnitude of 10X with almost no additional weight.

MITO® Graphene unlocks the power of hybrid polymer materials with specialty additives which dramatically improves overall rod performance. Functionalized graphene enhances blank strength by 20%, which improves the strength-to-weight ratio and reduces swing weight. Additionally, it optimizes tip recovery, helping the caster generate staple loops and high line speeds. Finally, functionalized graphene boosts torsional rigidity, which greatly improves accuracy, giving the angler ultimate control.

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GUIDE TRAINS

• The ultimate guide train for saltwater applications
• Nickel titanium frames are non-corrosive in any fishing environment
• Bulletproof Zirconia rings fight grooving over years of abuse
• Flexible design allows for a deep rod bend without blank damage
• Snake guide design is ideal for large diameter line/leader connections
• Exceptionally weight savings improves rod recovery and swing weight
• Featured on all Evos Salt and Evos [#7 wt. and #8 wt.]

• The perfect guide train for freshwater applications
• Nickel titanium frames are non-corrosive in any fishing
environment
• Bulletproof Zirconia rings fight grooving over years of abuse
• Flexible design allows for a deep rod bend without
blank damage
• Single-foot design vastly reduces swing weight and improves
rod recovery
• Featured on Evos [#4 wt. - #6 wt.]

• Perfectly suited for both freshwater and saltwater environments
• 3D stripper guides with aluminum-oxide rings are super durable
and slick
• Tangle free stripper guide design
• PVD coating snake guides provide extra hardness and
increased smoothness
• Featured on all Imperial USA, Imperial Salt, and Imperial
USA Switch

• Reliable performance in any fishing environment
• Aluminum-oxide rings are super durable and slick
• Single-foot design improves swing weight and rod recovery
• Featured on all Connect and Mojo Bass

GRIP DESIGN

MODIFIED FULL WELLS
MODIFIED MICRO FULL WELLS
FULL WELLS
HALF WELLS
CIGAR
SNUB NOSE

MODIFIED FULL WELLS

• Ideal grip for all saltwater scenarios, streamers, and heavy indicator rigs
• Reduced rear pocket promotes a lower hand position for a longer casting stroke, maximum loop control, and increased power
• Featured on all Evos Salt, Evos [#7wt. - #8 wt.], and Connect [#7wt. - #8 wt.]

MODIFIED MICRO FULL WELLS

• Versatile grip shape ideal for dries, dry/ droppers, streamers, and nymph rigs
• Reduced rear pocket promotes a lower hand position for a longer casting stroke, maximum loop control, and increased power
• Featured on Evos [#4wt. - #6 wt.]

FULL WELLS

The industry standard for fishing and casting larger flies
• Featured on all Imperial Salt, Imperial USA [#7 wt. - #10 wt.], and all Mojo Bass

HALF WELLS

• A classic grip shape perfectly suited for a wide range of freshwater applications
• Featured on Imperial USA [#4 wt. - #6 wt.]

CIGAR

• Ideal for small-water dry fly presentations
• Featured on Imperial USA [#2 wt. - #3 wt.]

SNUB NOSE

• Versatile grip shape perfect for dry flies and light nymph rigs
• Design promotes a higher hand position for precision presentations
• Featured on Connect [#4wt. - #6 wt.]