St. Croix Rods is a premier fishing gear brand that has been in the business of crafting high-quality fishing rods and reels for many years. This company produces many different models of fishing rods, suitable for newbies and professional anglers.
But, where are St. Croix fishing rods made? Some St. Croix fishing rods are made in the USA in their Park Falls, Wisconsin-based factory. But, some models of Croix fishing rods are produced in a manufacturing plant in Fresnillo, Mexico. Popular American-made St. Croix rods include Legend, Avid, Victory, and some Mojo series.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about St. Croix fishing rods, including the company’s history and the types of fishing rods it produces.
What Is a St Croix Fish Rod?
St. Croix started manufacturing rods over 70 years ago when brothers Bob and Bill Johnson designed and crafted the first collapsible, multi-section bamboo fishing rod. Nowadays, St. Croix produces saltwater and freshwater fishing rods, and rods for fly fishing and ice fishing.
St. Croix fishing rods are handcrafted using the most advanced materials and high-tech machinery. Depending on the model, St. Croix fishing rods are made either in the company’s headquarters in Park Falls or in the new state-of-the-art factory in Fresnillo, Mexico.
The great thing about St. Croix is that this company doesn’t hide where its fishing rods are made. So, anglers shouldn’t have any problems identifying domestically produced rods from those made in Mexico.
The most popular USA-made St. Croix fishing rods are:
- Legend series
- Victoria series
- Avid series
- Mojo series (some models)
Popular St. Croix rods made outside the USA include:
- Bass-X series
- Eyecon series
- Triumph series
- Trout series
- Panfish series
- Mojo series (some models)
Is St Croix a Good Brand?
St. Croix is a well-known name in the fishing industry. This company has a reputation for manufacturing some of the most dependable fishing rods on the market.
This brand has been manufacturing exceptional fishing gear since the 1940s and has some of the best bass fishing rods for beginners and seasoned anglers. The great thing about the St. Croix brand is that it offers high-quality fishing rods for newbies and professional anglers at almost any budget.
This company invests millions of dollars each year to ensure that every angler using St. Croix fishing gear has the best fishing experience every time they hit the water. St. Croix is one of the leaders in using innovations and technological advances for manufacturing quality fishing gear.
St Croix Fishing Rods History and Origin
St. Croix Rods was founded in 1948 in Minneapolis by two brothers, Bob and Bill Johnson when they created the first collapsible bamboo fishing pole. The newly developed bamboo rod featured metal connections that held the bamboo parts together while allowing anglers to make the fishing rod more compact for travel.
This simple but innovative design was an instant hit among anglers and was in significant demand. The Johnson brothers opened two factories in Wisconsin to keep the manufacturing costs down and meet the rising demand for the bamboo Croix rod.
In 1954 the brothers moved the production to a new factory in Park Falls, which continues to be the brand’s headquarters even today.
By 1955, lightweight and flexible fiberglass became the replacement material for bamboo. St. Croix quickly developed new Croix rod models for specific fish species and different fishing environments. Just in one year, St. Croix launched 24 models for salmon and steelhead alone.
But, in 1960, the company started to experience financial heartaches. The local businessman Gordon Schluter invested in the company and set on to bring St. Croix to its former glory.
Some years later, St. Croix invented a new and more secure assembling technique called Ferrule’s Fit. This process reduced the number of metal parts used in the manufacturing process, cutting back the potential for corrosion and creating a higher-quality product.
The innovations kept coming, establishing St. Croix as one of the best fishing gear manufacturers in the world. Some of St. Croix’s latest innovations include Advanced Reinforcing Technology, Fortified Resign System, and Taper Enhancement Technology.
St Croix Fishing Rods Range
Over the years, St. Croix developed many different models of rods suitable for beginners and experienced anglers. St. Croix produces various rods for different types of fishing, including:
Freshwater
Whether you prefer casting from land, or a boat, freshwater fishing rods are essential for freshwater fishing. St. Croix produces the following types of freshwater fishing rods:
Legend Family:
- Legend Tournament Bass Casting
- Legend Tournament Bass Spinning
- Legend Xtreme Spinning Rod
- Legend Extreme Casting Rod
- Legend X Casting Rod
- Legend X Spinning Rod
- Legend Elite Spinning Rod
- Legend Elite Casting Rod
- Legend Elite Musky Rod
- Legend Elite Panfish
- Legend Tournament Walleye Spinning Rod
- Legend Tournament Walleye Casting Rod
- Legend Tournament Musky Rod
- Legend Tournament Musky Downsizer Rod
- Legend Glass Casting Rod
- Legend Glass Spinning Rod
Avid Family
Premier
- Premier Spinning Rod
- Premier Casting Rod
- Premier Musky Rod
- Premier Spinning Musky Rod
- Premier Glass Musky Rod
Mojo Family
- Mojo Bass Casting Rod
- Mojo Bass Spinning Rod
- Mojo Bass Glass Casting Rod
- Mojo Bass Glass Spinning Rod
- Mojo Musky Casting Rod
- Mojo Musky Trolling Rod
- Mojo Yak Casting Rod
- Mojo Yak Spinning Rod
Eyecon
Panfish Series
Trout Series
Trout Pack Series
Bass X
Triumph Family
- Triumph Spinning Rod
- Triumph Casting Rod
- Triumph Travel Spinning Rod
- Triumph Travel Casting Rod
- Triumph Musky Rod
- Triumph Salmon & Steelhead Casting Rod
- Triumph Salmon & Steelhead Spinning Rod
Victory
Saltwater
St. Croix manufactures the following models of rods for saltwater fishing:
Legend Family
- Legend Tournament Inshore Spinning Rod
- Legend Tournament Inshore Casting Rod
- Legend Surf Spinning Rod
- Legend Surf Casting Rod
- Legend Xtreme Inshore Casting Rod
- Legend Xtreme Inshore Spinning Rod
Seage Family
Avid Family
- Avid Series Surf Spinning Rod
- Avid Series Surf Casting Rod
- Avid Series Inshore Spinning Rod
- Avid Series Inshore Casting Rod
Mojo Family
- Mojo Inshore Spinning Rod
- Mojo Inshore Casting Rod
- Mojo Salt Conventional Rod
- Mojo Salt Spinning Rod
- Mojo Jig Conventional Rod
- Mojo Jig Spinning Rod
Triumph Family
- Triumph Inshore Spinning Rod
- Triumph Inshore Casting Rod
- Triumph Surf Spinning Rod
- Triumph Travel Spinning Rod
Fly Fishing
Fly fishing is a special method of fishing that employs a long fly rod, fly line, and fly reel and uses artificial flies as lures. Besides freshwater and saltwater rods, St. Croix manufactures the following models of fly fishing rods:
Imperial
Mojo
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing rods are shorter than regular rods. They are specifically crafted to allow anglers to target and reel in the fish through a small hole in the ice. If you prefer ice fishing, check out the different St. Croix ice fishing rods:
Tundra
Croix Custom Ice
Legend Black Ice
Mojo Family
Black Super Finesse Springs
Premier Ice
Premier Ice Combos
How Good Are St Croix Fishing Rods?
St. Croix produces high-quality but not extremely expensive fishing rods for all types of fishing. Whether you’re looking for a freshwater fishing rod to target bass or are more into saltwater or fly fishing, St. Croix has a quality rod for you.
Although some of the St. Croix fishing rods are produced in Fresnillo, Mexico, they are made using the same machines and methods as rods built in the USA in the Park Walls factory.
All St. Croix fishing rods are covered with a limited warranty. Certain models of St. Croix fishing rods have a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
Conclusion
St. Croix is one of the most famous American brands of fishing gear. Although this company has a production facility in Fresnillo, Mexico, it still produces some fishing rods in the Park Walls factory in Wisconsin.
St. Croix uses handcrafting techniques, high-quality materials, and innovative technologies to make some of the finest rods available on the market. This fishing brand is famous for crafting one of the most durable fishing rods and having one of the most extensive lines of fishing rods.