New Rods Tame the Wildest of Species
OutdoorHub 01.16.13
Redesigned Wild River rods built specifically for the rowdiness of salmon and steelhead
Diehard salmon and steelhead anglers are a one-of-a-kind breed. From enduring the roughest seas while trolling open water to wading frigid rivers in below-freezing temperatures, those obsessed with hooking these hard-fighting slivery-sided species will suffer through both thick and thin in their pursuit of a screaming drag.
But perhaps the biggest dilemma faced sparring with chrome-flashing thugs is finding one high-quality yet affordable rod series that’ll withstand serious muscle and cover the myriad tactics employed. From handling ripping hardware behind downriggers to delicately delivering the tiniest of tidbits through a slow moving river eddy, and all techniques in-between, finding the right rod series to cover it all has been nearly impossible.
So the designers at St. Croix Rod spent a lot of time working with salmon and steelhead anglers over the past couple years to find a solution. Plenty of overtime was put in to create a rod series that incorporates all things necessary to raise the performance bar.
The end result is the redesigned Wild River series—already considered one of the best sticks on the market by steelhead and salmon gurus. And now, for 2013, St. Croix is introducing 35 new models sure to please anglers from East to West, the Great Lakes and every roiling river in-between.
Onboard west coast guide John Krauthoefer’s boat, for example, you’ll find heavy-power, moderate-action Wild River rods that can withstand the torque of Delta Divers as well the boisterous strike of a monstrous King from the Pacific Ocean.
“As guides,” explains Krauthoerfer, “we’re pretty abusive on our equipment, let alone what the fish can do to low-grade rods. We’re having tremendous success with the new Wild River rods in great part because the blank designs are so dialed-in to the techniques we use.”
Up and coming Great Lakes river guide Kyle McCelland, would put St. Croix up against all others when it comes to making the perfect drift with a tiny jig tipped with a minuscule morsel of bait with a Wild River. “St. Croix rods are ideal for Great Lakes trout and salmon.”
Wild River rods are built on all-new SCII graphite blanks featuring a rich, gold-dust-green metallic finish. Additional improvements include Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with premium, thin aluminum-oxide rings. There are also new 9- and 10 ½-foot spinning models featuring St. Croix’s exclusive neoprene skin handle for superior grip and sensitivity in wet and cold weather. And if you target salmon and steelhead, you know they bite best in bad weather.
Also new for 2013, St. Croix added downrigging and kokanee rods to the expanded Wild River series. Models in these two categories feature blanks built with a dynamic blend of SCII graphite and SCI linear fiberglass for incredible action and durability while also providing light weight.
Wild River rods are handcrafted in the USA and feature a 5-year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service. Designed and built in Park Falls to fish walking-distance trickles to epic fly-in destinations.
