St. Croix has built a reputation as a world-class rod company backed by the respect and admiration of anglers worldwide. With over 70 years of knowledge and product development, it is no surprise that St. Croix is a household name among anglers in both freshwater and saltwater. In fact, their conventional fishing rods are coveted by many as the best on the market. But over the past few years, the St. Croix fly rods department has been overlooked. They had built their reputation on building basic fly rods that could take a beating for the everyday angler. In a market flooded by wallet-friendly, middle-of-the-road rods, it was time to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Enter the Evos and Technica series. These recently released rods are St. Croix’s newest effort to reinvent its fly rod lineup with high-grade and technique-specific rods.

We recently put the screws to two rods in the new series: a 9’ 5wt Technica and a 9’ 9wt Evos Salt. Having cast just about every premium rod on the market, we have high expectations of what makes a rod “premium” and worth the investment. In this gear review, we tested them East Coast style in the worst conditions and to the fussiest of fish to see if the claims stood up. 

Specifications

The Price – Every angler these days starts with two questions. What is the price? Is it worth that price tag? With materials and technology getting more and more advanced, it is not uncommon to see rods exceeding $1000. The Technica retails at $995, and the Evos Salt at $1025, on par with other rods of their caliber. Is it worth it? For a serious angler looking for a rod capable of performing on the worst of days, or you are in a situation where you must drop a dry fly within inches of a feeding fish, the answer may be yes.   

The Technology – St. Croix is a true innovator in the rod-building industry, and these two models are no exception. Both the Technica and Evos Salt series are made with a combination of SCVI/IV/II carbon fiber and exclusive MITO graphene, delivering exceptional action, loop stability, and strength in both rods. Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART), Fortified resin systems (FRS), and reinforced slim profile ferrules (SPF) boost strength without adding weight to keep you slinging all day long. However, to the novice angler, these terms are meaningless, and the proof will come out in our test to see if these technological advances matter. 

The Aesthetics – Both the Technica and the Evos Salt start with flor-grade cork handle giving that classic feel and look. The Technica comes in an olive color reminiscent of a river bottom, while the Evos Salt comes in a slick black and blue. While both have an uplocking, machined aluminum reel seat, the Technica boasts a stunning tiger maple insert revealing the delicate details put into the rod. Even more critical in my mind is the presence of a hook keeper on the Technica to make sure you are always ready to strike when that trout starts to feed again.   

The Cherry on Top – It would not be a St. Croix without their exceptional 15-year transferable warranty, allowing you the comfort and safety to push the rods to the limit. Both rods are designed and crafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin promoting that made in the USA culture. Rest assured, they come in a heavy-duty aluminum rod tube with rod socks to ensure easy transport and safety.

Testing the Technica

Designed for selective risers on the most technical rivers, the Technica was created for those specialized, sophisticated trout that hold a PhD in detecting the slightest drag on your fly. With the idea behind the rod to deliver a smooth-loading action capable of handling long leaders in the windiest conditions, we thought of no better place to test the Technica’s capabilities than on the upper Delaware River. The Delaware is filled with trout that see thousands of lines throughout the season and are attuned to the slightest color difference in fly choice or the micro drag effects of a poorly placed fly. Long leaders are a must, and dry flies can range from size 10 to size 24.

To test the rods, we paired a 5wt Technica with a Lamson Litespeed with a Scientific Angler MPX 5wt floating line. During our test window, we encountered enough wind to make even the most confident caster worried. While no rod truly excels in high wind, the Technica did deliver the necessary line speed to punch through the windswept assault. It handled long leaders with ease and placed our size 20 Hebes precisely where needed to trick some wise Delaware trout. Some Isonychias even made an appearance, and a quick switch to larger bugs was no concern. On a personal note, the moderate action tip took some getting used to, as I like faster rods. However, I will admit that the moderate feel did make for a softer touch when landing flies down and maybe a future switch in my tactics versus the trickiest of fish.

Testing the Evos Salt

The Evos Salt is a similar story to the Technica with a saltwater twist. Powered by a faster rod tip, it was made to excel in all salt conditions, marrying punch and precision. To test the capabilities of the Evos Salt, we beat it up in the Atlantic Ocean, chasing albies and bonito, striped bass, and Jersey Gold (inshore Mahi).

When you pick up the Evos Salt for the first time, it was meant for power. The fast tip is evident, and the stability is key, with no issues picking up lines of all types quickly. For our Mahi Mahi hunt, this is key. We paired the Evos Salt with an Orvis Mirage Reel paired with a 9wt Hydros Saltwater line and “pot hopped,” as we call it in New Jersey. Come late summer, Mahi Mahi following warming water make their way inshore and set up next to any lobster/fish trap pot they can find. We employed a typical run-and-gun approach where our captain, Bryan Woodfield, navigated us from pot to pot, putting us just close enough to put a fly next to it. With ease, the Evos Salt could pick up flies for multiple shots on target before drifting off the pot. While we had multiple chances at Mahi, they had our number that day, following multiple times without committing. A few banded rudderfish did manage to connect, giving us a little idea of the fish fishing power, but we left that for the striper pursuit to truly appreciate the rod.

With the help of two Connecticut fishing guides, Tristan Wilgan and Alex Ferraiuolo, we intercepted some stripers as they began their way down the eastern seaboard. Paired with Cortland Striper blitz line, we fished along a breachway and finally connected with some stripers to get our first taste of handling bigger fish. The Evos effortlessly pulled fish across the current and withstood their powerful runs. Albies were albies this day, and with few opportunities presented, the onslaught of casting was a breeze with the lightweight design. While conversations were filled with critiques, including heavy swing weight but the stability to counter it, the only negative discussed was lack of control at short distances, not something typically needed in saltwater scenarios anyway.

Final Thoughts

What can I say, are St. Croix fly rods back? I think it is safe to say that with the Technica for freshwater and the Evos Salt for those salty big fish pursuits, St. Croix has reentered the space with some high-end quality rods for the specialized hunter! While we did not get the chance to test the Evos Salt counterpart aptly named just the Evos, I am sure it will continue to impress as a faster Technica if that suits your preferences. With the holidays right around the corner, I do not think any fly angler would be disappointed with one of these rods wrapped with a bow on it. Confidentially and without a doubt, it is safe to say that St Croix is back in the fly space with a vengeance. You can find the full lineup of weights and sizes available here.

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