A few years ago, St. Croix phased out its fly rods to the dismay of discerning shoppers who value American-made performance at competitive prices. For diehard fans and a new generation of anglers, the drought is over. St. Croix is back, and they aren’t only producing budget fly rods. Recently, we tested the St. Croix Technica chasing small stream hatches. Here’s how it performed.
Technica Overview:
The new St. Croix fly fishing collection features two flagship models—the fast-action Evos and the kinda-sorta-fast-action Technica. Both have an identical 975.00 MSRP. The Technica is touted for ‘technical’ dry fly fishing. It has premium components like flor-grade cork and a handsome tiger maple insert that contrasts with the olive blank. The Technica layup features St. Croix’s proprietary Mito Graphene matrix.
The Technica is available in multiple lengths from 3 to 5 weights that cover the needs of topwater trout and panfish junkies. We tested the smallest option in the series, the 7-foot-9-inch 3-weight.
How We Tested:
We put the Technica through the paces on small spring creeks and canyon freestones, going out of our way to find windy conditions, brushy cover, and tricky currents. That’s because we think any rod should be versatile, even a little 3-weight. We added swelling pre-runoff flows and picky fish to see what St. Croix’s pride and joy can handle.
St. Croix
Technica
Key Features:
- Length: 7 feet 9 inches
- Weight: 3 weight
- Action: Fast
Pros:
- Feathery swing weight
- Accurate at distance
- Impressive reserve power
Cons:
- Crowded price point
- Subdued at close range
- No alignment dots
On The Water Performance:
We assembled the Technica for some lawn casting before taking it to the water. The rod comes in a divided sleeve inside a textured aluminum tube. Oddly, the sections have no alignment dots, slowing assembly. The snub nose grip is fuller than necessary for most casters, and a bit of a Sage knockoff. Western-style reverse half wells could be more of a crowd pleaser on this light rod, but we like the way it looks.
We tried several lines on the Technica, including Airflo Superflo Tactical Taper, Barrio Smallstream, and 4-weight Rio Perception. The rod was most accurate with the Superflo Tactical Taper, but it handled all the lines decently, even the significantly heavy Perception.
On the water, the rod had a gossamer swing weight and felt balanced, despite being three inches longer than the average 3-weight. The extra length came in handy on our spring creek test, providing aerial mends over shifting currents and the reach to get past overhanging branches. The Recoil guides shot line easily, and the double uplocking seat kept a bombproof hold on its reel while thrashing through willows.
Bow-and-arrow casts were simple enough, but despite the Technica’s ample length, short roll casts were subdued with little feedback as the rod loaded. Out past 20 feet, the Technica livened up rapidly, with lots of tip energy to send authoritative casts through a healthy crosswind. Our casters found no range limit on the Technica, at least for real-life fishing.
Despite its power at range, the Technica never felt punchy. It still presented dry flies gently, making it an exceptional tool for technical water like the Paradise Valley spring creeks. The Technica also feels like a perfect boat rod for sharpshooting tailwater BWO or Trico sippers. This stick is a versatile small stream rod. It can easily handle light nymph rigs and small buggers, eliminating the need to carry multiple rods on backcountry adventures.
Final Thoughts:
The Technica is a capable alternative to other premium rods, especially if you prioritize versatility in a light rod. Most anglers buy a 3-weight for dry fly performance, and the Technica can cast everything from a size eight foam hopper to a size 20 Griffith gnat with accuracy.
If you like to make long casts to smart fish, you’ll love the Technica’s ability to punch through the wind and still float your fly onto the water. However, the energy locked in the stiffer tip might feel constrained when flicking short casts into brushy pocket water.
The biggest challenge for the new St. Croix rods might be the price point. They are great rods that can compete with anything else, but it might be tough to convince some anglers to choose one over a more familiar brand. Still, the fifteen-year transferable warranty lends confidence. St. Croix came out guns blazing with the new Technica. It is an heirloom-quality rod made by American hands to meet the needs of most dry fly anglers.