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Summer 2022
page 56
I talked with St. Croix about the need for a float n’ fly rod geared for bass. We’re really the only state really throwing a float n’ fly. Most other places don’t even know what the concept is for bass. They only see it as a panfish or a walleye technique. They don’t relate that to bass at all. So, there hasn’t been a rod that focused on the technique for bass.
We’ve been working on this rod for about a year and a half. It takes about two years from concept to finish product, and now it’s ready. St. Croix’s Float-N-Fly rod is a 7’10” medium-light, extra-fast. The castability is great, but the real thing makes it so useful for the float n’ fly technique is the length of the rod. It allows you to pick up a lot of line. That’s important because float n’ fly and line goes out to the bobber, then there is 90-degree angle into the water. So, in order to set the hook to get to the fish, you have to lift the rod and reel at the same time.
With the longer rod, you can pick up a lot more line and it gets the hook into the fish quicker. The medium-light, fast tip allows you to work it easier, because if you get into a good fish with six-pound-test, the rod helps and lessen the chances the line will not break or those little hooks on the jig won’t bend out. It’s a really cool rod.
WB: Aside from St. Croix’s Float N’ Fly rod, which techniques did you have a hand in?
Frazier: I’ve been involved with several of them – all five of the swimbait rods, the A-rig rods, the 7’11’ rod – which is the punchin’ rod/flippin’ stick.
WB: What is the difference in all the swimbait rods?
Frazier: St. Croix wanted to cover all types of swimbaits that California anglers would throw – different sizes, different styles and even personal preferences like moderate bend or fast action tips. So, they’ve designed different rods for Huddlestons, big rubber swimbaits, big heavy baits like the DEPS 250, line-thru swimbaits down to the 6-inch swimbaits and a rod for A-rigs. They are versatile and can be used for more than one technique, but the specifics originated with the need for different types of swimbaits.
WB: What makes St. Croix rods unique or standout to you?
Frazier: The California inspired techniques is something that St. Croix really focused on and that stands out. Also, some of the specifics on certain rods stand out. They’ve done a glass / carbon combination. So, instead of an all- glass rod or an all-carbon rod, they have rods that are actually a mix of the two. That means they have some really unique bends in the middle to top portion of the rods. That is a really cool deal, because there isn’t anything out there like that. I know that I’ve never felt a rod bend with the moderate taper that those rods have and still have the backbone that they have.
WB: What was your part in the rod design? Frazier: The designer of the rods was Ryan Teach. He is
St. Croix’s Product Manager. Basically,
he designs the blank with the basics of
what and how it should be for a specific
lure. His focus is to get to a blank with
all of the action that a rod will need
to be most successful of a certain
technique– the perfect action tip,
bend of the rod, length of the handle –
everything.
Once that is done, they send
the rod out to the Analytical Pro
Team, which I am part of, and we go
fish it. We fish it to fine tune it to
the specifics that are best for each
technique. We work through tweaks
on the action, the line size and the
lure. We want it to be perfect for
the technique-specific rod that it is
created for. It takes about two years
to work through the process. Our
goal is to get to the lightest rod that
is still strong and sensitive for the
technique it will be used for. We
give feedback and adjustments
are made and we do it again.
Everyone’s vision comes together.
St. Croix sends dozens of rods
to different staff members for a
final test run to make sure that
everyone has the same opinion
that the rod is built right. All of
this field testing is what makes
St. Croix the best rods. •