Modern St. Croix Fly Rods

I’ve long marveled at the variation between manufacturers and models as the world searches for the “best” blend between application-specific and versatility.

Fly rod design and manufacturing process is much more complex and labor-intensive than most anglers appreciate. Intricate tooling and complex material packages require trained engineers and skilled craftsmen to turn those sheets of carbon fiber into precision fly fishing tools that are both durable and easy to cast.

St. Croix is now bringing its industry-leading manufacturing processes and materials technology into the world of high-performance fly rods. I spent the latter half of 2024 fishing with the Evos family of St. Croix fly rods in both fresh and saltwater.

Here is a brief introduction to St. Croix and their Evos fly rods, along with recommendations and reviews of specific models.

St. Croix: An American Rod Crafting Legacy

Nestled in the small town of Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been handcrafting fishing rods for over 75 years. What began as a modest operation in a converted warehouse has grown into one of America's premier rod manufacturers. St. Croix maintains its core manufacturing in the heart of Wisconsin, where at least 32 skilled craftsmen apply their skills in the building of each St. Croix rod.

The company's venture into fly fishing began in the 1980s, but their commitment to innovation has accelerated in recent years. Their research facility, known as the Factory Store Rod Shop, serves as both a testing ground and a temple to rod-building expertise. Here, each new design undergoes rigorous testing before reaching anglers' hands.

The St. Croix Evos: Precision for Fresh Water

The Evos fly rods represents St. Croix's vision for the modern fly rod, delivering blended power and sensitivity through advanced material packages. The Evos series showcases the legendary rod-building expertise and master craftsmanship unique to one of America’s most iconic fishing brands.

Key Features

• Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology enhances blank strength without adding weight
• Advanced materials matrix featuring ultra-high modulus SCVI, SCIV, and SCII carbon
• Mito graphene technology adds hoop strength for increased loop stability and accuracy
• Slim-profile ferrules for improved power transfer
• Recoil single-foot guides (4-6 weights)
• Recoil snake guides (7-8 weights)
• Cerecoil stripping guides
• Modified micro full wells flor-grade cork handle [#4wt. - #6wt.]
• Modified full wells flor-grade cork handle [#7wt. - #8wt.]
• Uplocking, machined aluminum reel seat with walnut insert [#4wt. - #5wt.]
• Uplocking, machined aluminum reel seat [#6wt. - #8wt.]
• Four-piece design with premium rod tube
• Available in weights 4-8 with multiple length options
• Made in USA with 15-year transferable warranty

St. Croix Evos Freshwater Fly Rods

St. Croix Evos Fly Rod Performance Review

I fished extensively with the 590, 595, and 691 St. Croix Evos models during the 2024 season. At any time in my boat - whether I am fishing with friends or guiding on the Montana rivers near Bozeman – I always have a dry, nymph, and streamer fly rod rigged for most scenarios that I expect to encounter on a given day.

I owned a fly shop in Bozeman for 23 years and have wiggled, cast, or fished with just about every brand and family of modern fly rod at one time or another. I’m always comparing fly rods in these three configurations between manufacturers as they are, in my opinion, the essential rod models for fly fishing in Montana.

Evos 590 – A smooth, crisp casting rod that an angler can build their trout quiver around. It’s a super-star “parking lot” casting rod that will effortlessly shoot a fly line with just a few false casts in the hands of an experienced angler. This has become my all-around rod choice for fishing dries, dry/dropper, nymphs, and light streamer use.

Evos 595 – The perfect indicator nymphing rod for fly fishing in Montana. The action and design of this model easily handled every nymphing scenario I threw its way throughout the season. Whether fishing deep rigs during high water on the Missouri River near Craig, Montana or working “pogo” rigs on the Beaverhead River, the Evos 595 effortlessly dealt with the heaviest nymph rigs of the season. The stiffness through the tip section enables effective mending at distance while giving additional power when landing trout in a drift boat or raft.

Evos 691 – The added leverage gained with the addition of the fighting butt aids in turning over heavy sinking lines and fighting trophy trout. I prefer a 6-weight over a 7-weight when streamer fly fishing in Montana as they are lighter in hand and typically lack the oversized saltwater guide packages found on most 7-weights. The 691 is a “stout” feeling rod that is surprisingly easy to load and undeniably powerful in hand

Overall, the Evos fly rods are a real pleasure to fish for anglers with varying skill levels and casting styles. Experienced anglers will appreciate the power and light-in-hand feel that translates to intuitive, accurate casts in a variety of fly fishing scenarios. The novice angler will appreciate the versatility of these rods as their skills improve with time and experience.

All three of these St. Croix fly rods - in the Evos family - are “as good as it gets” in terms of performance, feel, and finish. In my experience to date, test-casting the ancillary models like the 490, 790, and so on are equal standouts when compared to other modern rods like the Sage R8, Scott Centric, G. Loomis NRX+, Winston Air 2, or Orvis Helios.

The upgraded hardware, graphite technology, transferrable warranty, and American-made heritage unique to the St. Croix Evos put these rods just a notch above the rest, in my mind.

The St. Croix Evos Salt: Built for the Brine

The Evos Salt series extends St. Croix's expertise into the saltwater arena with cutting edge carbon fiber matrix and MITO Graphene technology. Power and accuracy combine to create a refined, modern fly rod action perfected for the high demands of powerful fish species around the globe.

Key Features

• Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology enhances blank strength without adding weight
• Advanced materials matrix featuring ultra-high modulus SCVI, SCIV, and SCII carbon
• Mito graphene technology adds hoop strength for increased loop stability and accuracy
• Slim-profile ferrules for improved power transfer
• Integrated poly curve mandrel tooling improves energy transfer
• Recoil snake guides
• Cerecoil stripping guides
• Modified full wells flor-grade cork handle
• Uplocking, machined aluminum reel seat
• Fighting butt with composite end cap
• Four-piece design with premium rod tube
• Available in weights 6-12 with multiple length options
• Made in USA with 15-year transferable warranty

St. Croix Evos Salt Fly Rods

St. Croix Evos Salt Fly Rod Performance Review

When I am not outfitting Montana fly fishing trips or fishing around the region with my two sons, there’s a good chance that I am fly fishing someplace warm. Sometimes, that means wading a flat for bonefish, spending a week staked up for tarpon, poling a marsh for redfish, or exploring the jungles of South America. Wherever I am, there’s a fly rod in my hand most days.

Big fish, heavy flies, extreme weather, and remote fly fishing destinations call for gear that is powerful and durable. I have put the St. Croix Evos Salt fly rods to the test during a handful of trips to the salt in 2024, and they have “lived up” to the expectations set by their freshwater cousins.

Again, these St. Croix fly rods are light in hand and easy to cast in close and at a distance. Powerful butt sections are essential to minimize blistering runs and lifting boatside fish from the depths for a quick release.

890 Evos Salt – This versatile 8-weight went through some rigorous days on the windy flats of southern Turks and Caicos during the summer of 2024. Here, white sand bottoms extend forever to the west while the wind blows steadily at 20 mph from the east. Success depends on the angler’s ability to quickly deliver a fly with an accurate, delicate presentation from an off-axis casting position. Bonefish here rarely see a fly and are legendary for their exhaustive runs that frequently take anglers deep into their backing. I found the 890 Evos Salt to be versatile and durable – both essential fly rod attributes for anglers fishing remote destinations.

990 Evos Salt – There’s just something undeniably exciting that happens when a 40” fish doesn’t think twice when eating a 6” chartreuse and white baitfish fly. When that fish weighs nearly 30 pounds, is as orange as a pumpkin, and is “crawling” in less than a foot of water – it’s downright mind-blowing. This is Louisiana fly fishing for redfish and something that keeps me occupied for around 30 days a season. The 990 St. Croix Evos is a “super star” in this arena where ultra-quick delivery of heavy flies in close to middle-range distances is essential.

1090 Evos Salt – A 10-weight is as essential in saltwater fly fishing as a 6-weight is to Montana fly fishing for trout. A versatile 10-weight has lifting power throughout the blank to fight back when permit go deep and swim on their sides. They load quickly when casting in the wind and are able to withstand a few accidental bumps from an errant push pole or your fishing buddy's head!

Not only is this rod an effective casting tool, but it also fully checks the lifting power and durability boxes. The 1090 Evos Salt St. Croix fly rod is ideal for permit, Rio Marie peacock bass, Tsimane golden dorado, and sub-100 pound tarpon – all on the calendar in 2025 with Fins and Feathers Guide Service.

The Evos Salt family of American-made St. Croix fly rods deserve a spot at the top of any saltwater or jungle fly fishing angler's "next fly rod list." They have proven themselves to be powerful, versatile, and durable. I recommend casting and comparing these to other “best in class” heavy line-weight fly rods such as the Hardy Marksman Z, Sage Igniter, G. Loomis NRX+, and Scott Sector.

Field Perspectives: A Guide's Final Thoughts

I have had very little experience with St. Croix fly rods until recently. Although their legacy fly rod series are fine in both quality and value, they don't really “hit the mark” for specialty fly shops and experienced anglers. However, strategic hires and a renewed commitment to extend their industry-leading rod-building expertise to their fly rods caught my attention in late 2023.

The St. Croix Evos and Evos Salt fly rods have surpassed my expectations and have become the rods that I find myself fishing with more days than not. They are easy to cast and adaptable to various fly fishing scenarios.

The Ceracoil stripping and recoil guides on both the fresh and saltwater Evos families are a favorite component upgrade.

The rods have proven incredibly durable, whether I am fishing in Montana with heavy nymph rigs or landing hard-fighting fish in the salt.

The new St. Croix fly rod lineup is gaining traction within the fly fishing industry, and I am starting to see a few of them on the racks in more and more fly shops. The St. Croix website is an excellent resource for learning more about their fly rods, making online purchases, and finding local dealers.