St. Croix Imperial USA Fly Rod

A series of rods that are designed to make fighting fish a breeze and casting a joy, St. Croix’s Imperial USA Fly Rods have your back whether you’re fighting a brute of a musky on a river or a tiny trout on a creek that you can jump over. Crafted from a high-modulus blend of carbon fibers, the Imperial USA series combines St. Croix’s SCII and SCIV to create this rod that casts like a dream and has durability where you want it. The Imperial USA Rods are made in Park Falls, Wisconsin in line weights 2 through 10 and have length options that range from 6’ all the way to 10’. A versatile series of fly rods, the Imperial USA has everything that you need to chase a variety of different fresh and saltwater species–from casting large streamers at predatory fish to drifting tiny midge emergers in the surface film, these high-performance rods do it all.

Blank

SCIII and SCIV Carbon Blank - In their Imperial USA series, St. Croix places a focus on easy castability with enough power to quickly fight fish by utilizing a blend of carbon fibers. Through a combination of their SCIII and SCIV carbon, you get a blank that has a fast action and gives excellent performance, whether you’re making a longshot cast at a cruising fish, punching a streamer into the wind, or working a pocket in close. These blanks are all finished off with two coats of Flex-Coat for durability that lasts.

And although the Imperial USA series of rods are designed with performance in mind, it has a clean brownish red color that stands out from the more conventional colors that are so often used.

Guides

Kigan Master Hand 3D Stripper Guides - St. Croix outfits this family of rods with high-quality Kigan Master Hand 3D Stripper Guides. These guides have aluminum-oxide rings and black frames to ensure that they last for years and maintain excellent line slickness.

Sea Guide Snake Guides - Ultra slick guides that let your line shoot freely, these Sea Guide Snake Guides are smooth and durable. For added durability and hardness, these guides have a PVD coating.

Reel Seat

Uplocking, Machined Aluminum Reel Seat with Wood Insert (most line weights 2-6) - Designed to lock your reel in nicely while remaining lightweight, St. Croix uses an uplocking, machined aluminum reel seat on most of their 2 through 6 weight models. The uplocking design seats your reel with confidence, while a wooden insert adds a timeless aesthetic.

Uplocking, Machined Aluminum Reel Seat (line weights 7 through 10) - Made to lock your reel in nice and secure while resisting corrosion, St. Croix’s 7 through 10 weight models feature a machined aluminum reel seat. With this machined aluminum, you get long-lasting performance as well as a feel that’s light in the hand.

Rod Tube

To keep your Imperial USA Rod nice and safe everywhere it goes, this series of rods come with a rugged rod case that has a handle and polypropylene liner. This case is super strong and can stand up to anything that you throw its way.

Warranty

As of August 2022, St. Croix’s Imperial USA Rods are covered by St. Croix’s 15-year transferable warranty. St. Croix reserves the right to review each warranty on a case-by-case basis to determine the best course of action.

More Info

Rod Action: Fast action

Best for: Nymphing, Dry flies, Streamers

Grip: Snub-Nose Half Wells (line weights 2 through 6)

Full Wells with Fighting Butt (line weights 7 through 10)

Ability Level: Intermediate (learn more)

Recommended Lines

• Rio Gold Premier Fly Line
• Rio Premier Streamer Tip Fly Line