Welcome to Maxx Sports Guides
Child Fishing Rod Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
The History of St Croix Fishing Rods
from: Maxx Sports GuidesWith sixty years of history behind them, St Croix fishing rods have built a reputation for being among the finest fishing rods in the world. Here are some interesting facts about the origins of the St Croix line, as well as where they're going today.
The fishing rods manufactured by St Croix have their origins in a shared vision developed by two men back in 1948. It was during that year that Bob and Bill Johnson needed to do something to save their floundering business. The Johnsons had produced a high quality fishing net, unfortunately their product was out of the price range for many fishermen.
It was during the time the two were figuring out how to expand their product line when they observed the cane fishing poles being sold near one of their favorite fishing spots. It occurred to the Johnsons that if these rods could be made into portable sections that could be assembled easily after arriving at a destination, they'd be much easier to carry, as well as to store.
With this idea in mind, the business partners created a sectioned pole with three detachable sections, which could be connected by the use of the brass ferrules on each end.
They took their idea to a local hardware chain, which saw the value of the idea and immediately ordered five hundred of the new sectional fishing poles. This idea saved the brothers and the company was quickly re-christened the St Croix Rod Company.
Soon, a brother, Doug Johnson, as well as a cousin, John Olson, joined them in their venture. With the need to expand production operations, Olson put his machinist expertise to work and developed mass production equipment to help the new company keep up with the growing demand. By the dawn of 1950s, the young company had two fully operating plants and employed eighty people. The company continued to expand during the 1950s developing different types of fishing rods and reels, and other equipment essential to the fishing experience.
The Sixties saw the company acquired by a group of investors who were able to make changes that kept the company growing. In 1967, this group sold the company to Schaper Manufacturing. However, changes in the market, especially the presence of foreign imports that undercut much of the St Croix line, threatened the existence of the company, which was slated to shut down in 1977.
However, some of the original investors stepped back in, purchased the company back from Schaper, and trimmed the product line to focus on the production of quality rods and reels. This strategy worked and saw the St Croix Fishing Rods rebound from its slump and become what is now one of the premier producers of rods and reels in the United States.
Child Fishing Rod News