Just built another rod with the St.Croix SCIV (a 9 ft., 4-pc., 6 wt.) and couldn't be happier. Smooth, light, responsive but not ultra fast. I find myself moving away from super fast rods these days (except in saltwater rods where it's windy) after having moved towards them for years.

Great blank for $125, just as nice as Sage, Scott, Loomis.

That SCIV series is really a nicly engineered blank with the IPC Technology (uniform curviture of the blank walls at transitional tapers) which in most rods result in a blank wall thickening. St Croix is also pulling off an old Fenwick tradition of laying down a layer of graphite fibers 90 degress to the longinitudinal graphite fibers in critical ferrlue areas increasing the hoop strength of the blank without undo blank wall thickness. I still think the flaged mandrells are not rolled under enough pressure as some of the blanks (like most have, and I am weary of a company that says we produce only straight blanks) have an off spline/spine tweek in them. I have seen this tweek happen 15-20 inches from the tip or a clearly dectable veer starting at the ferrule making the whole tip section skewed several degrees.

Jeff,

What model number is the SCIV that you made? I'm looking to build a 6 wt next and what you described sounds ideal for my needs. Thanks.

Oh, one other thing. What color thread do you like best on this blank? It's a pine green color, right?

Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2006 05:55PM by jim hasl.

I used the 4F9064 blank. 9 ft, 4-pc. It's Spruce Green and I used a blue green thread (the label pulled off, so I don't have the thread number for you), and titanium single foot guides (double foot strip guide). It feels like a 5 wt. but throws 6 wt. line best.

Jeff,

sounds like a great setup. I'm going to give it a shot for my next project. thanks,

JIm