If your main goal in life is to shop at big malls, you're probably not going to be happy living in Park Falls. Most quality fishing rods today are made of graphite and graphite components. St. Croix, considered a technological leader in that field, has developed its own system of raising the strength, stiffness and sensitivity of its high-modulus graphite rods. The company employs about 130 people. While fishing rod blanks are produced in the factory, a significant portion of the rod guides are wound by area women in their homes.
Individuals typically pick up work, take it home and return it once a week.
This is a system that has gone on ever since we have been in Park Falls. It's a key to our success. Guide winding is a very difficult skill. Most people are not willing to do it eight hours a day in a factory environment. First of all, we wouldn't want it any other way.