What is a Custom Fishing Rod? Part 2 of a series

A custom fishing rod is made up of many  component parts plus the expertise of the builder.  We'll discuss these components in some detail in the next series of blogs.

Everything starts with the blank, the round tapered tube that many people call a pole or rod.  The correct term at this point is "blank".  It is the component part that the guides and handle are attached to.  A builder will choose the correct blank from about 1,800 different blanks available, based on action and power, the taper and fiber content that best matches the technique and species being sought.  The manufacturer of the blank, companies like St. Croix, Lamiglas, and others determine the specifications of these blanks then wrap carbon fibers around special tapered steel mandrels.  This process is a very hands-on, labor intensive and clearly is the basis for a great rod vs. a failure.  Many of the blanks are manufactured off-shore and thus give rise to some quality concerns.  There is a huge range of prices among all of these blanks.  Like most things, you get what you pay for in rod blanks.

The taper of the blank is where the action or bend in the blank occurs.  In a fast action rod, the taper occurs in the upper 1/3 or so of the blank, in a medium action the taper make occur in the upper 2/3 of the blank and a slow action taper almost the entire blank will bend.  A good way to observe the taper of a rod blank before building it out, is to hold it butt or the big end on the floor, grasp the tip top and bend the rod blank to the 90 degree bend and observe where this taper begins on the blank.

Line weight is the subjective determination of the rod design engineer as to the line test strength the blank is designed to handle.

Finally, blanks are made of fibers impregnated with resins and come in long sheets that must be stored in a refrigerated environment so that they do not prematurely begin to cure.  The fibers may be graphite, fiberglass or a composite of these fibers and other materials.