Custom Engineered / Technique Specific
Fresh Water / Salt Water / Fly Fishing
Local: 847-481-8858 Toll Free: 800-216-6152
Local: 847-481-8858 Toll Free: 800-216-6152
BLANK TECH
Much focus in our industry is placed on rod blank technology and because every manufacturer uses different terminology it can be very confusing. The variety of blanks available to the custom rod builder are tremendous. Rodtech chooses the best blanks available from numerous manufacturers to meet the needs and budget of each angler. We do not focus on the blank alone. It is the overall combination of components and design that will result in the final feel and performance of any given blank. Factors considered are Action, Power, Modulus, and the natural Spine of the rod. We source rods from just about everywhere but some of our favorites include Lamiglas, MHX, St. Croix, Talon, Pheonix, American Tackle, Pac Bay, Batson Forecast, Calstar, Seeker, Sage, Temple Fork, Orvis, and many more.
Action and Power
The first two things you see on a rod label are typically the action of the rod and the power rating. Extra fast, Fast, Medium Fast, Moderate or even Slow. This describes the flex of the rod. A fast action rod will typically flex in the upper 3rd and a moderate action will flex further in to the middle of the rod. Rod manufacturers do a lot of testing to decide which actions work best for technique specific rods but its not perfect. One anglers idea of the perfect drop shot rod might be completely different than another person. Most bass rods are fast or extra fast action. Good back bone, but faster tips allow for good sensitivity and casting accuracy. However, more and more anglers are discovering the benefits of more moderate actions for crank baits, light line protection for finesse techniques, and long casts with heavier baits. The power rating is the overall stiffness or strength of the blank usually rated by line or lure weight and described as Ultralight, Light, Med Light, Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy , and even Extra Heavy. The thickness and weight of the blank also typically goes up as the power rating goes up. Heavier Salt Water rods are typically rated by line class and or drag setting. Fly rods are rated by action and line class. 3wt, 5wt, 7wt, 9wt, etc..
The first two things you see on a rod label are typically the action of the rod and the power rating. Extra fast, Fast, Medium Fast, Moderate or even Slow. This describes the flex of the rod. A fast action rod will typically flex in the upper 3rd and a moderate action will flex further in to the middle of the rod. Rod manufacturers do a lot of testing to decide which actions work best for technique specific rods but its not perfect. One anglers idea of the perfect drop shot rod might be completely different than another person. Most bass rods are fast or extra fast action. Good back bone, but faster tips allow for good sensitivity and casting accuracy. However, more and more anglers are discovering the benefits of more moderate actions for crank baits, light line protection for finesse techniques, and long casts with heavier baits. The power rating is the overall stiffness or strength of the blank usually rated by line or lure weight and described as Ultralight, Light, Med Light, Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy , and even Extra Heavy. The thickness and weight of the blank also typically goes up as the power rating goes up. Heavier Salt Water rods are typically rated by line class and or drag setting. Fly rods are rated by action and line class. 3wt, 5wt, 7wt, 9wt, etc..
Spine
Most rods have a natural spine or curve as a result of wrapping the materials around the mandrel during the manufacturing process. We take the time to locate the spine and align the guide train with the spine. Depending on the type of rod the guides are located on top of or below the spine. In general the spine on the bottom will give you more casting power and the spine on the top will give you more lifting power. Either way the rod will track straighter will casting and fighting fish. This is something they can't take the time to do with a production rod.
Modulus
This is where we all get confused. IM6, IM9, 36 million modulus, 44 Million modulus, 30 ton, 85 mill, SVF, GLX, and many more. What does it all mean? In general we all get that a higher number is somehow better. It is an indication of stiffness. The higher the modulus the higher the ratio of stiffness to the weight of the materials being used. Stronger and lighter sounds good but as the rod gets stiffer and lighter it also gets more brittle and easier to break. At a certain point you start seeing terms like nano silica resin, secret sauce resin, and bio fibers. This is because as you go up in modulus you have to start adding other materials to the mix including carbon fiber and boron etc.. This is in order to make it stronger so they don't break. Are some of these high tech blanks lighter and sometimes better. Absolutely, especially when you start looking at longer rods and fly rod blanks where dampening comes in to play. But there is a law of diminishing returns and you have to decide if a blank that may cost 3 to 4 times more than a well built IM6 - IM7 blank is worth it to gain what might only equate to a 15% improvement in weight, strength, and sensitivity.
This is where we all get confused. IM6, IM9, 36 million modulus, 44 Million modulus, 30 ton, 85 mill, SVF, GLX, and many more. What does it all mean? In general we all get that a higher number is somehow better. It is an indication of stiffness. The higher the modulus the higher the ratio of stiffness to the weight of the materials being used. Stronger and lighter sounds good but as the rod gets stiffer and lighter it also gets more brittle and easier to break. At a certain point you start seeing terms like nano silica resin, secret sauce resin, and bio fibers. This is because as you go up in modulus you have to start adding other materials to the mix including carbon fiber and boron etc.. This is in order to make it stronger so they don't break. Are some of these high tech blanks lighter and sometimes better. Absolutely, especially when you start looking at longer rods and fly rod blanks where dampening comes in to play. But there is a law of diminishing returns and you have to decide if a blank that may cost 3 to 4 times more than a well built IM6 - IM7 blank is worth it to gain what might only equate to a 15% improvement in weight, strength, and sensitivity.
IM 6 50 million modulus
40 Mil psi HSX70
IM9 T46-ton
30 Ton Nano Silica Resin
T-36 ton SVF 44 million modulus
HM 85 GLX
What We Offer
We test all the blanks we offer. Keep in mind it is not all about the modulus. The overall design, manufacturing process, the materials used in the blank, and the resins to make the blank all play a part in the final sensitivity, power, strength, and feel of the rod. Also one manufacturers IM7 for instance may be a different modulus than another. All this terminology we throw around is not consistent across all blanks. We can help guide you in selecting the right blank for your needs and budget. There is also crossover as many blanks made today are multi-modulus blends. What is important is that we give you the freedom to choose from just about every major blank manufacturer in the market place.
Standard Modulus
This is where we Start. Most of our standard blanks start in the IM6 to IM7 range. Blanks at this level are 36 million to 44 million modulus or 30 to 35 ton range. This is still a sweet spot for graphite blanks and some of our favorite blanks which are light sensitive and very well made are in this range. This also includes some of the graphite and fiberglass blends used to achieve a softer action for crank bait rods.
Intermediate Modulus and Multi-Modulus
Many rods today are Multi -Modulus or Blends. Rods in the 44 million to 55million modulus range, IM8 to IM9, or 40 ton fall in this catagory. There is a huge range of blanks in every style of fishing availabe in this range including blends for crankbait rods, spinner bait rods etc...
High Modulus
Some of the newest state of the art blanks are in this range. When you start seeing blanks in the 55 million modulus to 65 million modulus, IM9 to IM10, or 45 ton range and up you also start to see other materials getting introduced like nano silica resins, carbon fiber, boron, and others. The cost of these blanks also goes up substantially but these are some of the most exciting rods available.
Salt Water
This is a whole other world. We use a lot of crossover blanks between our fresh water rods and inshore salt water rods. Some of the longer inshore rods have better actions for popular techniques used for fresh water bass, pike, and musky. However, when you start getting in to surf fishing and blue water fishing, the need for much heavier rods and components is needed. Blanks in this category usually are blends with carbon fiber and or S-glass and E-glass fiberglass. Some are all fiberglass.
Fly Fishing
Some of us are also avid fly fisherman. Again this is another world. Most fly rod blanks start in the intermediate modulus range and up. Some of the highest tech materials and blank design fall in this category. Many other factors come in to play like tracking, dampening, and ovaling. We will get more in to this in the future with a separate fly fishing page but yes we do custom fly rods to.
Carp Fishing
Carp blanks are coming soon.
