The Evolution of Rods
Rod Making Materials
Carbon Fiber—-Graphite—-Fiberglass—Composite
We have seen a ton of evolution of rods the last few decades.
From the earliest of Bamboo to Cane Poles the evolution of fishing rods has come a long way as a direct result of refined technology and manufacturing processes drawn on the Industrial Revolution.
Steel and Aluminum were the first metal material based rods of any consequence but the industry would move over time into the fiberglass, graphite and carbon materials as the processes caught up with designers desires. Of course the evolution in rod making increased quality but with that has come a major escalation in price.
We now have also experienced the “blending” of materials to create higher performing premium rods.
Before we get rolling with talking about the pros and cons of two of the most dominant materials in carbon and graphite lets take a walk through the St. Croix manufacturing facility in Park Falls, WI as National Sales Manager Dan Johnston provides a tour and explains the process for the popular Victory rod line.
St. Croix has been producing rods now for 76 years.
Hope you enjoyed that walk through. A typical rod of this quality will touch over 30 peoples hands in the process. When you visit this facility in person trust me when I say it will change your way of thinking in terms of rod prices in the market. If you are my age you know some of the name brands like St. Croix very well and its a testament to the quality of their product that they have remained competitive in the rod niche for so long given now that the market has quadrupled seemingly over the last few decades.
** VICTORY CASTING ROD featured: Super high-modulus hybrid carbon fiber SCIII+ blanks matched with Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology offering maximum power and strength with a significantly reduced blank weight
Whenever we talk about rods we typically talk about length , action, power but all of this is a by product of quality driven practices to produce a quality rod blank. It all flows from the very blank employed to deliver the qualities we come to expect from a rod.
From the cheaper fiberglass rods many of us may have experienced as our first rods to the to the higher quality rods featuring graphite or true carbon. Keep in mind many of us may have seen or come across walking the aisles of a big box fishing store rods labeled as “carbon fiber”. Well, these are not really “carbon” rods rather they are actually graphite.
Lets now just do a simple break down Carbon and Graphites:
Producing “Carbon Fiber” or Graphite Fishing Rod Blanks
1. Carbon Fiber Fishing Rod Blanks:
Material:
Carbon fiber is made from a polymer called polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or sometimes from pitch. These fibers are extremely strong and lightweight, which makes them ideal for fishing rod blanks.
Manufacturing Process:
Filament Winding: The carbon fiber filaments are wound onto a mandrel in a specific pattern to provide the desired strength and flexibility. The pattern and orientation of the fibers determine the action and power of the rod.
Resin Application: Epoxy or another type of resin is applied to bind the carbon fibers together and provide a solid, rigid structure.
Curing: The blank is placed in a high-temperature oven to cure the resin and harden the blank.
Sand and Polish: After curing, the blanks are sanded down to a smooth finish and then polished or given a protective coating.
Pros of Carbon Fiber Rods for Bass Fishing:
Lightweight: Carbon rods are generally lighter, making them easier to handle for long periods during bass fishing.
Sensitivity: Carbon fiber provides excellent sensitivity, which helps anglers detect subtle strikes from bass.
Strength-to-weight ratio: Carbon rods are strong yet very light, making them ideal for bass fishing where you need both finesse and power.
Fast Action: Carbon rods typically have faster actions, meaning they bend closer to the tip, which is beneficial for quick hook sets.
Cons of Carbon Fiber Rods:
Brittleness: Carbon rods, while strong, can be more brittle compared to other materials. They are more susceptible to damage from impact.
Cost: High-quality carbon fiber blanks can be expensive.
2. Graphite Fishing Rod Blanks & Composite with Fiberglass:
Material:
Graphite rods are made from a composite material primarily based on graphite fibers, similar to carbon rods but with some differences in processing and characteristics. The term "graphite" in fishing rods generally refers to a mixture of carbon fiber and other materials like fiberglass.
Manufacturing Process:
Filament Winding: Similar to carbon rods, graphite rods are created by winding graphite fibers around a mandrel.
Resin Application: Epoxy resin is applied to hold the fibers together, but the resin mix and curing process may differ slightly from carbon rods, often affecting the rod's flex and strength characteristics.
Curing and Sanding: The blanks are cured in an oven and then sanded and polished to achieve the final finish.
Modulus Rating: Graphite rods often have a modulus rating, which refers to the stiffness of the graphite fibers. Higher modulus graphite rods are stiffer and more sensitive but can also be more brittle.
Pros of Graphite Rods for Bass Fishing:
Sensitivity: Graphite rods are known for their high sensitivity, allowing anglers to feel even the faintest bites from bass.
Stiffness: Graphite rods tend to be stiffer, which is excellent for techniques like jigging or fishing with soft plastics where quick hooksets are essential.
Versatility: Graphite rods come in a wide range of actions and powers, making them versatile for many bass fishing techniques.
Lightweight than straight fiberglass
Accuracy ratings very high for most graphite rods on market today especially higher ends.
Cons of Graphite Rods:
Durability: Like carbon rods, graphite rods can be more fragile than other materials, particularly in high modulus models. They lack flexibility compared to fiberglass.
Price: High-quality graphite rods can also be expensive, especially those with high modulus ratings compared to fiberglass.
Forgiveness: Lower rating for forgiveness mostly due to the rigid nature or stiffness of the blank
Comparison:
Weight: Both carbon fiber and graphite composite rods are lightweight, but carbon fiver tends to be even lighter than graphite, making it more comfortable for long hours of casting.
Sensitivity: Both materials offer excellent sensitivity, though carbon fiber tends to provide a little more in terms of detecting subtle movements.
Durability: Both can be fragile, but carbon fiber may be slightly more prone to damage from hard impacts, while graphite, especially lower modulus graphite, can offer more durability.
Action: Carbon fiber rods tend to have faster actions, which may be better for certain techniques like topwater or jerkbaits, whereas graphite rods offer a broader range of actions and powers for various bass fishing techniques.
Best Use for Bass Fishing:
Carbon Fiber Rods: Ideal for techniques that require maximum sensitivity and lightness, such as finesse fishing with drop shots or light Texas rigs.
Graphite or Composite Rods: A great all-around choice for various bass fishing techniques, including spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics.
Fiberglass tends to lack the true sensitivity required today by so many newer fishing techniques and you will typically find the straight fiberglass (non hybrid) prices on the lower end of the pricing spectrum though they can be effective entry level rods for new anglers or training rods for example.
Graphite is known for what is referred to as “tensile strength” over many other materials in rod making but such strength can come at high risk for anglers because any little crack in a rod blank will render the entire rod ineffective and often result in snapping.
Composites blend the best of both in reality. The strength of the fiberglass coupled with the sensitivity of graphite create a middle ground for anglers in almost every category like power, strength and accuracy.
Each material offers advantages depending on the fishing style, environment, and personal preference. For bass fishing, many anglers prefer graphite or carbon fiver for its balance of sensitivity, durability, and versatility. However, fiberglass rods can offer consistent balanced performance at lower costs and often stand the test of time.
Now that the materials are basically locked in unless we begin to see even greater evolution, the rod makers have transitioned to “technique specific” rod blanks. For years now I have kinda consider this more marketing than anything else but I am beginning to shift my perspective the higher we get in terms of quality and costs.
I can’t speak to really to most casting rods because I just do not utilize let alone buy too many casting rods anymore as I prefer spinning rods and reels for chasing Smallmouth in our rivers. The depth of both casting and spinning rods certainly has expanded over the last few decades and we are seeing more specialized rod makers in the market today with the rise of kayak angling as well.
Yak Rods is one of the newer product lines in the market making moves in the kayak angling space providing innovative rods that cater to the situations and techniques being employed by kayak anglers. The physics of kayak casting is totally different than casting from a boat and is something that more kayak anglers need to pay more attention to. The different positioning capabilities of a kayak also lends to specific rods that can increase catch rates for anglers. If you are constantly losing a Smallmouth at the kayak than chances are its your rod and the leverage employed or not employed that is the culprit not necessarily your technique.
Many of the Japanese rod brands have generated the most “technique specific” offerings in large part because of the larger baits being produced in Japan. Japan has been on the forefront of swimbait, glide bait and jerkbait presentations for years and the rods had to step up to met the weights of these baits for casting efficiency.
Brands like Megabass, Raid of Japan, Daiwa, Shimano , Evergreen and even Deps have brought to market various rods to meet these needs. Japanese rods are some of priciest rods in the world today.
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