Types of Graphite Blanks

A fly rod blank is the backbone of a fly rod, essentially a bare fly rod with no handle or guides. Each blank is made from strong fibrous sheets of material, usually graphite, and sealed with powerful resins. No company divulges the exact components of the blanks it makes, but every modern manufacturer goes by a certain protocol in rod building. Most companies build their rods with graphite, but several have used other material like fiberglass, bamboo or boron to give their fly rods different qualities.

  1. Fly Rod Blanks

    • Rod building companies have distinct rod designs and tapers to give the rods different action. The taper is how the rod starts from a thicker diameter at its base and begins to become smaller and smaller toward the tip. The action of the rod will depend on this taper. A fast-action rod will have less flex in the base section and more flex in the last section toward the tip. A medium-action rod will have more flex toward the middle of the rod, and a slow-action rod will allow for the most movement and flex through the whole length of the rod blank. Slow-action rods are usually developed for more accurate and delicate casting, while fast-action rods are built to cast farther.

    The Building Process

    • A fly rod actually starts out as a mandrel, or a tube with a specific taper design. The mandrel will be wrapped with a large, thin sheet of fibrous material, usually graphite. Each sheet has fibers of material going in one direction. After the first sheet of material is wrapped on the mandrel, the manufacturer will seal it with resins. A second sheet of material, called a scrim, will go on next with its fibers lying in the opposite direction. The rod is coated again with strong resins and cured. The mandrel will be pulled out after this process, so the finished product is a hollow fly rod blank.

    Differences in Fly Rod Blanks

    • Every manufacturer will use different components for its fly rod blanks. A high quality rod blank is usually made from proprietary graphite and resins. Most companies sell graphite rods, and some sell bamboo, boron and fiberglass rods. Modern graphite rods have different compositions and consequently different qualities. Asking a company about the composition of the rod and the resins used may give a buyer some insight on the quality, but no company is obliged to release the recipe for its fly rods. Because companies are somewhat secretive about their blanks, it can be difficult to tell what fly rod blanks are of good quality. The price will sometimes suggest that the rod blank was made from proprietary materials, but it is still a good idea to ask someone with the manufacturer how it made the blanks.

    Choosing a Fly Rod Blank

    • A buyer should consider price range, rod action and company history when buying a new fly rod blank. Choosing the right blank is a huge step in the process of picking a fly rod, because it is the most important component of the finished product.