If you are looking to build your custom fishing rod, or have one built by a professional, it is important to know that WHERE you get your fishing rod blank can be instrumental in both the feel and the performance. Whether it’s Graphite, Fiberglass, or Composite, we will outline the manufacturers and resellers you should know about. We will explain what makes each one unique, by highlighting how long each company has been making and selling Fishing Rod Blanks. We will also talk about where they are made, their warranty, and how consumers buy them.
Two Main Groups; Rod Blank Manufacturers and Distributors
In other deeper dives, we have gone through the attributes of Graphite, Carbon Fiber, and Fiberglass. Composite rods combine graphite and fiberglass, blending the best qualities of both materials. Once you have decided which material is best for you and how you fish, you will want to select the manufacturer or the distributor that offers you what you need in durability, performance, and warranty.
There are historically fewer manufacturers associated with Fiberglass. The decreased availability of Fiberglass manufacturers is due to innovations and improvements in Graphite technology and manufacturing.
It is often said that if you give trends some time, what’s old becomes new; this remains true for the fishing rod blank market. In the last few years, demand for Fiberglass rods has increased for saltwater as well as freshwater uses. The newer Fiberglass rods have more sensitivity and power, which has been driven by advancements in composites and material. We created a list of rod blank manufacturers and a list of resellers for you to compare what each offers.
Rod Blank Manufacturers
These companies have created a brand and have invested in machinery and technology to allow them to innovate and control what type of rod blanks to make for their prospective customers.
Rod Geeks: The rods are made in Mexico, using the same machines and processes used in making St. Croix rods. Rod Geeks produce both Fiberglass and Graphite blanks. They’ve been producing rod blanks since 2014. At their option, Rod Geeks will repair and replace their rod blanks due to defective materials up to 5 years from purchase. The warranty decal needs to be in place. The replacement fee is $15. To see their offerings, go to the RodGeek Blank Shop. There are over 140 blank models for sale. They sell directly to consumers and distributors.
Seeker Rods: The blanks are made in America, which is somewhat rare these days. The blanks they build are high-performance composite (containing elements of graphite and fiberglass). They’ve been manufacturing blanks since 1989. At Seeker’s discretion, they can replace your blank with the same or equivalent model. Their blank warranty does not cover rod wrapping or components. To browse their blanks go to Seeker Rods Blanks, where they list over 240 models. They can sell to consumers via email request at seekersales@seekerrods.com or you can sign up for the wholesale program.
Calstar Rods: Here is another company proudly displaying their made-in-America flag. They have three main lines based on the material types we’ve discussed: the GS product line is Graphite, the T/BT product lines are Fiberglass, and the BTG product lines are composite. They have been making rods for over 50 years. They indicate they have a limited warranty, but it is not descriptive. Calstar will not sell directly to consumers, but they distribute their rod blanks through dealers. Their domestic dealer map is here, and they have over 180 models.
Lamiglas Rods: Most models of Lamiglas rods are made in America in Woodland, Washington. Lamiglas has been a pioneer in Fiberglass since 1949. They have adapted with technology and continue to make the highest quality Fiberglass along with Graphite and Composite blanks. The blanks are valid for warranty consideration if the original purchaser has filled out the warranty form within 30-days from purchase. Warranty requests will be considered if made by the original purchaser. They do sell direct to consumers as well as retailers. See their rod blank store here. Lamiglas has over 120 models but lists only 108 models available for purchase due to out-of-stock inventory.
Proof Fly Fishing: Their blanks are custom rolled. The description is not specific, whether it is made in the US or China. Proof Fly Fishing makes Fiberglass and Graphite (carbon fiber) rod blanks. Their warranty is thin and applies only to the first 10-days after receipt of the blank. They do sell their blanks directly to consumers. Fiberglass blanks for Proof Fly Fishing are found here. They list ten models for purchase.
North Fork Composites: NFC blanks are rolled in Woodland, Washington. They’ve been making blanks in the US since 1974. There have been several rounds of management change but NFC remains a high-volume manufacturer. North Fork Composites produces Graphite, Fiberglass, and Composite rod blanks from their facility with a limited lifetime warranty applied to the original purchaser. They retain the right to accept or reject any warranty claim. If a manufacturing defect is found, they will replace the blank at no charge to the original purchaser within 180 days. If the blank has been built upon, they will not replace the blank, only sections where applicable. They sell direct to consumers and resellers. Here is a copy of their most recently published catalog from 2021 where they list over 340 models for sale.
Stryker Rods: Stryker Rods is newer on the rod blank scene. They have been manufacturing blanks in the US since 2019. They design, roll and cut their rods in Eugene, Oregon. They do not produce Fiberglass blanks, but they do artfully produce Graphite and Composites blanks. They warranty against any manufacturing defects but do not cover any damages that may have occurred during the build on the Stryker rod blank. They do sell to consumers and resellers. Here is a link to their listing of Graphite blanks where they have over 50 models for sale.
Black Hole Rods: Black Hole Rods is another relative newcomer to rod blank manufacturing and they focus on offshore rods. Their rods are manufactured in Korea and China. They have been around since 2010 and focus on Carbon Fiber and Composite rods. Their warranty is at their discretion and they explain that replacements will only be considered for breaks resulting from fishing incidents. If they accept the warranty claim, the first replacement is free. Subsequent replacements are not free. Black Hole Rods only sell blanks to dealers. Their rod blank inventory is listed here, where they index over 80 models.
Batson Rods: Batson Enterprises sells rod blanks sold under the Rainshadow brand. Rainshadow blanks are composed of Graphite, Fiberglass, and Composite rod blanks, made in China. There are two exceptions, the RX7+ and RX8+ models manufactured in Washington state. The warranty process with Rainshadow rod blanks is different based on the specific to the model you purchased. Batson discloses their rods have a limited lifetime warranty defined on the warranty card sent with the rod. Batson sells their blanks to resellers not to end customers. They list over 300-rod blanks with varying in-stock status found here.
American Tackle: There is common ownership between American Tackle and Mudhole Tackle. They also share the same retail and wholesale spaces in Oviedo, FL. American Tackle has three main rod blank brands; Bushido, ATX, and Matrix. These brands are made in China from Graphite, Fiberglass, and Composite materials. The warranty for American Tackle rod blanks only extends to manufacturer defects in material and workmanship. There is no other description of how American Tackle stands behind its blanks. There are 150 models listed across their three main name brands.
Rod Blank Dealers and Resellers
Dealers and resellers focus on branding and sales. Their goals are to understand the customer and build relationships with rod blank manufacturers so they can efficiently connect the manufacturers to their customers serving as a value-added reseller. Here are several resellers who help customers get what they want:
Mudhole Tackle: This reseller provides the option of buying Mudhole’s brand or selecting from an array of manufacturers. Mudhole-owned brands like MHX, CRB, and American Tackle are designed in America and manufactured in China. Mud Hole Tackle carries rod blanks manufactured by many different companies. They have been selling rod-building components and rod blanks since 1975. The warranty program for resellers can be complicated but here are the high points:
Mudhole blanks are covered by three warranty levels.
Blanks Mudhole resells are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. As you would expect, they sell to consumers and resellers.
Jann’s Netcraft: This reseller sells a blank under its name alongside rods from many other manufacturers. The Jann’s Netcraft branded blanks are manufactured in China using Graphite and Fiberglass. The warranty listed applies for two years from purchase, not much else is explained. Jann’s Netcraft has been around since 1941 with little to no information on how long they have been selling their branded rod blanks. Jann’s sells all blanks listed on its site directly to consumers and distributors.
Get Bit Outdoors: This reseller is located in Oviedo, Florida, and resells over ten brands of rod blanks. Get Bit Outdoors is focused on carrying smaller, which is more niche rod blank manufacturers. They do not manufacture any of the blanks that they sell. Get Bit Outdoors can assist with processing warranty claims. The actual warranty is dictated by the manufacturer. Get Bit Outdoors has been in business since 2003 and they sell their rod blanks directly to consumers and smaller distributors.
Bringing it All Together to Make Your Best Choice
There is no shortage of manufacturers and distributors. First, you should decide how much it matters whether the blank you use is made in the USA, Mexico, or China. Once you have narrowed down geography, the choices become more clear. We recommend you find the warranty that makes the most sense for the dollar amount you are prepared to invest. Finally, go with the brand that has the rod blank with the right specifications for how you want to fish. As the wise Mark Crouse points out, “the rod blank doesn’t know whether it's a spinning rod, casting rod or surf rod…read the specifications for each blank and find the one that measures up to how you want to fish no matter what the branding suggests”. Most of these companies have been around for a while. You can always call the company and speak to someone about how they process returns and the time to replace inventory. With this information, your search becomes much easier!
