If you want to build your custom fishing rod or have one built by a professional, knowing 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 unique, highlighting how long each company has been making and selling Fishing Rod Blanks. We will also discuss 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 Graphite, Carbon Fiber, and Fiberglass fishing rod attributes. 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.
Historically, there have been 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 for saltwater and freshwater uses has increased. The newer fiberglass rods have more sensitivity and power, which advancements in composites and material have driven. 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 produces 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 rare nowadays. The blanks they build are high-performance composites (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 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 evolved with technology and continue making the highest quality Fiberglass, and Graphite, and Composite blanks. The blanks are valid for warranty consideration if the original purchaser has filled out the warranty form within 30 days of purchase. Warranty requests will be considered if made by the original purchaser. They do sell direct to consumers as well as retailers. Take a look at their finished rods here. Lamiglas has over 56 models across 300 + blank types. Their 2022/2023 catalog has 26 saltwater categories and 30 freshwater categories.
Proof Fly Fishing: Their blanks are custom-rolled. The description is not specific, whether 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 ten 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 eight fiberglass blank models, twenty carbon fiber, and three bamboo fly rod blank kits as of spring 2024.
North Fork Composites: Made in the USA - NFC blanks are rolled in Woodland, Washington. They’ve been making blanks in the US since 1974. Several rounds of management change have occurred, 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. Their most recently published 2023 catalog lists over 340 models for sale.
Stryker Rods: Made in the USA - 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 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 120 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 60 models (51 saltwater and 9 freshwater).
Batson Rods: Batson Enterprises sells rod blanks sold under the Rainshadow brand. Rainshadow blanks are made of graphite, fiberglass, and composite rod blanks 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 model you purchased. Batson discloses that their rods have a limited lifetime warranty, which is 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 two central rod blank brands: Bushido and ATX. 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 quality. There is no other description of how American Tackle stands behind its blanks. There are 93 models listed across their two leading name brands.
Summary of Manufacturers:
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 can buy Mudhole’s brand or select from various 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:
Three warranty levels cover mudhole blanks.
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. It is focused on carrying smaller, more niche rod-blank manufacturers. It does not manufacture any of the blanks that it sells. Get Bit Outdoors can assist with processing warranty claims for the rods it distributes for manufacturers. The manufacturer dictates the actual warranty. It has been in business since 2003 and sells its 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 apparent. 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 with the rod blank with the best 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!
