I'm a bit confused. I've seen rods that were designated IGFA 12lb class that were totally and completely different than another trolling rod designated for IGFA 12lb. I've also seen blanks designated down to 4lb when I was in Japan.

How does a manufacturer come up with this? Is it just the same as someone coming up with a 10-20lb line class.

In a short answer, yes. I believe the IGFA has minimum rod length rules only. The IGFA has no rules on rods except for minimum lengths...I think anyway. They don't care if you use a 12# rod or an unlimited rod. They are only concerned with the actual line running through the guides. You can call and market a rod as whatever line class you choose. Most IGFA designated rods don't even come close to the minimum lengths the sanctioning body set forth as these rods are meant to be chair rods. The thing to remember with chair rods is they have to be long enough to clear the corners of the boats cockpit meaning they are longer than the IGFA minimums anyway. Jay

The minimum and maximum specs for rods capable of being used for world all class or line records was in the Volume 7 #1 issue of RodMaker.

The line ratings are set by the manufacturer and will vary from maker to maker. A 30lb blank on the east coast is generally considered a 50lb blank on the west coast. In fact, Seeker used to rate their trolling sticks by east and west coast designations.

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Very interesting, thanks. Fenwick used to do the same with west coast and east, now I know why.

Phil

Is this a heavy water issue? Why would rods be designated differently from coast to coast?