Hello fellow builders,


I am starting to build custom rods and I am deeply interested in creating some fiberglass rods. I know McFarland makes the Ameriglass blanks; Are there any others out there that roll these types of blanks? Looking for the highest quality, preferably Japanese or US made.

I would appreciate anyone's knowledge on the subject.

I know nothing about current fiberglass blanks. But I'm wondering why you want fiberglass. Graphite is almost always lighter, more sensitive, with faster response, than glass, and can (and is) made into any power or action that glass can offer. What are the features/characteristics of glass blanks that you are seeking?

Seeker makes a series of S glass trout blanks that work well.

Hello Michael, Thanks for the reply.

I want to make Short stream/headwater rods. I am familiar with small shops in Japan that have been making Fiberglass UL and L action rods that are short, fast to med fast action. They are used in small, tight little streams. I want to make rods like this in both graphite and fiberglass.

I am choosing fiberglass because I have seen these rods used, and from what these little shops say, fiberglass itself is heavier; with that, the rod does much of the loading under its own weight and the weight of the lure which allows for amazing flip and pitch style accuracy. Now, this really only applies to short rods. I have never seen one of these rods exceeding 5'6, most being at or under 5'0. Working with these rod lengths, weight is hardly an issue; I do intend on making a graphite or even boron based rods in the same style and with emphasis on weight reduction.


I am getting geared up right now to start making these rods and I am now trying to source my blanks.

Hello Spencer, from what I have seen, The Seeker trout blanks are all a bit too long for what I am looking for. Their tip Diameter also is just a bit too big for me. I've seen the Ameriglass blanks by McFarland and they are shorter, with a smaller tip diameter; this is something I am going for and I have been in contact with Mike at McFarland , waiting to hear back from him.

Zane, netcraft, a sponsor to the left, has a 5 foot UL with #5 tip and .36 butt and buggy whip action.

also Utmost has an UL with a 41/2 tip..

Look around for the Fenwick glass 5 ft 4 in rods, 1 pc, 1 to 4 lb line, best headwater rods I've ever used. Real easy to do all the fancy casts with. I never have figured out what tip and butt diameters have to do with anything, way to many variables to consider for those two values as most important.

I have several of these and I do intend on building on them, but it is not what I am looking for.

Spencer, i would love to work with some older UL fenwick Fiberglass blanks. Not the easiest to find, I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Zane, you might consider picking up a UL ugly stick from walmart and put better guides on it and sand the tip down to get the action you want..it a solid glass tip and is very easy to alter..i have done this to make cold water spin- bait rods because the fish bite is very light in cold water..

We have a few different RainShadow Glass UL & L models - [www.rainshadowrodblanks.com]

James Taylor
Batson Enterprises
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