Out of curiosity, what would you name as the most significant innovation in rod building components and the most significant innovation in rod building techniques in the last 10 years or so?

Foam-Core, Carbon-Fiber skinned grips (although they're 14 years old now). The Microwave System has simplified spinning rod guide set-up by a large measure.

Otherwise most of the assembly techniques haven't changed by much.

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KR guide concept. Best I've ever used.
Norm

I'm going to go with the soul and accuracy built into todays blanks.

I don't know if it's considered innovation but the ease and speed of getting useful, accurate information on building technique from other builders is a major plus to rod building today!!!

Hands down, Microwave guides. The original are amazing and AT continues to come out with new applications for the system. I use these almost exclusively on my spinning and casting rod builds, and the 18/8 is becoming a major feature on my fly rods. Check them out if you haven't already.

I would have to say the Microwave guides. The first time i used them i knew they were a game changer. The ease of setting them up and the durability are some of the reason I use them on 99% of my builds.

I haven't been in rod building for many years like alot of you. However I would say the readily available carbon fiber grips, and grip making supplies and of course Microwaves.i started building rods and built every variety of spinning guide layout I was able to research. I built a couple rods with the same blank and different guides. From the first cast I was impressed with microwaves. Now the majority of my rods wear microwaves.

The American Tackle Microwave stripper guides (18/8 & 12/6) have improved my fly casting way more than I deserve!! I put an 18/8 on a 5-wt 9' 3" fast action fly-rod and was overcasting my targets by several feet!! And I am not a good fly-caster! Made up another similar rod for a Fly Fishing guide and he loves it as well.

For sure Microwaves. I am using the new 30's and 50's on my surf builds and now I have started using the 18/8's on my slow pitch vertical rods.

If you can't find it ... build it!

Carbon foam grip and Microguide/KR concept (in relation with braid line).

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Eric
[www.emfishing.fr]

Microwave guides keep getting better with different options, plus the new CCT carbon seats, and carbon grips from American Tackle are awesome.

Microwave guides, carbon grips, carbon reel seats, Vortex air guides, Bushido 3k blanks, Nanophene slow load blanks, and let's not forget the 40+ Burl cork options that continue to improve every year.

The shortage of even lousy cork has made an alternative pretty much a necessity. Everyone has his/her own opinion on which is more attractive, durable, and efficient, cork or carbon? - but cork oaks grow very slowly and wine drinkers pop corks very quickly. As for changes in guides, is it the difference in size, shape, or materials which make the new models so superior?

Phil,
Actually in many cases, some of the new models are not so superior. Different - yes. Superior - maybe not.

Good cork is as available as it ever was. But now, just as then, you have to expect to pay a premium price for it.

Foam Core, Carbon Skinned grips offer greater advantages on fly rods than any other rod type. All the caster's input moves through the grip. Until you try one of these on a fly rod, you have no idea how much energy is being wasted moving through spongy, soft cork. Most folks aren't even aware of how spongy and soft cork actually is, until they have a rigid grip on their fly rod. Then the trick is to ease up - relax and let the better energy input allow you to do more with less effort.

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Tom: Your "do more with less effort" statement is well made. At least half the fly-casters I see could do considerably more with a lot less effort. I saw Joan Wulff, a petit woman, cast over 100' and make it look easy. If/when we get past this pandemic I plan to test cast a fly rod with a foam/carbon grip, although I grasp a fly rod rather lightly and let the hauling hand do the heavy work.

I'm with Tom on the fly rod application of foam core carbon fiber grips. Many of my customers come back and rave about how they have improved their casting.

another option is to coat the foam core with granulated cork and sand down to a smoother texture..you can use the contained flocking method except you use granulated cork in the jar instead of flocking fiber..it,s very firm like the carbon grips but is corky looking and way more durable than regular cork handles and maybe even the carbon handles..