Report on GBlanks rod

[DRY]

Let me begin by saying that I am no expert on rod building but wanted to tell other fishermen about my recent experience finding a new fishing rod. I was going to wait until I caught a few smallies but that may not happen until Fall and there seems to be interest in rods right now. I have caught over 30 walleye with it so I have been using it quite a lot.
I needed a medium weight fishing rod, mainly for winter jig fishing for walleye and smallmouth. I had recently had a disagreement with St. Croix about several old St. Croix rods (Premier grade) that needed new guides and eyes. So I started looking for an all-American made rod. I have never spent more than $150 for a rod and that was my price limit. I was not interested in a rod that was artistic or a showpiece. I have nothing against artistic rods but my fishing tackle gets a lot of use and some abuse. All I wanted was a no frills, good quality American made fishing rod to spend my economic stimulus money on instead of one made in Asia.
I finally decided on a rod builder who advertises on Smallmouth.com called GBlanks. Although I did not personally speak to other rod builders, their advertisements seemed to stress the artistic side of rod-building, which is fine but is not what I wanted and carried a bigger price tag than I wanted. The GBlanks advertising of an all-American made rod particularly impressed me as well as their advertised price. I spoke with several people who have these rods and checked some other rod building forums on the Internet. I could find no specific criticisms of GBlanks rods.
While the rods are called “custom rods”, they basically are made on the same design making them more of a “production type rod’ but they are not your typical production rod. Some customizing can be done like adding your name on the rod and changing the handle length or style and the color winding thread (if available) but by and large the rods pretty much look the same. Some might call it a “semi-custom” rod. There are different handle configurations but they are generally a split handle with no fore-grip cork. This was another reason I wanted a “custom” rod because I wanted this style handle. Having my fingers directly on the rod blank should provide better strike sensitivity.
I ordered a medium weight, fast action, 6’10” spinning rod for $125 plus $22 shipping. It arrived in 4 weeks. I was called when the rod was ready and paid by personal check.

GBlanks uses Batson graphite rod blanks. Batson is a relatively new, reputable American company. What I learned later is that, like some other American companies (Kistler for instance), Batson does not make all of their rod blanks in the USA. The GBlanks rod I bought is made with a Batson RX7 blank. Originally Batson made all their blanks stateside but for the past 4 years they only make their top end blank, the RX8 in the USA, all other blanks are made in Asia. Interestingly, Larry Mitchell (owner of GBlanks) told me that he was not even aware that Batson was not making the RX7 blank in the USA. I take him at his word.
I am disappointed about the rod blank not being American made but it does not diminish the overall quality of the finished product. Like so many other manufactured items, it is sometimes difficult to find quality American made products at a reasonable price. Making the same no-frill rod with the Batson RX8 American made blank would increase the price by $80-100. You could reasonably argue that I might have a better product but I will not pay that much money for a fishing rod.
As I said, I have already caught numerous walleye using the rod. It is well balanced and sensitive. Having my thumb and index finger directly on the blank does increase sensitivity, especially for feeling the bite of finicky, light biting walleye. The rod has eight well-spaced guides and a tippet (9 total). The guides are titanium. The wrappings are simple but well done. The handle is split with a little cork behind the reel seat and a foam butt-end. The handle can be made with no cork and the butt-end can be cork or foam. Any length handle can be ordered.
The rod builder from GBlanks tells me that he has some left over Shikari blanks that were originally made in Oklahoma. (G. Loomis bought out Shikari). For years GBlanks used Shikari blanks to make finished rods. I may get my all-American made rod yet.
So if anyone wants to get away from the major rod manufacturers who do most of their business in Asia and wants a sensitive, well made, no-frill American made rod….give GBlanks a look. Bill







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The future of fishing is in your hands-catch,photograph and release. Thank You!

[pete hanford]

Bill, i have been very happy with the 3 g blank rods that i have gotten from them. nice light rods
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Shut up and fish you big baby!!!!
Life is a game but fishing is serious!!!!!