The Stuff of Wonder, Graphene Infused G-Rods (continued)

Real World Tests: For our tests I paired the G-Rods with a variety of different reels and I found that just about every low profile reel I clamped on seemed to match in terms of both balance and styling. Over the last two seasons I fished the G-Rod in a variety of my favorite test locations including the California Delta and Clear Lake, using a variety of lines and as many applications as I could log in.

Time to see what the graphene does to the rod's attributes

Casting: Within just a few casts I could tell that the BA-7MH-C G-Rod had plenty of launching power. The rod is rated as a Medium-Heavy rods and it casts like one. Though rated up to 1 1/4oz. I was able to cast swimbaits and spoons over 2oz. with ease. The rod does feel quite robust and it is important to note that the graphene is not just weaved into one section of the rod but used in combination with the Toray carbon fiber proprietary blend through the entire rod, making for one very stable casting platform. I wouldn’t say that the G-Rod casts much differently from other non-graphene based rods, but it does cast very well.

I found the rod paired well with just about every low profile baitcaster I tried

Sensitivity: The G-Rod employs some pretty large Fuji tangle free guides loaded with Fuji titanium SIC rings. It took me a little while to get used the rather bulky guides as so many rods these days have switched over to micro-guides, but what they give up in weight they deliver in terms of durability and sensitivity. The guides actually pair surprisingly well with this blank and the sensitivity we observed with the G-Rod was very good overall. It is hard to say just how much the graphene is playing into the heightened sensitivity, but there is no doubt that the material only adds to the already good Toray carbon elements.

The fish logo identifies what species the rod is designed for

Just like graphene is used to conduct energy in semiconductors it seems to do a good job transmitting vibration through the blank, all the way to the Fuji ACSM Dura Touch reel seat, which provides generous access to the exposed blank. During tests I fished weed edges, heavy cover, and rocks and was surprised how easily I could discern hard or soft cover on the end of the line. Fishing with fluorocarbon or braid certainly helped, but even with mono I was easily able to pick up subtle bites.

Big Fuji Titanium SIC guides are used

Power: While it is easy to be wowed by the fact that G-Rods employs what many are calling the “wonder material” it is important to remember that graphene is just one of the elements going into the rod’s construction and by volume the G-Rod is more carbon than it is graphene. Because graphene is very thin it makes it easy to use other materials to build up a complete structure, either infused together with the graphene as scaffolding or layered together in sheets.

The Toray carbon shines through

G-Rods BA-7MH-1C : 9.75" Rear Handle : 8+tip Guides (Fuji K-series Ti/SiC) : Fast Taper : Medium Heavy Power : 3/8-1 1/4 oz: 10-25 lb

The G-Rods BA-7MH measured out pretty much how we expected and delivers a smooth power curve all the ay to the tip. It is no surprise that this rod can cast lures weighing over the rod's specification but where the rod shines is really laying into fish and turning them towards the boat. Bass weighing up to seven pounds at Clear Lake were still no match for the G-Rod, and during tests I deliberately boat flipped a few bass up to four pounds without ever feeling like I was putting the rod in danger.

The first fish I caught with the G-Rod was on the Delta, even then I could tell this rod could be used for many different baits and applications

Next Section: Blending tech with rod building know-how