Action	Refers to how the blank bends when a force is exerted on the tip of the blank. "Slow action" is a progressive bend from the tip to the butt, a "moderate" or "medium action" will deflect the blank in the upper 1/2, "fast action" deflects in the upper 1/3, and extra fast action" will deflect in the upper 1/4 of the blank.
Adhesive	A bonding agent made from chemically synthesized materials used to permanently affix various components to the rod blank, i.e., reel seat, grip, ferrule, tip-top and butt.
Altenkirch taper	The creation of the Altenkirch taper is a multi-step process. The taper is formed by first boring a piece of hardwood to fit the taper of the rod blank just forward of the foregrip. It is then epoxied to the blank in its final position, then hand-turned on a lathe to create a gradual taper from the foregrip to the rod blank. The tapered hardwood can be left exposed with an epoxy finish applied. It can also be wrapped with nylon thread with various color threads to cover the taper.
Aluminum	Aluminium is a lightweight metal which is remarkable for its durability and characterized by its ability to resist corrosion due to the phenomenon of passivation and the metal's low density. Structural components made from aluminium and its alloys are vital to the aerospace industry and many other applications.
Aussie top	An oversized roller top manufactured by Winthrop Tool. This tip top is milled from a single billet of titanium—there are no welds, seanms or bends. Extra wide to accept any kind of wind on leader or hardware, these tip tops provide the ultimate in reliability and can be specified as an option on Altenkirch 80# and 130# trolling rods.
Bearing Bronze	A Bronze alloy which has good machinng characteristics and exhibits excellent load capacity and antifriction qualities that make it a preferred alloy for a wide variety of applications and resists many chemicals and corrosion.
Billet	A section of nonferrous metal ingot which is hot-worked by forging, rolling, or extrusion in one piece.
Blank	Refers to the fundamental component of the fishing rod on which the guides, grip and reel seat are assembled to build a custom fishing rod. Rod blanks are manufactured by rolling fiberglass or graphite composite sheets over a long steel mandrel under high heat.
Boron	Boron nitride has remarkable properties and can be used to make a material as hard as diamond. Boron filaments incorporated with graphite provides a high-strength, lightweight material chiefly employed for advanced aerospace structures and sometimes employed in the manufacture of fishing rod blanks.
Bushing	A cylindrical sleeve or shim which is milled from a hardwood; it is precisely bored to fit the rod blank taper under the reel seat. It is also formed with an outside diameter small enough to fit under the reel seat and allow space for bonding agent to permanently bond the reel seat and bushing to the rod blank. The bushing is used in lieu of filler material such as tape or twine because it forms a more permanent and rigid bond while providing greater sensitivity.
Butt	The rod butt is the bottom most section of the rod. It can be made by either sliding a cork or EVA grip over the rod blank and bonding it in position below the reel seat or by attaching a prefabrcated wood or metal grip to the blank by attaching it to a metal ferrule that was fit and glued to the bottom of the tip section of the rod behind the reel seat.
Butt cap	Fits on or over the end of most fishing rods. Helps protect the bottom of the rod blank at the butt end. Usually made from plastic, rubber, wood or aluminum.
Butt grip	The grip installed behind the reel seat, on the rear portion of the rod.
Butt guide	The guide closest to the reel sea on the fishing rod.
Butt section	This describes the bottom section of the rod from the foregrip backward including the reel seat and butt.
Carboloy	Tungsten Carbide. One of the earliest materials to be used for making non-grooving line guide rings. Still popular with wire-line fishermen and some surf fishermen because of it's durability.
Ceramic	Term used somewhat generically to describe any of the various synthetic materials used for guide ring material.
Choke guide	The guide nearest the reel seat.
Cigar grip	Fly rod style grip. Shaped like a cigar. Slightly tapered and rounded on each end, larger in the middle.
Coarse Angling	Name given to bait fishing for "coarse" fish. In most parts of the world this is generally any fish other than a salmanoid.
Color Preserver	A type of sealer/filler normally used on regular nylon thread to keep the thread from turning translucent when the final wrap finish is applied. Types include nitrocellulose lacquer (clear), acrylic (white), and urethane/acrylic (cloudy).
Composite	A composite is basically a material made of two or more different materials. In a carbon composite the carbon fibers are reinforced in a polymer matrix (e.g. polyester or epoxy).
Cone of flight	Common and traditional method for sizing spinning rod guides. Each guide is slight smaller than the previous one. Together they frame a cone shaped area extending from the outer edges of the reel spool to a single point at the tip of the rod.
Conventional rod	A trolling style rod, typically longer than a standup rod. Line weights 30# and above are used in a fighting chair because of the mechanical advantage. Smaller than a spinning rod with the reel mounted on top of the rod. The guides are also mounted on the top of the rod and are typically smaller than the guides on a casting rod.
Cork grip	Formed by first boring cork disks to match the diameter of the rod blank. These cork rings are then pressed together to form a cylinder which is then turned on a lathe and shaped and sanded smooth. Cork is harvested sustainably from Cork Oak trees by shaving the bark from the tree. A Cork Oak will produce cork for more than 200 years.
Cross wrap	A method of overlaying/wrapping threads to form decorative butt wraps on fishing rods. Generally based on threads crossing each other in such a way as to form an "X" at each intersection.
Curved butt	A straight butt is bent to give the angler more mechanical advantage when fighting from a chair.
Damp or Damping	Used within the confines of rod building, the term is generally used and understood to describe how long a rod takes to return to straight or stop, after being cast or flexed, i.e. "This rod damps quickly."
Detachable butt	butt  straight or cuved comes apart behind the reel, the reel stays with the rod and the butt comes apart for easy storage or to convert from straight to curve or vice versa.
Diamond wrap	A type of decorative thread wrap where threads are wrapped to each side of the pattern in order to form boxes or widen the basic "X" shape. Viewed from any corner (and depending upon the elongation of the pattern), they appear diamond shaped.
Downlocking	Used to describe a reel seat that has been mounted with the fixed hood to the rear (butt) and the movable hood to the front (tip).
Drum dryer or Rod dryer	Type of 'Rod Dryer' where large round flats are used to hold a number of rods on the circumference and the entire assembly turns around a center shaft. Resembles a drum mounted and turning on a center axis.
Drying Motor	A slow RPM motor used to rotate a fishing rod to prevent slow curing thread finishes/coatings from dripping or sagging until they have set.
E-glass	One of the most durable rod blank materials obtainable. This type of of blank can be used to build: spininning trolling, conventional and standup rods.
EVA	Ethylene Vinyle Acetate synthetic foam material. Available in various grades and hardnesses, the more firm variety makes an excellent and lightweight rod grip material. Not as resilient as Hypalon, but considerably lighter in weight.
Ferrule	An item which allows sections of a rod blank to be joined together. Can be either separate or be an integral component to the rod blank sections.
Fighting butt	Normally used on fly reel seats. A short extension of cork or foam, either fixed or removable, on the rear of a fly reel seat.
Fighting Butt	Normally used on fly reel seats. A short extension of cork or foam, either fixed or removable, on the rear of a fly reel seat.
Fighting chair	Special chair mounted to a boat's deck and used to allow an angler to fight a fish from a sitting position. In use, the rod is placed into a gimbal nock on the chair, which then becomes an aid to the angler against large and powerful fish.
Fighting Chair	Special chair mounted to a boat¹s deck and used to allow an angler to fight a fish from a sitting down position. In use, the rod is placed into a gimbal nock on the chair, which then becomes an aid to the angler against large and powerful fish.
Fighting harness	A device that is strapped onto the angler, usually around the waist, with a specially designed fixture or gimbal nock, to receive the rod gimbal in order to aid the angler when angling large or powerful fish.
Foregrip	The grip installed in front of the reel seat on casting and spinning rods.
Foul proof guide	Name associated with a particular type of line guide which is fashioned from a single piece of wire. It is wound into a circle or coil, with the ends of the wire serving as guide feet on either side of the circle.
Full wells grip	Fly rod style grip. Swelled on both ends and in the middle with depressed areas about 1/4 length in from each end.
Gimbal or Gimble	A butt cap with cross slotting on the end. These slots locate into a pin used in a gimbal nock, which may be located in a fighting chair or fighting harness. Prevents the rod from turning or twisting during a fight or while trolling a bait or lure. It is usually constructed from an aluminum alloy for weight reduction and corrosion resistance.
Graphite	Graphite is a fiber composed of 94-99% carbon using a heat process up to 5,500 degrees. The produced fibers are laminated inot sheets
Guide	Generally, it is a metal loop with a single foot or two feet for attaching the bottom of the guide to the blank by wrapping with nylon thread. The guides are fabricated from stainless steel or titanium and sometimes plated with an insert of a hard material that allows the line to slide through the guide with as little friction as possible. Some of the heavier weight standup or trolling type rods will incorporated roller bearings in the guide to facilitate the use of heavier line and wire line or leader with minimal resistance or damage.
Half-wells grip	Half of a "Full Wells" grip. Swelled at one end and the middle, with the opposite end tapering to a smaller overall diameter.
Hood Liners	Usually made from plastic or nylon and used to line reel seat hoods of steel or aluminum. Prevents marring of the reel foot and provides an elastic cushioning effect.
Hookkeeper	Small ring, hook or folding device that is wrapped near the foregrip on a fishing rod intended to hold the lure or fly when rod is not in use.
Hosel	Used to finish off the forward edge of a rod foregrip. Similar to a cap with a hole bored in the end for the rod blank to pass through. Mostly of a decorative nature.
Hypalon	Trademarked name for a Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene synthetic rubber product. While it is used in a variety of industrial applications, it has long been used with good results in the form of rod grips. Somewhat heavy, but extremely resistant to sunlight, solvents and detergents.
IGFA	Abbreviation for the International Game Fishing Association
IGFA	Abbreviation for The International Game Fishing Association. IGFA's objectives are founded on the beliefs that game fish species, related food fish, and their habitats are economic, social, recreational, and aesthetic assets which must be maintained, wisely used and perpetuated; and that the sport of angling is an important recreational, economic, and social activity which the public must be educated to pursue in a manner consistent with sound sporting and conservation practices.
IGFA Class Rod	Rod designed specifically for use with a particular IGFA class rated line. Categories include 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 30, 50, 80 and 130 pound classes.
Inlay	Can refer to a single thread lnlaid in a wider thread wrap, or a section of grip material inlaid into another section of grip material.
Kevlar	An aramid/nylon fiber trademarked by DuPont. A rod blank manufacturer may mix the fibers with graphite to achieved a desired stiffness and strength while producing a lightweight blank.
Line class	Line class is an IGFA specification that denotes a specific line weight permirtted for a world record….
Line size	Diameter of a given fishing line.
Line weight	Pound test weight or strength of the line. A chetilian scale will determine when the line breaks….
Mandrel (straight)	Shaft of steel, wood or fiberglass used for mounting and turning of grips, reel seat inserts, etc.
Mandrel (tapered)	Tapered steel shaft. Used as the core around which a composite pattern or flag is wrapped during the process of making a rod blank. It is removed after the blank has been heated and cured.
Modulus	With regard to the carbon fibers used to make fishing rods, "Modulus of Elasticity," refers to the relationship between stress and strain. Relative to rod building, it usually defines the stiffness to weight ratio of the fibers used to construct the rod blank. Generally speaking, the higher the modulus of the fiber used to make the blank, the lighter the resulting blank can be for any given stiffness. However, to achieve a higher modulus (and stiffer rod) there is an associated loss of strentgh.
Parabolic Bend	Bend is through is the entire length of the rod reducing the chance for breaking at any one point on the blank.
Power	Generally used to describe a rod or blank's stiffness or resistance to bending.
Progressive Action	Term used to describe a rod blank that continues to bend farther back towards the butt end as load upon it is increased. As the load is increased, the blank responds by shifting the load onto the larger, more powerful area towards the middle and rear of the blank.
Real Seat Hood	The reel seat hood slides ove the foot of the reel to lock it into place when the kniurled nut is tightened up against it.
Reel Seat	Located on the rod blank behind the foregrip and ahead of the butt it is made from either an extruded alloy or machined from various metals. It has two hoods and knurled nuts for the qick attachment and removal of the reel.
Rocket Launcher
Rod Assembly	Once the blank has been selected, splined and cut to the proper the length the assemply of the rod components begins with the gluing on of the grip(s), reel seat, butt, gimbal, wrapping the guides and gluing on the tip top.
Rod Holder	Usually located on the top side of the gunwales of the boat in which the rods are placed and supported for trolling.
Roller Guide	Guide frame fitted with revolving sleeves or rollers for line travel rather than a standard ring. Minimizes or eliminates line wear/friction. Normally found on larger saltwater rods.
Slick Butt	Rod butt made of aluminum or nylon and used on place of a rear cork or foam type grip. The hard, slick surface permits the easy removal of a rod from a rod holder even if the rod is under pressure from a fish.
Sliding bands	Rings or bands which free-float or slide on a reel seat. These rings are forced onto the reel feet and held in place by friction/pressure.
Snake Guide	Guide formed from single piece of steel or wire. Twisted to form an elongated coil, but not a loop. Generally found most often on fly rods.
Speed	Within the confines of rod building it is generally used to define the rate of response and/or recovery of a rod
Spine or Effective spine	an effect created by several manufacturing anomalies. The result is that the rod blank will favor bending along a particular axis when load is applied.
Spinning Rod	A casting type rod can be any size from 4 ft to 13 ft designed for long distance casting. Guides are mounted on the rod facing down and are designed larger so the line flows freely througt the guides for greater distance casts.
Spline	In the rod blank manufacture process sheets of fiberglass, graphite, or other composite material are wrapped around a mandrell and cured before polishing and finishing of the blank. In this process there is an inherent imperfection created whereby the rod has formed a "backbone" or spline which runs linearly along one side of the blank. It is the spline that determines the orientation of the guides. For example, when building a conventional rod, the guides are placed along the spline so that the rod bends straight without a sideways rotation of the rod when a bend is applied. (or "Effective Spine")
Sport fishing excise tax	A user tax levied and built into the price of all fishing equipment. Used for fisheries enhancement
Stainless steel	An alloy of steel that contains varying proportions of chromium and nickel to achieve high strength and corrosion resistence.
Standup rod	Generally used to describe shorter, high-leverage type trolling and boat rods. Shorter length allows them to be used by an angler in a 'stand up' position rather than in a fighting chair.
Static stress distribution test	Method used for stressing/flexing a rod blank in order to determine optimum guide placement on any blank.
Storabutt	This type of butt is detachable at both ends, either the tip section or butt section can be removed. The butt section can be removed with the reel on the butt or the butt section only.
Straight Butt	The butt of the rod is straight so it can be used either in a rod holder for trolling or for standing up.
Strength	Most often used to describe the durability of a rod or blank. The ability to withstand impact or stress.
Stripping guide	The butt guide on a rod. The guide closest to the reel on a fly rod.
Swivel butt	The gimbal end of the butt has the ability to rotate instead of being fixed allowing the angler to twist the rod (and tip section) in order to follow the fish's path during a fight relieving stress on the angler's arm.
Swivel Top	Replaces a fixed tip top or tip guide which allows the tip of the rod to swivel instead of being fixed.
Through-butt	Rod construction method where the rod blank is inserted into and extends completely through any sort of handle or butt.
Tip guide	The guide located closest to the ip of the rod.
Tip section	This describes the uppermost part of the rod or blank above the foregrip including the stripper guide, guides and tip top.
Tip top	The line guide which fits on or over the tip end of the rod. Usually constructed along the lines of a tube supporting a ring. It is slid over the end of the rod blank and glued.
Titanium	Mainly used in an alloy form, is as stong as steel yet 45% lighter with high corrosion resistence. While heavier than aluminum, it can be twice as strong.
Tuff butt	Rod butt made of aluminum or nylon, and used in place of a rear cork or foam type grip. The hard, slick surface permits the easy removal of a rod from a rod holder even if the rod is under pressure from a fish.
Tuna block	Short piece of aluminum or nylon tubing or sleeve that is fitted between the reel seat and foregrip on heavy duty offshore and boat type rods. Provides a place for the forward clamp on larger reels to mount.
Two-piece rod	A fishing rod is built from the rod blank which is one piece. Sometimes it's desirable to make the rod in two pieces. This makes it easier to transport a shorter rod in two sections by removing the butt section. It requires a uniquely designed reel seat (with a ferrule an locking knurled nuts) that allows the butt section of the rod to be removed.
Underwrap	A layer of wrapping thread made before the guide is wound on. The guide sits on top of and is wound over this layer of thread. Normally serves only cosmetic purposes, but on larger and heavier rods may provide a non-slip base for the guide. When guides are poorly prepared and contain sharp undersides or burrs, it may provide some measure of protection for the rod blank.
Uni-butt	The term "uni-butt" is a trademark of AFTCO Products. It has come to be used somewhat generically to describe any aluminum butt section with integral reel seat for use on heavy duty saltwater rods. Normally, it can be detached from the rod by means of a threaded ferrule just forward of the reel seat area.
Uplocking	Used to describe a reel seat that has been mounted with the fixed hood to the front (tip) and the movable hood to the rear (butt).
Wells grip (full)	Fly rod style grip. Swelled on both ends and in the middle with depressed areas about 1/4 length in from each end
Wells grip (half)	Half of a "Full Wells" grip. Swelled at one end and the middle, with the opposite end tapering to a smaller overall diameter.
Winding Check	Washer shaped item used to finish off the forward edge of a rod foregrip. Made from a variety of materials and normally used for cosmetic purposes.
Wrap Pattern	When wrapping the guides onto the rod blank a rod builder generally employs a design using different colored nylon threads . These patterns range from very simple to complex and ornate, i.e., diamond wrap.