Understanding Our Blank Designations

Only insiders can remember and grasp at first glance the precise meaning of a blank’s references. In fact, these seemingly complicated acronyms are no accident—they stem from the product’s characteristics. If action, length, and power are fundamental parameters of a blank, chances are some of them make up its name—and the basis of its reference!

The structure of the name

Depending on the brand, the structure of a blank’s reference differs, but overall they are quite similar.

Very often, they are composed of three parts:

• First, a string of letters or a name
• Then a digit or possibly a combination of digits
• Finally, quite often, another acronym

The series

The first part of the reference—so the string of letters or the name—generally refers to a series of blanks, i.e., the range name, such as “Statement” at Rodbuilder’s Republic or “Giant” at Black Hole. A second possibility is a reference to the intended use, often expressed by an acronym or, more precisely, an abbreviation.

For example, take North Fork Composites, a manufacturer heavily represented at Rodhouse due to the quality of its products: you’ll find blanks whose designation can begin with CB, which means they are intended for crankbaits and have been developed in line with the characteristics of these lures and the required presentations.

You can thus identify MB series for “Mag Bass,” developed for bass fishing with rubber jigs and characterized by a pronounced fast tip and a firm tip; or the SJ series, short for “Spin Jig,” featuring a livelier tip—just as quick and pronounced—while offering more versatility.

Without being exhaustive, the most common abbreviations you may spot include FW, SB, SWB, DS, or F, standing respectively for “Freshwater,” “Spinnerbait,” “Swimbait,” “Drop Shot,” and “Fly.”

Because there are always exceptions, for some blanks the first part of the name contains the letter G, which often means they are made of fiberglass—“Glass” in English!

Length and power

The second part of the designation is a series of digits that refers to two essential characteristics of the blank: its length and its power.

The length, expressed in feet, makes up the first two digits of the series, and the last digit refers to a power series. This power is linked to the blank’s intended use and, while there’s a general correlation, it cannot be simplistically translated into UL (Ultra Light), M (Medium), or XH (Extra Heavy), for example.

Thus, an 804 blank at NFC will measure 8.0 feet (2.43 m) and belong to power series 4—therefore less powerful than series 5, but above series 3!

This is the general rule, but of course there are exceptions: for example, at MHX, while the last digit does refer to power, the first two digits say nothing about length. Thus, the SJ 843 model actually measures only 7 feet (2.13 m).

Number of sections

Sometimes, this number is followed by a hyphen and another digit, which means it’s a multi-piece blank. The digit obviously indicates the number of sections.

A travel rod will therefore be immediately identifiable by the mention “-3,” “-4,” or “-5.”

Modulus or material

Finally, the third part of a blank’s designation is again a string of letters—either an acronym or a name—that refers to the carbon modulus, the material used, or the technology employed. For instance, NFC’s Xray range refers to a series of blanks designed without scrim and with a particular fiber layup.

The most common acronyms that help you characterize your blank more easily are SM, IM, and HM, which refer to the carbon modulus used—and therefore often its weight, strength, and frequently its responsiveness and resonance. This information should be considered in light of the intended use, environment, and lures. It would be completely wrong to say that a high modulus is inherently better than a standard modulus—only the context determines its effectiveness and relevance!