MHX: the rod blank brand of Mud Hole, Florida

1976: Mud Hole is born in New Jersey
Florida: Blanks designed at Mud Hole, in Oviedo
7 points: Each blank is checked before it gets its number

The story of the brand

From Lamiglas to Mud Hole, the blanks of Todd Vivian

The story of MHX starts with Mud Hole. In 1976, the company opens a small fishing and rod building shop in New Jersey. In 1999, it moves to Oviedo, Florida. There it grows its component sales and its rod building classes. MHX comes out of this growth, at the same time as the CRB products.

The blanks carry the signature of Todd Vivian. He first designed rods for twenty years at Lamiglas, in Washington State. He then came to Florida to build the Mud Hole lines. He has designed more than 600 blanks for the company. Each model goes through a 7-point check, then gets its own serial number.

Today, MHX covers fresh water, fly fishing and inshore salt water. The Elite Pro and Mag XF series use Toray fiber. In 2023, Mud Hole joins Foundation Outdoor Group, alongside American Tackle. In 2026, the company turns 50.

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Key dates

1976 Mud Hole opens a fishing shop in New Jersey
1999 Mud Hole moves to Oviedo, Florida
2023 Mud Hole joins Foundation Outdoor Group with American Tackle

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything about the brand

Which company owns the MHX brand?

MHX is the rod blank brand of Mud Hole Custom Tackle. This American company was born in 1976 in New Jersey. It has been based in Oviedo, Florida, since 1999.

In 2023, Mud Hole joined Foundation Outdoor Group, together with American Tackle. MHX remains the blank line designed by the Mud Hole team.

Who designs MHX rod blanks?

MHX blanks are designed by Todd Vivian. He spent twenty years as lead rod designer at Lamiglas, in Washington State. He then joined Mud Hole in Florida to create its blank lines. He has designed more than 600 models there and also leads the company's rod building classes.

How does MHX check its rod blanks?

Every MHX blank goes through a 7-point inspection. Straightness, butt and tip diameter, weight and length are checked. A deflection test then confirms the power and action of the blank.

Once approved, the blank gets a unique serial number. The builder or the angler can register it online. This number makes it possible to trace the rod throughout its life.

MHX, the Mud Hole blank brand

MHX is the rod blank brand of Mud Hole Custom Tackle. This American company is based in Oviedo, Florida. It sells rod components and teaches people how to build rods. MHX is where it designs its own blanks for rod building.

The brand covers almost every kind of fishing. In fresh water, it targets light spinning, jig, drop shot and bass. It also makes blanks for fly fishing, salmon and steelhead. Pike and musky have their own series. Other models are built for inshore salt water. Each blank has a clear use. MHX gives the builder advice for that build.

A blank that is checked and numbered

Todd Vivian designs the MHX blanks. He spent twenty years at Lamiglas as a rod designer. MHX works with Toray carbon fiber and hardened resins. Recent series have a slimmer diameter. This makes the blank lighter. Each piece follows the same path before it leaves the shop.

Two series show this approach. The Elite Pro series uses a 50 million modulus Toray fiber and a nano resin. It is aimed at finesse work in fresh water and along the coast. The Mag XF series takes the Mag Taper blanks and gives them an extra fast tip. It uses an intermediate modulus Toray fiber, rated at 45 million. Both series keep the same inspection steps as the rest of the range.

A 7-point check: straightness, butt and tip diameter, weight and length.
A deflection test to confirm power and action.
A serial number unique to each blank.
Online registration, by the builder or by the angler.

This number lets you trace each MHX rod over its whole life.

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MHX: spinning, fly and saltwater rod blanks for rod building

From Lamiglas to Mud Hole, the blanks of Todd Vivian

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Everything about the brand

Which company owns the MHX brand?

Who designs MHX rod blanks?

How does MHX check its rod blanks?