RPK 78

RPK is a blank designed by Al Jackson and Khiem Nguyen of North Fork Composites, to Rodhouse specifications. This blank has a crazy history, the result of 3 years of joint development.

The aim was to be able to lure the biggest fish crossing our oceans, including giant bluefin. To do this, it's not enough to have a powerful blank, you also need a blank capable of casting far, capable of animating a pop correctly, but you also need to be able to strike, and also spare the angler's back. A real challenge.

After several drafts, Alex Maslov the boss of North Fork had come to us with a final version in Nantes in 2020. This version was based on a nickel-based tech, known in composites circles as a breakage retardant, which when plated to the carbon fibers enabled them to approach the elasticity of fiberglass. This blank had everyone in agreement, and several examples have since been tested just about everywhere, from Tahiti to the Breton coasts.

But in the meantime, NFC has got its hands on another techno. A technology where the carbon fibers are no longer unidirectional, but randomly distributed. We were able to test 67-gram slow jig blanks capable of holding 16 kilos (SLJ / NFC Series), which is unprecedented in the history of blanks. So we took it upon ourselves to fall behind on the RPK project, so that they too could benefit from this incredible technology. RPKs are now produced with a handle based on Nickel tech, while the tip is "Air Carbon", allowing the blank on our test machine to comfortably take 30 kilos .... at 45 degrees. Displaying 272 grs on the scale.

So of course, disruptive projects, new products, get people talking. Some will say what's the point of having such blanks when it's sometimes difficult for them to hold more than 10 kilos of drag? This blank is really designed for big fish, but above all it allows you to work with the harness, preserving the angler and applying pressure previously reserved for trolling. So yes, the braids and reels will have to keep up. This is F1, and we've done our part of the job by putting out a big engine.

YOUR OPINION ON THIS PRODUCT

RPK Blanks are designed for fishing the biggest sea monsters. They primarily target big Bluefin tuna, giant yellowfin tuna, big Giant trevally GT and any other predator meeting the "cups" of poppers, on lines over 80lb. These light, slightly tapered Blanks allow anglers to popper without tiring and to fish in total serenity. You won't have to worry about stepping on the brake and running into giants weighing over 100kg. The RPK78 is the longest of the three RPK versions. It allows you to cast at very long Distance and to have a very good animation amplitude for poppers. With its 19mm butt diameter, there's no need to reamer with the recommended EVA grips. Building a tuna rod handle has never been so easy.