fiberglass vs graphite

[Bream Master]

I believe graphite is the superior material of the two.  Yesterday, I just watched a pro say that he uses fiberglass rods for crankbaits.  The other guys on the dvd said the same thing as well.

What do you guys use?  

Pros/Cons of fiberglass vs graphite?

On a side note, are Ugly Stick rods fiberglass?  

[RoLo]

Graphite offers superior sensitivity, but is not without a glitch.

High-modulus graphite is more brittle than fiberglass, for this reason, the most popular rod blanks

for bluewater gamefishing were made of E-glass.

Roger

[Bream Master]

what is e-glass?

[Lightninrod]

I've always used a 7' Medium Kistler Helium graphite for cranks over the last few years.  Recently, I got my first fiberglass crankin' rod from Megabass, the Shiryu.  Both have worked well for me.  Fiberglass is supposedly 'slower' so you don't ****** the hooks away from a Bass but I find the 'forgiveness' of my Medium Helium effective too.

Dan

[RoLo]

what is e-glass?

That's a fair question.

Although I've never heard it said, I would imagine the E stands for epoxy (lamiglass fame).

I should also add that I haven't been bluewater gamefishing in many years

so by now I'd suppose there are materials with even greater strength than E-glass.

Roger

[paparock]

I have used E-glass, S-glass, and graphite as well as some combination blanks like Calstar Graphiters that have a graphite core supported lower on the blank with e-glass. They all react differently but to me it is a personal matter of feel. I current have Calstar e-glass and Johnny Morris graghite crankbait casting rods and a St. Croix Legend Tournament Walleye (TWS70MHM / Deep cranker) graghite that has fast become my favorite rod.

[lubina]

For med/deep cranking I rather go with e-glass, Seeker fo me. Shallow cranks graphite works OK.

[gatrboy53]

there is now s-glass as well as e-glass and composite (glass/graphite)glass rods are slower response at strike.less chance of pulling away and /or pulling treble hooks out of a fishes mouth.grahite when it loads up has a equal response,on single hooks that is good but on trebles that is bad.glass has a parabolic bend and when it loads it holds that load against the fish thru out the fight ,tiring the fish out.kinda like a big rubber band.my land rate has gone up dramatically since going to a composite rod(kistler magnesium t.s. composite )

[Siebert Outdoors]

This is strictly my opinion on this subject and for bass only.

Fiberglass is old technology that the stubborn generation are use to using and wont change.  The newer graphite rods, i.e. "Crankbait rods" are far superior to glass in weight of rod and the newer ones have just as good of actions or better.  IMO glass rods for the bass fisherman will be gone in 10 years, we younger guys just have to show the light to the stubborn generation that wont change.

Like anything else that is new, it takes time.   When the graphite rods for cranks first came out. Yeah I believe that the glass was still better.  But with R&D the graphite is now far superier.

You guys that are die hard glass rod fisherman should try a "crankbait rod" or Loomis Popping Rod.  

You might be suprised.  Great action with alot less the weight. 8-)

[jacktrevally]

E-glass is a grade of fibreglass that has a high strength to weight ratio. It has strength and durability. E-glass can be used in conjunction with Grahite to make it a more responsive blank. Usually a E- Glass core and having an outer graphite wrap.

As far as glass is concerned, it is a strong and tough material which can be loaded beyond vertain limits. Glass rod however loses some of it's stiffness with time making it becoming softer. As it has been mentioned it is normally a through action but however it can be made into a faster action tip if it is constructed from a single pc. The blanks can be excessively loaded but lack backbone. Glass is also on the heavy side compared to graphite

Graphite on the other hand comes in different grade and with the number of wraps the desired action can be obtained. It is more responsive and has more backbone but it is a material that when overstressed will break easily.

I prefer graphite rods since they have a good recovery rate for casting. A well designed graphite rods can have good fighting capabilities as you don't feel the blank folding wehn putting pressure on te fish. I like a fast/xtra fast action for casting and fighting capabilities.

[flechero]

This is strictly my opinion on this subject and for bass only.

Fiberglass is old technology that the stubborn generation are use to using and wont change. The newer graphite rods, i.e. "Crankbait rods" are far superior to glass in weight of rod and the newer ones have just as good of actions or better. IMO glass rods for the bass fisherman will be gone in 10 years, we younger guys just have to show the light to the stubborn generation that wont change.

Like anything else that is new, it takes time. When the graphite rods for cranks first came out. Yeah I believe that the glass was still better. But with R&D the graphite is now far superier.

You guys that are die hard glass rod fisherman should try a "crankbait rod" or Loomis Popping Rod.

You might be suprised. Great action with alot less the weight. 8-)

Very well put, GMAN.  With graphite, you can now get the same good qualities of glass but at a much lighter weight.  

I for one will never return to glass for any freshwater application.

[Lightninrod]

GMAN:  I agree that the 'old' fiberglass rods are out of date compared to graphite rods(see my reference to my graphite Heliums) but there are new fiberglass technologies available.  Here is the description of my fiberglass Shiryu-Tomahawk series rod:

"What make the Tomahawk Series so unique are their blanks themselves. Instead of using the conventional glass fiber film, which consists of vertical and horizontal fiber mesh, we have eliminated most of the horizontal fibers and reinforced the vertical ones instead. This gives the Tomahawk two distinct characteristics: unadulterated bending and unbelievable lightness unlike any other glass rod. Even though the Tomahawk Series has received a complete overhaul for 2005, the basic concept has not changed. But, if the original Tomahawk series rods are the WW II fighter planes, then the new GT3 series rods are much more sophisticated modern planes. If you know nothing about the original Tomahawk rods, you may not realize that they are related. The new GT3 Series is completely armed. With 180 degree spiral guide system, the new TX fiber blanks, the new reel seat with exposed blank, the heavy duty Titanium-IC guides and finally ITO Head Locking System (PAT), the new GT3 series elevates Tomahawk rods a few steps closer to its unknown potential."

The English translation from Japanese leaves a little to be desired........

I 'crank' with both .

Dan

[RoLo]

Graphite is just a polymorph of carbon, and carbon is an element. Graphite was and will always be

more sensitive and more brittle than fiberglass. Even the oldest epoxy formulations

are stronger and more shock-resistant than the latest graphite blanks.

There's a good reason why Rhinos and Ugly Sticks are constructed of fiberglass composite,

take out the fiberglass and it would really get UGLY

Roger

[roadwarrior]

Fiberglass has a very specific place in my rod collection. I fish three "soft" rods for a a variety of applications. For light and medium weight crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwater, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits I have two graphite rods for specific lures. My fiberglass rod is used for heavy and deep running baits.

For specific applications, I highly recommend the Lamiglas SR705R. This rod is heavy power/ slow action and can handle lures weighing an ounce or more. I use this rod exclusively fishing Pointer 128s, big Spooks and deep divers (DD22, Mann's +20 & +25). These lures can certainly be fished on other equipment and graphite rods designed for big, treble hook baits, but this rod is "ideal". When all the variables are just right, this rod allows casts of 50-75 yards, which can be important. The forgiving nature of a slow action, fiberglass rod is unsurpassed when fighting a big fish.  

[Rattlinrogue]

For crankbaits,spinnerbaits,and suspending jerkbaits I'm using glass rods right now,and they perform well.For everything else,I use graphite.

[Bionicman]

I recently bought the "Crankin' Stick" from BPS which is a combo of fiberglass and graphite and the rod is very nice, as far as for all other applications I use graphite because of the increased sensitivity.

[Nick_Barr]

Graphite Lamiglas's for everything besides CRANKING. I use a LAmiglas Competitor 685 which is a Composite rod made of a Graphite butt section blended into a fiberglass upper half for a lighter and more sensitive rod while still maintaining the soft action.