Abstract: A fishing rod assembly is provided that includes a rod blank and a handle affixed to a proximal end of the rod blank. The handle has a base part and a reel seat part adjacent and distal to the base part for accommodating a reel. The rod blank is supported only at its rearmost end by the base part of the handle so that the rod blank is free to move in response to even small forces applied to a tip of the rod. In addition, the rod blank is exposed up to a forward face of the handle base part, enabling the fisherperson to hold the handle while easily maintaining direct tactile contact with the rod for better detection of rod blank movement and improved fishing rod sensitivity.