Abstract: Reel seat structures for fishing rods are herein disclosed in two separate embodiments. In a first embodiment a fishing rod body is provided with a tubular insert on which the reel seat is formed and which is located in an elongate aperture in the rod body. The tubular insert is formed with a long keyhole-shaped opening in which a movable reel retaining hood slides under the control of a rotary knob located in a further opening in the insert body adjacent the keyhole-shaped opening. One end of the aperture in the rod body forms a stationary reel-retaining hood. In a second embodiment, the movable hood slides in a keyhole-shaped opening formed directly in the rod body and there is a separate stationary hood which fits in another opening in the rod body and which is wedged in place by a tubular insert body with a slot that embraces a neck portion of the stationary hood internally of the rod.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a tip section of a fishing rod with, an integral ferrule located at the butt end of the tip section, employs a mandrel having an annular shoulder separating two discrete mandrel sections. Heat-curable sheet material is wrapped about the first section adjacent the shoulder until the outer diameter of the wrapped material corresponds to the diameter of the second section of the mandrel. The result is a smooth transition from the second section to the wrapped material. Additional heat-curable material is then wrapped about the second section and the previously wrapped material overlapping the shoulder section. The wrapped material is compacted against the mandrel and heated until cured. Upon removal of the compacting forces of the mandrel, the cured material is in the form of a hollow rod having a ferrule for receiving another rod within the region of the second wrapped material.

Abstract: A fishing rod capable of increased casting distances is made of two (2) concentric-frictionally engaged blanks and includes a stiff, but not rigid butt zone incorporating most of the first blank, a fast tapered mid-zone overlapping both blanks and a flexible tip zone at the distal end of the second blank. The blanks have inner diameter of different taper rates per unit of length in the various zones to achieve the desired characteristics. The inner diameter taper rate of the mid-zone is, importantly, an order of magnitude greater than the taper rate of the butt zone. Mandrels employed to fabricate the respective blanks are tapered accordingly.