CD Rods Take Top Prize!

New Zealand made XLS fly rod has just stolen the show at the recent EFFTEX awards in Europe. Against all other product ranges from around the world including Japan, USA, and most European and Asian countries, CD-Rods new XLS Fly Rod took the award of ‘Best new product of the EFFTEX show 2004.’ What makes this award special is the fact that this rod was chosen from 75 other items ranging from lures to electronics. The show stealer was CD-Rods application of some revolutionary mixes of high modulus graphites in a 6pc rod and the fact that the genius behind this series is the production of a graduated series of rods which are all similar in action.

CD-Rods have long been respected as one of the world leading manufacturers of performance fly rods, largely due to their OEM manufacturing work for companies such as Cortland, Strudwick, Orvis and over recent years, Redington. The new XLS fly rod series is something which they have kept for themselves, facilitating the growth of what has now become a ‘cult’ brand for fly fishing enthusiasts. CD-Rods claim to fame over recent years has been in the use of proprietary composites, such as the famed Nti (Nano Titanium) and NtiQ (Nano Titanium Quartz) materials used for Redington. The XLS is no different, utilizing a new proprietary 66MSI graphite unidirectional prepreg, allowing the XLS to set new standards in blank sensitivity and lightness.

Managing Director Marty Johanson explains “the new materials bring us back to our roots as a manufacturer; there is no real marketing hype you can put into this stuff except for the fact that this is 100% super high modulus graphite. The real difference is that using our exclusive G-HLX manufacturing process we are able to support these high performance fibres in a fibre and resin matrix that is not only strong, but importantly, creates the lightest and most sensitive rods we’ve seen to date. In short we have made a lot of rods over the years but this is our best work yet.” It’s worth noting that this G-HLX system eliminates the need for scrim fibre within the rod blank making them true 100% graphite blanks, furthermore the 66MSI graphite is markedly higher than that used in current performance fly blanks.

In addition to the ground breaking materials, the XLS series utilizes complex multi tapered blanks. “In essence what we do is computer model flexes so they are perfect with no flat spots or transition points, and importantly, every rod in the series falls into place. For example, if you love the #6 then you’ll love the #8, and if you love the 4pc then you’ll love the 6pc. The actual tapers need a little explaining: settling for a simple fast or slow taper was never the goal, we wanted a rod that you could slow down and drop a size 18 adams on the nose of a fish during flat calm situations coupled with the power to drive a woolly bugger thirty five yards into a head wind. The result is a tip section with a slow taper design which does two things; firstly it loads easily with any amount of line out and then secondly, this creates a cleaner casting loop on longer casts as the tip unloads in one movement. From the tip down, the rod progressively turns on the power and is the fastest deflecting rod we’ve made. All in all this is all built into a super slim profile blank that simply slices through the air a lot quicker.” As explained by CD-Sports General Manager, Rene Vaz.