FethaStyx, based in Redmond, WA, is one of the companies currently prototyping kayak fishing specific fishing rods. Unfortunately their rods aren't ready, they do have several other rods worth mentioning. Their latest partnership with NASCAR is one of them. Unveiled at ICAST, FethaStyx now has a set of rods featuring the numbers and signatures of NASCAR drivers Jimmy Johnson, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and, NASCAR newcomer, Danica Patrick. For every adult fishing rod sold, $10 goes to the driver’s favorite charity. For the youth line, each one sold includes a $3 donation to the NASCAR Foundation. This lineup joins FethaStyx other niche market lines that contribute to nonprofit organizations such as the Coastal Conservation Association, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation or the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) has long been known for their fly rods. In 2010 they teamed up with Gary Loomis and created a line up of conventional and spinning rods. Now TFO has gone a step further and has created a Heroes on the Water (HOW) linup. This new lineup includes the HOW logo on the single piece rods, and $5 from every $99MRSP will be donated to HOW. If you're not familiar with Heroes on the Water, be sure to check out this article.
Colt Rods is a new name for most people. They are still very young and looking to make a big splash on the fishing rod industry. Colt rods is incorperating new technology and carbon forming to make a stronger rod that promises to cast further, withstand greater abuse, and all in all be a better rod. Colt is thinking about a kayak rod, but they do still need to work on the rest of their line up.
As I mentioned, Tica is working on expanding their line up. I personally love their practically indestructable kevlar tip, especially since all of us kayak anglers highstick our rods. If you're not familiar with their bright orange, floating kayak rods, I hope to get one here before too long so I can get a good review put together for you. They're based off freestyle jigging blanks, so they are quite strong. Tica's kayak rods are bright orange for safety, and have a glow in the dark banded tip for night fishing.
