Polkfish1 wrote:
I’ve been reading a bit about these rods:
http://www.i-s-makers.com/products/rod/infinite-blade/
I became interested in this blend of carbon and glass after positive experience with varkarie. Seems like ISm might be doing something similar to what you’re describing for these new zephs.
Congrats on that Valkarie, it's a beauty! If I had a Mars Zirconia or a Cracked Copper I would swim to Japan to get one of those rods, or just call TT

(I am a wierdo when it comes to asthetically matching my rods and reels) I am still confounded by the weight of the Valks. I'm not sure where it comes from but have some wild guesses. I don't think it is the glass composition, as you see below on the tag, (you have to squint) it's only 3%.

- Valk.JPG (234.2 KiB) Viewed 2908 times
That is from an overlay that they utilize and not the blank material itself, from what I understand. Possibly it is a combination of whatever they are using to move that handle back and forth, but primarily I think they are using a heavier resin or varied carbon tonnage in the blank to impart the action that they want. All that said, as long as you have balance it is negated somewhat. And from your glowing review, I am even more interested. I have always been intruiged with the Nories line of rods, those are some heavyweights even in the M and ML rod class, props to them for designing a weight balance system to compensate.
I have seen those ISM's on Bass.co, but never looked at the website. That was some great information and I think you are spot on. Kudo's to these companies for taking the time and effort to lay out exactly what they are doing with these blanks and what in turn that will do for you on the business end of the rod.
There are a couple of other Japanese Rod companies worth mentioning, but I've taken up too much space already.
Congrats again on the Valk