New fishing rods better than old | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

The article argues that modern fishing rods can deliver more control and easier casting than older models, especially for serious anglers. It cites Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, a standout bass fisherman who won the 1982 Bassmasters Classic on the Ohio River and competed through the 1990s MegaBucks era. Nixon says he can tell the difference between his 1982 rods and newer ones immediately, noting they’re lighter and, importantly, that rods are longer now for greater leverage. He also points to construction advances: graphite standards moved from IM-6 in the 1990s to IM-8 today, with premium rods using IM-9 and IM-10 for finer weave, stiffness, sensitivity and power transfer.