The patented technology found in our Axiom fly rods is pure outside-the-box thinking. With the advent of graphite fly rods in 1976, manufacturers eventually began experimenting with different modulus graphite to try and make a stronger, lighter, and higher performing rod. This moved into using different metallic elements and a variety of construction methods to achieve the same goals. This brought many advances to fly rod technology, but then we started thinking outside the box. Although improving strength and decreasing weight are both important aspects of fly rod innovation, our primary focus has always been improving the casting performance of a rod. When you break it down to its most basic element, the purpose of a fly rod is to cast a line and deliver a fly, so when we set out to design the Axiom our focus was to create a rod that cast better and delivered a fly with more accuracy than anything else available on the market.

The most efficient way to deliver a fly is with a smooth, tight loop, so our job was to create a rod that delivered the smoothest, tightest loops possible. In order to achieve this, we had to solve what we call the Tip-Bounce Problem. When you make a cast and stop the rod on the forward stroke, the rod tip bounces back and forth to compensate for the change in motion. This quivering introduces ripples in the line as it unrolls and hampers performance through the loss of distance and accuracy. To solve this problem, our rod designer spent countless hours working with different materials to accompany our IM6 graphite blanks and ultimately came forth with a winner: Kevlar®. Although it has many amazing properties, the properties of Kevlar® that interested us were the following:  

• High Modulus
• High Tensile Strength at Low Weight
• Low Elongation to Break High Modulus (Structural Rigidity)
• High Toughness (Work-To-Break)
• Excellent Dimensional Stability

From the DuPont™ (manufacturer of Kevlar®)

The Axiom is essentially a double-built rod with two layers of graphite. The first layer of graphite is wrapped over the mandrel, the Kevlar is attached and weaved along the blank in a criss-cross pattern, and then the second layer of graphite sandwiches the Kevlar in place. With the Kevlar being a fully integrated part of the construction, its properties are transferred to the entire rod.

The results are impressive to say the least. Not only is Tip Bounce virtually eliminated, thus giving incredibly smooth loops, but the rod also provides unparalleled load performance which literally launches the fly line at the target. Add to this the ability to make precise and delicate casts - and yes, it literally acts like a Kevlar vest for your rod and helps prevent breakage -  and you have the best technology available in a fly rod.  To see the results for yourself, cast one. We hope you like it.