Summer’s in full swing and the heat is on. It’s early mornings chasing topwater blowups, long afternoons on shaded banks, and dusk sessions that linger into the warm night. Whether you’re working grass lines for largemouth, drifting deep pools for smallies, or scanning the surf for tailing reds, there’s a Rod Forge blank built to match your midseason grind.
We’ve put together a list of five favorites from our staff and frequent RF builders to help you find the right blank for your summer fishing needs.
1) NSB 7’0″ Medium Heavy Fast — The NSB 70MHF is a summer workhorse with a crisp tip and strong backbone, perfect for Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, light flipping, and even inshore redfish. Arguably our most versatile summer blank, it is ideal for covering water and staying dialed in when the heat is on.
2) NSB Inshore 7’0″ Medium Moderate Fast — Summer mornings and evenings are made for topwater, and the NSB-I-70MMF blank delivers. With just the right tip and speed for walking baits, poppers, jerkbaits, and finesse plastics, it brings crisp presentations and fast hooksets to your favorite summer saltwater spots.
3) HTD 7’6″ Heavy Fast — Nothing gets the blood boiling like fishing for bass with a frog. The Rod Forge HTD-76HF is built for the thick stuff and perfect for frogs, punching mats, and Carolina rigs when fish bury deep in cover during the summer heat.
4) Forge Glass 801 — Love fishing crankbaits? The Rod Forge Forge Glass 801 blank is tuned for squarebills, lipless cranks, spinnerbaits, and vibrating jigs with the perfect parabolic bend to keep fish pinned when the summer crankbait bite lights up.
5) Forge Light 7’3″ Light Moderate — Summer and panfish are meant to be, and the Forge Light‑73LM blank is perfect for making the most of it. Whether it’s finesse plastics, drop shots, ned rigs, or targeting bluegill and crappie in the heat, this blank delivers the soft touch and precision you need when the bite gets tough.
