West Marine · Fishing Tackle & Gear
West Marine Catch More Fish Bass Spinning
Lower PFAS concern, standard construction without treatment.
Fiberglass rod with metal reel and plastic handle, no apparent water-resistant coatings or Teflon-family coating components. West Marine remains silent on PFAS.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
fiberglass rod, metal reel, plastic handle
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Metal reel corrosion and leaching
Metal reels (aluminum or steel) can corrode over time in saltwater environments, but corrosion products (rust, aluminum oxide) are not bioavailable through skin contact and do not transfer to food. Risk is cosmetic/functional, not toxicological.
Fiberglass fiber shedding
If the rod surface is heavily damaged or abraded, fine fiberglass fibers may shed. Skin contact with fibers causes mild irritation but not chemical toxicity; inhalation risk is minimal in outdoor fishing contexts. Inspect rods for cracks before use.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Epoxy resin off-gassing (VOC)
Cured epoxy rods do not typically off-gas volatile organic compounds under normal storage or use conditions. Risk is negligible for a finished product that has been sitting in inventory for months before sale.
Plastic handle degradation and microplastic shedding
The grip material is not exposed to heat during normal use (held at ambient or slightly elevated hand temperature). Microplastic shedding is not a concern unless the handle cracks and fragments are ingested, which is unlikely in this application.
Heavy metals
Shakespeare does not disclose adhesive chemistry for rod construction, and metal hardware (reel, guides, reel seat) is not in contact with food or drinking water. No documented leaching or contamination events for this product class.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This rod uses fiberglass (glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix), a metal reel housing (likely aluminum or steel), and a plastic or foam handle grip. Fiberglass itself is chemically inert once cured and does not leach under normal freshwater or saltwater exposure. The metal reel is unlikely to corrode dangerously in typical recreational use, and the handle plastic (type unspecified by manufacturer) poses minimal risk unless heated above normal hand temperature, which does not occur in fishing.
The brand's record and disclosure
Shakespeare is a legacy fishing tackle manufacturer (owned by Pure Fishing) with no prominent safety recalls or material disclosure controversies on record for rod construction. The brand does not publicly disclose material sourcing or chemical testing protocols for rods. No certifications (e.g., environmental, toxicological) are marketed for this product line, which is standard for the fishing equipment category.
How it compares in its category
Spinning rods across all brands (Shakespeare, Shimano, Abu Garcia, etc.) use nearly identical fiberglass-epoxy or graphite-epoxy construction with metal reels and plastic handles. This product sits in the middle tier by price and material quality; budget variants use thinner glass and lower-grade resins (with marginally higher off-gassing risk), while premium rods substitute graphite (slightly lighter, same chemical safety).
If you buy it
Store the rod in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight to prevent UV degradation of the epoxy matrix and handle cracking over years. Rinse the reel with fresh water after saltwater use to prevent corrosion. Do not leave the rod in a hot vehicle or expose it to sustained temperatures above 50-60°C (122-140°F), as the handle foam or grip may degrade. Replace the rod if the fiberglass develops stress cracks or if the reel becomes stiff after cleaning, as these indicate material failure not contamination.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- West Marine has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More fishing tackle & gear grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.