The tackle industry has lost a true legend this week with the passing of Don Morton. A man who changed and reshaped fishing rod development for decades. Always breaking new ground. I am sure more about his life will be coming soon. I'll share some of my own experiences with Don soon.

In my world there are only a few names in fishing rods that rise to the top, and Don Morton is one of them right up there with Gary Loomis, Don Mook, Morgan McCain, Bob Batson, Dick Kantner -and Don Morton.

Don specialized in physical engineering analysis and design. He not only was an inspiration in the construction development of fishing rods throughout the industry for more than 60 plus years, but he was also instrumental in uncovering a fishing rod blank's unique properties, and worked tirelessly on how to get the most out of them. And this is what he was working on well into his late 80's since he no longer affected rod blank construction any longer, he now turned his talents onto getting the most out of them.

He was working on fishing rod engineering right up to his passing. Even as an 86 year old man Don Morton was still writing, still researching and designing machines used to "read" a rod's characteristics to determine the most ideal direction to go in when building a custom fishing rod. At 86 years of age Don Morton was still working directly with engineering students at an Alabama university teaching them how to carry it on into the future.

Don Morton was an amazing man with a true passion for fishing and a hidden giant within the tackle industry that numerous companies learned from him and carried his ideas into their own companies for improved fishing rod development.

Many of us out here who buy fishing rods don't really realize the huge impact this man had on fishing rod development. He will be missed for sure. Rest in peace Don Morton! And thanks for all you have done for us!

Obituary for Don Tryndel Morton

Don Tryndel Morton, age 89, of Sardis City, Alabama, passed away on June 4, 2026. Born on May 10, 1937, in Boaz, Alabama, Don lived a life rooted in community, faith, and service to others.

Don dedicated his career to education in Etowah County, where he touched the lives of countless students and teachers over many years. His passion for teaching extended well beyond the classroom, as he genuinely loved sharing knowledge and helping others grow. When he was not working, Don could often be found pursuing his love of fishing and designing fishing rods, hobbies that brought him great joy and connected him with friends and neighbors throughout the years. Sardis City was his lifelong home, and he cherished the deep friendships and lasting memories he built there. Those who knew him would attest that he was blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends who enriched his life as much as he enriched theirs.

Don is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Carolyn Whitt Morton; his son, David Morton (Barbara); his daughter, Kim Rogers (Rusty); his grandchildren, Clay Morton (Natalie), Katie Bone (Landon), Kaci Maroney, Rachel Rogers, and Russ Rogers; his great-grandchildren; Tybee Morton, Amelia Morton, Tatum Morton, May Morton, Whitt Bone, Landry Bone, Koti Patton, and Rhyker Morton; his brothers, Simeon Morton (Cathy), Farris Morton (Nancy); and his sister, Agatha Hall (Bill).

He is preceded in death by his parents; Autry & Evelyn Morton and great-grandson; Joshua Bone.
A faithful member of Sardis Baptist Church for 82 years, Don's life was guided by his deep and abiding devotion to the Lord. His church family was a cornerstone of his life, and he now rests in the eternal peace of his Savior.

Visitation will be held at Etowah Memorial Chapel on Monday, June 8, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at Sardis Baptist Church at 11:00 AM, with burial to follow at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery. Bro. Mike Goforth, Bro. Welton Brooke and Stan Clemons will be officiating.

Pallbearers will be John Ross, Cason Morton, Evan Johnson, Jake Ross, Shannon Hall and Mike Maroney, Honorary Pallbearers will be W.M. Blackwell, Dale Johnson, Milo Metcalf, Jim Ross, Eddie Patterson, and Bob Wright.

The family would like to thank Shepherd's Cove Hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shepherd’s Cove Hospice Care or Sardis Baptist Church.
Arrangements are entrusted to Etowah Memorial Chapel.

That’s a shame . A lot of the old boys are gone. Prayers to his family

Yep! We are losing a world of wealthy knowledge with each passing too! Dick Kantner took the secrets to his double helix blanks to his grave too.

But old Don Morton was working on something new with engineering students at an Alabama university. He called it "tracking axis" of a rod blank.

It starts here:

And once rolled into a fishing rod, it gives the rod specific physical characteristics that can be measured and used to our advantage or disadvantage depending on engineering applications being right or not so right.

This is where it starts to apply to various rod blank construction designs

Once the rod blank is complete, then it can be read. And that is what Don Morton was working on. A new mechanical device to be used to read a rod blank beyond the simple primary spine finding ideas we see today which really should be expanded on because rod builders and fishermen really have not been told the extent of spine finding and how its important or relates to what we do.

The current idea of spine finding is really only entry level seeking a primary spine while there are numerous spines throughout a rod blank. But which one or ones matter and why is the key.

Here Gary Loomis himself gives us the 100% accurate primary method and use in application- which much of the industry ignores to this day and some even are 180 degrees backwards to this and most simply are not aware of it.

But what Don Morton was working on even at 86 years old with engineering students was a mechanical device used to track these spines throughout the rod blank. He sent me his unpublished work in progress that I can now share some of it here for the first time ever seen in public since his passing just a few days ago.

It is my hope that his work will continue on through his engineering students and the engineers he worked with at various rod blank companies. Don was simply a passionate fisherman with a high degree of engineering knowledge and skills that he applied to the current rod blank technology in his efforts to get the most out of our fishing rods.

He called this "tracking the axis" of a rod blank. Rest in peace Don Morton! Your supporters and fans and students will carry your work on into the future! So thanks for all you did in moving fishing rods into the space age!

The following are excerpts from Don Morton's final unpublished work:

And Don Morton was one of the best! A true legend and a behind the scenes player for decades in rod blank design and construction.

Hopefully this entire work will one day be published for all of us to learn from. If not, then I may have the only piece of it the world may ever see if his family or university or involved students decides to not move forward with publication. Time will tell. But Don Morton deserves all the credit for sure! RIP legend!