Bladder-molded fishing rod and method of manufacturing same

A method of forming a fishing rod with at least one integrally formed support, the method comprising:

• providing a bladder over a mandrel;
• wrapping a resin-impregnated material over the bladder to provide a wrapped resin-impregnated material, the wrapped resin-impregnated material having a first end and second end and defining a length extending along a longitudinal axis of the wrapped resin-impregnated material between the first end and the second end;
• removing the mandrel from the wrapped resin-impregnated material;
• folding the wrapped resin-impregnated material onto itself at a location along the longitudinal axis at least once to form a tubular body such that the second end is closer to the first end after folding than prior to folding, wherein folding the wrapped resin-impregnated material forms at least two separate bladder portions and the integrally formed support within the tubular body;
• placing the tubular body into a mold;
• and
• molding the tubular body to provide the fishing rod with the integrally formed support.