WORLDWIDE COMPETITION IN THE FABRICATION OF FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER FISHING ROD BLANKS FORCED WHOLESALE PRICES DOWNWARD; REQUIRING A REDUCTION IN FUNDAMENTAL DEVELOPMENT COSTS. TO REDUCE DESIGN CYCLE TIME AND PROTOTYPE COSTS, AN ANALYTICAL MODEL IS PRESENTED THAT REPRESENTS THE STATIC DEFLECTION OF A TAPERED, CYLINDRICAL, CANTILEVER BEAM SUBJECT TO A STATIC TIP LOAD. THE THEORETICAL PROCESS IS DISCUSSED AND REFERENCES ARE PRESENTED