We report the fabrication, characterization and modeling of an all-solid photonic bandgap fiber (PBGF) based on an array of oriented rectangular rods. Observed near-field patterns of cladding modes clearly identify the cut-off rod modes at the bandgap edges. The bend losses in this fiber depend on the bend direction, and can be understood by the directional coupling properties of the different rod modes and the modeled density of cladding states.