When it comes to rods, how do you know which one to choose?
This article is about why using the right rod is important, what to look for when purchasing a rod and list the differences between spinning and casting rods.
What difference does it make? Why can’t I go out and just use any rod to catch fish? What’s the big deal?
That’s a great question. When it comes to equipment, I offer this piece of advice:
When you’re buying line or any equipment, match the gear to the conditions your fishing.
I know it sounds simple. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t do it.
The purpose of the fishing rod
It does more than give you something to hold on to other than your line. The rod’s job is to take tension off the line.
When fighting a fish, you want the rod to partially bend. That bend is good because it means tension is being transferred from the line to the rod. If there was no transfer of tension, all the stress would be on the line and it could break.
If you use a rod that isn’t stiff enough, the rod will bend too much. Once a rod bends as far as it can, it can’t absorb any more tension from the line. When this happens, something has to give. Either the fish, rod or line. The rod may give, by snapping. The line may give by breaking. The fish my give by having it’s lip torn off. Regardless, you let one get away if you used a rod that wasn’t stiff enough.
On the other hand, if you use a rod that’s too stiff, there isn’t enough force being applied by the fish to take tension off the line. This puts all the tension on just the line. Once again something has to give, in this case it’s either the fish or the line.
Using the right rod is important because it will absorb the right amount of line tension. Allowing you to fight the fish and win. That my friend, is a beautiful thing…..
What to consider when shopping for a fishing rod.
Guides- Guides are the holes that are attached to the rod. The line is fed from the reel through the all the guides and then to the bait. Typically, they’re attached to the rod using thread, or tape. Be sure to check the guides periodically to make sure they aren’t chipped or cracked. Guides that are damaged should be replaced immediately because a damaged one can ruin your line.Grip/Handle- This is where you hold the rod. Typically, grips come in either cork or foam. Try them both and choose the one that is most comfortable. Handles come in various lengths. Be sure to consider the length of the handle and find one you like and is also comfortable. For example, I like a longer handle than some of my friends. It’s all personal preference.
Reel seat- This is where the reel is attached to the rod. Simply place the reel into the reel seat and hand tighten (no tools are needed). The reel is now attached. Be sure not to over tighten!
Now that we’ve discussed the main parts of the rod, let’s talk about what else you need to consider when making a purchase.
One piece or two?
Manufactures make various kinds of fishing rods. Some of them are a single piece, others are made up of two or more pieces that have to be assembled. Assembling the rod is very simple. Simply connect the male and female ends together making sure the guides are lined up. This male- female connection is called a ferrule. With two piece rods, the ferrule is typically located in the middle of the rod and is covered by a piece of tape.
What does all this information mean?
Each manufacture develops their own rating system for their products. There is no real “official� standard. Because of that, labeling will vary from manufacture to manufacture. But they all provide some sort of information. For example, when you ask a store clerk, “What type of rod should I use for Bass fishing�? You’ll probably get some something like, “You need a medium action rod with a fast taper 6’-7’ feet in length�. He then hands you a rod that matches what he suggested. Confused by what the clerk said, you see some writing on the rod it says:
- Action “Medium Action�
- Fast Taper
- Rod length 6’ or 6’6� (6 feet or 6 feet 6 inches)
- Test strength 8-17 lbs
- Lure weights 1/8 oz to 3/4 oz
That’s great, but what does that mean exactly? Let’s break it down:
Action Right off the bat, people want to talk about action. I think what they’re their really asking is, “How stiff of a rod do I need/want�? You’ll see action listed as Ultralight, Medium, Medium and Heavy etc. Just so you don’t get thrown for a loop, some manufactures refer to these ratings as power instead of action. For the purpose of getting started, lets stick with the term action.
Here is a guide to help you choose the proper action fishing rod:
- Ultra light-Typically used for Panfish such as Crappie and Bluegill
- Light- Typically used for Perch
- Medium- Can be used for Bass and Walleye and many other species of fish
- Medium Heavy- Typically used for larger fish or used when casting larger baits
- Heavy- Typically used for larger fish and larger baits
Taper- Is the area where the rod is going to bend. A fast taper means the bend will be closer to the tip. A slow taper means it will bend further down the top 1/3 of the rod. In most cases you’ll end up purchasing a rod with a fast taper.
Rod length is really personal preference. Would you like a rod that’s five feet in length or one that’s seven? The choice is yours. I’d recommend a 6 foot or 61/2 foot rod for starting out.
Test strength is the recommended pound test strength of the line. Such as 8,10,12 etc pound line.
Lure weight is something to watch closely. Using lures too heavy or light will affect how well you cast. Lure weights ranging from ¼ to ¾ will cover most of the lures for Bass, Walleye and smaller fish.
If your looking for a general rod that you can use for various species of fish, I’d recommend a Medium action rod that’s 6-61/2 feet in length.
As you shop for a rod, I encourage you to hold it. Cast it (be careful not to break anything). Get the feel of it.
Notice how the rod feels in your hand. Does it feel comfortable? How does it feel when you cast? Does it have too much “whip�, or maybe not enough? Bend it. (just don’t break it) get the feel for it. Etc. Be sure to find a rod you like and is comfortable. Be sure to try different manufactures and brands. Notice how a medium action from one manufacture feels different than another. Stick to the major manufactures such as St. Croix, Berkley, Shakespeare, Daiwa, Shimano and Fenwick, just to name a few. These companies have been around for a number of years and can be trusted. You won’t go wrong buying one.
Now that we’ve talked about fishing rods in general, now, let’s take a quick look at the differences between the two major types of rods casting and spinning.
Spinning or Casting..What’s the difference?
Spinning rods
- Only a Spinning (open face) style reel can be used.
- Notice the reel sits on the underside of the rod.
- The guides are on the bottom of the rod
- The eyelet size starts large and become smaller closer to the tip.
- Spinning rods come in a variety of lengths and actions
Casting rods
- Either Spincast or Baitcast reels can be used
- The guides and reel sit on top of the rod
- Casting rods have two styles of grips- Either a plain grip (like that on a spinning rod). Or one called a Trigger Grip- It’ll help you determine where to hold the rod. Simply, place your forefinger around the trigger when holding it.
Both rods come in a variety of lengths and actions. Chose the one that best suites your needs. Shopping for a rod and understanding it how it works will be vital to your success as a fisherman. As you can see, it’s not difficult at all. Just to recap, you learned why choosing the right rod is important, what to consider when looking for a rod, determining what rod you need, and the differences between spinning and casting rods.
I hope you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you.
© 2007, Scott Gaines. All rights reserved.