Outdoors Central

You have just returned from the local bait and tackle shop with your head spinning. You had no idea that there was such a variety of fishing rods available and now you feel uncertain as to which rod is right for what you want.  Before you headed off to hunt for a fishing rod, you would have been well served to be armed with some important information.  Let’s talk about what makes a good fishing rod and what doesn’t.

The first rule in buying a fishing rod is to understand that spending outrageous amounts of money on a rod does not guarantee that the rod you’re purchasing is good.  In fact, you can spend less than one hundred dollars and get a very high quality rod with a great warranty from a brand name company that will suit your purposes perfectly.

The next step is to think about the purpose you intend the rod to fulfill. Is it simply a second rod that should match the first, or are you looking for a rod to add to your collection to devote solely to drop-shotting small finesse baits? Perhaps you require a rod for catching striped bass in heavy current, where 1 lb. of lead is necessary in order to get your bait down to the bottom. These are issues that should affect your choice for the right rod for the job.

Rod manufacturers have made it easy to determine what rods are suited to which tasks. If you look near the handle at the rod blank, you’ll see specifications about what line weight, lure weight and other information that will help you determine which rod is the rod you need to be working with. Fishing for bluefish will require a heavier line such as 20-lb test and fishing for medium sized bass will require something in the 10-lb test range.  These labels will help you decide on the right rod for the fishing task ahead of you.

Another consideration that you will want to review before purchasing a rod is the type of line you’ll be using. As mentioned previously, rod manufacturers include line weight on the sides, but these labels are specific to monofilament line. If you intend to use a braided line don’t forget that a standard 12-15 pound monofilament is equivalent to a 50-pound braided line and purchase your rod accordingly.  Don’t buy a rod rated for 50-lb line if you are planning on using a 50-lb braided line as a rod that will hold a 15-lb monofilament will serve the same purpose.

Rod ratings also include information about lure weights.  The heavier the rod, the larger the lure it will hold. If you purchase a rod that is designed to hold a lure not more than 1/4 of an ounce and you try putting a 1 1/3 ounce lure on it, what’s like likely to happen is you’re going to break the tip of your rod off (or best case, just break your line on casting).  Remember, the heavier the lure your rod is labeled for the thicker in diameter it will be and the heavier it will be.

The last thing to dwell on is the rod’s length. This should be comparatively simple for you to understand. A quick solution is that if you’re fishing out of a boat, select a rod no more than 8 feet long. They quickly become uncontrollable. If you’re fishing from the shoreline along a trout stream, you will probably need a shorter rod to help you cast from between the trees on the bank. If you’re fishing from the shoreline on a large river (or from the surf) and have to cast long distances, find something in the 9–12 ft area.

Rod manufacturers have made the process of purchasing a rod fairly simple as long as you understand what factors have to be considered before you purchase.   Great decisions start with being armed with the right information as they pertain to your needs. You can shop with confidence at your local fishing retailer or online if you understand before you get started exactly what your need are going to be.  This ensures that you will find the perfect rod regardless of whether it’s to add to your collection or to enjoy a day of fishing.

Choosing the correct rod is just as important as choosing the right reel. Some of the most popular reels are Shimano Spinning Reels and Daiwa Fishing Reel.