Tips on How to Choose a Fishing Rod: Gear Up Right

Today, we decided to broach the issue of selecting the right fishing rod. It’s a major dilemma for all anglers at all levels. Here are some things to consider. 

The general rule is: “Choose a rod according to your fishing needs”. Undoubtedly, there are numerous rod brands on the market and they have been designed to meet your demands. Many people believe that an expensive rod is an efficient rod. Being an owner of many rods and an avid fisherman, I am a firm believer that just because a rod is expensive will not make you catch more fish.

First of all, it would be important to mention the factors that play an important role. The fishing style-technique you are going to use, the target fish, fishing line weight or fishing environment are some things you should definitely take into consideration.

Rod Power

Power is the force needed to make a rod bend and it is considered to be a significant factor when selecting a rod. In a few words, it describes how stiff the rod is and we have the following powers:

• Ultra-Light
• Light
• Medium-Light
• Medium
• Medium-Heavy
• Heavy
• Extra-Heavy

It has to do with stiffness and many manufacturers give a special color to the rod shaft in order to identify power.

You can take a look below:

Rod Action

The action of a fishing rod shows you how much the rod bends when you apply pressure on it. It is a significant factor when it comes to rod selection and it is the first thing you should look for. There is another term, called taper, and many people confuse it with rod action.

You will have to select amongst this actions:

• Slow Action
• Moderate Action
• Moderate-Fast Action
• Fast-Action
• Extra-Fast Action

The selection of the right rod action depends on the hookset and target fish of course. A fast action rod is more sensitive than a slow action rod. Generally speaking, slow action rods “load” more power than fast action rods.

Each action provides some benefits which you can see below: 

Rod Length

Well, this is a common question amongst all fishermen. The right length depends on the fishing style and the lures you are going to use. If you are going to use the spinning technique with a lightweight lure, you will probably need a longer rod.

On the other hand, for big game fishing, you will need a good combination of power and action in order to achieve accuracy and good casting distance. For example, a fast action (or extra-fast action) rod will give you more speed and you will have a better control over the lure.

Based on my personal experience, for jigging and trolling you will definitely need a medium size rod. It goes without saying that it is not the same thing fishing in a lake and fishing in the ocean. For saltwater fishing, you will need a short rod that will give you control over the fish.

Rod Material

Additionally, the material is another factor you should consider before purchasing a fishing rod. The most common materials used are fiberglass and graphite. Many manufacturers use carbon coated with many layers of fiberglass.

Obviously, all material has pros and cons which we will analyze one by one.

Fiberglass: Fishing in deep waters for large fish like tuna or yellowfin tuna, requires something that will be able to withstand the pressure applied to the rod. Fiberglass is the only material that will help you land a big fish.

The only drawback here is that fiberglass is slightly heavier than graphite.

Graphite: Graphite is a stiff material and it is less durable than fiberglass, but it will give you great sensitivity. You will feel every bite and it would be a good idea to choose a fast action graphite rod.

Rod Types

The main fishing rod types are spinning, casting, jigging, conventional, trolling, fly-fishing, ice-fishing, saltwater and surf casting. If you need a beginner fishing rod, we recommend starting with a simple spinning rod.

Furthermore, there are many rods that work for different fishing styles, for example, trolling and jigging. You will find many types on the market like pen rods, carp rods, surf fishing rods, or telescopic. We will explain the most important rod types which will definitely affect your buying decision.

Trolling Fishing Rods: You will use the trolling rod for the trolling technique where you should drag a fishing lure through the water. Trolling rods are labeled with IGFA line class which determines the target fish and the reel size of course. Moreover, you will have to choose between two trolling rod types, the straight butt, and the bent butt rod.

For heavy-duty fishing, you will probably need a bent butt rod which will give you more stability and power when fighting the fish.

Conventional Fishing Rods: When holding a conventional rod, the guides and the reel seat will be facing up. The rod guides are smaller than common spinning rod guides which will give you control and strength. If you are going to hit the water and go for big game fishing, this is exactly what you need.

They are designed and constructed for this purpose and they provide great lifting power. Many anglers pair it with a gimble fight belt, which seems to work great and it is comfortable.

Jigging Fishing Rods: Jigging is a Japanese technique and you will need a quite lightweight rod. They are designed to be stiff (but not too stiff) and they have an enhanced tip to give you better lifting power.

All of them have a specific jig weight which is marked on the label.

Fishing Rod Guides

Some of you may overlook the fact that the guides (also called eyes) are very important. They must be made of high-quality materials and able to avoid line twists and breaks. There are different guide types which we analyzed below.

Single foot or double foot Guides: This is the most common guide type and they are considered to be good for heavy loads. The most important thing here is that they do not affect the rod action and they protect the line especially if the have ceramic inserts.

Micro Type Guides: Many manufacturers utilized their spinning and casting rods with micro guides just because they produce less friction and they provide balance and great performance. Obviously, since they are smaller than standard guides, they will be lightweight as well.

Roller Guides: Do you like big game fishing? If yes, you should choose a rod with roller guides. This is the only type that decreases the friction and can support the pressure applied from the fish!

Rod handles-Grip

The handle can be built of many materials, like EVA foam, cork, hypalon, wood etc. The selection depends on you because you must firstly think about what you are targeting. Comfort? Practicality?

Just imagine that you will be fishing many hours and you need something that will be soft and durable.

Wrapping Up

Finally, by understanding some basic things and the fishing style we are going to use, it is not difficult to choose the best fishing rod. Hopefully, you will not have to look any further to find out which is the perfect rod for you. We have some of the best fishing rods on the market which will meet your needs.