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How to Choose the Best Fishing Rod

Posted on January 09, 2020 by Ronald Mccarthy

Often overlooked, choosing the right kind of fishing rod is one of the most essential factors if you want to be successful in catching any type of fish. Proper placement of your bait, without spooking fish, can have a significant impact if you want to hook any fish on your fishing rod. Using the wrong rod will not allow you to cast as far or as accurately as possible. Use the right rod with a proper technique, and you can bring in lots of fish to your fish basket. The right rod should not be confused with an expensive one, as it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to use it properly. Using the wrong rod will make it harder for you to put fish in your Livewell. If you use the wrong rod, you will often confuse snugs, hangs or collisions with a fish bite, which is, frankly, embarrassing for you. Here are a few things you can take into consideration that will help you in buying the best fishing rod for you.

Length

The length of the rod is one of the most important factors you should consider before buying a new fishing rod. These range from small 4 feet rods to long 14 feet ones, but generally, people use anywhere from 6 to 8 feet rods. The general rule is that a short rod casts short distances, while a long rod casts long distances. Shorter rods are used for fishing in close quarters like fishing in a small kayak or a small boat in a pond. Longer rods are generally used for fishing in big open waters. Considering the length of a fishing rod is key if you want to fish in small or big waters.

Material

Fishing Rods are usually made up of material like fibreglass, graphite or a combination of the two. Fibreglass rods are stronger as compared to graphite ones, as graphite is brittle and light and tends to break more often than fibreglass. Fibreglass rods are heavier and are more flexible when compared to their graphite counterparts. Graphite ones are lighter and tend to be more sensitive. That helps you in detecting fish bites quickly. The combination of the two materials is the way to go as it provides flexibility as well as being durable and light at the same time. The type of material you choose depends on what location you would be fishing and what the surrounding conditions are.  

Action

Action is the point on a fishing rod where it bends when you cast it. There are two typical types of actions, fast and slow. A fast-action action rod bends more from the tip of the rod, while a slow action fishing rod bends more from the butt of the rod. Most bass fishermen go for fast action rods as they have a stiffer backbone and are usually used for catching bigger fish. These are usually preferred over slow action rods. You should consider this when you buy a new rod for yourself. It also depends on what type of fish you are planning to catch. 

Handle

Most fishing rod handles are made up of cork, foam, or a combination of both. The choice you go for is strictly defined by the feel that you are looking for. It depends on a person’s personal preference for what type of grip they like the most. You can also choose from a shorter or longer handled fishing rod. Shorter handles on a fishing rod are usually used for accurate casting at a shorter distance, casting one-handed and roll casting. Longer handles are used for casting long distances, as it allows you to hold the rod with both your hands and rip one out at a distance.

Rod Reel

You should also look at the type of reel you want on your fishing rod. Reels are categorized as either spinning or a casting reel. A spinning reel allows less control, but it has a better rate of success and is often used by newbies. It is also less prone to get tangled. A casting reel allows more control by using your thumb to control the accuracy of a cast, but, this also makes it more difficult to use and should be avoided if you are a beginner looking to buy a new rod.

Determine Your Skill Level

You should consider the fact what your skill level is before buying a new fishing rod. If you are a beginner, you should go for something cheap and simple like a spinning reel rod. If you are a seasoned fisherman, you should get something that is of good quality, expensive and lasts you a long time. Here is a list of expensive fishing rods that you can look into.

Where You Plan To Fish

It might be a good idea to buy a fishing rod that breaks done into more than two pieces if you are planning to travel to fish. It would be easier to carry for you and won’t take up a lot of space in your luggage. If you plan to fish nearby, you should go for a one-piece fishing rod. You won’t have the hassle to assemble and disassemble it time and time again. This is all up to your personal preference.

The Final Words

It is easy to see why good fishing rods cost so much if you consider the above-stated facts. A good fishing rod, if handled poorly, will not benefit you in catching more fish. Likewise, if a poor quality fishing rod is used correctly, it will benefit you. Also, buying the most expensive fishing rod out there won’t improve your skill level if you don’t know how to use it properly. It all depends on what skill level you are and what type of rod suits you the most. You should generally go for a fishing rod that feels right to you. Today we have made you aware of some of the things you should take into consideration before you splurge your cash on a new fishing rod.

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