The ABCs of Fishing Rods
The ABCs of Fishing Rods
See yourself standing on the bank of a swiftly moving stream in the shade of a gnarled willow, your fishing rod bent beneath the weight of an unusually large catch…
Whether or not you land that fish depends on the decisions you made at the shop -- primarily the type of rod you bought!
Your rod is the most important tool you will use while fishing and you can chose from a wide range of types, styles and lengths.
A fishing rod is a shaft of graphite, fiberglass, steel, wood or bamboo used to catch fish.
The fishing line is connected to your reel and threaded through the eyes of the rod out through the tip. Different rods will have different types of tips depending on what type of rod it is. Some tips are made for casting and others are made for trolling.
The base of the rod is where the fishing reel is mounted. Different rods are for different reels. Some are for fly fishing, some for spin-fishing, and even some for bait-casting or trolling.
Fishing rods vary in length from 4 feet (for children) to 16 feet; with the average being around 6 feet long. You pick your rod length based on the type of fishing you’ll be doing. Often you’ll find stout shorter rods for trolling and the very long rods for casting.
Here’s some advice for selecting your rod based on where you’re going to be fishing…
If your fishing hole is located next to trees with overhead branches, you'll need a short, flexible rod. This will allow you to cast easier. You want a flexible rod so that it can bend without snapping in half.
The flexibility of a rod is determined by the diameter. Light rods are thin and flexible, while stronger rods are thicker and more rigid.
For open terrain, flexible, thin rods that are 10 to 12 feet long are good, unless it's too windy. If it happens to be windy that day, you may find that a little short rod will make it easier to cast.
Some people also choose their rods based on the type of water they are fishing…
Fresh Water Or Salt Water?
Freshwater fishing occurs in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, while saltwater fishing is done in oceans, bays and along the coast. Choose a rod appropriate to the environment of where you'll be fishing.
You should also give consideration to the species of fish you are going after.
Short, strong rods are best for landing big game fish. Stronger and thicker rods should be used for large aggressive fish. Generally a smaller lighter rod should be used for smaller fish.
Some people enjoy fishing with a slightly smaller and lighter rod than you actually need because it’s more of a challenge. Just be careful you don’t break your rod and lose your fish!
Some people select their rods based on the material of the rod.
Common types of fishing rods include bamboo, fiberglass and graphite.
Bamboo rods can vary from a basic inexpensive pole with a line attached to a very expensive, handcrafted rod that is used for fly-fishing. Bamboo rods run from $5 up to hundreds of dollars for handcrafted fly fishing rods. If you are not planning to do fly-fishing, fiberglass or graphite rods are best.
Fiberglass rods are good for beginners and kids and they're reasonably priced. They come in many lengths, flexibility characteristics, and require very little maintenance.
Many experienced anglers prefer graphite rods, because they are very lightweight and extremely strong.
Lastly, you should select a rod based on how well it fits you.
Your goal should be to find a rod that fits your arm and is comfortable. If you have trouble finding one that fits you best, ask someone with experience to go along or just ask the staff at a fishing store.
I hope you put these tips to use when selecting your first or next rod.
Tight Lines!
See yourself standing on the bank of a swiftly moving stream in the shade of a gnarled willow, your fishing rod bent beneath the weight of an unusually large catch…
Whether or not you land that fish depends on the decisions you made at the shop -- primarily the type of rod you bought!
Your rod is the most important tool you will use while fishing and you can chose from a wide range of types, styles and lengths.
A fishing rod is a shaft of graphite, fiberglass, steel, wood or bamboo used to catch fish.
The fishing line is connected to your reel and threaded through the eyes of the rod out through the tip. Different rods will have different types of tips depending on what type of rod it is. Some tips are made for casting and others are made for trolling.
The base of the rod is where the fishing reel is mounted. Different rods are for different reels. Some are for fly fishing, some for spin-fishing, and even some for bait-casting or trolling.
Fishing rods vary in length from 4 feet (for children) to 16 feet; with the average being around 6 feet long. You pick your rod length based on the type of fishing you’ll be doing. Often you’ll find stout shorter rods for trolling and the very long rods for casting.
Here’s some advice for selecting your rod based on where you’re going to be fishing…
If your fishing hole is located next to trees with overhead branches, you'll need a short, flexible rod. This will allow you to cast easier. You want a flexible rod so that it can bend without snapping in half.
The flexibility of a rod is determined by the diameter. Light rods are thin and flexible, while stronger rods are thicker and more rigid.
For open terrain, flexible, thin rods that are 10 to 12 feet long are good, unless it's too windy. If it happens to be windy that day, you may find that a little short rod will make it easier to cast.
Some people also choose their rods based on the type of water they are fishing…
Fresh Water Or Salt Water?
Freshwater fishing occurs in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, while saltwater fishing is done in oceans, bays and along the coast. Choose a rod appropriate to the environment of where you'll be fishing.
You should also give consideration to the species of fish you are going after.
Short, strong rods are best for landing big game fish. Stronger and thicker rods should be used for large aggressive fish. Generally a smaller lighter rod should be used for smaller fish.
Some people enjoy fishing with a slightly smaller and lighter rod than you actually need because it’s more of a challenge. Just be careful you don’t break your rod and lose your fish!
Some people select their rods based on the material of the rod.
Common types of fishing rods include bamboo, fiberglass and graphite.
Bamboo rods can vary from a basic inexpensive pole with a line attached to a very expensive, handcrafted rod that is used for fly-fishing. Bamboo rods run from $5 up to hundreds of dollars for handcrafted fly fishing rods. If you are not planning to do fly-fishing, fiberglass or graphite rods are best.
Fiberglass rods are good for beginners and kids and they're reasonably priced. They come in many lengths, flexibility characteristics, and require very little maintenance.
Many experienced anglers prefer graphite rods, because they are very lightweight and extremely strong.
Lastly, you should select a rod based on how well it fits you.
Your goal should be to find a rod that fits your arm and is comfortable. If you have trouble finding one that fits you best, ask someone with experience to go along or just ask the staff at a fishing store.
I hope you put these tips to use when selecting your first or next rod.
Tight Lines!
posted by The "Duke" at 5:31 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home