How to Choose A Fishing Rod

The right fishing rod can help you land the big fish. The wrong pole will cause you heartache and lament with stories of the “big one that got away.”

The fishing pole is the foundation of your setup and its strength and recommended use help determine how big the fish is that you might bring in. The fish in your local pond are much smaller than some of the giants of the ocean, which means you need different equipment for each type of fishing. Start with the right rod and you’ll halfway to what you need to go fishing.

Try Out Some Rods in the Store

You won’t likely be able to cast a bait and the get the entire feel of the pole you want to buy while in the store, but you can get an idea. Typically, the fishing section of a department store is pretty open, which is the same when you go to a store made for anglers. Take the pole down and feel it in your hands. Pretend to cast a line and see how it feels when you end the release. If it feels good, it could be the right rod, but let’s dive into some specifics.

Length Does Matter; At Least for Fishing

It might seem strange to think that a shorter fishing rod would be the right choice, but that could be exactly what you need. Longer rods can cast farther, which is idea if you’re fishing from a saltwater pier, on a large lake from the shore, or out in the open ocean. If you’re fishing close to shore, or from a boat where you can get close to your target, shorter poles are better. You can bring in larger fish with a 5-7’ rod than you can with one that’s 10-12’ long.

Are There Different Materials for Fishing Poles?

Yes, fishing poles are often made out of fiberglass, graphite, or a composite of the two. The material you choose is extremely important, especially if you’re going to be a serious angler and enjoy fishing many times throughout the year. Let’s look at the benefits of each:

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is considered the old and reliable material used for fishing rods. These rods have been around a long time and some last long enough to be passed from one generation to the next. Fiberglass rods are the most common and are typically the most affordable that you’ll find.

Because fiberglass is pliable, you won’t feel the lighter bites like you will with other rods. These poles are generally the heaviest of the three types of materials, although fishing poles aren’t that heavy when you only have to carry one.

Graphite

Graphite is a lightweight material that’s been used in fishing poles since the 1970s. There are different degrees of stiffness, but that isn’t a marker for you to worry about, it’s for the manufacturer. The difference between an IM8 and IM6 rod is the IM8 model is lighter.

Graphite rods are extremely sensitive to bites, which means this could be the right choice when going after fish that don’t grab hold of your bait and run with it. This could lead to more catches, but graphite poles are more brittle and cost quite a bit more than their fiberglass counterparts.

Composite

The best-performing fishing rods you’ll find are made of a composite of fiberglass and graphite. These fishing poles give you the best of both worlds with the flexibility you want while maintaining the sensitivity you desire. If you wonder how some people can put heavy-test line on their light-test rod, it’s because they are using a composite rod.

The versatility of a composite rode makes them the perfect choice when you’re going fish in different waters and want to use the same pole every time. These fishing poles are the most expensive you’ll find, but they offer the benefits of both graphite and fiberglass rods.

Do You Want Some Action? Great, What Type?

The action of a fishing pole is determined by the shape of the rod and its material. The action dictates where and how much your pole will bend. The action also controls how fast the pole goes from a position of bending or “loaded” back to its original position. There are three types of action, fast, medium, and slow.

Fast Action

A rod that’s rated as a fast action pole will bend at the uppermost part, right below the tip. These poles are sensitive to light nibbles, giving you the feedback you desire. Fast action rods snap back quickly, which makes them great for setting a hook into the mouth of a large fish.

With the strong backbone of a fast action fishing rod, you can go after the biggest fish in the lake. This means you’ll catch your share of Largemouth Bass in the lake or you can head to the ocean and see if you can bring in a big Tuna with your fishing pole.

Medium Action

If you want a fishing pole that’s great in various waters, you want a medium action version. These rods bend in the top half of the pole and allow you to set the hook with ease. The feedback is good and you can cast a line pretty far with a medium action rod.

The versatility of a pole with medium action is that you can use them in lakes, streams, the ocean, or in your local pond. You’ll catch big and small fish with this type of action.

Slow Action

When you’ know you’re going to be around a lot of small fish, a slow action fishing pole is what you need. These rods bend at the butt of the rod and make it look like you’re bringing in a huge fish when you’ve got a small trout on the line.

You can cast slow action rods a long way and work well with treble hooks as well a spinner bait. It’s a little harder to set the hook, but when you get it set, you can maintain the necessary pressure to bring the fish up pretty easily.

We’ve given you a bit to think about when choosing the right fishing rod? Which one will help you bring in the fish you’ll have for dinner or mount above your fireplace?