Before you go fishing

Before the angler can select the most suitable rod for the fishing that is planned, considerations must be made which include where the fishing will take place plus which species will be sought. For example, if the angler chooses to fish in a river for large catfish a stronger rod will be required than if the angler is fishing for yellow perch in a lake. If trout are the target in the river the angler can opt to use either a small spinner on a light spinning rod or an artificial fly on a fly rod. Also to be considered is whether the angler wants to use a rod with a spinning reel or opt for a casting rod which has a trigger grip for which a bait casting reel must be used.

Fly fishing rods are specially designed and specifically for the use of artificial flies when targeting salmon and trout, although in recent times anglers have also been using this style of rod for catching pike. The strength of these rods are gauged in what is called the casting weight. For example, a 7-weight rod is quite light and would be suitable for using small flies when targeting wild trout in a small stream. A 10-weight rod is considerably stronger and would be a better choice if the angler is fishing for large salmon or pike. Fly rods can be used in both rivers and lakes plus there are models designed to be used in saltwater for species such as bonefish.

Spinning rods are also another type of rod that can be used in both rivers and lakes for a wide range of species. When selecting a spinning rod, the power of the rod must be suitably matched to the species sought and baits or lures to be used. The power of a spinning rod dictates how much force is needed to bend it to its maximum. A rod with a light power would be suitable for using small lures for smaller species such as crappie and yellow perch. A medium-heavy rod would be a better choice for the angler who is looking to catch bass as this rod will be able to cast heavier lures and handle larger fish.

Rods can either be made in one section, multiple sections or can be telescopic. A one-piece rod is generally considered better quality as there is no join to create a weak point, but the disadvantage with this rod is that transporting it can be trickier. Two-piece rods are very popular as they can be taken apart for ease of transportation.

For the angler who likes to travel on vacation or is restricted on transport, buying a telescopic or multi-sectional rod is an option. Multi-sectional rods are generally made up of four or five sections that can be broken down, making them ideal to fit inside a suitcase. Telescopic rods are also a good choice for the traveling angler as these fold into themselves making them easy to transport.