Selecting the right fishing rod
Are you in the market for a new or first fishing rod? It can be very confusing on which type of rod you need. Do you want fast acting or slow acting? Do you want 8 foot 12 foot or maybe a 14 footer? Do you want fiberglass or graphite? It's a lot of options, but don't worry we got ya covered! Keep reading below to find that perfect match for you. First I want to mention that we focus on surf and boat fishing so this guide will not cover fresh water or fly fish specifically.
Rod size:
The range in size that you want for surf fishing is between 8-14 feet and for boat fishing 4-6 feet. So what size do you really need? Well the longer the rod the further you can cast. With length you lose sensitivity is the biggest con to size. A 14 foot rod can cast much further than a 8 foot rod but you tend to miss some of the lighter bites and you lose fight with smaller fish. A 14 foot rod is great for stripers and bluefish but overkill for perch or most black bass. A 14 foot rod will over cast these fish (since they like to hang near shore) and you will hardly feel the fight. You will just drag them in and likely will lose a lot of bait. For perch or sea bass, a 8 foot rod is plenty to cast out and capture them. For boat fishing, you will use smaller and thicker rods. When fishing from a Boat you have no need to cast out or at least cast out very little. 4-6 foot deep sea rod is plenty for most fish species.
Fast acting vs Slow acting:
Let's keep this simple, the action determines where the rod bends at. Fast action bends on TIP 1/3 of the rod where slow action bends at the bottom 1/3 of the rod. The benefits tends to be mild, the fast acting feels the bite better and makes setting the hook better. Slow action shows the bite better. Most anglers prefer fast acting for lures and slow or moderate acting rods for bait fishing.
Fiberglass vs Graphite:
The material the rod is made out of helps determine how strong the rod is and how well you feel the bite and fight. Graphite is weaker but it allows you to feel the bite a little better and enjoy the fight better. Fiberglass is very strong and in some cases it can be nearly indestructible. Fiberglass typically allows for further casting then most graphite rods though this is not always the case. Material is more of a preference than a necessity.
Conclusion:
There are tons of different types of fishing rods and there is no 1 size fits all. It is best to understand each concept to figure out what type of rod fits you best. I hope you enjoyed this article and happy fishing!
Rod size:
The range in size that you want for surf fishing is between 8-14 feet and for boat fishing 4-6 feet. So what size do you really need? Well the longer the rod the further you can cast. With length you lose sensitivity is the biggest con to size. A 14 foot rod can cast much further than a 8 foot rod but you tend to miss some of the lighter bites and you lose fight with smaller fish. A 14 foot rod is great for stripers and bluefish but overkill for perch or most black bass. A 14 foot rod will over cast these fish (since they like to hang near shore) and you will hardly feel the fight. You will just drag them in and likely will lose a lot of bait. For perch or sea bass, a 8 foot rod is plenty to cast out and capture them. For boat fishing, you will use smaller and thicker rods. When fishing from a Boat you have no need to cast out or at least cast out very little. 4-6 foot deep sea rod is plenty for most fish species.
Fast acting vs Slow acting:
Let's keep this simple, the action determines where the rod bends at. Fast action bends on TIP 1/3 of the rod where slow action bends at the bottom 1/3 of the rod. The benefits tends to be mild, the fast acting feels the bite better and makes setting the hook better. Slow action shows the bite better. Most anglers prefer fast acting for lures and slow or moderate acting rods for bait fishing.
Fiberglass vs Graphite:
The material the rod is made out of helps determine how strong the rod is and how well you feel the bite and fight. Graphite is weaker but it allows you to feel the bite a little better and enjoy the fight better. Fiberglass is very strong and in some cases it can be nearly indestructible. Fiberglass typically allows for further casting then most graphite rods though this is not always the case. Material is more of a preference than a necessity.
Conclusion:
There are tons of different types of fishing rods and there is no 1 size fits all. It is best to understand each concept to figure out what type of rod fits you best. I hope you enjoyed this article and happy fishing!
