Beginner’s Guide to Rod Selection

Beginner’s Guide to Rod Selection

Mastering the art of fishing should begin with the simplest thing - choosing the right gear. Nowadays, there are a huge number of reels, types of bait, various techniques and rods. Choosing the right reel and rod plays an important role in ensuring the comfort and convenience of the angler, which ensures less fatigue during fishing. To achieve the best fishing results, experienced fishermen are advised to take into account that different bodies of water and types of fish require special methods and the use of specialized equipment. To avoid frequent replacement of equipment, you should take care of purchasing high-quality rods and reels in advance, which in turn will ensure their durability and reliability.

A beginner can be very confused by the variety of equipment offered by fishing shops. A variety of rods, reels, lines, lures and many accessories can lead a beginner to a dead end. That's why it's a good idea to start fishing by researching and acquiring basic knowledge not only about fishing techniques, but also about equipment.

Types of Fishing Rods

When choosing a rod based on its type, you need to understand what kind of fish and in what conditions you are going to fish. To do this, you need to have information about the types of rods offered by the market today and their advantages.

The main types of fishing rods:

  • Spinning models. These fishing rods are designed to catch predators. They are heavy, medium and light. The length of such rods ranges from 170-300 cm. If you are a beginner angler, you should buy a lightweight rod.
  • Carp rods. These are very durable models with large rings and a comfortable handle.
  • Feeder tackle. They are used for fishing from the shore. Fish are caught with a feeder using a bottom feeder. Each such fishing rod is equipped with a flexible tip that signals a bite.
  • Float models. Among them, it is worth highlighting fly, match and Bologna tackle. Fly rods can reach a length of up to 7 meters, but it will be difficult to make long casts with them. To cast the bait over long distances, it is better to buy match tackle. These devices are equipped with rings that hold the line. Bologna models are convenient to use in the summer season (a Bologna fishing rod has a telescopic structure and can reach 9 meters in length when extended).
  • Casting rods. This is a subtype of spinning rod equipped with a multiplier reel. They are also called trigger rods because of the shape of the handle.
  • Surf tackle. Such models are best suited for fishing at sea or other bodies of water with difficult conditions. They make it easy to cope with strong currents and wind.
  • Catfish rods. This category of rods is characterized by increased power and durability.
  • Winter tackle. In winter, most bodies of water are covered with ice, so fishing on them is possible only by the rapid method. For this purpose, special small rods are used.

How to choose a fishing rod

A float rod is the best option for fishing beginners. It is also suitable for fishing in the simplest conditions. The design of the tackle includes a reel. The line is attached directly to the tip. The casting range of the float rod is short, but the sensitivity is quite good.

A fishman should focus primarily on the main criteria when choosing the best fishing rod for a beginner

So, how to choose fishing rod?

  • Rod weight. This is especially important when you plan to hunt large fish such as carp or catfish. In addition, when spinning, that is, casting frequently, it will be much better to work with a lighter rod. In general, the rod assembly should not be heavy, as a beginner needs to acquire the appropriate skills, and a large weight can create certain difficulties.
  • Length of the rod. The length should be appropriate for the purpose. The optimal length for a beginner may be a rod of 2.28-2.7 m for fishing from the shore and 1.9-2.28 m for fishing from a boat. It is also worth considering that telescopic and sectional rods may be more convenient for beginners.
  • Rod handle. Rod handles are made of porous materials that hold well in the hand. The following materials are used:

    - ethylene vinyl acetate - a stable, easy-to-use material that keeps your hands from getting wet in high humidity;

    - polypropylene - lightweight raw material with high thermal insulation properties, which makes it the main material for winter rods;

    - natural cork - has low thermal conductivity, is impervious to water and is used in expensive models.

    Occasionally, a composite material combining cork and foam is used in production. Choosing a comfortable rod handle can provide undeniable comfort during fishing.
  • Rod material. Rods are made of different materials, which affects the weight of the rod. Carbon fiber rods are the lightest, weighing between 60 and 370 g. Composite models can weigh up to 900 g. Fiberglass rods are a universal type that has been used for many years and is constantly being improved.

What’s the right fishing rod length?

The length of the best type of fishing poles should be selected according to the type of fishing you practice. It depends on the design features, the type of rod and can be 1-9 meters. For fishing from the shore, you should choose a length of 2.7-3.5 meters, which ensures that the equipment does not get caught in coastal bushes and trees. Fishing from a boat is convenient with a rod up to 2 m long. For winter fishing, rods up to 1 m are suitable. On large bodies of water, you can use fishing rods with a rod length of up to 9 meters. It should also be borne in mind that sectional and telescopic rods are more convenient, while one-piece rods take up more space and are more difficult to transport. So all these factors can have an impact on the choice of rod length selecting a fishing rod.

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How to choose the best rod material?

Not all beginner anglers pay attention to rod labeling and do not always know what certain characteristics mean. We will try to tell you what the numbers or symbols that you can find on rods mean.

Today, the following materials are used for the production of fishing rods:

Carbon (graphite, carbon fiber). Carbon rods are distinguished by good strength, sensitivity and, what is very important, light weight. In addition, carbon can be indicated by the graphite module content, for example IM-8, and the higher the module, the more sensitive and stiffer the rod will be, it reacts faster to bites and is suitable for long-range casting, but such rods require more careful handling. Low modulus rods are softer and more flexible, but also stronger.

Fiberglass (glass fiber). Glass-reinforced plastic rods are lighter, less sensitive, more flexible, durable, and can withstand heavy loads. They are unpretentious in maintenance and operation. It is indicated on the blank by the word FIBERGLASS or FG. The composite is a mixture of fiberglass and carbon. Rods made of this material have good stiffness and casting range. This material is denoted by the word COMPOSITE.

Kevlar is an artificial fiber that is particularly strong, flexible and resistant to impact. Sometimes a Kevlar braid is applied to the carbon rod blank, which significantly increases its strength. In this case, you can see the KEVLAR designation and a noticeable applied ‘mesh’ on the blank.

General criteria for choosing reels

To fish effectively with a spinning rod, you need to choose the right best rod and reel for beginners. It should be ‘fast’ and match the weight of the rod. But fishing reels also have other characteristics that are important to pay attention to. An inertia-free reel reels in and out the line for casting, retrieving, weighing, and normal storage. It is attached to the rod body with a bracket. The inertia-free version is the most popular because it is convenient and versatile.

What to look for when choosing a fishing reel?

The number of bearings. The minimum required number of bearings is four. They are needed for optimal operation of the structure, so the line will wind evenly, the casting range will improve, and the lure will play better. The more bearings, the better the product will work.

Gear ratio. Determines the speed of the line winding and the pulling capacity. Consider an example. A 6.0:1 ratio means that in one turn of the handle, the line reel roller will wrap the line around the spool six times. That is, the product will pull the bait very quickly.

Weight. On a spinning rod, the bite can be traced by the vibrations of the rod, and your hand on the form will get tired very quickly. To prevent this from happening, assemble the kit, take it in your hand, and check if the rod leans to one side. If it is too much, then choose another reel.

The shape of the spool. A classic cylindrical spool will be the most versatile. With a conical one, the cast will be further. And the reverse cone will reduce the possibility that the loop will be dropped or the line will become tangled.

Size. It is selected depending on the type of fishing and the diameter of the line. Reel sizes can be designated in different ways, let's look at an example: ‘2000S’. The number indicates how much line can fit. And the prefix ‘S’ (‘Shallow spool’) means that this product has a reduced size and core capacity. Therefore, only 100 m of fishing line with a diameter of 0.2 mm will fit on the spool. By the way, you can often find the ‘HG’ (‘High gear’) marking, which means that the product will have a higher gear ratio.

Consider each subtype of fishing reels separately.

Reel 1000. The following three sizes are suitable for super light, ultra light and light rods. You will be able to feel every grain of sand on the bottom.

Reel 1500. The size is increasing, so you can wind lines that will be larger in diameter. They will be stronger and more durable.

Reel 2000. An intermediate option that is suitable for ultralight, light and medium spinning rods. But it is better to catch small fish so as not to damage the mechanism.

Reel 2500. For medium-light and medium-sized rods. One of the most versatile options. Here, the size of the prey can be both small and impressive.

Reel 4000. Like the next option, it is suitable for medium and heavy rods. You can already start catching trophies.

Reel 5000. This product is best suited for heavy lures. They will allow you to catch real monsters that can easily eat small fish.

What should be the right rod power?

The power of a rod is usually determined by the throwing weight. In particular, the power of spinning rods is evaluated by the weight of the lure that can be used with the rod. This value is called throwing (casting). It is expressed in grams or pounds.

1. According to this classification, all rods are divided into 6 classes:

2. Lightest - throwing weight 1-10g.

3. Light - throwing weight 10-20g.

4. Medium - throwing weight 20-40g.

5. Heavy - throwing weight 40-80g.

6. Extra heavy - throwing weight 80-150g. Such rods are used for sea spinning.

How to choose a fishing line?

Fishing line is what literally ‘binds’ the fisherman and his catch. Despite its apparent simplicity, it is not so easy to choose the right accessory. The effectiveness of the hooks, the level of rod sensitivity, casting accuracy, resistance to currents, and the ability to create the desired lure animation depend on the correct choice.

Which line to choose - the parameters of the tackle:

  • Diameter. The characteristic that is paid most attention to when choosing a fishing rod. The softness of the line, its elasticity and the maximum weight of the catch depend on this indicator. Thickness also affects the behavior of the line during the course. A tackle with a large diameter is easier for water to pick a fishing rod than a thin one.
  • Breaking load. This indicator shows the maximum load the line can withstand while maintaining its integrity.
  • Elasticity. The ability to stretch in length under the influence of weight. Inelastic options transfer the entire load to the rod. But they provide a rigid hooking: the angler's effort is instantly transmitted to the bait. Elastic line takes on part of the load, ‘relaxing’ the rod, which is useful when fishing for large fish. It is easy to tie into knots.
  • Softness. Soft line has elasticity. It makes it easier to make long casts. This line does not have a ‘memory’ effect. The hard version is less prone to curling in choosing a rod and reel. This has a positive effect on strength.
  • Wear resistance. The parameter implies the ability of the line to maintain its technical characteristics unchanged for a long time. It depends on the material. Polyethylene is considered the least durable. It is suitable for infrequent fishing for small fish. A more durable option is nylon. Fluorocarbon is considered the most durable.
  • Specific gravity. In simple terms, this is the mass of the line. The heavier the tackle, the easier it is to immerse it in water. If you plan to fish in windy conditions, we recommend buying a sinking line.

What to look for in rod markings?

What should you pay attention to first of all? Today the shelves of shops are filled with rods from many companies.

When selecting a fishing rod, you should pay attention to the authority of the dealer. You should not buy a fishing rod from random people. If you buy the products of any firm, try to find out about its reputation. There are manufacturers who have been in the industry for tens and hundreds of years and have impeccable credibility.

You should familiarize yourself with the fishing pole guide that is on the rod. It usually indicates its length, class, throwing weight or test. Throwing weight is the maximum allowable weight of artificial bait, with which you can work, if you use this rod to build a spinning or long throwing rod.

The own weight of the rod is very important. These data are usually not available on fishing rods. They should be learnt from the accompanying documents.

High-quality rods fitted with rings are usually labeled with the type of rings.

Having familiarised yourself with all the stickers, you need to:

1. Carefully inspect the rod; identify the absence of cracks, burrs, asymmetry and curvature.

2. Take the rod by the stem or handle and wave it first vertically and horizontally, and then ‘draw’ circles in the air with its end. The rod should bend equally in all directions. Creaks and rattling are inadmissible. Swing the rod slightly, as if you were casting a fishing rod, and stop the movement in a position parallel to the floor surface. If it is not frozen in a horizontal position, and, curved, touched the floor - too much whiplash. For your first fishing rod it is not worth buying it. It is more convenient to learn how to master the tackle with an elastic rod of fast structure.

3.Pay attention to the place where the rod bends, the point where it bends to the greatest extent. If only the tip of the rod bends when swinging, it is a fast rod. If the greatest bend is near the middle, it is a medium rod. If the bend of the rod extends beyond the middle, towards the handle, it is a rod of slow, whip-like structure. Whip rods are used in tackle that requires a long throw.

In order not to make a mistake with selecting fishing rod, we recommend purchasing everything you need for fishing in specialized stores, such as fishing gear shop.

What should be a slow, medium or fast action?

The flexibility of the rod is related to the casting technique. The rod takes on different forms of bending under the load.

Fast, medium, slow - these are the 3 most popular modes. Fast means that only the upper part of the rod will bend under a heavy load on the tip. Slow action - the rod can start to bend under heavy loads starting from the butt (the thickest part of the rod).

When choosing a rod according to this criterion, you should take into account your casting technique. For short distances with short and fast casts, a fast action rod is suitable. It provides high sensitivity and accuracy of casting. A slow or medium action is better suited for fishing in wide waters where you can make long casts.

What Type of Rod do Beginning Anglers Use?

As always, the ideal variant is when the budget allows you to have all rods to feel comfortable on any body of water. A beginner should start to get acquainted with a more or less universal rod to fish both on the river and in the bay. The most acceptable parameters of a universal rod are as follows: length 3.9 meters, test up to 100 grams, fast or progressive line. With such a rod will be comfortable to catch on the standing current in bad weather and good weather. The main thing is to choose the right tops with the right delicacy. The only disadvantage will be less sensitivity of fish resistance when fishing and that only on standing water.

Tips for Choose Fishing Gears for Beginners

Let's figure out what beginners in the fishing industry need to know about fishing tools and accessories.

For float fishing, it is best to buy a light and not too long telescopic rod with a fishing reel. Such a rod is quite compact (it can be carried in a rucksack or transported in a car) and versatile - with its help you can catch most peaceful fish, as well as perch.

Line - modern monofilament from synthetic materials is suitable for float fishing. The cross-section of the fishing line depends on the intended trophy, but beginners should use a thin snap - 0,12-0,15 mm will be just right. As for the color, you should not be limited to transparent fishing lines: in murky water much better show varieties painted in shades of yellow, brown or green.

Floats - the best choice and best starter fishing rod will be spindle-shaped models with medium-length antennas. Such floats are quite sensitive and at the same time stable even on small currents. Over time, the range of floats can be expanded by adding several varieties - for long distance casting, for fishing on strong currents, etc. If you plan to fish early in the morning, late in the evening or at night, it is worth buying luminous float tips. They allow you to fix the bite even in complete darkness.

Weights - when float fishing, the simplest pellets or olives of different sizes are used. They are also convenient because with their help you can ‘dial’ any necessary load for the float.

Hooks – here you need to focus primarily on the fish. It is advisable to have a full range of hooks from No. 2 to No. 10 in your arsenal, with the most “popular” sizes in several modifications: with a short and long fore-end, with a straight and curved sting, etc.

Bottom fishing is in many ways akin to float fishing, but there are differences in equipment. If you do not know how to start fishing with a bottom rod or feeder, carefully study the list below:

1. Rod. For a simple bottom rod, you can take a short and strong rod, for a feeder, a special model with a flexible tip that signals a bite is suitable.

2. Reel. Here you can take an inertialess model: it will provide a comfortable and fairly long cast, and will also help in the survival of the fish.

3. Sinker. For a regular bottom rod, a heavy lead one will do. But it is better to use sinkers - feeders: bait is placed in them, which is thrown directly into the fishing spot. 4. In addition to the tip of the rod, you can also purchase additional devices to signal a bite. The simplest is a bell or a light bright float. In addition, you can purchase an electronic alarm.

The fishing line (both the main line and the leashes) should be selected in the same way as for float fishing. The only difference is that the diameter of the main line should be larger, and the leashes should be smaller. It is better to take hooks with a short fore-end: they are more suitable for catching carp fish, which will be your main trophies.

Tips for a beginner fisherman on choosing fishing rods tackle will be more complicated. Here, everything depends on the approach - will you master spinning with a small fish, or will you immediately go for pike or pike perch. The first approach is still more productive, so we will start from it

  • Rod. It is worth forgetting about telescopic spinning rods and buying fishing rod guide yourself a plug rod from the middle price category. The optimal length for a beginner is 1.8-2.1 m. At first, you will be catching mainly small fish, so the spinning rod test (i.e. the range of baits it will work with) should be appropriate: from 1.5-2.5 grams to 7-12 grams.
  • Reel. Inertialess, preferably from a reputable manufacturer - the budget line Daiwa or Shimano will do just fine. You shouldn't immediately install a multiplier: it's expensive, and there's simply no need for it yet.
  • Fishing line. You should abandon regular fishing lines, or rather, use them as a winding for the reel to the required volume. But for fishing as such, it is advisable to buy a braided cord: although it is more expensive, it is many times stronger, and it also transmits information about the fish touching the bait much better than a fishing line.
  • Leash. When fishing for perch or chub, you won't need it, but pike teeth cut the lines very easily. To save the trophy and bait, you should install an additional leash - such leashes are made of metal or durable polymer material.
  • For a spinning angler. Unlike a float or bottom fishing enthusiast, there is another significant expense item - bait. It is worth starting with mastering the simplest and guaranteed catchy ones. Beginners should definitely have fish baits and lures. Rotating lures - ideal for catching perch, chub, small pike.
  • Silicone baits - twisters and vibrohist. They are put on either a jig head (a sinker with a soldered hook), or on a special offset hook tied to a branch leash. When wiring, they imitate a fish or an aquatic arthropod. They differ in shape, color, elasticity of the material, etc.
  • Wobblers - a wide variety of artificial baits. Most often they imitate a fish, they can have their own play when being pulled or require “animation” - giving the desired trajectory by twitching the tip of the rod and proper reeling.
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