With so many options today, choosing between many modern fishing rods takes time and effort. Many of us discovered fishing on a borrowed fishing rod selected by a buddy with more experience.
Now it's time to outfit yourself and choose your fishing rod accordingly. This choice depends on the fish you are going after while considering the average size and the depth they like to hang out.
Let's look at a few common fishing scenarios showcasing the main differences between rods.
Saltwater or Freshwater
As a beginner, thinking about where you are fishing can help you narrow your search. Saltwater fishing rods are made differently from freshwater rods in the components and the size of the rod blank used.
The components of well-made saltwater rods resist corrosion much better than their freshwater cousins. As you will find below, the size of the fish you are targeting in the ocean is often larger than freshwater species. This is why heavy-duty saltwater fishing rods often use friction-reducing roller guides instead of standard circular guides. Saltwater fishing also typically calls for "High Power" rods. While a rod like this can withstand incredible pressure, that doesn't mean it's stiff. It can be very flexible and remain strong. As you can see when you know the action or where the rod is designed to flex you can narrow your rod selection even further.
Action and Power
The flex can be described as the Action of a fishing rod. For larger fish, a Fast Action rod has most of the bend toward the tip. Although the Action may be described as heavy, that doesn't mean the rod itself necessarily weighs more. A Medium Action rod will bend closer to halfway down. This can provide more time between the bite and setting the hook.
A freshwater rod may behave like a saltwater rod but is classically stiffer and less forgiving overall. The most common reason is that freshwater rods are generally built to cast lighter tackle and handle smaller fish (relative to the massive pelagic fish cruising the open seas). Freshwater fishing rods are built to handle walleye, bass, trout, crappie, and sunfish, all species that are fun to target but are decidedly smaller than what is commonly targeted in the open sea. The slowest freshwater rods can bend nearly to the handle, this works great for shorter fishing rods used in tight spaces like fishing docs or ice shanties.
Faster Action rods often come with an increase in another related attribute: Power. The Power of a fishing rod tells the buyer about the rod's ability to withstand pull or pressure. This attribute tells you where on the rod it is designed to bend and absorb pressure. The ranges on the Power of a rod go from Xtra Heavy, Heavy, Medium, Medium Light, Light, and Ultra-Light. A powerful rod labeled Heavy or Extra Heavy, tells you the rod is stiff and flexes only in the upper 1/3 or 1/4 of the rod. An ultra-light Power indicates the rod is more limber and bends down into the lower 1/3 or butt of the fishing rod.
Rod Material
Common materials include Fiberglass, followed by more expensive Carbon Fiber fishing rods, topping out with Composite at the high end. Better material equals a lower-weight rod.
Or you could look at it this way: Better material means a rod that can land heavier fish while the rod remains as light as the angler needs it to be. With less energy going into holding the rod, you can focus your effort on fighting the fish rather than holding on to the fishing rod.
Type of Fishing
Fly Fishing
Type of fishing or technique you use significantly affects your rod choice. Fly fishing is practically its own sport, with its own rods and reels to match. To learn more about the specifics of a Fly Rod, you can dive into "The Big Guide to Fly Rods - Going Custom vs. Mass Produced".
Casting and Spin Fishing Freshwater
For casting rods and spinning rods, you'll want a longer rod if you need farther casts. The Action and Power will depend on the species you target; if it is too slow, the rod will bend rather than drive the hook. If the rod is too fast you might be pulling your hook out of the fishe's mouth when responding to a bite.
Trolling and Jigging Saltwater
For Trolling and Jigging, let's look at two types of Saltwater rods: Tuna and Halibut Rods.
Tuna Rods have a Fast Action, with a Powerful backbone and tons of flex at the tip. Particularly when trolling, a rod like this can handle large fish that move quickly. A Halibut Rod is designed to jig. The heavy handling characteristics may be similar, but the action of a Halibut Rod will be tuned to bounce the lure off the ocean bottom with a flexible tip that transfers weight into the lower section of the fishing rod. This rod will still provide a great deal of Power to wrestle up these particularly large fish.
Get on the Water
We may only be on the surface of a deep sea of fishing rod variations, but with this vocabulary, we can decode a wealth of guidance from experts out there. Folks who fish love to talk technique, and there are mentors to speak to here at Rod Seek who can help you find the best fishing rod when starting out. Most importantly, have fun and tight lines.
