Fishing rods can be defined as unchangeable accessories for amateur and sport fishing to help bring the live or fake bait to the closest distance to the fish with the help of the fishing hook in general. Graphite carbon, fiberglass, composite materials are used in the production of fishing rods. Rods have different actions according to different usage areas.
- Fiberglass Fishing Rods
Fiberglass fishing rods are the most suitable ones in terms of the price. They are flexible, durable, but with the least strength and precision in terms of lifting power and sensitivity. Particularly in boat fishing activities, they are supported with filling materials to increase the lifting power. This type of rod is called fill rods. The fiber used has a heavy structure due to the glass fiber density. The advantage of being flexible is that it allows you to throw heavy baits smoothly. Fiber fishing rods usually have medium and slow action (soft-action). The advantage of this for beginner anglers is that they can catch the fish without harming the mouth of the fish while fighting with it. However, since fiber rods do not have fast action, they are weak in terms of feeling when fish hits. In any case, they have a structure that does not break easily.
- Carbon Fishing Rods
Graphite – Carbon Fishing rods are higher in price than other fishing rods. Because they are made of carbon material, they are light and robust. Carbon is better in lifting power compared to the fiber material. Of course, when using the rod, you should pay attention to what it is produced for. Using it in accordance with the values given on the rod will prevent you from damaging the rod. For example, pulling the fish you catch with a sensitive spin rod without the help of a spoon net can break the rod. However, carbon rods allow the user to work tirelessly, enjoyable and longer. Carbon rods are sensible in addition to their robustness and are generally in the class of fast action or extra fast action. This sensitivity makes you feel the smallest movement of the fish. Price varies according to the carbon density used. Therefore, it is important that the fishing rod you choose is a reliable brand in terms of getting in return for the price you pay. Carbon densities are classified as 24T, 30T, IM or Modul carbon. Some models of carbon rods use special SIC winding to increase durability.
- Composite Fishing Rods
Composite fishing rods, as you can guess from the name of them, are produced using a mixture of carbon and fiber materials. The price is higher than fiberglass rods but lower than carbon rods. It has the advantage that it can be produced by balancing the sensitivity and power according to the density of the mixture used by the manufacturers. In composite rods, manufacturers can set the rod as slow action, medium action, fast action or extra fast action fishing rod. In general, this information is specified on the rod in English as the slow action fishing rod, medium action fishing rod, fast action fishing rod or extra fast action fishing rod. With these advantages, composite rods can offer more suitable options to the user’s preferences, especially in coastal fishing.
Telescopic Fishing Rod or Multiple Piece Fishing Rod?
In addition to the material used in production, fishing poles are also divided into telescopic fishing poles and single, two and three-piece fishing poles.
- Multiple Piece Fishing Rods
Single, two or three pieces of fishing rods are equipment whose size increases according to the number of pieces of the fishing rod. This type of rod is very advantageous in terms of precision. So, it will be easier for you to understand that the fish hits and to react. As the number of parts increases, this sensitivity will decrease to a certain extent. The carrying length of these rods (also referred to as closed length) is higher than that of telescopic rods. Therefore, it is more difficult to carry and pull the fish compared with the telescopic rods. When using the multiple piece fishing poles, make sure that the nested parts are correctly seated. If it is not fully seated, you can damage the rod or cause the upper part to detach from the lower part when casting.
- Telescopic Fishing Rods
Telescopic fishing rods are made up of several pieces of intertwined rods and a guide ring is provided on each piece. Telescopic fishing rods are easy to carry and store. In addition, since the number of pieces is very high, the precision is never as much as a multiple piece fishing rod. If the distance between your home and the place where you will fish is huge, you may think to choose this type of rod. Especially beginners or intermediate users can make their choices according to transport and storage conditions, as they are not yet specialized in the sensitivity of the fishing rod.
- How Should I Use the Fishing Rod?
There is information on the rods such as with how many grams of sinker it will be used, of which material it is produced, and how many kilograms it can pull. You should pay attention to this information in order to get maximum efficiency from the rods you buy and according to this information, it will always be useful to examine how well it meets your needs. In all fishing equipment you will use, the information on the product and the recommendations of the place of purchase should be taken into consideration. Using the rod in improper conditions can cause consequences such as not feeling the fish hitting, or damaging the rod or other fishing equipment.
How Are Fishing Rods Classified?
Fishing rods are classified as General Use Fishing Rods, Surf Fishing Rods, Boat Fishing Rods, Spin Fishing Rods, Trolling Fishing Rods, Jig Fishing Rods, LRF Fishing Rods, No-Porcelain Lake Fishing Rods, Carp Fishing Rods, and so on.
Of course, this classification is made according to the general tendencies of Amateur and Sportive fishermen in the world. Each angling class has its own details.
What Should We Consider When Choosing A Fishing Rod?
You want to go fishing for relaxing on a weekend, or you are interested in sports fishing. For whatever purpose, you need to have a good fishing rod to get efficiency from this interest. In order to have a good fishing rod, you should know the types and characteristics of fishing rods. Then you need to decide where you will hunt and which fish to catch because the fishing rod types are designed to suit different waters and different fish. Let’s take a look at the other things to consider when choosing a fishing rod:
- Length
The length of the fishing rod you choose should vary depending on where you are fishing. If you are fishing from the shore or pier, you should choose a longer rod to give you more distance. If you will fish from a boat, you should choose the short ones because it will be easier to control the movements of the fish.
- Power
Another important factor in fishing rod selection is the power of the rod. Power comes from the material of which the fishing pole is made. Today, fishing rods are made of many different materials. There are many options that vary according to the water you will hunt, the type and weight of the fish you will hunt. For example, if you are going to catch the fish from the sea and you want to catch a big fish, you should choose extremely strong but inflexible graphite rods, or you should choose heavier fiberglass rods than flexible graphite rods. If you are going to hunt small fish in a still pond, carbon fiber fishing rods, which are quite light, will be suitable for you. Carbon fiber fishing rods are sold at much more reasonable prices than other fishing rods, but they are not durable enough.
- Guide Rings
The rings used to tie the fishing line to the fishing rod and are usually made of ceramic are called guide rings. Zirconium rings are the most powerful among the ceramic rings, which are the most important of the fishing equipment. Zirconium rings are also slippery, light and extremely flexible. When selecting the fishing rod, it is necessary to pay attention to the placement of the guide rings. To gain more control over the fish during hunting, you should prefer fishing rods with double-feet guide rings. Another consideration is that the guide rings should be properly aligned.
- The Place to Buy
You should be extremely careful when deciding where to buy the fishing rod. Before purchasing your fishing rod, you should go to a store that sells fishing supplies, and you should talk to sales professionals who are knowledgeable about the subject as well as examining the fishing rod models. Not all fishing rods may give the same feel to every fisherman, so it is a good option to examine the model and weigh it before you buy it.
- The Place to Hunt Fish
Choosing where to use your fishing rod will affect your choice. If you are going to travel some distance to fishing, you should look at the portable options. If you have a boat you can prefer fishing rods in one piece. Fishing rods to be used in high seas must have high strength. In areas with current, you can use 250 grams of sinker throws. Spinning fishing rods will also be suitable for hunting big fish in deep waters. Fishing rods to be used in still waters should be low strength and flexible. For example, fly fishing rods are very suitable for freshwater fishing.
- Experience in Fishing
If you’ve just started fishing and you plan to go fishing once in a while, you should prefer a more affordable fishing rod. Fiber spinning fishing rods can offer beginners an enjoyable hunting experience with easy handling. If you are an experienced fisherman and often go hunting, you can use high-quality products that you can use for a long time.
- Bait
When choosing a fishing rod, you must determine in advance what kind of bait you will use. If you are going to use fake fish instead of living bait, you will need to choose a lightweight fishing rod to be able to feel every move of the fish and simulate the movements of the fish easily.
- Fish Type
The type of fish you will hunt will affect the fishing rod model you will buy. For example, if you want to hunt a pike, then at least 150 cm long, 20-40 gr throw, at least 2-piece, telescopic fishing rods will be suitable for you. If you want to hunt fish such as horse mackerel, you can use surf-type precision fishing rods. If you are going to catch larger fish like sea bass and bluefish, you should buy more powerful fishing rods with 100-200 gr throws.
How to Choose the Rod According to the Way You Hunt?
Trout and similar fish hunting: Trout is usually caught with small fake baits using throw and pull hunting style. For this reason, thin and sensitive rods with throws of 5-30gr are preferred. Depending on the area in which you are hunting, you can use rods and machines specially designed for the FLY method, between 210-330cm.
Additional source: Fishing Creative
Carp and Catfish hunting: If you are going to hunt small fish, while above water fishing with a bobber you can use the rod models without a machine and having a length of 4 to 7 meters. If you are going to hunt freshwater fish like big carp, you should prefer the bottom fishing line and rods which can throw 75-150 grams and which are around 300-350cm in length. For larger fish, such as catfish, it is more accurate to use rods with more powerful throws and with filler parts.
Pike and Zander hunting: If the pike is to be hunted with a spoon and fake bait from the shore, the rods which are around 300-350cm should be preferred. I do not recommend rods that are not very thick and sensitive, as the tip of the rod should be flexible so that you can move the spoon or artificial feed better. If you are going to hunt from the boat, you should prefer 2-piece or telescopic, but short rods between 180-270cm in size with an average of 20-60 gr throws.
Bluefish-Small Bluefish-Bonito fish hunt: If you hunt from the shore with heavy sinkers in the waters with current, you should prefer rods having 100-200gr throws and between 350-440 cm. Surf-type rods are generally preferred in this hunting type. If you are hunting with a spoon or fake fish without throwing too far from the shore, 50-75gr throws are enough, and flexible rods around 300-330cm will be more suitable.
Horse Mackerel hunt: Rods having 75 – 150 grams of throw should be preferred. Surf fishing rods are generally used in this hunting type. I do not recommend the non-sensitive rods having heavy throws because it will be difficult to feel the fish. Try to choose the most sensitive rod, taking into account the maximum sinker weight you will throw.
Sea fish hunting from the shore: If you hunt fish like Bream, Sargo and Mendole, you should prefer 30-100 gram throwing telescopic rods and 2-piece rods that are sensitive to the extent you can feel when the fish hits. If you are hunting bigger and stronger fish like Sea Bass or Bluefish, you should prefer stronger rods with throwing values between 100-200 gr. Surf rods are more suitable in this hunting type.
Boat fishing at sea: To be able to move easily while fishing from the boat and without disturbing others, you should prefer short, telescopic or 2 piece rods between 180-240cm. If the fish you’re going to hunt is small, you should prefer fine-tipped lightweight and 20-60 grams of throws, and if the fish is big, you should prefer heavier throws as well as thicker and stronger rods.
Hunting big fish like Swordfish, Grouper, Leerfish, and Rock Grouper: This type of fish is hunted from the boat, one-piece or 2-piece spinning wheel reels with strong rods should be used. Normal machines and rods can also be used in this hunting.
Choosing a Surf Casting Rod
Surf Rod is named after Surf Casting or Surf Fishing, a fishing discipline aiming to reach the point where the waves approaching the shore begin to break. Surf Casting is a fishing type with unique tools and baits presentations, and one of the most important elements, of course, is the surfcasting rod, which is also known as surf rod. Generally, the surf rods are between 3.90 – 4.50 m in length. In rare cases, there are rods over 4.50 m in the name of Surfcasting, but these are mainly fishing rods that are used for the fishing discipline known as Heavy Casting, designed for hunting near the shore and deep reefs.
The components of the surf rods can be summarized according to the titles listed below. You can examine the detailed description of these components when choosing your rod, and get an idea of how to buy a surf rod.
-Machine bed
-Fishing line guides
-Guide porcelain
-Hybrid or tubular tip
- Machine Bed
Surf rod machine beds are well established in industrial standards. It is one of the least problematic components of surfcasting rods. Although many different brands and brandless products mimic Fuji designs, Fuji remains a standard and is the reason for preference.
- Fishing Line Guides
Fuji components also remain dominant in the field of fishing line guides. Especially in recent years, the use of Fuji KW and Fuji LC Lowrider type guides on surfcasting reeds has become widespread. Both guide types have been designed to successfully regulate the spirals formed at the exit of the rope or fishing line from the machine during the cast, eliminating entanglement and mainline breaks caused by lateral wind.
In the KW series, the guides are wider than the LC Lowrider series. The distance between the tapering guides at the tip is greater. In LC Lowrider series guides, the first guide is reversed. The guide diameter is narrower and the end guides are of equal width and close to each other. In this way, especially in the use of thin mainline (fishing line and knitting rope), especially under the influence of lateral wind, their performance is higher than the KW series guides.
- Guide Porcelain
The guide porcelain is manufactured from SIC (Silicon Carbide), Alconite (high pressure compressed aluminum oxide), Torzite (more robust, lighter and less friction coefficient than SIC and Alconite components) materials of known brands. Fuji’s products also stand out in this field.
Common properties of all materials; They protect the mainline from the heat by successfully dissipating the heat generated by the friction thanks to its low coefficient of friction and high thermal conductivity. While SIC and Alconite show similar features, Torzite has more advanced features in many respects. It is very light and much more durable and its friction coefficient is much lower. Moreover, interestingly, it is more resistant to impacts as it has the ability to flex compared to other ceramic types.
Advantages of Torzite guide porcelain are:
-Guide porcelain made of Torzite material is more robust
-Torzite guide porcelains are lighter than their counterparts
-Torzite guide porcelain has a lower friction coefficient
-Torzite guide porcelains have much more flexibility
-Torzite material has much higher and faster heat conduction
- Hybrid and Tubular Tips
Hybrid and Tubular tip preference may vary according to need. If you want better performance at higher weights (+175 g), the tubular tip will provide better casting performance. However, tubular tips do not have the sensitivity of hybrid tips. Hybrid tips do not adversely affect shot performance at high weights but have a significant positive impact on stroke sensitivity and back reaction. Your ergonomics will determine which of these two different tip types is best for you. If you are hunting with average weights, you need a rod with a hybrid tip. On the other hand, if you are in the high weight league, you must have a rod with a tubular tip.
Best Fishing Rods You Can Buy Online
- PLUSINNO Fishing Rod and Reel Combos Carbon Fiber Telescopic Fishing Rod with Reel Combo Sea Saltwater Freshwater Kit Fishing Rod Kit (Price: $39.98)
- FISHOAKY Fishing Rod kit, Carbon Fiber Telescopic Fishing Pole and Reel Combo with Line Lures Tackle Hooks Reel Carrier Bag for Adults Travel Saltwater Freshwater (Price: $40.99)
- Bluefire Fishing Rod and Reel Combos Carbon Fiber Telescopic Fishing Rod Kit with Spinning Reel, Line, Lure, Hooks and Carrier Bag, Fishing Gear Set for Beginner Adults Kids Saltwater Freshwater (Price: $40.99)
- ShinePick Fishing Rod Kit, Telescopic Fishing Pole and Reel Combo Full Kit with Line Lures Hooks Carrier Bag for Travel Saltwater Freshwater Boat Fishing Beginners (Price: $43.99)
- Daiwa DSK25-B/F662M D-Shock Freshwater Spinning Combo, 2500, 6’6″ 2Piece Rod, 6-14 lb Line Rate, 1/4-3/4 oz Lure Rate (Price: $19.95)
