Fishing rods, which had very expensive prices 30 years ago, no longer scare amateur fishermen with their price. However, while buying a fishing rod, it is necessary to have information on some issues and to act accordingly. Let’s leave the technical terms aside and first take a look at the fishing side of this business. The first rule that the fisherman should know is that the rod does not catch the fish. If you have enough experience, it is possible to catch very large fish with a 3 meters thin fishing pole. The best example of this is pike and perch hunting.
Fishing rods work as the main equipment to catch fish. There are several types of fishing rods such as throw and pull fishing rods, surf fishing rods, telescopic fishing rods, etc. And all of these fishing rods have some properties that you should choose according to the fish you will hunt. The most important properties of a fishing rod are its action, power, and cast weight. Let’s examine fishing rods together.
Technical Information About Fishing Rods
After fishing tackles, which were used by tying a fishing line to the end of a stick, in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, simple machines came to be regarded as the father of today’s machine tool; The first modern machine tool was used by the British fisherman Alfred Holden Illingworth in the early 1900s. Machine fishing tackle, which started to be used in America in 1935, showed a rapid development as in every field with the help of war technology developed by people to kill each other after the war years. While bamboo was used before, fiberglass rods or hollow fiberglass rods filled with glass fiber technology began to take their place in the market.
Nowadays, extremely light, thin but strong rods made of composite (glass fiber and graphite mixed material) and carbon (graphite) based materials are on the market. So what should we pay attention to when buying rod? What do you need, how curious are you? Each rod is defined by its length and weight throwing capacity. This information is written on the rod near the stem. For example, 3.30 m. 30-60 gr. indicates that the rod is 3.30 meters long and capable of throwing weight between 30-60 grams. When you hang the 30 grams on the rod, it shows the smallest weight that will be felt at the tip.
This load may bend the rod tip slightly; 60 gr. is the maximum weight that can be taken without the risk of breaking the rod. Although it is practically possible to throw out more weight than this, the risk of breaking the rod is high, you’d better not try it. These values are also called test values. It can be said that the greater the test values, the stronger the rod. The test values given by good companies are reliable, and I recommend that you do not trust this very much in fake rods and work at lower values. They give height and test values according to their own unit systems in the domestic markets of American and British companies.
The size is ok, but the test value is a bit confusing. For example, what is the value in grams of a rod that writes 2 lbs (pounds or pounds)? From 1 pound 455 grams to 2 pounds 910 grams, dividing this number by 16 subtracts 57. So our rod throws a maximum weight of 57 or 60 grams. There is also a relationship between the carrying power and throwing capacity of the rod defined in the figure on the left. The greater the throwing capacity, the greater the static carrying capacity. Its calculation is made in a way called the Luxor method. Accordingly, the maximum throwing capacity of a fishing rod is 1/50 of the carrying power of the rod at the end.
Rods are divided into very light, light, medium, and heavy class rods according to their length and throwing capacity. In fact, although throwing weight plays the main role in this classification, they can be taken into consideration together as the height is compatible with this value. In the classification, freshwater and sea rods are classified separately. The reason for this is that the rods used in freshwater are insufficient against large depths in the sea, strong undercurrents, big waves, and bigger hard fish.
After all, although there is not a very precise rule and distinction; In freshwater rods, 1-7 gr very light, 3-15 gr light, 7-30 gr medium, 30-60 gr, and above rods are of the heavy class. Sea rods are 10-40 g light, 40-80 g medium, 80-150 g, and above heavy class. The lengths vary according to the purpose of use. For example, longer rods are required for use from the shore and shorter rods for use from a boat. The capacity of the rod should of course be taken into consideration in the selection of fishing line according to the rod.
Fishing Rod Materials
We can define fishing rods as the constant accessories of amateur and sport fishing, which helps to bring live or fake bait to the closest distance to the fish with the fishing rod. Materials such as graphite, carbon, fiberglass, and composite are used in the production of fishing rods. Rods have different actions according to different usage areas.
- Features of Fiberglass Fishing Rod
Fiberglass fishing rods are the most affordable fishing rods. They are flexible, durable, but have the least power and precision in terms of lifting power and precision. Especially in boat fishing rod models, they are supported with filling materials to increase the lifting power. These types of rods are called filling rods. Due to the fiberglass fiber density used, they are heavy. The advantage of being flexible is that it allows you to move heavy baits smoothly.
Fiber fishing rods generally have medium and slow action (medium action, soft action). The advantage of this for beginner anglers is that when tackling a soft-mouthed fish they can attract fish to them without harming the fish’s mouth. But apart from that, fiber rods do not have fast action, so they are weak in terms of feeling the fish coming to the food. In any case, they have a structure that does not break easily.
- Features of Carbon Fishing Rod
Graphite – Carbon Fishing Rods are higher in price than other fishing rods. They are light and robust due to their carbon material. Carbon is better in buoyancy than fiber material. Of course, when using the rod, paying attention to what it is produced for and using it according to the values given on the rod will prevent you from damaging the rod. For example, taking a fish that you catch with a sensitive spinning rod to the shore without the aid of a scoop may cause the rod to break. It allows the user to fish for a longer time and enjoyable without getting tired.
Carbon rods are sensitive to feel, as well as toughness, and are generally in the class of fast action or extra fast action. This sensitivity allows you to feel the smallest movement of the fish. Its price varies according to the carbon intensity used. Therefore, the fact that the fishing rod you choose is a reliable brand is important in terms of getting the price you pay. Carbon densities are classified as 24T, 30T, IM, or Modul carbon. In some models of carbon rods, special SIC wrap is used to increase strength and durability.
- Features of Composite Fishing Rod
Composite fishing rods, as you can guess from the name, are a mixture of carbon and fiber fishing rods. The price is higher than fiberglass rods and lower than carbon rods. It has the advantage of being produced by balancing its sensitivity and strength according to the density of the mixture used. In composite rods, manufacturers can set the rod as a slow action fishing rod, a medium action fishing rod, a fast action fishing rod, or an extra fast action fishing rod. Generally, this information on the rod is stated in English as 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 for the user’s preferences, especially in coastal hunting.
Fishing Rod Types
A rod is a tool that is used in fishing and provides catching fish by attaching bait to its end. When choosing a rod, the first thing to know is what kind of fish to catch and where to hunt. Because, according to the type of fish to be caught and the preference of fishing from the shore or from the boat, the choice of the fishing rod should be made well. If fishing will be done from the boat, short rods should be preferred, if it will be done from the shore, long rods should be preferred. In order to achieve a good fishing success, it is necessary to have sufficient information about rod types and to learn which rod should be used where and which type of fish. When looked at, it is possible to examine rod types in 6 areas, although there are many types of rods.
- Telescopic Fishing Rods
This type of rod is the most preferred type of fishing rod for amateur fishermen or fishing hobbyists. The length of this type of rod generally varies between 3 and 4.5 meters. When the rod is collected with interlocking pieces, it becomes shorter by approximately 50-10 cm and provides easy transportation. These types of rods are generally used in coastal fishing and are the most affordable rods among the rod types. The DISCOVERY Dft Angora 50-100gr 240cm Telescopic Fishing rod is an example of these rods and is a suitable type of fishing rod.
- Segmented Fishing Rods
These types of fishing rods are very similar to telescopic fishing rods. Segmented fishing rods are also composed of segmented, interlocking parts, just like telescopic fishing rods. Although it is not widely used, its sensitivity and durability are higher than telescopic rods. It is generally used in freshwater fishing and lakes.
- Porcelain Free Fishing Rods
It consists of fragmented parts like other rods in terms of shape. The difference from other rods is that fishing line rings are used in non-porcelain rod types. Fishing is provided by attaching the fishing line to the end of the rod and this type of rod is generally used for freshwater fish hunting in the lake.
- Fly Rods
These types of rods are generally used with their own fly machines and artificial feeds are used as feed. It is widely used and it is a type of rod that can get good results in saltwater as well as in freshwater fishing. ABU GARCIA Combo Diplomat 904 5 rod falls under the category of fly rods.
- Spinning Reel Fishing Rods
These types of rods are generally used with spinning wheels. Although it is suitable for use in the boat, it is larger in weight compared to other rods. SPRO Off Shore Pro 4300 3 + 1 BB Alu Right Hand Spinning Fishing Machine is a very affordable product in terms of price.
- Spin Fishing Rods
Spin fishing rods are structurally similar to fly rods and can be thrown over long distances without tiring the person. In this type of rod, fishing in fresh and salt waters can be achieved as coastal fishing. MITCHELL Advanta Spin T-240 Fishing Rod is among these fishing rods.
The good rod should generally function in both salt and freshwater. The rod should have good flexibility and should also be durable. Not all rods will perform well in every fishing. Therefore, when choosing a rod, the priority is to find a suitable rod among the quality rod and rod varieties according to the work to be done. This will be good in terms of hunting performance and no technical problems.
What Should We Pay Attention To When Choosing A Fishing Rod?
Fishing rods can be of various thicknesses, hardness, length, etc., depending on whether they will be used for small, medium, or large fish or in fresh or saltwater conditions. Some fishing rods are designed for specific types of fishing. Fly fishing rods, model or silicone artificial baits, and spinning rods with shooting capability is designed to shoot/attract tricks such as artificial flies and insects. Having the appropriate equipment is important in fishing as in any sport. The feed options and techniques used today are quite wide.
Fishing rod manufacturers have developed a wide variety of rods for different lures, more distant and more effective shots, and fish-fighting capabilities. These features, combined with other factors, give the predator superiority in catching fish and fighting. With modern technology, companies that offer much more qualities and options than before, help us to obtain the best quality fishing rods for the most ideal conditions and hunting. The right rod with these qualities allows the bait to be discharged correctly, the bait running smoothly, more effective action can be given and the prey to be easily taken to shore or boat.
- Lure Selection
Choosing an ideal fishing rod starts with choosing the lure to be used. The weight and structure of the baits used to catch the target fish and the action to be applied to the bait to determine the most basic characteristics of the rod to be selected. The weights used with Model Baits, Silicone Baits, Jigs, or Live Baits and the shooting and flotation techniques to be used to use them effectively constitute the general questions to be asked when choosing your rod. There are three things to consider when choosing a bait throw or flotation rod: power, action, and throw value. The right combination provides longer, more effective, and less tiring shots with a particular bait or technique. All three elements are aimed at improving hunter performance.
- Shot Values (Lure – Cast Weight)
The shot value numerically indicates the weight of the bait suitable for throwing. Values usually expressed in grams or Lb, such as (1-10) (7-21) (10-30) (15-45) (100-200). If there is the phrase (10-30 g) on a rod, it means that you can throw at least 10 and at most 30 grams of feed. In some rods, this can also be expressed as Max 80g or Max 150g, which means you can throw feeds of up to 80 grams without the lower limit. You can easily calculate the values specified with the Lb (Libre weight unit) type measure by using applications that convert different weight units to gram units.
The most important point here is that although the minimum and highest throwing values of the rod are specified, it does not specify what weight of bait we will get the best throw (distance) performance when used. Comparing two rods at the same shot values; When the specified shot range is 14-42g, M (MEDIUM) rod gives its best performance at 18-20 grams, while in an H (HEAVY) rod this value can be 25-28 grams. The point affecting our preference here is the average weight of the feeds to be used. If the feeds used are mainly in the range of 15-25 grams, a rod with 10-30 throw values can be said to be ideal for us. If the baits are in the range of 10 to 20 grams, a rod with a throw range of 5-25 grams will be suitable for us.
In some cases, you may tend to look for an average rod for use in different catches, in order to be able to use an average of 30 grams of bait to use for bluefish hunting, in other words, to use the rod for both sea bass and bluefish hunting, preferences such as 15-45 or 10-50 may arise. First of all, we can say that this situation is technically possible, but it is inevitable when you will experience some difficulties in practice. It will be very tiring for you to throw 12-13 grams of bait with a high-pitched rod, and no matter how hard you try, there will be a decrease in shooting performance. Our recommendation in these cases is to evaluate which fish you will hunt the most and how often you hunt and turn to the rods suitable for that hunt.
- Power
Power is an indicator of which fishing discipline, type of fish, or fish size, which rod can best be used when targeting. Generally, UL (Ultra Light / Ultra Light) – L (Light / Light) – ML (Medium Light / Medium Light) – M (Medium / Medium) – MH (Medium Heavy / Medium-Heavy) and H (Heavy / Heavy). Heavy rods require more pressure to bend while Light rods bend more easily. Ultra-Light (UL) Rods are suitable for catching small fish such as Horse mackerel, Scorpionfish, Crush, Spotted Trout, Perch. Heavy (H) rods are ideal for large and challenging fish such as Toric and Tuna in the deep sea.
Again, some rod manufacturers classify rods with a number system, usually one to five, to describe their strength values. 1 means Light Power, 5 means Heavy Power. This point is more about the target fish and the bait used. Power indicates how much pressure the rod can handle. If you apply the same weight to rods of different strengths, you will see different levels of stretching like the picture below. We can evaluate the strength values as Hardness to make them more understandable in our language.
- Action
Action refers to the speed at which the bent rod returns to its neutral, normal position. Contrary to popular belief, it does not mean where and how much the rod bends when a force is applied, or how far the rod end will bend from the tip to the downward direction. A full Parabolic rod that bends head to toe can also have fast action. The action can be affected by the thinning rate, length, and the materials used to create the internal cavity of a rod, and this causes the action to be directly related to them. Applications are similar among most fishing rod manufacturers. Generally, manufacturers use speed categories to describe the movement: Slow, Fast, Extra Fast.
There is no clear measure of action value. Comparing the same action rods from different manufacturers, one can feel faster or slower. When the feed weight that is thrown is more or less than the specified throw values, there may be different reactions to the power or action of the rod. Again, when throwing weights more than the specified weight, the rod may break because the bending will be more than necessary, or when it is lighter than the specified intervals, there may be a shortening of the shooting distance because sufficient stretching cannot be provided. The action affects how sensitive the rod is and the speed at which the action is transferred to the baits at the end of the rope. Fast Action rods have a very sensitive structure in terms of feeling the food and fish. You can easily feel even the slightest vibration. We can say that while the POWER in the rods shows the pressure capability, the ACTION determines the speed of responding to the different actions you will do with the rods.
The basic functions of fishing rods are to bend during shooting and generate power while returning to their normal form, the ability to return to normal form after this bending creates momentum for the shot. In addition, another function is to keep the fish under pressure in the fight against fish. When the fish is caught, the bending of the rod keeps the rope constantly taut and keeps the fish constantly under pressure. However, if the return is not fast enough (Action) after this bending, we can get enough performance in neither shooting nor struggles. In disciplines such as popping or shore jig, we will constantly apply pressure to the rod at certain intervals, after the stretching movement, the rod must return to a straight form as soon as possible so that we can repeat the same movement. At this point, the rod needs to stretch less to react faster, which are Extra Fast, Fast, or Regular Fast actions.
In sea bass fishing, mid-level actions are preferred because the slow-winding flotation is essential in the hunts made with model baits. One reason for this is that the size of the perch fish can vary. Very often, for the sea bass that can be caught between 1 and 5 kilos, “medium-hard” or softer rods suitable for throwing light baits and Regular or Regular Fast action rods can be preferred to facilitate this fight. You may be confused by all the values up to this point because we try to understand them all. No matter how much we read them, we can only understand them by using rods of different values. Some companies categorize the rods they produce, making it easier for us to choose.
- Conical Structure (Taper)
Although it can often be used as a synonym for “action,” this is not true with today’s production techniques. The conical structure can be achieved by different methods. The wall thickness of the rod, which has a hollow and conical pipe structure, can be achieved by winding several layers of carbon or fiber material. Nowadays, while the rod is being produced, the material is thick up to a certain point, and after a certain point, it is possible to wrap it in fewer layers to adjust the flexibility or by using materials of different hardness at different ends in the starting part. This method is mostly used in upper-class rods. A rod can be bent at different rates. Generally, the bending rate is gradually reduced from end to back.
In today’s practice, different carbon fibers with different properties can be used in a single rod. Unlike fiber rods, in applications where different carbon fibers are used, there is no longer a straight relationship between true taper and bending rate. The bending rate cannot be easily defined in terms. However, some rod manufacturers try to simplify technical concepts for customers by relating the bending rate to Action. The term fast action is used for rods where only the tip is bent, and slow action is used for rods bending end-to-end. In practice, this is misleading because the best quality rods are mostly fast action rods and are bent back from the tip. It is more difficult and more expensive to make a rod that bends through and has fast action.
General terms used to describe properties that affect bending rate or bending rate are progressive/semi-parabolic/parabolic/full parabolic tapers. A full parabolic motion is often used to denote a head-to-toe bend. The bend rate determines the shape of a rod. This not only affects the shooting and fishing characteristics, but also the accuracy when fishing, the bait shot or bait control, the way the rod is used, and how the power is distributed over the rod. In a fully parabolic rod (bent from head to toe) the power is most evenly distributed over the entire rod.
- IM / Graphite Module
The terms are IM6, IM7, etc. They are the trade names of special graphites produced by Hexcel Company. These numbers are not industry standards or indicators of quality, but other companies use these descriptions to describe their own production of graphite, which is not made by Hexcel. Although these class numbers are not an industrial designation, they help you compare the quality of the material used by the same manufacturer to produce different rods. If the rods produced with IM7 grade graphite are produced by the same manufacturer, it means they are produced using better graphite than the rods produced with IM6 grade graphite. It is difficult to say the same about rods produced by two different companies because they can be made from materials from completely different manufacturers.
The module refers to the hardness of the graphite, not the amount of material used or the number and density of graphite fibers included in the sheets, which is directly related to the resins and firing processes used to join carbon fibers. For example, buying a rod based on the module rating is a mistake because if the fisherman does not want the hardest rod for the spinning technique or light game, other factors must be considered. The design is as effective as the material used in ensuring the high performance and durability of the rod. Other components that go into a quality rod also significantly affect cost and performance. The biggest disadvantage of high hardness rods is that they are more fragile.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fishing Rods
Fishing rods, apart from the material used in production, are also divided into telescopic fishing rods, single, two and three-piece fishing rods.
- What are the Features of a Piece Fishing Rod?
Single, two, or three pieces fishing rods are generally rods whose number of pieces increases according to their size. These types of rods are very advantageous in terms of sensitivity. So, it will be easier for you to understand and react when the fish is coming to the food. As the number of pieces increases, this sensitivity will decrease to a certain extent. The carrying length of these rods (also referred to as closed length) is longer than telescopic rods. Therefore, it is more difficult to carry and store than telescopic rods. When using the piece fishing rods, you should make sure that the interlocking parts fit correctly. If it does not fit, you may damage the rod or cause the upper part to separate from the lower part while shooting.
- What are the Features of the Telescopic Fishing Rod?
Telescopic fishing rods; They are interlocking rods consisting of more than one piece and each piece has a guide ring. Telescopic fishing rods are easy to carry and store. In addition, because of the large number of pieces, its sensitivity is never like segmented fishing rods. If it is important for you to have a short carrying length when going to the hunting area, you can choose this type of rods. Especially beginners or intermediate users can make their choices according to the transportation and storage conditions, as they have not yet mastered the sensitivity of the fishing rod.
- How Should I Use Fishing Rod?
There is information such as how many grams of weight to use on the rods, which material it is made of, and how many kilos it will weigh on some. In order to get maximum efficiency from the rods you buy, you should pay attention to this information and it will always be useful to examine how well it meets your needs according to this information. Information on the products that you’ll use all the fishing equipment or products, including priority placement should take into account the recommendations of the relevant distributor. Using the rod in improper conditions may cause the fish not to feel coming to the food, damage the rod or other fishing gear.
- 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, Porcelain Free Lake Fishing Rods, Carp Fishing Rods. Of course, this classification is made according to the general tendencies of amateur and sporty fishermen. Each fishing class has its own unique details.
- Where Should I Buy Fishing Gear?
You should always choose the fish materials and fishing line for a brand you trust. You should also be sure that the vendor from whom you purchased the product will support you with the product.
Best Fishing Rods You Can Buy Online
