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Fishing Pole Basics  |
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While choosing the right lure for the conditions at hand is important to your success, not being able to handle the lure correctly and then not being able to maneuver a fish once hooked will leave you empty handed most of the time.
These two keys come as a result of good rod selection and performance. A good fishing rod can help an angler present a bait in just the right way and can give a distinct advantage when fighting a fish to the net. Take a few minutes to go over some rod basics with us.
The Basics
Fishing rods have certainly come a long way in recent years with advances in manufacturing and materials bringing increased sensitivity, strength and performance to the hands of nearly every fisherman. Your basic rod is made from either fiberglass or graphite. The materials are woven into sheets of what appears to be cloth to the untrained eye. The finer the weave is, the faster the action of the rod will be. The weave is measured in units called modulus. Fiberglass rods for example have a modulus of 6 to 13 million and graphite rods are from 33 to 60 million modulus. A high modulus rod is stiffer, faster, lighter and more sensitive but it is also more brittle.
Key Components
 While the overall construction of the rod is important to the angler, the individual pieces or components that make up the rod are just as important to performance and durability. Beginning with the handle on the rod. Made from a variety of materials from foam and plastic to cork. The biggest consideration when looking at the handle of the rod is the right fit. The right feel will give you an increased sensitivity that is invaluable when detecting a light bite or structure. Another important component of your rod is the guides. The guides are actually responsible for much of the cost associated with a new rod. A guide that is of good quality and low in profile will provide more sensitivity and distance when casting. The guide should have a ceramic insert that is round and it should be bonded to the rod guide frame. The guides on a rod are also suited to a specific diameter of line, making careful selection important.
Selection
Now that you have some background on rod basics, you have to be able to select the right rod for the type of fishing you expect to be doing on a given day or trip.  For example, when fishing buzzbaits or spinnerbaits, you will be casting quite frequently so a rod that is lightweight is a good choice. You will also want a rod that has good sensitivity as fish will often just bump the bait as it moves. A rod that is between 6 and 7 fee tin length will give you increased accuracy in casting and more power when setting the hook on that lunker. Of course, use a rod that is stiff enough in the butt section to fight the size fish you expect to hook. Fishing crankbaits requires a little bit different rod with more sensitivity. Something in the 7-foot range is a good choice as it will help get more distance out of your cast. The sensitivity will help you distinguish between structure changes on the bottom or on weed edges while cranking. When fishing jigs or worms and pitching, a longer rod is key as it will help you eliminate some of the casting that the previous baits require. A simple raise and lower of the rod tip will send your lure a good distance with these long rods.
Whatever your choice, it is important to practice with your rod of choice just as you would practice with a hunting weapon. Being proficient with the tools at your disposal will help you hook and land more fish regardless of what type or brand name they are.
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