The Basics Of A Saltwater Fishing RodThere are many aspects in choosing the right saltwater fishing rod. Below are a few things we hope you find helpful. It may seem like a lot of information to the new angler, but dont let it scare you. These are the basics you need to know when choosing a saltwater fishing rod.
Materials- Many rods today are made of either graphite or fiberglass, or a combination of both. Graphite rods are nice because they are light yet durable. They tend to have high sensitivity to the fish bite as well. This is the most expensive of all options. Fiberglass on the other hand, is extremely durable, but is quite a bit heavier and not near as flexible or sensitive. A combination of both, or a composite rod is a nice blend of both rods with average performance and price. Length- The length of the rod is determined by the type of fish you are after as well as the lure you plan on using as well as the location you plan on fishing. Longer rods give you more leverage and they also bend more taking some pressure off of your line. Longer rods tend to have the advantage as leverage always helps out in any fishing situation. Action/Power- A very confusing, yet very important term is rod action. Rod action is the flexibility of the rod blank once it is hooked up with a lure and cast. How much does the rod blank bend? Many manufactures will use the terms: Slow, Medium, Fast, and Extra-Fast. Slow action rods flex the whole length of the rod blank while extra-fast action flex only about 1/4th of the tip. An extra-fast action rod is very sensitive to light taps. The only downfall being the casting range is less. A medium action rod would probably be the best bet for a beginner or all around type of rod. The power of the rod refers to how much weight it takes to cause the rod to flex. Many manufactures will use the terms: ultra-light, light, medium-light, medium, medium heavy, heavy and ultra-heavy. The heavier the power, the heavier the weight and lure it will accommodate as well. See, so it is quite important. You need to be able to put these two attributes together to get the rod that works for your particular situaiton.
Guides- Line guides are made of plastic, metal and ceramic. Plastic is the lowest quality while ceramic is the highest. Guides are either single foot or double foot. Double foot gives the most support. The longer the rod the more guides there will be. With more guides, stress is distributed along the rods length more evenly thus giving a smoother cast.
This probably seems like a lot of information and maybe may even be a little confusing. There are no rules to fishing. All you need to do is pick the rod that seems like it fits your needs and go at it. Rod selection is important, but dont fret over all of the details. If you are unable to find what you are looking for at the store you can have a rod custom made to fit your fishing needs. A great site to look at is Good Fortune Custom Rods There will be a link for you to email the manufacturer to let him know what you are looking for. Hopefully these saltwater fishing tips have helped you to decide on what type of saltwater fishing outfit will work for you.
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