The power of a rod is not a specific measurable value and more a guide issued by the manufacturer of the rod. The power classification range from; ultralight, light, medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, heavy and ultra-heavy. The power is really an indication of the type of fishing you intend to do with the rod, what size of fish you are aiming to catch.

For example, an Ultralight rod is suitable for catching smaller fish and situations, where the rods responsiveness is important, opposed to ultra-heavy rods, are used for surf fishing and heavy fish. In theory, you can catch a fish with any rod, but using a heavy powered rod to catch a small fish, would work but you would not feel much of the fight, and a light powered rod catching a heavy fish would need exceptional rod skills and would usually end in broken line or fishing kit. The best way to view the power value stated on rods is to take into account the purpose the manufacturer states for the rod, and what they state the rod is best suited for.

No matter if your rod is made out of fiberglass or graphite, each rod will have a weight limit for the lines which can be used. This is both low weight and high weight, and it is very important to stay within the recommended guidelines which are posted. If you have a lighter fishing rod but have a heavier line for that rod, the weight of the line can actually snap your fishing rod! And if you have a heavier rod, but have too light of a weighted line, the line will snap without even blinking an eye. Knowing the type of line weight you will need for where your fish will be a very important and determining factor in which kind of fishing rod you should obtain. The heavier the water, the heavier the line needs to be; the clearer the water, the lighter the line can be.

An action is often confused with the amount of bend the rod has and where on the rod the bend is, tip, middle to tip or whole rod, but this is not correct. The Action of a rod is the speed in which the rod returns to its natural or starting position. It is also often assumed that the action is related to reeling in the fish, reeling and landing the fish is more about technique, a fast action rod will give you sensitivity and enable a softer hook set. The action is important for casting, but only when in conjunction with line weight and lure weight. A fast action rod will bend and return to its starting point or natural point very quickly. The casting weight and line weight must be within the weights stated for the rod, then when casting the cast weight will cause the rod to bend during the cast, this bend then flexes back to its natural position helping to flick the stick and weights a greater distance, with a slow action rod the rod returns to its natural position slower, and most of the casting power is from the length of the rod and the technique of the cast. However, if you load a rod with more weight than it is designed for you will reduce the actions of the rod. The action as the power value is a value that is decided by the manufacturer, I might feel that a rod has a fast action, but someone else will think it is a medium action.

When you hear the word action within the fishing world, this term is describing how much bend can be found on each rod. There are four main types of actions – extra fast, fast, moderate and slow. If you have a rod that only bends along the top 1/3 of the rod, then you have an extra fast action fishing rod. If you have a rod that bends more than halfway, then you have a slow action fishing rod. If your fishing rod bends between these two, if it is closer to the 1/3 mark, then you have a fast action fishing rod, and if it bends closer to the ½ way mark, then you have a moderate action fishing rod.

There are a couple of different factors in determining the type of action you will need on a rod. If you need a rod that provides faster power in the hook set, as well as being more sensitive, then you will need to go with an extra fast action fishing rod. These kinds of rods typically don’t cast out as far, and the line is typically a smaller weight, as you only have a single hook.

The fast action and medium action fishing rods typically allow you to cast the line further out, as there is less chance of the line breaking for the heavier fish, as they can handle a heavier line weight. You can also utilize other types of bait compared to the extra fast action, allowing you to fish for a greater variety of fish.

The slow action fishing rod allows you to have the heaviest line weight possible but is also one which will take the longest to reel in a fish. You can go with a variety of different lures with the slow action rod, and if the water is choppier, this is the kind of rod you want, as it will ensure your fish is fully hooked onto the lure and doesn’t rip it out of its mouth.

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Although you can always create a makeshift fishing rod out of a stick and some nylon string, these days manufacturers like to use two different materials to make fishing rods, which are fiberglass and graphite.

A fiberglass rod is made mostly out of glass, which will help you obtain toughness and is typically paired with a slow action fishing rod. The toughness of the rod allows you to put bigger lures on the end of the line, as well as having a heavier weight on your lines.

A graphite rod is the most common material found within rods within the marketplace today, due to their lightweight and durable material. Because they are more lightweight, they tend to have extra fast or fast action, which means they have to carry a lighter line weight. These lines are great for those who want to capture a lot of smaller fish in a shorter amount of time and view fishing as more of a sport than as a time for relaxation.

Once you really start doing your research into the best fishing rods, you will notice there is a very large discrepancy in prices among rods. Knowing what is a good value for the budget have can be hard to determine, however, there are some key things which you can look for within each rod that will allow you to determine if it is a good value or not.

Grip – Because you are going to be holding the fishing rod for at least part of the time you are in the water, you need to have a grip which is both comfortable and durable. Not only this, you need a grip that is responsive to when there is a fish on the line, to alert you that there is some action that needs to be taken. Most of the better rods on the market have a grip made out of cork, and even the cork has different grades. The higher the grade, the more comfortable and responsive the grip is.

Guides – The more guides you have on a fishing rod, the better your fishing rod will cast out in the water. This also is typically reflected in the pricing, as the more expensive fishing rods have more guides on them as well. In addition to this, the material the guide is made out of is very important, and the best-graded material within the market today is silicon carbide. Although there are other materials out there, over time they tend to corrode and are weakened by being exposed to water on a consistent basis. If you are fishing in saltwater, this is especially true, so ensure the rings you have on your fishing rods are made out of durable material for the environment you typically fish within.

Reel Seats – Although there is not much variation within the reel seats on a fishing rod, it’s important to know what your reel seat is made out of. If the rod uses cardboard for a reel seat, for example, then very quickly after you purchase the fishing rod, this part will break, and your fishing rod will become useless. This is a simple question to ask, and one that will save you some heartache down the road.

When it comes to finding the right fishing rod for your needs, it is best to come up with a checklist of attributes that are most important. If you are in the market for a new fishing rod, then you need to ensure you consider the following characteristics:

Graphite or Steel – depending upon the kind of water you fish in, as well as the type of fish you are fishing for, this will determine what kind of material you need your fishing rod to be made out of. If you are in clear water and are fishing for lighter fish, then a graphite rod is the best choice for you. If you fish in water that tends to be choppier and are out looking for heavier fish, then having a steel rod is better. The graphite rods tend to not have as heavy of line weight, which means they are easier to bring in and you can turn your lines faster. By having a steel rod, you can have a higher weighted line, meaning you can hunt for bigger fish, and ensure the line doesn’t break after you have hooked them, and you can reel them in.

Guides on the Fishing Rod – While looking at fishing rods, you need to consider how many guides you have on your fishing pole, as well as what material they are made out of. The more guides you have on your fishing rod, the more accurate your line will cast out into the water. If you need to have an accurate cast, then you need to ensure you have at least eight different guides on your fishing rod. However, if you don’t necessarily care where our line is cast out in the water, then you can go with fewer guides. Not only this, but the guides can be expensive to replace, so the less you have, the less your maintenance cost will be long term as well. There is no reason to get more guides than you need.

Not only do you need to concern yourself with the number of guides you have, but also what material they are made out of. If you are going to be around a lot of saltwater, then having guides which could corrode from the salt is clearly not optimal. There are a few different materials out in the marketplace for guides, so ensure you know what you are getting. Even if a guide is coated in a rust-resistant material, if you are going out fishing a lot, then you will want guides which are made out of the material that is corrosion proof, not just coated in that material. Make sure you know the type of water you fish in the most and ensure the guides on your fishing rod will work within those conditions.

Grip and Reel Seat – On all fishing rods, they will have some sort of a grip system which you need to be comfortable with. Not only will fishing rods come with a rear grip, but there are certain models that will come with a foregrip as well. When it comes to having a foregrip, it truly depends upon what you are comfortable with. When you are reeling a fish in, you might prefer to have both of your hands on the rear grip; or, you might want to have one hand on the rear grip and one on the foregrip. You won’t really know until you try a couple out, and get a sense of what style will work for you. In addition, the material the grips are made out of is important as well.

Your hands need to be comfortable when holding the fishing rod, both when you are casting the line out, as well as reeling a fish in. Luckily, if you find the right fishing rod, the easiest thing to change out is the grip, so even if everything else lines up, you can just pay to have a pro-change out the grip to the one that fits best for your hands. In addition to the grip, the other important part of the fishing rod is the reel seat. You need to ensure it is a durable material that will not break down while you are out fishing. There are some reel seats which are made out of cardboard, which is a very inexpensive material; but, when it gets wet, it will break down, and cause your fishing rod to not function properly anymore. If you are going to make the purchase of a new fishing rod, ensure you know what kind of reel seat it comes equipped with.