INFO ABOUT ROD AND REEL

The simple wooden fishing pole has been used to catch fish for centuries. Fortunately for modern anglers, today’s fiberglass, graphite, and carbon fiber fishing rods are much more advanced and specialized. There is no single rod that will “do everything.” Instead, fishing rods are engineered to excel at a particular style of fishing, from catching panfish at the local pond to landing giant marlin out on the open ocean. Most modern fishing rods fall into one of the following groups: 1) freshwater casting and spinning rods, 2) saltwater rods, 3) fly rods and 4) specialty rods. Fishing reels can also be divided into five primary categories: 1) spinning reels, 2) spin-cast reels 3) baitcasting reels 4) conventional reels, and 5) fly reels. Keep reading to learn more about how to choose a fishing rod and reel that will work for your needs.

TYPES OF FISHING RODS 

Spinning Rods and Casting Rods (Freshwater)

• Spinning rods are designed to be used with spinning reels. The most noticeable difference between a spinning rod and a casting rod is the guides. On a spinning rod, the guide closest to the handle will have a larger diameter than the guide near the tip. This design allows the line to unspool more easily from the spinning reel and pass smoothly through the guides. When holding a spinning rod, the reel and guides will usually be situated on the bottom of the rod (facing down).
• Casting rods are designed to be used with either spin-cast reels or baitcasting reels. These fishing rods typically have guides that are the same diameter. When holding a casting rod, the reel and guides will be situated on top of the rod (facing up).

Saltwater Fishing Rods

If you plan on fishing in saltwater conditions, including ocean coastline, inlets, bays, canals, and the open sea, consider choosing a rod designed specifically for saltwater. Since saltwater is harder on equipment compared to freshwater, most saltwater rods are made with corrosion-resistant materials. Also, because saltwater fish species tend to be larger and stronger compared to freshwater species, saltwater rods are designed to accommodate heavier line weights. Most rods can be divided into the following categories:

• Saltwater spinning rods are designed to be used with a spinning reel. A saltwater spinning rod is a good choice for fishing off a pier or fishing with lighter bait off a boat on flat water.
• Saltwater casting rods are usually designed to be used with a conventional reel. A saltwater casting rod is usually designed to handle larger bait and fish compared to a similarly sized spinning rod, which makes casting rods ideal for angling on the open ocean.
• Surf rods have extra-long handles and are designed for fishing from the ocean shore. A surf rod is typically used with a spinning reel and is engineered to cast very far, allowing an angler to launch bait out into the ocean from the shoreline.
• Trolling rods are the biggest and strongest in the saltwater category. Most trolling rods are equipped with a heavy-duty conventional reel. A saltwater trolling rod is designed specifically for big game fishing on the open ocean.

Fly Rods

Although a fly rod may look similar to a casting rod, there are several key differences. One big difference is the reel mount and grip. A fly rod is specifically designed to be mounted with a fly reel, which is situated below the primary grip. This design is what enables an angler to use various fly casting techniques, such as a false cast. The way a fly rod is crafted also differs from other types of rods. From the shaft material to the shape of the guides, every aspect of a fly rod is designed specifically for using fly fishing techniques. However, the process of choosing a fly rod is still similar to choosing a casting rod or spinning rod. Rod weight, power, and action are all primary considerations. (We cover these aspects in the next section). For more detailed information on fly rods, be sure to check out our Fly Fishing Guide.

Specialty Fishing Rods

This category usually includes telescopic fishing rods, ice fishing rods, and rods designed for specific fish species, such as crappie rods. Basically, any rod that doesn’t fit into one of the previously mentioned categories can usually be found under the specialty rods category.

FISHING ROD AND REEL MAINTENANCE

All fishing rods and reels should be cleaned and properly maintained to ensure reliable performance on the water. Periodically remove the reel from your rod and clean the rod with mild dish soap, warm water, and a soft rag. Be sure to thoroughly dry the rod with a cloth before storing. Fishing reels should also be cleaned periodically to keep them in good working condition. This may involve disassembling the reel to clean and grease moving parts. Over time, the inner workings of your reel will become dirty. Without periodic cleaning and lubricating, these parts may begin to wear and eventually corrode, causing your reel to stop functioning reliably. Some reels are more susceptible to this than others. For a full tutorial on how to clean a fishing reel, check out Bassmaster’s guide on how to clean a reel.

Wading through the myriad of choices in fishing gear can leave you with a headache.  

To begin with, there are choices between freshwater or saltwater fishing, light attack, medium attack, heavy attack, and indeed fly- fishing. 

When considering saltwater you also stop to consider, am I going underwater or am going to grope near reinforcement. Do I need a rod suitable for boat fishing or a longer rod for sand and pier fishing?  

We obviously can not address all of these in one composition, so let’s take a fave of mine, saltwater fishing. For the purposes of this composition, we will assume we're choosing near reinforcement and bay fishing as opposed to coastal, underwater fishing. 

This author grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida leading to a love of saltwater fishing. We've always had a number of fishing piers in the northwest Florida area where I was raised so having a boat was noway a prerequisite. The main types of fishing we do in the Florida panhandle are fumbling off the original piers extending into the Gulf of Mexico and wading in the original kudos.  

When fumbling off the original piers one will need fishing gear from medium to medium-heavy. Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico we generally concentrate on the following migrational species Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, and Cobia. Cobia will bear separate instruction that goes beyond the compass of this composition. 

Fishing for Spanish Mackerel requires a medium-light to medium action rod at a minimum as the fish can reach a weight of seven or eight pounds in seminaries of large fish. The role of choice should be original to a Penn 4500ss or Penn 716 or better. nearly everyone chooses spinning rolls for pier fishing. You want a roll that will hold at least 200 yards of 10 to 12 lb. test monofilament line and tie a sword leader of 12- 14 elevation to keep them from smelling through the line. 

When fumbling for King Mackerel, you'll need vastly heavier fishing gear as these are vastly larger fish. King Mackerel on the Upper Gulf Coast will total around twenty pounds but “ smoker ” lords of over forty pounds aren't uncommon and they can take out 200 yards of fishing line off your roll in seconds! When fumbling for these monsters you want to have a medium-heavy rod, seven to nine bases in length, and rather paired with a Penn 706z. We favor the Penn rolls then on the seacoast because of their continuity. The thing that's special about the 706 is that it has no bail, which makes for important quicker casting. This is pivotal when you're contending with several other fishers around you. As with the Spanish Mackerel, you'll want to tie on a sword leader, but an important heavier bone for the lords. Use a leader of a 40 lb. class or better.