It will be a good day with sunshine, pleasant weather, and a suitable time to catch fish. If you are a beginner, the best choice for the rod is a spinning rod. So, how to choose a spinning rod? Many anglers also love use to casting rods, but I will talk about this reel in other articles.
The best spinning rod must combine strength, power, flexibility, and casting control. Catching fish will not be accessible if you don’t have a good rod. A poor rod is a limiting factor for any angler.
Don’t worry; we got all the following answers about how to choose a spinning rod.
What Are Different Between Casting Rods And Spinning Rods?
If you are a beginner, there are many questions about what you need to buy. The question being asked the most is what kind of rod you should buy: casting or spinning rods? Understanding the two rods and their differences can often help anglers avoid rod-reel mix-ups. Well, it is luck that we are exploring some basic details and differences between these rod types so that you can pick the right one.
All About A Spinning Rod
Casting and spinning rods have the excellent length, strength, and flexibility we need. The type of reel you attach to them makes them different. Spinning rods support the spinning rotation beneath the rod, with the rod guides pointing downward, unlike the casting rod, whose principles face upward. The spinning reels of spinning rods are not suitable for heavyweight activities.
Spinning rods allow you to cast longer distances and toss lighter lures. If the bait is heavy, there are some kinds of spinning rods that may be suitable to use. Moreover, anyone from beginner to pro can easily use this rod. Amateur anglers prefer spinning rods because they quickly reel in fish and eliminate line tangles. If you enjoy using topwater baits, choose spinning rods because they are suitable for showing surface all kinds of lures.
Spinning rods have adequate guides and are positioned reasonably widely apart. On the other hand, casting rods have smaller guides and less space. However, their performance is better compared to spinning rods.
All About A Casting Rod
In contrast, casting rods seem more complex than spinning rods and are not a good option for beginners. However, they work well for accuracy, control, and heavier lures. Compared to spinning rods, casting rods have triggers, and the guides face toward the ground. Their smooth operation targets bass precisely in heavy cover with a jig.
Popular lures used with a casting rod include swim baits, worms, and spinner baits. Any trick with a reasonable weight is suitable for this rod. Furthermore, a bait caster is always the best rig to use if you intend to present lures in dense cover. Anglers can also improve their casting accuracy by using a baitcasting reel.
The cost of owning and learning how to use a casting rod is more than that of a spinning rod. You must pay a lot of money and take time to fulfil your technique.
What Is Rod’s Action?
Before we even start, one thing to understand is that there is no standard for action. Action refers to the speed at which the rod returns to straighten when released from a load. It is the flex that makes the action of this brand different from those of other brands. Typically, we will have fast, fast-action rods, moderate-action rods, and slow-action rods. The type of action you’ll need is determined by several factors, including the fish you want to catch, your approach, and what you want to accomplish.
- Fast action rods typically bend or flex while under load in the first third of the rod, near the tip. Using jigs makes them even more helpful.
- Moderate action rods: they bend the entire length of the blank. It is also called a parabolic action.
- Extra fast action rods: they will bend near the rod’s tip-top. If you are going to cast near you or way out on the water, these rods are an excellent option. In addition, anglers usually choose them because of their sensitivity and faster hook sets.
- Slow-action rods bend in the middle of the rod, which causes the response to be much slower. Toss lighter baits and lures like spinners if you want to use these rods and catch many fish today.
What Is Rod Power?
We usually get confused and misunderstand the action and power. The amount of pressure applied to a rod by an angler is power, or we can say passion shows the rod’s strength.
Ultra-heavy rods require more pressure or power to bend, while ultra-light rods do not need as much pressure. The different designs and engineers to handle the range of lure weights and line sizes make alternative powers of rods. Anglers tend to choose a long rod to create a better feel. However, this is not entirely correct. The best way is an appropriate combination of action and power.
Moreover, the type of water will help in choosing your suitable rod. A lighter power rod is ideal for clear, open water because it is thin and hard to see lines. In contrast, a thick and heavy water environment requires a heavy rod.
How To Choose A Spinning Rod?
Rod Length
The lengths of rods are the first thing to consider. Does this depend on your fishing habit: big fish or small fish? Where are you going to fish? The ideal length for beginners is usually around 6’5 and 7’5 feet. Graphite rods tend to be heavier than fibreglass ones but are more flexible.
The length of a rod is the last essential thing to consider when choosing a spinning rod. It is also critical for targeting your fish and suiting the fishing area. The longer length is, the more combination it needs between the action and power of a rod.
Remember that water is also essential when picking the right rod’s length. Here is some info you can consider:
Saltwater:
- Offshore: 7ft to 8ft
- Inshore: 6.5ft to 8ft
- Deep-Sea: 7ft
- Surf: 9ft to 14ft
Freshwater:
- Beginners: 7ft
- Big River: 8ft to 10ft
- Small River: 5ft to 6ft
- Medium River: 7ft to 8ft
- Lake/ Pond: 6ft to 7ft
Fishing Rod Terms And Parts
As you know, there is no standard for a fishing rod. Different companies produce different rods. We have many rods with various brands, materials, and purposes. But their terms are all familiar. They are the same.
Here are some basic terms and parts of a rod:
- Model number: it indicates the specific model number of a company, depending on what kind of rod, there will be the letter “C” ( casting rod) or S ( spinning rod).
- Lure size: it is crucial to determine to right lure size. It will be hard to cast if the lures are too light for the rod. On the other hand, if the interests are too heavy for the rod, the rod will break easily.
- Reel seat: it helps attach the reel to the rod. It would be best if you bought a cheap chair because they often rust and stain your reel, making it difficult to remove the rotation.
- The hook: the size of it depends on the species of fish. The 5/0 and 8/0 circle hooks are typically used for average-sized and larger fish.
- The leader line provides rugged and durable protection against breaking your fishing line.
- A sinker on the end of your line will give your setup plenty of rod weight and enable you to cast further and keep your bait down in the water.
- A leader can come in many shapes and sizes. A small leader of 6 to 8 inches will be sufficient if you are fishing for small fish species. A leader of anywhere from 15 to 30 inches for larger fish is usually ideal.
- Tip Top: this is the guide that is easy to break off. It is at the tip of your fishing rod.
- Blank: The rod’s backbone has all the other components of the fishing rod attached to it. These are typically fibreglass or graphite/carbon fibre.
- Taper: it shows the thickness of the fishing rod.
- The butt: it is a thick part closest to the handle.
- Ferrule: it helps join sections of a rod together if it breaks down into pieces.
- Guides are the circles or ring passing through and going down the rod. They are vital parts of a fishing rod as they help keep the line close to your rod and make it more sensible. They are often stainless steel, titanium, fibreglass, or graphite.
- Windings: they keep the guides on the rod from ripping off and reduce friction as the line moves off and on the reel. Windings are usually considered as supporting parts rather than essential factors.
- Handle or Grip: it is usually made of EVA foam or cork, softer than the rod, and be where you hold your rod the entire time you are fishing. An EVA handle is often chosen the most as it is cheap.
A good rod can help you to have a chance to catch fish, but it does not an essential factor to have successful fishing. Catching fish can be done depending on the weather conditions and the type of water to choose the proper method. Sometimes, you should consider bringing two fishing rods and backup equipment. There are certain types and sizes of fish that are illegal to catch. So, make sure that you check this carefully before your fish.
Conclusion
Thanks to that helpful information, we know how to choose a suitable spinning rod. It is not a question of which is the best rod but the most suitable one for you. It would help if you took the time to decide carefully. If you are a beginner and do not need too much technique, consider picking a spinning rod. Casting rods are usually ideal for seasoned anglers as they can withstand heavy fishing tackles. Remember that the best fishing rods are the ones you are most comfortable using.
Related Post: Best Spinning Rod And Reel Combos