School Me On Rods

[sparky241]

OK guys I read some topics on rods lately, but I feel lost, what's the difference?can you start from the beginning and teach me everything about rods, I know theres casting and spinning rods. That's it

[tbone1993]

For a generic question like this I suggest you read the stickied posts on the forums as well as the fishing articles section here. http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/ . When you finish reading what you are interested in feel free to post up here again or pm me. 

[WRB]

Oh my!!! Where to start!!!

Bass rods;

Length is measured from but to tip, overall length, 6' to 7' being common lengths.

Power is rated by lifting a dead weight in pounds before the rod is full bent: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are common.

Medium light = 2, medium = 3, medium heavy = 4, heavy= 5 X heavy = 6. No actual standard, these are averages.

Action: determines how the rod bends from tip to reel seat: parabolic bends evenly from tip to seat, moderate bends mostly from tip to second guide from the reels seat or 1/2 the rod length, fast bends mostly the upper 1/3 rd of the rod, x fast bends mostly the 1/4 th of the upper rod length.

All around bass rod is considered 3 power or medium heavy, fast action, 6'6".

Tom

[T_Nix35]

Alright, I will give it my best shot.

 

The predominant things you will be looking for in a rod when selecting them are Power, Action, and Length.

 

Power

Power is the strength of the rod and it is going to determine your main uses of a rod. So say you have a Medium Powered rod versus a Heavy Powered rod. The Medium rod will be used more for presentations where you don't need the extra strength to fight the fish or get him out of cover. It will also be used for smaller hooks and lighter line presentations because you do not have to punch a big hook into the fishes mouth. I would use a Medium powered rod for jerk baits, shallow cranks, shaky heads, and top waters for the most part. Now, the Heavy Powered rod has a lot more back bone in it and doesn't bend as easy as the Medium Powered rod, so it's uses are for situations where you are throwing a bait into cover or you have a bigger hook on the end of your line that requires a lot more power to put through his jaw. I would use a Heavy rod for jigs, texas-rigs, carolina rigs, frogs, and basically any presentation where I will be using a single hook. 

 

Action

Action refers to the tip of the rod. When looking at a rod that has a Fast action compared to a Mod-Fast action your Fast action will bend primarily at the tip whereas a Mod-Fast action will bend closer down to the handle of your rod. The action just refers to the speed at which your rod is trying to get back to its original shape, so a Fast action comes back faster to its original shape compared to a Mod-Fast action which is more flimsy. This is important when picking rods for specific presentations such as Crank Baits. I like a Medium/Heavy Mod-Fast Action rod for cranks because it gives me a decently powerful rod that is forgiving so I can make sure the fish completely gets the bait. It also helps me when a fish is barely hooked and it doesn't pull on him as much so I have a better chance of not losing a fish.

 

Length

The only thing you really need to know about length is comfort and distance. The longer the rod the farther you will be able to cast your bait, but if you aren't comfortable with an extremely long rod for a certain situation then don't purchase it. As you get into this sport and buying rods you will find that every rod is typically specific to a particular technique. Although most can be used for multiple techniques, your serious guys will most of the time have a specific rod for each technique they fish. My best suggestion for length is to select the rod that is as long you will be comfortable with. This will allow you to have the most distance available to your comfort level without being uncomfortable fishing. Also take into consideration how and where you will be casting. Don't go out and purchase a 8' broomstick for your pitching rod if you are only 5'4" because you will not be able to do such a thing haha!

 

Hope this helps and if you have any questions just shoot me a PM.

TLMF,

 

Trevor Nix

[sparky241]

Would a longer rod help with top water poppers? I'm getting backlashes even on my spinning reel

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The rod won't cause or prevent backlash. It may contribute if you're forcing a cast with too light of a bait, but when popping top waters you need to be sure to reel the slack back onto the reel so it's not too loose and coiled up. Here's the article you're looking for: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/rod-actions-power.html. Couldn't have said this better myself. 

[Hyrule Bass]

no need to spend heavily in a rod, claims of sensitivity are for suckers

[roadwarrior]

no need to spend heavily in a rod, claims of sensitivity are for suckers

 

I don't know if you are serious or just kidding, but if that is your real

opinion I think it would represent a VERY small segment of the bass

fishing community.

[WRB]

Would a longer rod help with top water poppers? I'm getting backlashes even on my spinning reel

What rod, reel and line are you using; make and model numbers help.

Spinning reels do not backlash, the spool doesn't revolve , it's fixed and doesn't spin unless the drag is slipping. The bail on a spinning reel is what "spins" or wraps the line around the spool.

Two things cause the line to loop and twist. When you make a cast the line falls off the spool in coils, the lute weight pulls the line through the rod guides straightening the coils as they pass through the rod guides, this is why the first guide is larger diameter ring then the tip guide. If the line is loose between the first guide and reel when the bail closes it may trap a coil causing a loop on the spool. To prevent this keep the line tight when closing the bail, some anglers do this by hand.

Line twist is the second cause of spinning reel line problems. Because the spool doesn't turn the line gets a twist with every revolution of the bail wrapping on the line, If the lure end of the line can't untwist. The type of line adds to this problem; high memory or stiff line like some monofilament retains twist, softer low memory line reduces the twisting; braid doesn't have any memory and softer mono like Trilene XL (extra limp) help to reduce line twist memory. Line conditioners also help to reduce the twist, but can't eliminate it.

When you catch a bass and reel against the drag, that also adds to line twist.

Tom

[einscodek]

OK guys I read some topics on rods lately, but I feel lost, what's the difference?can you start from the beginning and teach me everything about rods, I know theres casting and spinning rods. That's it

Spinning rods are for spinning reels which hang on the bottom of said rod.

Spinning outfits generally cast smaller lures farther

but lack the winching strength of hauling in humongous fish like a baitcaster would

 

Casting rods are for spincast or baitcaster reels which sit on the top side of said rod.

Baitcaster outfits are what most bass fishermen use these dayz

but I personally dont like the birdsnesting and the myriad of brakes to futz with

 

With any kind of popping and walk the dog action where there is slackline I'd use a baitcaster for.. just askin for line snag trouble on the spinning reel spool when doing this 

 

Start from there unless you have specifics you have questions about..

[Jrob78]

no need to spend heavily in a rod, claims of sensitivity are for suckers

Ignorance is bliss.

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

no need to spend heavily in a rod, claims of sensitivity are for suckers

Coming from the guy with multiple rods in the garage.. Mainly 5.6MLF cause you must be fishing for bluegill.

[sparky241]

Ignorance is bliss.

I think he ment I don't need to buy a $150 rod right now

[sparky241]

Thanks for the reply everyone