Choosing a Fishing Rod
When it comes to choosing a fishing rod, there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration in order for you to make the right choice. Rod action, rod length, and rod power, among other factors, all play a major difference in how the fishing rod is going to perform. Keep reading to find out what these mean, and how to make sure you select the right rod for your application.

Rod Power: When you hear the word rod power, you probably think that’s how strong the rod is, and you would be right. A light or ultralight power rod is going to be very soft, and not have much strength to put up with harder fighting fish. This kind of rod would be great for bluegill or small trout. A heavy power rod, or medium heavy, would be good for bass fishing in thicker cover where you might need a little more strength to horse the fish out of its lair.

Rod Action: Rod action sometimes gets confused with rod power because they both seem to affect the strength of the rod. Don’t be confused though- rod action is basically how much of the rod bends at any time. A slow action rod is going to allow about 2/3 of the rod (from the tip down to a bit above the handle) to bend when a fish applies pressure to it. A medium action rod is going to be closer to half the rod, medium fast will be about 1/3 of the rod, fast will be about ¼ of the rod, and extra fast means that only a bit of the tip, maybe a foot or so, is able to bend.

What about the rest of the rod? Well, in all of these examples, the rest of the rod is considered backbone, which is stiffer than the rod tip and allows you to control fish. When you are fishing swimbaits, you’re going to want a medium action rod to allow a bit more of the rod to flex, because it gives the bait a nicer swimming action and doesn’t transmit your movements so sharply. When you’re flipping jigs you’re going to want a fast or extra fast action, so that you have the maximum backbone to get that fish out of the cover.

One more aspect that you should consider when buying a new rod is the rod length. The rod length plays a factor in how the rod is going to feel in your hands, how far you can cast, and how easily you are able to do certain techniques with it. For example, many people who do a lot of flipping and pitching prefer a 7’2” to 7’8” heavy power extra fast action rod. The length, stiffness, and large amount of backbone really help you get fish out of nasty cover quickly. If you are making longer casts, a long rod can help you get some extra distance as well.

Hopefully this article was informative, and you learned how action, power, and length affect what type of fish you’re going for. Good luck, and tight lines!