Freshwater Fishing Beginners Guide – General Purpose Rod
Written by billbam on October 21, 2009 – 11:57 am -Choosing the right freshwater fishing rod can be a challenging task, especially for the casual or hobbyist fisherman considering taking the sport more seriously. If you’re interested in taking your fresh water fishing to the next level but find yourself casting about in confusion, here are a few pointers to help you choose your next good fishing rod.
First, consider your environment and the type of fish you hope to catch. Specifically, will you be fishing for lighter fish in small ponds where you may not need to make overly long casts? Or will you be fishing in lakes, where precise casts may be necessary and larger fish can be found?
Rods are often described in terms of their action–that is, how much of the rod bends when pressure is applied. Fast action rods only bend at their tips, and are adequate for most instances, particularly when single hooks are used as the hook tends to set more cleanly. Rods with slower actions bend closer to their base. These rods can usually cast somewhat further and may be more appropriate for larger bodies of water. They’re also better when used with triple hooks with larger fish, as the slower action sets the hook more firmly.
Rods are also described in terms of their power, or how much weight they are capable of pulling. Rated in terms of heavy, medium heavy, medium, etc. a rod’s power should be matched both with its line strength and with the weight of fish you are hoping to catch. Using a heavy rod with a light line will snap the line much more easily. Once again, the environment is an important consideration when choosing the right rod power. Heavily choked waters will require heavy power to clear fish and lures of plant growth and other debris, while clear and open water requires light rods with lines that are more easily concealed.
Rod responsiveness is an important determining characteristic of accurate casting, for which the rod’s material is highly responsible. Graphite is the most common rod material, though it is often just the main component among several others. Graphite rods vary widely in quality, and are commonly described using terms like IM6, IM7, etc. While these designations are not standard across manufacturers, it is often true that IM7 graphite is better than IM6 graphite from the same manufacturer. Fiberglass is another common material. Known for its ruggedness, these rods are commonly used when medium to slow actions are desired.
Guides are another crucial component of any rod, though guide characteristics are much more straight-forward. Guides should allow the line to move smoothly and with little friction, both for better casts and for easier catches. Silicon carbide, alconite or ceramics are widely acknowledged as serviceable guide construction materials. Stainless steel guides are not good, as they tend to break and require expensive repairs.
In many ways, fishing rods are like tools. Just as every construction problem can’t be solved with a hammer, so too can’t every fishing challenge be met with the same rod. There are many more factors involved in choosing the best rod for any given situation. The above should at least help you to begin experimenting, however.
Tags: Bodies Of Water, Casts, Debris, Fisherman, Fishing Guide, Fishing Rod, Fresh Water Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, General Purpose, Graphite, Hook, Hooks, Instances, Light Rods, Line Strength, Next Level, Open Water, Plant Growth, Pointers, Ponds, Responsiveness, Rod Material
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Freshwater Fishing Beginners Guide – Fly Fishing Rods
Written by billbam on September 29, 2009 – 11:01 am -Any serious hobbyist or professional fly fisherman knows that their fly fishing rod is a tool, selected to meet whatever challenges their environment and catch may send. Yet, for the casual hobbyist hoping to take the craft of fishing more seriously, the qualities that transform a plain rod into an extraordinary one aren’t obvious. If you’re hoping to purchase a quality rod for fly fishing but aren’t sure where to begin, here are a few pointers to help.
First, know your catch. Familiarize yourself with the waters in which you plan to fish, and with the size of the catch you’re likely to bring home. This knowledge will influence many of the qualities which you search for in a fly rod.
For instance, the size of your catch determines how heavy of a rod you should purchase. Lighter fish require a lighter rod, while larger fish of course require something heavier. Fly rods are not rated by pounds test, as is true with more traditional rods, but rather by the weight of their line, on a scale of 1 to 14. While a heavier line can help catch larger fish, it is also unwieldy and not suitable for beginners for whom 5 is often recommended.
Rod length is the next important consideration. Here, too, you should consider your environment. While rods average in at between 8 and 9 feet, tight conditions make larger rods unwieldy to carry and cast. Shorter rods are also better for children, or others for whom casting larger rods may be a challenge.
Another quality important to your purchase is the rod’s material. Rods are often constructed of graphite, with fiberglass and more traditional materials such as bamboo. For your first semi-serious rod, graphite is an excellent choice that makes the decision slightly less complicated.
Rods are often described in terms of their action. That is, a rod with a faster action bends more toward its tip, with the degree of the bend decreasing rapidly as it nears the handle. Slower action rods bend throughout their length, with the bend ending much nearer the handle. Each type of action has its relative advantages. As a beginner, and to make the decision less complicated, it is usually best to choose a rod with a moderate action. This tends to both help improve your cast, and to help you determine which type of action fits your style better.
Perhaps the best advice for your first somewhat serious purchase, however, is to not invest much until you are more sure of yourself. Nothing says that the next rod you purchase must be your last, or indeed your only, rod. It is one of several that you will own over the years as you hone your craft, discovering your preferences and style.
Spending lots of money on an expensive rod locks you into that particular rig’s advantages and flaws. When you are first learning something new is your best opportunity to explore it, before habits form and are hard to break. Purchasing an expensive rod may have you feeling trapped and unwilling to branch out. There is much more involved in selecting a good rod, but with these pointers in mind, you can begin your exploration into the exciting world of fly fishing.
A great example of the fly fishing rod is the “White River Fly Shop Classic Fly Rod.” This classic rod is smooth casting with a medium-fast action and is priced at under $100. Its IM-7 graphite blanks are made of high-quality components such as Fuji Hardloy stripping guides and a beautiful rosewood reel seat.
Tags: Environment, Fiberglass, Fish, Fishing Fly, Fishing Guide, Fishing Rods, Fly, Fly Fisherman, fly fishing, Fly Fishing Rod, Fly Rod, Fly Rods, Freshwater Fishing, Graphite, Hobbyist, Pointers, Quality Rod, Traditional Materials
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