Rods and Reels ...

Fishing Rods

A fishing rod or fishing pole is basically the "stick" used to throw out your line and bait. Years ago a cane pole was used as a fishing pole, and is actually still used today. With increasing technology comes better fishing rods. Today's rods are more sensitive so you can feel the fish nibbling at your bait, yet stronger and lighter.

Fishing rods vary in length, width, action (flexibility) and are available as general purpose rods or specific to the type of fish your using and then can be narrowed to the type and size of your bait and line. Most rods list the suggested line to use and the suggested lure weight.

When purchasing your fishing rod you are trying to get a rod that is flexible enough to absorb the tension of the fish at the end of the line, coupled with the stiffness so the rod doesn't break with the fish on your line. When you're purchasing your rod, let the salesman know what you're fishing for to get a starting point. Then hold the rod to see how it feels in your hands. There are custom rod builders out there that create some beautiful looking rods that are an absolute pleasure to fish with. There are also commercial rod builders that create exceptional rods that are every bit as good, and in some cases better than custom rods. Fishing rods come in a wide selection of prices.

Spinning Rods

Spinning rods hold reels that are attached to the bottom of the handle, and the line guides are on the underneath side of the rod. The guides decrease in size from the handle to the tip. These rods are available in a huge variety of sizes and lengths.

Bait Casting Rods

Bait casting rods hold reels that are attached above the handle. The line guides are on the top of the rod. The guides help control the line, and decrease in size from the handle to the tip. These rods come in an immense variety of sizes and lengths.

Fly Rods

Fly rods are typically longer rods and have different guides that other rods. This is because fly rods are used to cast the line, not the lure, and are used for fly fishing.

Other Types of Fishing Rods

-There are surf rods designed for fishing ocean surfs. These rods tend to be over 10 feet long.

- Sea rods are also longer rods, and are extremely thick, with heavy duty guides, grips, etc. Trolling rods are basically the same as sea rods.

- Ice fishing rods are usually 20 to 36 inches long and are used for ice fishing.

 

Fishing Reels

A fishing reel is the device or part that is attached to your fishing rod and holds your fishing line. The fishing reel "spools" out line as you cast. Reels have drags which slow the amount of line that a fish can pull out of your reel once you hook them. This drag is set so that the fish can pull line out of your reel instead of breaking the line.

There are hundreds of companies that make fishing reels and there are thousands of different models. Reels vary in size depending on what type of fishing and what type of fish you are fishing for. There are four types of reels you should know about.

Bait-casting Reel

Bait-casting, also known as baitcasting reels are mounted on the top side of the fishing pole. The momentum of the cast needs to rotate the reel, releasing line from the reel. Because of this, baitcasting reels are usually used with heavier lures, and are used for heavier, bigger fish.

When using a baitcasting reel, you press the release button and hold the line with your thumb. As you cast, you release the pressure on the line with your thumb and let the line spool from your reel. You can keep your thumb lightly against the line as it is spooling out, applying more pressure to stop the spool when your lure hits the water. There are additional "brakes" on baitcasting lines that will slow your spool, but then you cannot cast smaller baits. You will have to practice casting, and experiment with these brakes to determine the best settings. If the brake is loose and you don't keep pressure on the line you may (and probably will) get what is called a "bird's nest". This is where the line spins too fast and the line wraps around itself and gets caught with the line going out. The spool then reverses and you are left with a reel that has what looks like a birds nest made out of your line on top of the reel.

Closed Spin Casting Reel

A closed spin casting reel is similar to a baitcasting reel in that it is mounted above the rod. The reel is not open, rather there is a cover over the line, which uses a different mechanism to release line from the reel. There is usually a button in the back that you press. As you cast you simply release the button and let the line go from the reel. Lighter line and lighter lures can be used with these reels.

Open-Bail Spinning Reel

This reel is usually called a spinning reel or a spincasting reel.

These reels are mounted below the rod, and are simple to use.You can use much lighter lures with a spinning reel than you can with a baitcasting reel.

To cast a spinning rod, you hold the line with your forefinger, open the bail, which is the loop of wire at the front of the reel. As you cast you release the line from your finger. When retrieving, the large wire, or bail, picks up your line and puts it back on the reel as you turn the handle.

Fly Fishing Reel

Fly fishing is an entirely different process. Instead of using the lure weight to pull the line out, fly fishing uses the weight of the line to cast the lure.

With a fly reel, you pull line out with your hand as you cast, pulling more line out as you need it, usually several times during each cast.