A Closer Look At Fishing Rods!

Fishing beginners or even experience fishermen often don't know how to select a fishing rod to match the type of fishing they plan to do. Before deciding which is best, an angler should know about the power and the action of a fishing rod.


The fishing rod action refers to how much a rod bend when casting or when reeling in fish. An extra fast action rod will bend just at the tip, while a slow action rod bends all the way into the handle. A fast action rod puts more force into your throw for longer casts, while a softer action rod has less force therefore giving it less chance to throw your bait off the hook.

Light Power, Fast Action: For smaller fish like panfish & trout, a light power, fast action spinning rod is a good choice. These fishing rods are the best choice for lines of 8 pound test or less.

Medium Power, Medium Action: For larger fish like the bass, walleye and catfish, a medium power, moderate fast of fast action rod works well. These fishing rods are the best choice for lines of 10 pound test or higher.

Heavy Action: Get a medium heavy or heavy power baitcasting rod with a fast actions for the big boys such as strippers, musky, pike and the bigger type of catfish. This is also great for flipping or pitching jigs for bass. Choose a moderate or slow action rod with medium-heavy power rating if you plan to use live bait. These fishing rods are strong enough to land big fish and can handle the heavier lines and lures.

For beginners, a medium-light power, fast action fishing rod with a spinning reel is a great choice. Spinning reels have an open spool, mounts on the bottom of the fishing rod and is easy to use. This is a great choice for catching bass and panfish, but also strong enough to land catfish and bass up to 5 pounds. Spinning gear is easy to use and allows you to cast farther using light lures.