Beginnings in any field are not easy; a beginner in every business is faced with a bunch of unfamiliar and unknown things. Fishing is no exception; few people know how to choose a fishing rod for effective fishing. Sometimes only at the cost of their own mistakes do fishermen come to the correct choice of the main weapon.
Before you go to a specialized store, you need to study the topic a little, find out at least superficially what you need for fishing and how to make the right choice among the abundance of different types and models of forms.
Criteria and rules for choosing a fishing rod
Before choosing a float rod or a form for other types of fishing, you need to know all the necessary criteria under which fishing will be enjoyable.
So, choosing a fishing rod for summer fishing, how to make the right choice? There are not many secrets when choosing.
Rod weight
The weight of the blank will help you choose a fly rod for summer fishing, like other types of rods. The smaller it is, the longer the angler can hold it in his hands. This is especially true when choosing either a Bolognese fishing rod or a spinning rod.
Rod length
Before choosing a float rod for summer fishing, pay attention to the length. This indicator depends on the reservoir and where the trophies will be caught. The length of the blank is also important for spinning rods; here the choice is made based on whether you plan to fish from the shore or from a boat.
Material of manufacture
The best material for different types of fishing rods is considered to be carbon or carbon fiber; it is light, durable, but resistant to impacts. Such material cannot be cheap; for those who are looking for cheaper options, fiberglass is offered. It is heavier, and in other respects it will be slightly inferior to carbon, but it is not afraid of impacts.
Rigidity
Rod forms are different:
- soft;
- medium hardness;
- hard.
The choice is made depending on personal preferences and the required structure for the type of fishing. Determining the rigidity is not difficult; the tip of the selected rod rests on the ceiling. If only the tip bends, then the rod is hard, the deflection occurs in the upper half, the form is classified as medium hard. If the stick bends all the way to the butt, you have a soft look.
Additionally, they check by shaking the rod; it should bend evenly up, down, right and left.
Rod quality
Quality indicators depend on many factors that should not be neglected:
- choose products from well-known brands that value their reputation;
- carefully inspect the fittings, they must be of high quality.
Ease of use
This indicator is purely individual, you need to lay out and hold the product in your hand, it is possible to simulate an easy cast. If the rod can “fit” in your hand, then it will be convenient to use.
Price
Everyone will choose a fishing rod for float tackle or another according to their own wallet, but you should not skimp on the form. It is worth understanding that a good fishing rod cannot be cheap. Therefore, first calculate how much money you can realistically allocate for the purchase.
Rod repair
Repairing the fishing rod
So something bad happened. But don’t be upset and don’t run to the store to spend your hard-earned money. About 90% of breakdowns are fixable, and 50% are easily fixable. From experience I can say that almost anyone can repair a fishing rod. Of course, if you self-critically decide that your hands are not growing from where you would like, then it is better to contact a workshop. But even such people are able to fix the breakdown; another thing is what the appearance of the repair site will be like.
For repairs, you may need the following tools and materials (depending on the type of damage): epoxy resin (preferably three-component), fiberglass, carbon fiber or carbon fiber, Kevlar tape, old film, old rod knees, file, sandpaper, tape, paraffin candle , waterproof varnish (black or clear), brush. Here, in principle, are all the materials and tools. Some hard-to-find materials can be replaced. For example, a Kevlar flagellum, which is extremely rare, can be replaced with a flat nylon thread (I often use a first generation spinning cord, that is, a flat cord woven in a “pigtail”). The flagellum itself looks like a flat rope, 2 to 5 millimeters wide, dark red or brown, or less often black. If there is no carbon fabric or carbon fiber, then you can get by with fiberglass alone.
The principle of eliminating any breakdown is simple. You insert a piece from an old fishing rod (this will be a repair sleeve) into the broken elbow so that the sleeve is 2-10 centimeters longer than the break point. That is, a bushing is inserted into each part of the broken elbow to an amount one and a half to two times greater than the longest crack in the column.
Using sandpaper, you grind the repair sleeve from the old elbow so that it fits tightly, with force. Be sure to remove all old protective varnish from the bushing until only the base (glass or carbon fiber) remains. Before final installation at the site of failure, it should be lubricated with epoxy resin.
Now we cut out a sheet of fiberglass (carbon fabric) that is 5–7 centimeters wider than the length of the breakage site and 1.5–2 times longer than the circumference of the knee at the breakage site. Before cutting, it is advisable to slightly moisten the fabric in epoxy resin and let it dry (a little!). This will make cutting much easier - the fabric will not fray.
Pour some epoxy resin into a flat container (saucer) and place fiberglass (carbon fiber) there. We wet it. Next, we wrap the moistened fiberglass cloth around the breakage site. The length of the fiberglass strip will allow you to wind 1.5–2 turns. Now you need to squeeze out the excess epoxy resin. For this you need film (you can also take film from video cassettes, although it is not so durable). We fix the end of the film with tape and begin to tightly wrap it around the broken area with a slight overlap. The shiny (varnished) side should be wound inward. After winding, secure the second end of the film with tape. Carefully remove excess (squeezed out by the film) epoxy resin. Let the product dry. Most epoxy resins harden better (acquire greater strength characteristics) at elevated temperatures. We begin the drying process with a hair dryer. This allows you to immediately remove excess extruded resin (it simply drips off). Next, I place the product above the gas stove at a height of about 1 meter above the flame of the burners. You can simply put the rod on the water heating radiator. After 24 hours, peel off the “adhesive tape” and roll up the film. The film does not stick to the epoxy, but even if this happens in some places, it can be easily eliminated with sandpaper. Now we sand the repaired area with sandpaper and varnish it.
This is the most standard situation. But if the breakdown occurs at the junction of the knees in a thicker knee, then the inner sleeve will interfere with the normal connection of the knees. Consequently, here the repair sleeve cannot be firmly fixed. Therefore, before installing the repair sleeve, you should lubricate it with paraffin and remove it after the operations described above. Epoxy resin does not stick to paraffin. For greater strength in this situation, after winding the fiberglass, you can wrap it with Kevlar tape, and then remove the excess “epoxy” with film. In such places (at the junction of the knees), it is advisable to increase the number of layers and the width of the fiberglass strip. After all, the places at the junction of the knees receive maximum load when casting and retrieving.
If a breakdown at the junction occurs in a thin elbow and it is possible to install an internal sleeve, then you can either do without external winding altogether, or wind it only with a flagellum. This is quite enough. Then we sand the repair area and varnish it. The rod should not be used for 2-3 days for the epoxy resin to completely harden. It is advisable to dry the repaired product (over a gas or electric stove) at a temperature of about 50...60 °C. Then the epoxy hardens better and its strength characteristics increase.
And one moment. It is better to work with heated resin, when it is not so thick and better wets the fiberglass. It should be heated under running hot water.
Video about rod repair
Best fishing rod for a beginner
A novice fisherman who is just beginning to learn all the intricacies of catching aquatic inhabitants should try his hand at simple gear. The best option would be a fly rod, but you need to assemble the tackle yourself. An important point will be how to choose a float for your fishing rod.
You can also try your hand at spinning fishing, but it is important to know how to choose a spinning reel for such purposes.
It is better to leave feeder fishing and fly fishing for later; these types of fishing will require a wider range of knowledge.
Equipment elements
For fishing, one rod blank is not enough; in addition to it, you need to select other elements of no less quality.
Reels
Choosing a spinning reel for float tackle is simple; the main indicators are:
- The size of the spool, the reel for a Bolognese fishing rod can have a size of 1000, this will be quite enough. A feeder fishing rod will require larger sizes, starting from 3000.
- The number of bearings directly affects the service life; the more, the better.
- The weight should be minimal so as not to weigh down the form.
Everyone has their own preferences regarding companies; you can ask a consultant for advice.
Rings
When choosing a fishing rod with rings, you should pay special attention to them. They should be located on two legs, while the distance to the form should be reduced closer to the whip.
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The quality of the inserts in the rings is important; it is better to choose titanium ones, but ceramics are also considered an excellent option.
When checking the rod when purchasing, go through each ring with your fingertips. This will help identify the presence of burrs and cracks, which will then damage the fishing line or cord.
Hooks
This consumable is selected depending on what bait will be used and what specimens live in the selected body of water. Float tackle and feeder will require numbers 5-9 according to the domestic classification, other types will require an individual approach.
fishing line
How to choose fishing line for a float rod? The criteria here are different, in most cases they use thin, light tackle, but the size of the inhabitants must be taken into account:
- for fishing with a float, 0.18-0.22 mm of fishing line is sufficient;
- spinning will require, depending on the test and the bait used, 0.2-0.3 thickness;
- the feeder needs stronger tackle, this includes 0.25-0.4 mm fishing line.
- Fly fishing is chosen depending on the bait used.
The important point will be the manufacturer; you should not be fooled by a low price.
Floats
How to choose a float for a fishing rod? Not much advice here:
- float tackle for a flywheel or lapdog is made delicate, so you need to choose a small float weight;
- match equipment requires heavier floats.
For spinning, such an element is not needed, but fly fishing and feeder use special products of this type.
Sinkers
They are selected strictly according to the weight of the floats; equipping the bottom tackle will require heavy weight sinkers so that the tackle does not drift away with the current.
Device
Rod build
The structure of a rod, or how it works when casting and landing fish, is determined by both its thickness and the material from which it is made.
| Build rods | Deflection length of the rod under load as a percentage of the tip |
| Extra-fast | 20-25 |
| Fast | 30 |
| Medium | 40-50 |
| Slow | Sluggish deflection along the entire length of the rod |
Rod action
A slow action rod bends along its entire length. Strong enough to land fish and resilient enough to withstand all its tugs, it allows for precise casting. Unfortunately, this rod often does not have enough hardness for sharp hooking, which requires good skills from the angler.
Medium action rods are strong and elastic enough for proper hooking and accurate casting. When landing fish, only the upper half of the rod bends.
With a fast action rod, only the upper third bends. Quite durable, it allows you to make long casts and sharp hooks, but the casting accuracy leaves much to be desired. Since only the upper third of it works, the rod is less sensitive when inserting a spoon.
Ultra-fast action is determined by the action of only the bending upper quarter of the rod. This type of rod has fantastic casting qualities and is often used in casting competitions and also for offshore fishing, but the other end of the rod, closer to the handle, remains little used. Therefore, when fishing on the coast using natural bait, a slow action rod is often used instead.
Rod length
Specific fishing conditions require a certain rod length. Boat fishing usually requires a short rod for light baits and a slightly longer rod for heavier baits. Fishing on a small river or stream often requires a longer rod to prevent the bait from getting caught in trees, bushes or grass on the bank, and to better control the bait in the flow of water. In large and open water areas it is better to use a long rod for long casts. As a rule, a long rod will cast further than a short rod, even if both are designed to carry the same bait weight. Long rods are more sensitive to unexpected jerks of the fish being caught, but they are inconvenient to use when fishing under low-hanging tree branches. Trolling rods are often too springy and not suitable for normal casting. Their main task is to distribute tension along the line to the bait when landing fish. For trolling with a downrigger in lakes and coastal waters, medium action rods are usually used, 240 - 270 centimeters long, with 10 - 12 guides. Telescopic rods are convenient for traveling anglers, but this design lacks many of the good qualities of solid rods. For a traveling fisherman, a 4-5 section fishing rod takes up little space, which is quite convenient.
Passing rings
Passage rings
Every angler wants to have maximum contact with the bait in the water. Since too many guides reduce the sensitivity of the rod, their quality is constantly improving; metal guides, for example, are now used less and less.
On a fishing day, many kilometers of fishing line pass through the guide rings, but they are the same 1 to 50 meters. The rings are designed to reduce friction and protect the line from wear. They must be durable so as not to be damaged by microscopic grains of sand, which often stick to wet fishing line. In addition, the guides should be lightweight and not so rigid that they do not affect the weight and performance of the rod. They should also distribute line tension along the entire length of the rod. An insufficient or excessive number of guides can negatively affect both the rod itself and its performance.
Decades ago, guide rings were made of chrome-plated steel, enameled metal, tungsten or ceramic. Nowadays, most rings are made from aluminum oxide, silicon carbide or “hardloy”. Although guides made from these three materials are commonly referred to as ceramic, they have nothing in common with the older guides, which were actually made from ceramic, and which can still be found on cheap saltwater fishing rods. Even the diameter of these rings is of great importance. Rods with spinning reels require larger diameter guides than those with multiplier reels or closed-spool reels. If you are fishing with a spinning reel and a rod with small diameter guides, the casting force is reduced, and the signal coming from the bait first reaches the rod and only then reaches the reel and handle.
Rod handles and reel seats
The shape of the rod handle depends in part on the type of reel. It can be a spinning reel, a closed-type spinning reel or a multiplier reel. Long rods usually have extended handles, allowing the angler to cast with both hands. Handles are made from various materials and covered with foam rubber, cork or other comfortable materials. Reel seats are located on the handle of the rod and are designed to secure the reel. Rods designed for baitcasting reels are in most cases equipped with a fixed reel seat. and spinning rods have a fixed or sliding reel seat, which may even consist of just two rings (sliding fasteners), allowing the reel to be secured anywhere on the handle.
How to choose fishing rod equipment
It is necessary to select equipment for a fishing rod individually and depending on what form was purchased:
- Spinning is characterized by an excellent reel, strong fishing line or cord, high-quality leashes and lures of appropriate weight.
- The feeder blank has a powerful reel that can hold a large trophy when hooking.
- Fly fishing is easy.
- A float with rings can have an inertial coil; everyone has their own preferences.
- The fly rod is equipped only with a fishing line, which is attached to the whip.
Now we know how to choose a reel for a fishing rod and the blank itself. Use the tips and recommendations and your gear will always be of excellent quality.
Pay attention when buying a fishing rod
Choosing a fishing rod
Today, thousands of different fishing rods are made from the same materials, but only a few dozen are recognized by anglers. That is why certain development companies become known, which spend huge amounts of money on design development and testing of new products, and the brands of these companies become known throughout the world. The cost of design and advertising costs, of course, is included in the price of the product, but not always.
Which factory the developer orders the direct production of the fishing rod from is his business. In the choice of production, only three factors are decisive: quality, price and integrity of the manufacturer. Quality depends on technology and materials. The price depends on the quality, timing and volume of the batch. These issues have now been perfectly resolved at all (and there are several dozen of them) factories in Korea and already at several factories in China. The production has passed international certification. What does this mean? It is not the rod itself that is certified according to international standards, but its production. Those. binders, fibers, production and quality control equipment. Since the standards are the same for everyone, it may happen that two fishing rods made in Korea and China will be exactly the same in their characteristics.
It is very important that at certified production facilities decency towards the customer is strictly observed, i.e. there is no uncontrolled replication of products using a particular brand. The breeder will never produce a product if the customer does not provide him with official documents for ownership of the trademark that he wants to see on the ordered rod. Therefore, if a manufacturer offers to write on a rod everything that is ordered, you should know that this is a “left-handed” production and the quality of such a rod will obviously be lower.
