Spinning rod: how to choose one

The choice of the fishing rod is very important. In fact, a wrong decision can compromise the entire fishing day. There are many criteria to consider according to your fishing style, your needs and the place where you usually fish.

Pay attention to the spinning rod length

The length of a fishing rod is measured from the tip to the end of the butt. Usually, fishing rods range from about 1.80 meters up to 3.5 meters, and the longest ones are often partitioned into several sections to facilitate transport. As always, the rule to apply is to choose according to where and what you fish. The shorter rods reach smaller distances and are used for light baits, allowing for better handling when luring fish. This is why they are suitable for boat fishing or trolling. Longer rods like the spinning rod, on the other hand, can reach longer casting distances and are perfect for long-distance fishing, or if you are fishing along shores far from the water with very heavy baits.

Choose the rod according to casting power

The so-called casting power of a rod describes how much weight a rod is able to stand and, therefore, how "strong" it is. The weight is calibrated according to the bait it can cast, or on the basis of the "pound test". The latter is the maximum weight that can be supported by the fishing line used with that particular rod. Each rod has a limit on the usable thread: a thread too robust would compromise the barrel which would break. This happens because the braided fishing line is more powerful than the rods and triggers the breaking of the tip. Thus, in conclusion, we should be mindful that on light weight fishing rods there are no great margins of tolerance and, therefore, we must scrupulously follow the recommended fishing line specifications. Finally, keep an eye on fishing rod materials.  Graphite fishing lines are lighter and stiffer, and are much more sensitive to vibrations, although they are more fragile than fiberglass fishing lines.

What is the fishing rod action?

The action of a fishing rod describes where the rod bends when pressure is applied to the rod. A light action bends closer to the butt, while a heavy action means that it bends nearer to the tip. The latter has a more rigid backbone on the barrel and it is, therefore, recommended for catching medium-large fish. A lighter rod, on the other hand, is used with low-weight baits and for small-sized prey. The action of a fishing rod can also be fast or moderate, indicating the bending speed of the rod from the top down. Fast spinning rods are more suitable for spin fishing.