Fishing Deals Buying Guide - How to buy a Saltwater Rod

• Types
• Length and Weight
• Taper and Action
• Lure/Line Weight
• Materials/Construction

There are three basic considerations when buying the right Saltwater Fishing Rod: your experience, your preferred way of fishing and the type of fish you're after. You then have a choice of several styles of rods to get the job done.

Types:

There are three main types/styles of rods--baitcasting, overhead and spinning/threadline. The type of rod you buy depends as much on the reel you buy as the type of fishing that you plan to do.

Baitcasting rods

*Baitcasting rods suit a baitcasting reel
*The reel and line are seated on top of the rod with the guides facing upwards
*A trigger grip, a grip that looks similar to a trigger on a gun, lets you hold the rod securely while keeping your thumb on the spool to control how much line will come out when casting

Overhead rods

*SImilar to the baitcasting rod, however they suit an overhead/drum style reel
*The reel and line are seated on top of the rod with the guides facing upwards
*They are most commonly used for game fishing, trolling, bottom bouncing etc, as the line comes out straight from the drum of the reel through the guides

Spinning or Threadline rods

*Spinning rods use a spinning reel which hangs underneath the rod and so do the guides
*The rods handle length is balanced against the rods length
*Trigger grips are not used on these type of rods

Length & Weight:

Length and weight depend of the type of fish you are tageting and your fishing style.

Bottom Bouncing

*These rods are usually 6ft, 6'6ft, or 7ft in length - but can also be longer depending on the size of the boat fishing from
*The most common type of line weight is between 15-30lb (8-15kg) breaking strain
*Baitcast reels can also be used

Boat/Game

*These rods are usually shorter in length and range from 5'3ft to 6ft.
*The most common type of line weight is between 20-80lb (10-37kg) breaking strain
*They can either be an overhead or spinning type of rod, depending on the reel used and personal preference
*They are also usually 1 piece rods as there is usually room to store them in the boat
*Fully rollered rods are generally used when targeting larger pelagic species or sharks as they assist the line to go through smoothly

Surf Casting

*These style of rods are generally longer in length and range from 10ft to 16ft
*They are usually used when fishing from a surf beach, rock fishing, or pier fishing and assist in casting a long distance due to their length
*They do come in either overhead or spinning models depending on the reel being used and personal preference
*The most common type of line weight is between 15-30lb (8-15kg) breaking strain

Taper and Action:

Action

*Fishing rod tapers describe how much a fishing rod bends or flexes under pressure. Different tapers are used for different fishing scenarios as well as for personal preference.
*The action of a taper is described by the flex of the tip of a rod when pressure is applied perpendicular to the rod. Only the tip of the rod should bend while the remainder of the rod should stay rigid.
*Variations can be described in three main categories, fast, medium, or slow with variations in between each.
*A rod with a fast taper will only flex the top 20 percent. Medium fast and medium tapers will flex approximately 30 to 40 percent of the top of the rod respectively. If the rod has a slow taper, almost the entire rod or blank will bend or flex under pressure.

Usage

*Rod taper is important for several reasons. The feel for the lure being used and the fish being caught dictate the appropriate taper use.
*A fast action tip will be used when fishing jig type lures. The angler can feel and therefore control what the lure is doing quite easily. Since only the very tip of the rod bends, when a fish strikes the angler has ample rod shaft and backbone to set the hook correctly.
*In contrast to fast tapers, the slow flex rods offer the angler advantages when fighting large fish with light fishing line. This additional flex allows the rod to absorb the force of the fish as opposed to the line.

Lure/Line Weight:

*Lure and line weight also play into rod selection. The heavier these are, the longer and heavier the rod that you should buy.

Materials/Construction:

Most rods today are made from either carbon fibre, fiberglass, or a composition of these two materials.

Carbon Fibre

*Fishing rod tapers describe how much a fishing rod bends or flexes under pressure. Different tapers are used for different fishing scenarios as well as for personal preference.
*The action of a taper is described by the flex of the tip of a rod when pressure is applied perpendicular to the rod. Only the tip of the rod should bend while the remainder of the rod should stay rigid.
*Variations can be described in three main categories, fast, medium, or slow with variations in between each.
*A rod with a fast taper will only flex the top 20 percent. Medium fast and medium tapers will flex approximately 30 to 40 percent of the top of the rod respectively. If the rod has a slow taper, almost the entire rod or blank will bend or flex under pressure.

Usage

*Rod taper is important for several reasons. The feel for the lure being used and the fish being caught dictate the appropriate taper use.
*A fast action tip will be used when fishing jig type lures. The angler can feel and therefore control what the lure is doing quite easily. Since only the very tip of the rod bends, when a fish strikes the angler has ample rod shaft and backbone to set the hook correctly.
*In contrast to fast tapers, the slow flex rods offer the angler advantages when fighting large fish with light fishing line. This additional flex allows the rod to absorb the force of the fish as opposed to the line.