What is a Spinning Rod & How to Choose a Spinning Rod: In this guide, we have tried explaining what is a spinning rod and how to choose a spinning rod for beginners. We hope this guide will help beginners pick the right spinning rod for their first fishing adventure.
Now, let us move to our first section: Features of a Spinning Rod.
Features of a Spinning Rod
Spinning rods are the best fishing rods for beginners. Ease of casting, lack of any backlashes as well as easily replaceable spools make them very popular with anglers. Spinning rigs work best with live baits and small lures The spinning rod, reel, and line selection you make depends on the fish species you wish to catch. Spinning rods come designed in such a way that the reel seat hangs below the rod.
Both beginning and seasoned anglers know quite well that choosing a spinning rod depends on several features. The features of a fishing rod determine its performance. You should consider these features carefully while choosing a spinning rod.
We will discuss some of the prominent features of spinning rods here. This would help us better understand what is a spinning rod.
Handle
The most common material used to make spinning rods’ handles is EVA and cork foam. Traditionalists would go for ones made of cork but the quality rods are made using both materials. Cork makes the highest quality rod handles. Rod handles made from EVA foam are resistant to stains.
Some spinning rods come with two handles. Models with two handles tend to produce better results, especially over long casting periods. Recently, spinning rods have undergone innovation, and rods with shorter foregrips are very popular.
A short foregrip allows the angler to place a finger on the rod blank. Once the finger is placed on the blank, any bite is detected no matter how delicate it is. Some spinning rods come with more ergonomic handles. These are preferred for day-long anglers due to their comfort.
Reel Seat
A reel seat is where the reel gets attached to the rod. A quality reel seat is very important, more so in case of fight stress when pressure is applied. Make sure that your rod comes with a reel seat that accepts reels from most major brands. Consider going for ones with cushioned hoods that snugly fit when tightened. It is also important to get yourself a matching reel to go with your spinning rod.
You can check out some of the Best Spinning Reels Under 150 and find one which goes with your rod. If you are looking for a budget option then check out the Best Spinning Reel Under 30 reviews to find a quality spinning reel at an affordable price.
Line Guides
Spinning rods have the line guides aligned on the blank’s bottom. The guides are aligned in a gradually descending size. As you move down towards the reel, the diameter of the line guide increases. On the other hand, the diameter of the line guide reduces as you move toward the rod’s tip.
The flexibility and length of the rod determine the number of line guides. A higher number of guides are required for more flexible rods or longer rods. The line guides affect the casting distance as well as the battle. Therefore it is important to consider the quality of line guides when choosing a spinning rod.
Rod Action
The rod action defines how the rod will perform while reeling and casting fish. Rod’s actions are categorized as slow, moderate, or fast. The action of a rod is also related to the weight and size of the baits you are using for fishing.
For instance, light action rods tend to achieve maximum casting distance with smaller baits or lures.
Blank Material
Most quality spinning rods these days are made from fiberglass, graphite, or a combination of them. Although graphite is considered rigid and fragile, it works best to bring out fighting power and flexibility in spinning rods.
Power
Fishing rods are classified as Heavy, Medium-heavy, Light, and Ultralight Fishing Rods. If you wish to catch smaller fish, then you should get fishing rods with less power. But if you plan to catch large fish such as bass, you should go for heavy or medium-heavy fishing rods.
Length
Longer spinning rods are suitable for fishing in lakes and other large water bodies. Long poles are heavier and hence have the capability to lift the heavy catch from deeper water bodies.
Shorter spinning rods are suitable for fishing in shallower water bodies such as ponds or rivers. But consider a long spinning rod for fishing on rivers with strong water currents.
So in this section, we discussed what is a spinning rod and its features of a spinning rod. Now, let us move on to our next section on how to choose a spinning rod.
How to Choose a Spinning Rod
Fishing is a fun, relaxing, invigorating, and entertaining activity to spend time on while on holiday. It can help you connect with nature.
When planning to go for your first fishing trip, your essentials list could feature many things. Fishing rod, reel, line, tackle, sunblock cream, insect repellents, fishing waders, and maybe a rain suit.
If you are a beginner, you should go for the best rod and reel combo for beginners. This would help you buy all the fishing gear you need for your first trip.
Well, in this section we will help you pick your first spinning rod.
We are sure you have plenty of questions on your mind while checking out different types of fishing rods. But the first thing is to look for ease of use.
Do you want a high-maintenance product? The one that needs over-lubrication, that gets clogged when exposed to water, dust, and sand. Of course, not. If you are looking for a pleasant fishing experience, you need a spinning rod that is:
- Ideal for beginners
- Comfortable and easy to use
- Durable, and a high quality
- Suitable for all types of fishing
Also, look for a spinning rod that offers a wider spool for reduced line twists and increased casting distance.
Now, we will help you choose the right spinning rod step by step.
Step 1: Decide Whether You Need a Light or a Heavy Rod
Check how much pressure you have to apply to bend the rod. You could see the rating for the product, on a scale of 1 to 5, to know which is the easiest. Heavier rods are better for fishing but require more control.
Light rods are great if you plan to fish in shallow waters or if you are looking to capture smaller fish. We recommend beginners to go for Light or Medium-Heavy rods, which can be used to catch most fish such as trout, bass, etc.
If you are out fishing for trout then you can read some of the popular Best Trout Fishing Rods to help you pick a rod.
Step 2: Check the Flexibility
Flexibility is how much the rod would bend. You can check the speed rating to know when the rod will stop bending. An ultra-fast rod, for instance, can only bend up to 3-4 inches. The flexibility will determine whether you can catch lightweight or heavy fish.
Step 3: Check the Rod Length
Fishing rods come in different lengths. The longer the length, the farther the cast. You are also bound to get a better swing on longer rods.
But shorter rods can help you easily maneuver when you catch a fish. We recommend beginners go for rods 6 to 8 feet long.
If you are traveling or hiking, then you can get one of the Best Backpacking Fishing Rods. It will comfortably fit inside your backpack, yet it is long enough to help you catch most fish species that you can target on a hiking trip.
Step 4: Check the Bait System
You have two choices here – crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Choose one according to where you would be fishing. Crankbaits work better in shallow waters. Most crankbaits come with a treble hook that just about goes inside the mouth of the fish. Crankbaits work great with spinning rods as they offer the right power and speed.
There are also a few other things to look at, like the grip you need and whether the fishing rod fits your hands perfectly. EVA foam and cork are the two materials normally used to make fishing rod grips. The material of the rod plays a part too – you should go for rods made of either graphite or fiberglass. Spinning rods made of graphite are lighter but the ones made of fiberglass are more durable.
Most beginners use either baitcasting rods or spinning rods for fishing. You can watch this YouTube video to understand the difference between baitcasting rods and spinning rods.
You might also want to check the line guides, and whether they are durable. Line guides help you detect the bite and transfer the fishing line through the rod blank.
We hope we were able to answer the questions What is a Spinning Rod and How to Choose a Spinning Rod.
Last Updated on December 9, 2023 by Victor Mays
