Fishing Rods for Right Fishing Experience

Today’s fishing rods have incorporated modern features that are not typical of the more primitive cane pole. Modern fishing rods contain reels, which aid in the retrieval of fish caught.

A much-sophisticated feature is the spinning rod where the entire shaft of the rod except the handle can move around on its axis to allow flexibility when fish caught on snare bait struggles through the water.

Like the classic cane fishing rods, the fishing gadget is thick at the handle (bottom) and is tapered and thinner at the tip. This very basic design allows handling stability and flexible movement of the entire length of the shaft.

Types of Fishing Rods

A fishing rod can measure 2 to 16 feet (2 and 5 m) and vary in capability to tolerate strain in fishing activity. The length has a lot to do with withstanding force exerted by the fish to the pole and determines for the most part the performance of rods used for angling.

Cane Poles

Cane poles are one of the longest and less sophisticated gadgets in fishing. It is usually made of bamboo or other flexible wood material with the most basic line or string attached to it. They range anywhere from 6 to 16 feet long.

Unlike other more sophisticated fishing rods, cane poles do not usually contain reels or its equivalent for reeling in or retrieving fish caught on bait. This very same action is known as angling.

The cane pole was the first rod used and it was the fore father of our modern day rods. It is still around today and I have many fond memories of going fishing with one when I was very young. I’m not giving my age out, but the children’s “Snoopy Fishing Rod” was not around yet!

Spin/Bait Casting Rods

Casting rods are rods designed to hold a casting reel, which are normally mounted above the handle. Bait casting rods also have small eyes and a forefinger grip trigger. They are very similar to spin casting rods, to the point where either type of reel may be used on a particular rod. The main difference between the two, are that bait casting rods tend to have smaller eyes and the spinning rod has large eyes.


These types of rods are the most popular today. They can be used either for heavyweight or lightweight fish, to me, are the best for trout, walleye, and bass fishing. They vary in measurements from 5 to 8 feet and come in a variety of actions.

These rods are commonly used in bass fishing competition because of their flexibility and tolerance to stress.

Ultra-light Rods

These rods are used to fish for smaller species, they provide more sport with larger fish, or to enable fishing with lighter line and smaller lures..

Ultra-light spinning and casting rods are generally shorter (4’ – 5’), lighter, and more limber than normal rods. Tip actions vary from light to heavy, depending upon the target fish. These rods are popular when fishing for pan size fish such as crappie, bluegill, perch, and other small species.

Ice Fishing Rods

These are typically very short spinning rods, and vary between 24 and 36 inches long. They are used to fish through holes in the ice of frozen lakes, rivers and ponds.

Surf Rods

Surf rods look like a spin or bait casting rod with long grip handles intended for casting two-handed. Usually around 10 to 14 feet in length, surf casting rods need to be longer in order for the user to cast the lure or bait beyond the breaking surf where fish tend to hang out, and sturdy enough to cast heavily weighted lures or baits needed to stay on the bottom in rough water. They are almost always used when fishing from the beach.

Fly Rods

Fly fishing rods are long, thin, flexible fishing rods designed to cast a fly, usually consisting of a hook tied with fur or feathers. Instead of a weighted lure, a fly rod uses the weight of the fly line for casting, and lightweight rods are capable of casting the very smallest and lightest fly.

Each rod is sized to the fish being sought, the wind and water conditions and also to a particular weight of line: larger and heavier line sizes will cast heavier, larger flies. Fly rods come in a wide variety of line sizes, from #0 rods for the smallest freshwater trout and pan fish up to and including #16 rods for large saltwater game fish.

Fly rods tend to have a single, large-diameter line guide, with a number of smaller looped guides spaced along the rod to help control the movement of the relatively thick line. To prevent interference with casting movements, most fly rods usually have little or no handle. However, the spey rod, a fly rod with an elongated rear handle for two handed casting, is often used for fishing either large rivers or saltwater surf casting.

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