Fishing Rods and Reels

"Where do fish go to borrow money?…A loan shark"

We know it can be a tough decision when choosing a fishing rod and reel. There are so many choices and what you get can actually make a difference in how your fishing adventures unfold. Are you looking for budget friendly rods and reels or the more costly performance types? Or would you like a little of both? We have found some great options for this decision and they can fit into most budgets and perform quite well. We of course have our favorites and we will share those with you as well. We would like to hear what your favorite is too. Are you a heavy hitter or a light weight champ? Every person is comfortable with different styles and it is our hope that we can help you find yours.

Fishing Rods

Fishing rods come in a few different types and are good for different types of fishing. In this section, we will give you an overview of the basic types of fishing rods and what they are best used for. We hope we can make your next rod purchase a bit easier.

Bait Casting Rods

Bait Casting rods are typically used with conventional reels and are great for use with lures, bait, and bottom fishing. These are also referred to as casting rods and may not be a good answer for beginners. They are built for heavy action and muscling through the weeds. They can handle the heavy hitters in the lure and bait world effectively.

Spinning Rods

Spinning rods can do virtually everything that a casting rod can; they just use a spinning reel instead of a casting reel. These are good for beginners because they are easier to use and do not have the tangling problems casting rods can. They can tolerate stress and weight very well and come in ultra light, light, medium, and heavy action varieties.

Spincast Rod

Spincast rods are typically used in combination with a closed spincast reel. They are usually about 5-6 feet in length and handle lightweight action fairly well. There have been some recent heavy action additions to the type that are said to perform fairly well.

Remember to pay attention to the action of the rod. Basic actions are ultra light, light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy action rods. You will want to coordinate the action of the rod to the action of the reel. A few other things to remember in regards to rods is longer rods usually mean longer casts, shorter rods mean heavier line, ceramic guides offer smoother operation. It is important to have an idea of what type of fish you will be hoping to catch when choosing a rod. Go with what is comfortable as well. Being uncomfortable with how your rod feels in your hand will not make your fishing experience any smoother.

Fishing Reels

So you want to start fishing and you do not know what kind of reel to get? Or maybe you have been fishing for a while and are unsure what type of reel to use next. We have the breakdown of the basic types of reels and what they are best used for.

Spin Cast Reel

A spin cast reel is typically a closed reel and is best for beginner fisherpersons and kids. They are extremely easy to use and they work quite well for the beginner fisher. They are great for fishing small and medium sized fish and for the casual fisherperson. These reels are also very inexpensive which is another good reason they are good for beginners and kids. These reels are very easy to learn but they do have their down sides. These reels do not have very much line capacity so if you need more line or heavier test, this may not be the reel for you. They can also be difficult when attempting to retrieve a lure at a faster rate. Accuracy is another downfall, they are not the most accurate when casting.

Spinning Reel

Spinning reels are open reels that come in a variety of sizes in order to handle different test line, a wider variety of lures, and bigger fish. They can be very useful when longer casting is needed. Although they are slightly limited in regards to where they can be used, they have a higher line capacity and a smoother drag. They can give the sensitivity you need for smaller fish if you are using an ultra light model as well as the strength in the heavier, larger models.

Bait Casting Reel

A bait casting reel is best used by experienced anglers. These reels can be difficult to learn, but they do have fantastic variety and strength. These reels also come in a variety of sizes for premium performance with whatever you are fishing for. Bait casting reels are best for use with heavier line, lures, and larger fish. Accuracy is another positive for these reels because with your thumb controlling the cast, you can virtually pinpoint where to cast. When using this type of reel it is important to control the pressure of your thumb. If you allow the line to release faster than it can travel through the guides, it can cause the line to tangle badly.