A Fishing Rod is probably the very first bit of coarse fishing tackle to consider when beginning to fish. There are many factors to consider when choosing the type of rod you wish to use:
- Length of rod
- Type of Rod
- Fishing Method (e.g. Float fishing or Ledgering)
- The species you are fishing for
- Type of fishing Venue (ie Lake, River, Sea)
- Cost
- Manufacturer
Length of Rod
Don’t think that you need to buy a 6 foot rod for a small child because it suits his size. My very first rod was a 6 foot rod, and although I did manage to catch fish with it, it was actually quite difficult to cast out effectively in the circumstances. A 6 foot rod would indeed be useful in certain situations, but for a beginner learning to floatfish in a lake for Roach or small Carp, a 12 foot float rod would suit much better. A 12 foot rod made from Carbon will only weigh a few ounces, so will not be a problem for a child to hold.A Rod of 12 foot will allow you to quite easily (with a bit of practice), cast gently underarm or even lower a float in the margins. If you are quiet, stealthy and present your tackle properly you can catch all sizes of fish just a few feet or even inches from the bank. I have caught some of my biggest Carp just inches from the bank or close in between reed beds. If you choose to target bigger species like Carp using ledgering tactics where you may need to cast up to 100 yards, you could choose rods between 10 and 14 foot, depending on the distance you need to cast and the species you are fishing for. A match rod of 14 foot would give great control when fished with a stick float fixed top and bottom while trotting on a river. A shorter float rod of 11 foot may suit a narrow canal. A good all-round feeder and ledger rod would typically be around 10 or 11 feet.
Rod Lengths 6 foot 10 to 12 foot 14 to 17 foot
Type of Rod
Nowadays, most rods are made from Carbon Fibre, which is a very strong, light, flexible material which is now very cost effective. Before the introduction of Carbon rods around 30 years ago, rods were made from Glass Fibre - which is a strong material, but heavier and not as flexible. When Carbon rods first hit the market they were considerably more expensive than Glass Fibre, but now Carbon rods can cost from as little of £20 and as much as £500 +. The higher priced rods are usually slimmer and lighter and have quality lined rings, they are guaranteed for a lifetime and designed by top anglers and manufacturers.
Rod action and Tips.
If you choose to float fish on a river with a stick float then a float rod with a spliced tip would be recommended. If however you choose to long-range waggler fish then a hollow tipped rod with a more through-action would suit better. Hollow tipped rods would suit the all-rounder floatfishing angler as spliced rods have more of a tip action which can be limiting.
Test-Curve Rating.
Specialist ledger rods are given test curve ratings. A 1lb or 1.5lb rod is classed as soft-actioned, whereas a 2lb to 2.5lb test curve rating is a good all-rounder with plenty of power. A 3lb test-curve rating would suit anglers casting long-range for carp in large pits or pike with big leads and heavy bait. Recommended: Float Fishing Rods Ledger Fishing Rods Fly Fishing Rods Sea Fishing Rods Carp Fishing Rods
Fishing Method
Rods are designed today for the many different fishing methods available. The main categories are Float Rods, Ledger Rods, Feeder Rods (or Quiver Tip), Fly Rods, Beachcasting Rods, Boat Rods. Within these categories there are many sub-categories such as Float Rods for Lakes or Rivers, there are Ledger Rods intended for short or long range casting and there are Power Quiver Tip rods intended for catching big fish on rivers. There are also specialized rods for Plug fishing for Pike or Floater Fishing for Carp. There is no hard or fast rule about which rod you use for a particular method of fishing, at the end of the day it’s what suits the angler for the particular method and species they are after. The specialized rods have however been crafted by experienced anglers over the years that wish to tailor their rods for a specific niche in their fishing.
The species you are fishing for
Most freshwater fish or coarse fish such as Roach, Bream, Chub, Dace, Bleak as well as similar sized species such as Perch, Tench, Small Carp can be caught using Float Fishing tackle. A 12 to 14 foot rod would suit most situations on lakes and rivers. If you were to become more specialized and target just Carp for example, you may want to consider a 2lb test curve carp rod for medium to long range casting. You can buy specialist rods for all the individual species of fish. Each specialist rod has its own unique characteristics designed for the species of fish and the type of venue you choose to fish.
Carp Fishing Rods, Bream Fishing Rods, Catfish Fishing Rods, Tench Fishing Rods, etc..
Cost
Rods can range from £20 for basic beginners rods up to £500 plus for top of the range specialists rods. Obviously you will need to buy within your budget and requirements. You will also need to consider all the other tackle that needs to go with the rod. You wouldn’t want to spend £200 on a decent specimen rod then attach a budget £10 reel to that rod. Although available on the market now are some reasonably made and good looking reels for as low as £10 to £20.You may want to consider buying a Fishing Kit. These are complete fishing kits designed for the beginner angler to get started. These can range in price from £100 to £500 and will obviously differ in quality and content.
£20-£30 £30-£50 £50-£75 £75-£100 £100-£200 £200-£500
Manufacturers
There are many Rod manufacturers in the UK and indeed the world. The top manufacturers have been making quality tackle for many years and have established a good reputation with many anglers. Some anglers often have their preference to stick with one manufacturer for their rods, but may buy reels from another manufacturer. The choice is fairly broad.List of Leading Rod Manufacturers: Daiwa Leeds Shakespeare Etc …
Type of Venue
Most still water lakes and canals favour float fishing tactics with a general purpose 12 to 14 foot match rod or light to medium ledger tactics with a 1lb to 2lb test curve ledger rod. When river fishing you could still use the same general purpose float tackle gear, but consider the particular river. If fishing the middle stretches of the River Severn targeting Barbel for example, you would usually need a fairly sturdy Quiver Tip rod to cast feeders between 1 and 4 ozs. If fishing a big pit full of huge carp in France you will probably need a 12 to 14 foot rod with a 3lb test curve for casting 3 or 4 oz weights up to 150 yards.Before fishing a venue, make sure you understand its characteristics and types and sizes of fish, and what methods work there so that you choose the correct rod and tackle for the job.
Lake Rods, River Rods, Fly Rods, Canal Rods, Sea Rods