Let’s talk about Fishing Rods!
But first, listen to this:
For an activity like fishing, the equipment is as important as skill, if not more. The choice of equipment should ideally be carefully considered as per the kind of fishing you intend to do with it.
For example, equipment ideal for catching small blue gill in your neighbourhood pond would be different from that required to go get big fresh water catches like the Large Sturgeon.
Here we review some of the most popular fishing rods and we have been careful to cover a variety of rods for different types of fishing techniques and different levels of skills of the user.
While picking and reviewing these rods, we have kept in mind the following factors b
1. Ease of carrying while travelling
2. Intended Technique of fishing
3. Material, flexibility and sensitivity of the rod.
4. Skill level of the user
Introduction
Fishing rods have come a long way from their humble beginnings. Back in the day, a Fishing rods was nothing but a long bamboo-stick or a pole with a line attached to it. This line ended in a hook and to lure fish, live baits or lures (an object that resembles the shape of live bait) was used.
With the advent of recreational fishing, there have been remarkable improvements in the design of the Fishing rods which is now made of fibreglass or carbon fibre and comes in a plethora of sizes and designs to suit the needs of various types of fishing activities such as Fly-Fishing, Ice Fishing,Fresh-water fishing,Salt Water Fishing, to name a few.
Compare: Best Fishing Rods
| Attribute | KastKing BlackHawk Telescopic Fishing Rods | Shimano FXS 2 Piece Spinning Rod | Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Rod |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Length | 5b10b b 10b10b | 5b b 9b | 6b6b |
| Rod construction | Telescopic (Collapsible) | 2- piece | 2-piece |
| Rod Material | Carbon Fibre & E-Glass | Aeroglass | E-Glass/ Graphite core |
| Fisher skill level | Medium-Advanced | Beginner-Advanced | Medium-Advanced |
| Line Guides | Stainless steel with ceramic inserts | Aluminum Oxide | Stainless steel |
| Rod Type | Spinning | Spinning | Casting |
| Price |
KastKing BlackHawk Telescopic Fishing Rods
The name telescopic is derived from the mechanism of concentric circles that allow different parts of the rod to slide into each other all the way down and collapse the rod into a fraction of its size, making it convenient to carry around when you travel to fish.
KastKing BlackHawk Telescopic Fishing Rods is a perfect solution for enthusiasts looking for a solid, durable spinning rod with high quality workmanship. This rod is made of high density carbon fiber and E-Glass composite and is available in a large range of sizes starting from 5’10” to 10’10”.
The KastKing BlackHawk offers the appropriate measure of affectability, weight, and adjust so that the fisher has the freedom to target a large range of catch. With a large range of sizes and lengths, this versatile rod can be the instrument of choice for a range of activities such as freshwater bass trout fishing, saltwater surf fishing and inshore fishing.
It comes with a solid construction, three point welded stainless steel guides with ceramic inserts for use with braided or mono fishing line that provide saltwater corrosion resistance and power control. It can easily be collapsed into a comfortable size that can even fit into a backpack. Carrying it around to the perfect spot has never been easier.
Shimano FXS 2 Piece Spinning Rod
A two-piece rod is preferred for its mobility. It would allow you to fold it and carry it around with ease. The spinning action comes with its own benefits and drawbacks, as we will see further down in this guide.
For now, it should be sufficient to say that a spinning rod would be a good choice for beginners or amateurs. Having said that we do not mean that it is not good for experts! As for the Shimano FXS 2 Piece Spinning Rod, a product of Shimano company of Japan, with a strong legacy of manufacturing high precision sports equipment since 1921, it is perfect for the budget fishing enthusiasts and those who are starting out.
It is value for every dollar spent on this. Although this rod may be a little less sensitive as compared the rods that beginners should generally start out with, but given its solid construction of aero glass material, this rod boasts a great balance.
The delicate build of this rod has the line slide through aluminium oxide guides and the reel placed on a graphite reel seat that does not add weight to the rod but instead balances off the weight of the rod, giving it much required stability. The handle is covered in EVA foam grip, lending a sleek look to the rod.
This is yet again one of the versatile lot of rods, suitable for sea as well as freshwater fishing and can be cast long distances. At its relatively low price point, it is definitely a good buy for beginners and also worth considering for experts and more experienced enthusiasts as a second or back-up rod.
Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Rod (10-25-Pound Test), 6.5-Feet/Medium-Heavy
Ah! a fine casting rod, the dream of many a fisher. A casting rod is more of an experts tool. Unlike a reeling rod, to cast with a bait-casting rod, you hold it in your hand like you would a tennis racket with the reel facing up toward you and it needs to be manually controlled using the fingers of the fisher. It has a much larger range of casting as compared to its reeling counterparts.
One of the best casting rods around at the disposal of fishers, the Shakespeare Ugly GX2 has evolved over time and refined itself both technologically and cosmetically at each checkpoint in its evolution journey.
The new versions of this iconic rod delivers improved reliability, strength and durability, without compromising on the tradition and strength of its predecessors. It comes in fifteen different models, each one with a different combination of rod length, power and lure rating.
An excellent rod for casting technique it comes in a one piece or a two-piece build and a length that ranges from five feet six inches to seven feet six inches. Super sensitive to even the faintest strike, it is also capable of packing a punch of strength when it is required to do so.
It boasts a new reel seat design made of a combination of graphite and fibreglass that strikes the perfect balance between strength, sensitivity and balance, the most desired traits from a good fishing rod. Even aesthetically, it has proven that it is in fact the product of its evolution that it’s makers claim it to be. It brings together a fine balance of the modern and traditional look.
It has a sleek matte finish with silver and red accent highlights for the sporty feel, while retaining the classic diamond wind above the grip that generations of loyalists have been fond of.
Fishing Rods: Buyer’s Guide
After a brief description of some of the better fishing rods out there, we now introduce you to the various factors that go into making a choice of your ideal fishing rod. Fishing rods come in a wide variety of models with different combinations of various parameters.
Depending on your level of skill and the kind of fishing you are interested in doing, different parameters come into play and making an informed decision based on all these factors will help you make a long lasting choice and give you a bang for your buck.
Length: The length of a rod is measured form end to end that is from the tip to the end of the butt. Rods come in a range starting from 4 feet and go up to 14 feet. Longer rods usually have dismantling mechanism for easier transportation.
Shorter rods are for short range casting, are useful for light weight lures. They also allow for better handling while fighting a fish. Since their range is short, they are more suitable for fishing while on a boat and not good for surfcasting (fishing from the shore).
Longer rods on the other hand have a larger range and are good for fly fishing or slightly heavier lures. They are slightly less agile as compared to shorter rods.
Weight: The weight of a rod is indicative of its strength or basically how much load it can carry. While deciding on how heavy your rod should be, you should keep in mind the lures and baits you intend to use and of course the size of your prey.
Power: How strong is the rod itself? You need to be sure that the rod is powerful enough to be able to carry the load of itself, the bait/ lure and the species of fish you are trying to catch. For large fish like Groupers, Muskies and stripers, you will need a heavy and powerful rod whereas for smaller species such as crappie, bluegill, and other panfish a lighter, smaller and therefore more flexible and relatively less powerful rod should be your tool of choice.
Action: Action in case of a fishing rods is that point along the length of the rod where it bends. Based on action, rods can be put under multiple categories starting from ultra-light to heavy, corresponding to the point of inflection or point of bending closer to the handle/ base of the rod to the point being closer to the tip.
A heavy action signifies a strong spine of the rod and therefore should be the instrument of choice to catch the heavier or larger species of fish. Rods with a lighter action are more suitable for catching smaller species of fish.
Material: Fishing rods are usually made of graphite or fibre glass or both. Graphite is the more expensive option out of the two, owing to its high sensitivity. They are light and somewhat stiff because of which they sometimes tend to break easily.
Fibreglass rods on the other hand are heavier and more flexible. They are therefore more sturdy as compared to graphite but lack sensitivity. The most preferred rods are those which are made out of a combination of both as they can come into use for different kinds of fishing techniques, locations and catch.
Choice of reel: The kind of reel being used has a big role to play in the quality of the rod and, of course, your fishing experience. Reels can be spinning or casting. Spinning reels are more convenient. They are easier to manage in that they do not tend to tangle easily, are good to be used for lighter lures, and takes up most of the responsibility after you have thrown in your lure.
Although they allow lesser control, but they save the trouble of manually controlling your cast, allowing better chances to land a catch and therefore ideal for beginners. A casting reel however allows more control on your cast by allowing you to work your thumbs and therefore higher degree of accuracy. It is however tangle prone, not be very easy to manage and therefore better left in the hands of experienced fishers.
Best Fishing Rods: Conclusion
In conclusion, a few tips may come in handy to make this decision easier for you. While considering which rod to buy, you might want to quickly evaluate your choice based on the following factors b
Spend according to your skill level.
Needless to say, a beginner should go for rods in the lower price range while an expert can venture into the higher price range as he/ she might have the knowledge and experience to understand their needs and accordingly compare their choices. Spinning rods are more suitable for beginners as compared to casting rods owing to ease of use and convenience in managing the chord.
Figure out where you are more likely to fish,
Are you more likely to go down to your neighbourhood lake or are you the type to make a trip out of it? If the latter what you are looking for, then choosing a rod which can easily be dismantled into multiple pieces and which can easily be packed away might be a good idea for you. These will obviously be more expensive than the one piece rods which would be more suitable for fishing not far from where you live.
What kind of bait would you use?
If you are a fan of live bait, you might want a more sensitive rod so that you can feel gentle movements in the water. Using lures warrants the use of a stiffer rod which allows more flexibility of mirroring the movement of your prey to land a nice catch.
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You might want to hear this:
Charles T. said…
“Rod looks good & the grip & guide eyes are top notch quality, especially for the price. Took this rod on vacation to Florida for pier fishing. The compact size makes this rod easy to pack & carry when traveling.”
Jan 8, 2024 
Jan 8, 2024 
Jan 8, 2024 
Jan 8, 2024 
Jan 8, 2024