| Over the years, fishing rods have been | | | | line around the reel. Note that it |
| made out of just about everything, from | | | | always pays to buy the highest quality |
| bamboo to fiberglass and graphite. When | | | | line. Cheaper line has a tendency to |
| choosing a rod you really need to find | | | | coil up and cause a lot of knots. If |
| one that feels good to you. The material | | | | your reel is a closed reel, slide a |
| it is made from, the length, the weight, | | | | pencil through the center of the fishing |
| and the flexibility all determine its | | | | line spool, and have someone else hold |
| 'feel'. But first, you need to determine | | | | the spool to keep tension on the line as |
| what type of fishing you want to do. | | | | you begin to reel it in. Never place too |
| Different types of fishing and different | | | | much tension on the line as you are |
| conditions require different types of | | | | reeling it in or it can cause the line |
| equipment. Longer rods, over 6 1/2 feet | | | | to stretch, twist and cause knots. If |
| are better suited for heavier bait, and | | | | you have an open-faced reel, then just |
| more aggressive fish, like catfish, | | | | put the spool on the floor and let the |
| salmon and bass. They are also easier to | | | | reel keep the proper tension. Be sure to |
| cast longer distances than short rods. | | | | have the spool facing in the direction |
| Short rods, however, are better suited | | | | so that the line is feeding off of it in |
| for fishing in heavy cover, like bushes | | | | a counterclockwise manner. All you need |
| and tall grass. They also work well for | | | | to do, is let the line feed through your |
| smaller fish like perch and crappie. | | | | fingers as it goes on to the reel. Crank |
| Start by asking a salesperson for a | | | | 20 times or so and then check to see if |
| reel. You should always try out new rods | | | | the line is twisting or not. If it is, |
| with a reel attached to get an accurate | | | | try turning the spool of line over. Then |
| feel for the rod’s performance. Then | | | | continue reeling in the line until it |
| take a couple rods off the rack and act | | | | fills the spool on the reel within 1/8 |
| as if you were casting them. Move the | | | | of an inch from the edge. |
| rod tip back and forth to see if it | | | | Periodically check your line to see if |
| feels flexible or stiff. Try longer ones | | | | it is still in good shape. A good way to |
| and shorter ones. See how the grip fits | | | | do this is to strip off a lot of line |
| into your palm. Lighter, more flexible | | | | and then reel it in through your finger |
| rods allow you to 'feel' the fish more. | | | | tips. This way you can feel if there are |
| Increased sensitivity can help you | | | | any tiny knicks or knots in the line. |
| strike more fish. Also, lighter rods | | | | Over time, rocks and sticks in the water |
| reduce fatigue and stress. If you’re | | | | knick the line and cause these weak |
| fishing from sun up to sun down, | | | | areas. Also, visually inspect the line |
| you’ll feel the difference in your | | | | as you are reeling it back in. Note that |
| muscles by the end of the day. | | | | when stripping off a lot of line you run |
| Spinning rods allow for greater casting | | | | the risk of creating a rats nest out of |
| distance when using lightweight lures. | | | | your line. One way to avoid this is by |
| They have a different action than other | | | | tying your line on to another fishing |
| types of rods. They are also better for | | | | reel and reeling it on to that one. Or, |
| landing fish on light line, since there | | | | if you are fishing in a river, just use |
| is significantly less friction caused by | | | | a floating bobber and let your line be |
| the guides. The guides on a spinning | | | | taken downstream until you reel it back |
| outfit are located on the underside of | | | | in. This way it won't get tangled. If |
| the blank. | | | | you find some of these weak spots, |
| Contrast the action, or amount of | | | | either replace your line, if the knick |
| movement the rod has when casting. You | | | | is way down the line, or just cut the |
| should notice that a good spinning rod | | | | line at that point. If you cut off too |
| has very little movement in the tip. | | | | much line, then you could have trouble |
| Most of the movement should be contained | | | | casting long distances, as the line |
| to the middle of the rod and the butt | | | | won't feed off the reel as smoothly. For |
| end. | | | | this reason, it's wise to keep the spool |
| Always be sure to ask one of the | | | | on your reel full up to 1/8 of an inch |
| shop’s experts to help you choose a | | | | from the edge. Since fishing line is |
| rod that is right for you, based on your | | | | cheap, as a precaution, replace your |
| budget, and the type of fishing you want | | | | line every year. It's better to avoid |
| to do. | | | | having your line break just when you |
| Now that you have learned what to look | | | | have caught that gigantic salmon, bass |
| for in a new rod, you're ready to attach | | | | or catfish! |
| a reel and tie on some new line. If your | | | | Don't forget, when stripping off your |
| reel is not new, then you must first | | | | old line, clip it up in to tiny pieces |
| remove the old line. After that, feed | | | | and throw it away. Too many fishermen |
| the new line from the tip of the pole | | | | leave it on the shore to entangle the |
| down through the eyelets and tie the | | | | local wildlife. |