Modern rods and reels come in various styles and sizes, each designed with specific features best suited for particular applications. Sometimes, you may need a heavy action rod with a baitcasting reel, while others may call for a short, light action rod equipped with a micro-spinning reel. It all depends on what fish you are targeting, where you will be fishing, and what you like to use as a bait or lure. Of course, before you can determine which combination is best for you, you must become familiar with some of the basic options available and the advantages or disadvantages of each.

ROD TERMINOLOGY

While rods come in many different sizes, as far as length and diameter, they are generally classified by action or power.

Action refers to how the rod bends when pressure is applied to the tip — like when a fish grabs the bait and runs — and is generally classified as “fast, moderate or slow.” However, “extra fast” is sometimes used to classify susceptible tips. Fast or extra fast will bend in the upper third of the rod and offer the most incredible sensitivity and hook-setting power. Moderate will bend in the upper half of the rod and still provide good hook setting power but offer better casting distances. Slow rods will bend the lower half of the rod, nearer the handle, and are best for trolling or deep water jigging of bigger fish.

Power refers to the rod’s overall strength, or lifting power, and measures how much pressure a rod can take before breaking. Although universally described as “heavy, medium heavy, medium, etc.,” this measurement is specific to the type of fish the rod is designed for and is not uniform from rod to rod. In other words, a heavy bass or walleye rod will be of a different strength than a heavy musky or offshore rod.

TYPES OF REELS

There are three typical designs for freshwater reels, and each offers advantages and disadvantages, with the final choice being as much about personal preference as performance.

Spin casting — this design is typically a closed-face reel, meaning the line spool is covered by a removable cap and is operated by a push button at the rear of the housing. As the name implies, it is well suited for casting bait or petite to medium lures and is the easiest of all the designs to master. Because of its ease of use, this is typically marketed to novice anglers and is found in almost all youth rod/reel combinations.

Bait caster — this design resembles a drum with a handle on one side, and early models were simply that. However, modern designs incorporate a series of gears, bearings, and braking systems, which have increased both the accuracy and ease of use — although even the most advanced bait caster still takes a moderate skill level to master. This design is best suited for heavier-diameter lines and the heavy-duty lures typical when fishing in heavy cover or for larger species such as muskies, walleye, and pike.

Spinning — with its open face and flip bale system, the spinning reel was once thought to be a stepping stone from the spin caster of your youth to the bait caster used by experienced anglers, capable of offering better control than the former but lacking the ability to handle the heavy gear of the latter. Changes in line material, especially the development of thin-diameter braided lines, means these lighter reels can now be successfully used for a broader range of species. However, they are still best suited for casting lures at great distances in pursuit of bass or similar-sized quarry.