Bass Enthusiast - Spinning Rods

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Spinning Rods

This page discusses the different materials that can be used in Spinning Rods and how beneficial they are to a bass angler.

Spinning Rods

When looking into the purchase of a spinning rod it is not as simple as just going to the store and picking one up. There are many different lengths, types and compositions of these rods so to ensure that every type of fisherman can enjoy this type of fishing. Below are the main points that a bass fisherman should consider when deciding on purchasing a rod or reviewing their current rod.

Length

Spinning rods have a range in length from 4 or 4 1/2 feet call “ultra light” to 11 or 12 feet called surf spinning. The ultra light poles are used more for trout and stream fishing since they give the fisherman more feel and flexibility. The larger poles are used more for salt water fishing since the fish a person is going after is larger and more ferocious.

For bass purposes a person would want to look at a rod that is from 5 feet to about 7 ft. These rods are often referred to as “light” or “medium” action rods. As every seasoned fisherman knows, there is a delicate balance between length and feel/flexibility. One must ask themselves, do I want to sacrifice the touch and feel in the water for more distance on the cast and strength in reeling a fish in.

If the fisherman wants to be able to better control their tackle in the water and feel the bites on it, a smaller pole is the better option. However if the fisherman is going after larger bass on might want to consider a larger rod. After trying many different types of models and sizes, I believe that a pole which is 6- 6 1/2 feet in length is the perfect balance. The reason is that this length of pole provides the bass fisherman a strong enough pole where cast distance can be achieved which still keeping the feel and flexibility.

Composition

If I was writing about the composition of a rod about 100 years ago it would be very short and informative since it would be about wood. However as technology has advanced so has the types of material that compose a spinning rod.

Graphite

The most widely used type of new materials in rods is graphite. Graphite is more expensive than the typical fiberglass rods, but in its increased cost there are a lot of advantages to this. I believe the more important is a graphite rod is more work yet has having a lower amount of flex on the rod. Another positive of a rod composed of graphite is that it delivers more feel to the bass fisherman of the action of the lure underwater which makes it easier to manipulate and feel any nibbles or strikes by a bass. The largest disadvantage of this type of rod is that is is not as forgiving as fiberglass to extreme bend and stress. Because of this graphite rods are more apt to break than their fiberglass counterparts. Overall, graphite rods are more efficient than fiberglass rods when trying to reel in a hooked bass.

Blend

Most rod manufactures use various blends of fiberglass and graphite in the composition of their rods. By using this combination they minimize graphite’s danger of breakage while keeping the advantages of a graphite rod. When just starting out most bass fisherman will see that the combination and lower priced rods use this type of composition. For the price and advantages it gives you, it is good for a novice though medium experience bass fisherman.