R0D.com - I want to get into fishing, is it worth paying more for a fishing rod?

I want to get into fishing, is it worth paying more for a fishing rod?

I mainly want to bass fish in a lake or pond. Are all fishing rods pretty much the same? Oh and what is spinning and casting?

Public Comments

all you need is a light action pole and 4 lbs line to bass fish...should have something for around $20 at walmart. I like to use a under the rod type reel, but not an open face style...i think it is called a "bullet", but there are others like it.
You can usually find a rod on a deal at most sport stores, and on top of that once you hook your first fish you won't care that you had to spend a couple of bucks.
Spinning rod: guides & reel hang under the rod casting: guides & reel on top of rod All rods are not the same. They have different "actions" which is the overall stiffness. They have different speeds as to how fast the tip reacts. They are also rated for different lures weights & line weights. Some rods are designed with a specific purpose in mind. I have an All-Star WR1 set up for worm fishing. It is a fast tip, medium action, 6 foot graphite. The line rating is 10-17 pound test, I forget the lure weight rating (1/8 to 5/8oz I think). The rod retails for about $50. Basically, like everything else, you get what you pay for. Figure out what your budget is, then go from there. Remember that you'll aslo need a reel, line, and all the other little odds & ends too. Places like Academy will run sales and you can find better deals on higher end rods. They will also run deals on rod/ree/ combo kits too.
That's a deep subject to get into with reels. I have both and like both, The line comes off of a spinning reel spool in coils and, unlike the bait casting reel, the spool is stationary during the cast, Both have their place. I use bait casters for fast retrieve and for jigging and fishing in heavy cover. If I want to finesse fish and need more sensitive touch and a slower retrieve I use a spinning reels. I have paid lots of money for expensive reels and got the same performance with less expensive ones..If you want them to last for a while go with name brand like, Abu-Garcia, Diawa,ect.. you don't have to shuck out hundreds of dollars to have nice equipment. go mid range and you will not be sorry as if you had bought the cheap stuff..
Let me first explain the difference between the two rod types; casting and spinning. A casting rod has smaller eyelets all the way down the rod while a spinning rod will have large eyes that reduce in size as they go down the rod to the tip. What ever you do do not mix the rod and reels (ie; a spinning reel on a casting rod) because the rod is designed to bend only a certian way. A spinning rod is designed to bend into the eyes while a casting rod is designed to bend away from the eyes. My personal preferance is to use a one piece rod because I have had too many two piece rods break at the connection when fighting larger fish. To answer your question about getting the more expensive rod is I would not do that at first. I would get something like a Tournament Choice, and if you watch you can find All Star Rods for under $50.00, which will do the job fine. Once you decide you are going to stick with bass fishing you can then start purchasing the more expensive rods that you have read reviews on. I personally have not found anything I like better than All Star Rods and American Rodsmith which are both less than $125.00. Good luck and I hope this really helped. The action of the rod you choose will make a big difference in what you feel when a fish bites I personally prefer a medium action rod. The action is how stiff the rod is. Lance Davis
while an all star rod is an excellent choice. for a beginner i feel a little pricey. you dint want to buy any walmart special for they wont last long and you ll spend more time getting the rod and reel to work right then fishing. check out bass pro shops for rods they have some good quality rods at affordable prices. look for there tourney specials and bionic blade series. as far as reels go i would look for a mid level shimano something above the tx series.
I think with a lot of rods you are just paying for a good name, I have fished most of the brands from a wal-mart brand to Shimono and theyre all basically the same, only difference is the plastic Vs. metal reel clips and the rings, when you probabally should get a rod/reel combo to start out with then if you really start to like the sport go for more expensive equipment. And a casting or spinning rod is for a Baitcasting (casting rod) or a spinning or spincasting rod is for a spinning reel. Basically whether you want your reel on top (for a casting rod w/baitcaster reel) or whether you want it to hang from your rod like a spinning reel. Casting rods are normally more sensitive when fishing.
Here's an excellent choice for a beginner bass fisherman($27.95). I'll bet everyone that fishes, started out with this type setup. It's actually a little nicer than the one I learned to bass fish with. Stay away from baitcasters and spinning rods until you become good at casting with a spincast reel. It will save you LOTS of frustration, time and money on wasted line, lost tackle and fish. As you gain experience and confidence, a baitcaster combo in the the $100 dollar range will be good until you learn more advanced techniques like flipping, pitching,skipping baits, and then you will want to purchase equipment more suited to a specialty technique. With premium rods and reels running at close to $500 each they might be out of range of an aspiring beginner. Don't get discouraged! The skills you need will come with lots of practice, information, and hours on the water. Best of luck! http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=51511&hvarDept=100&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=3&hvarSubCode=3&hvarTarget=browse
A good rod and reel is vital. That doesn't mean expensive. You can get what you need for under $75- Rod, reel, and GOOD line I suggest you try spider wire. It just doesn't break. Ever. But, I gotta warn ya. Fishing is addictive. You'll know you've got a problem, when you start getting lures for presents. E mail me if you want specific ideas. By the way, try a Canadian fishing trip some day. Cheap, and beyond great.
Heck Naw, They ain't all "pretty much the same" you definitely get what you pay for...but, that doesn't mean go and pay $250 bucks for a fishin' rod neither...A wal mart one should do you just fine..
Let me put it this way....... some Anglers liken choosing a fishing rod to choosing a wife..... what may feel like a good rod to one angler may feel like a pile of s**t to another... alot of it's down to personal preference just by holding a few different ones in the store, and it just feeling right. Generally, the slightly pricier the rod the better the finish is on it..... some cheaper rods usually feel hollow when you tap on the bit you attach the rod to (not a good sign in my opinion)..... and usually have cheap Line Guides/Rod Rings (whatever you prefer calling them) that wear out quicker or break easier if you accidently drop the rod. A Cork handle is also more commonly used on more expensive rods, and experienced anglers usually recommended them above handles with the black felt like material (hyperlon?) as you get a better grip of the rod. That why for beginners I usually recommend beginners to look at the SHAKESPEARE range of rods...... in the UK at least they make rods with a qualitity similar to rods 3 times the price, and I'd assume the US freshwater rods are just as good... for Bass fishing I'd suggest looking at the UGLY STIK range of spinning rods. Looking at the Shakespeare US website, I'd suggest looking at the UGLY STIK Lite range on this page: http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/products/rods/ugly-lite.shtml from the list I'd say the Model# SP1160-2M would be the one to go for...... remembering you'll also need to buy a Fixed spool reel that "balances" with the rod perfectly...... which basically means it feels right when attached to the rod - too small, and it'll look & feel silly, too big and it'll feel too heavy to hold. I'd also recommend looking at BERKLEY's range of rods (not to mention their "Snap swivels", which are the best in the world)..... in particular the BERKLEY LIGHTNING spinning rods http://www.berkley-fishing.com/cat.php?k=57318&sk=50172 To get you off on a good start to the world's best hobby, I also recommend this book: John Bailey's Complete Guide to Freshwater fishing http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wormdanglecou-21/detail/1843305674/202-8637158-0548606 (sorry about the affiliate link, but it was the quickest link to it I had to hand... but it is a seriously good book to teach you everything you need to know, including choosing tackle & finding the fish).