Fishing Rods

A fishing rod is a pole used to catch fish by means of the line and hook attached to the end of the line. These rods come in various lengths and vary in the types of actions one can perform with a rod.

The types of fishing rods are:

Carbon Fiber Pole. This is a high-tech fishing rod mainly used for coarse fishing in Europe and the UK. The amount of carbon fiber in the pole determines the price of the rod. The length of the rod also varies, ranging from 10 to 50 feet. The benefit of using this type of rod is that they are very dependable in positioning the bait in the precise location on the lake or river where you want it to be.
Fly Rods. These are thin, flexible poles that use artificial flies made of a hook, brightly colored feathers or other lightweight material. The flies float on the top of the water. These rods are made from fiberglass or composites of carbon/graphite and graphite/boron. Carbon/graphite is the most commonly used material.

When fishing with this type of rod, there is no need for using a weighted lure. Because they are thin, you have to buy the rod for the type of fish you want to catch and for the particular weight of line you want to use. They have a single line guide and a number of loops along the length of the rod in which you insert the line to keep it close to the rod so that you can control its movement.
Sea Rods. These rods are used for fishing big game, such as tuna and marlin. They are usually about 12 feet long and are very thick. The tip, eye and handle of this rod are very heavy. Within this category there are also various type of rods, such as for beachcasting, fishing from a boat and rods for catching specific species of fish.
Spin Casting Rods. These rods hold a spool for a fishing reel. The reel has a trigger that releases the line and a handle, with which you reel it back in.
Spinning Rods. Generally spinning rods have a cork handle and the rod is made from fiberglass or graphite. They are usually between 5 and 9 feet in length. There are guides along the length of the rod for the line. The guides are larger near the handle than they are at the tip so that there is less friction as the line leaves the reel. The reel hangs beneath the rod with a sliding or locking seat to keep it in place.
Ultra-Light Rods. Used mainly for fishing small species of fish, these rods are usually 4 or 5 feet in length, which makes them shorter than other rods. The line used is also lightweight - about 1 to 6 test pound fishing line. The lures used are small spinners or the angler can use worms on the hooks as bait.
Ice Fishing Rods. You do not need a very long rod when fishing through a hole in the ice. These are only about 2 to 3 feet in length and are typically of the spinning rod variety.
Surf Rods. These rods are long so that the angler can cast the line beyond the point where the waves are breaking. They also have two grip handles and are heavy.
Telescopic Rods. These rods collapse into smaller sizes making them easy to carry.