| See yourself standing on the bank of a | | | | oceans and along the coast. Choose a rod |
| swiftly moving stream in the shade of a | | | | appropriate to the environment.Plan For |
| gnarled willow, your fishing rod bent | | | | Species Of FishShort, strong rods are |
| beneath the weight of an unusually large | | | | best for landing game fish. Stronger and |
| catch.Whether or not you land that fish | | | | thicker rods should be used for large, |
| depends on the decisions you made at the | | | | aggressive fish. Such fish could break a |
| shop -- primarily the type of rod.The | | | | lighter pole.Select Rod By |
| ABCs Of Fishing RodsYour rod is the most | | | | MaterialCommon types of fishing rods |
| important tool you will use while | | | | include bamboo, fiberglass and |
| fishing, and you can chose from a wide | | | | graphite.Bamboo rods can be a basic, |
| range of types, styles and lengths.A | | | | inexpensive pole with a line attached, |
| fishing rod is a shaft of graphite, | | | | to very expensive handcrafted rods that |
| fiberglass, steel, wood or bamboo used | | | | are used for fly-fishing. Bamboo rods |
| to catch fish (duh). Fishing filament | | | | run from $5 up to hundreds of dollars |
| (line), is threaded through the ferrules | | | | for handcrafted fly fishing rods. If you |
| (eyes) along the rod. The ferrule at the | | | | are not planning to do fly-fishing, |
| tip directs the cast. 1 end of the line | | | | fiberglass or graphite rods are |
| winds around a reel at the base of the | | | | best.Fiberglass rods are good for |
| pole. The other end of the line has a | | | | beginners and kids and they're |
| baited hook attached to it.Fishing rods | | | | reasonably priced. They come in many |
| vary from 4 feet (for children) to 16 | | | | lengths, flexibility characteristics, |
| feet, with the average being 6 feet | | | | and require very little maintenance.Many |
| long. Rod length is chosen based on: the | | | | experienced anglers prefer graphite |
| species of fish you target and the | | | | rods, because they are very lightweight |
| environment you will fish at.LandscapeIf | | | | and extremely strong.A Fitting RodYour |
| your fishing hole is beside trees with | | | | goal should be to find a rod that fits |
| overhead branches, you'll need a short, | | | | your arm and is comfortable. If you have |
| flexible rod. Flexibility -- the amount | | | | trouble choosing, ask someone with |
| the rod can bend before breaking -- is | | | | experience to go along or just ask the |
| determined by the diameter of the pole. | | | | staff at a fishing store. A few pointers |
| Light rods are thin and flexible, while | | | | will quickly get you on your way -- to a |
| stronger rods are thicker and more | | | | world of fun.Visit Fishing to learn |
| rigid.For open terrain, flexible, thin | | | | more. Ron King is a full-time |
| rods that are 10 to 12 feet long are | | | | researcher, writer, and web developer. |
| good, unless it is too windy.Fresh Water | | | | Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article |
| Or Salt Water?Freshwater fishing occurs | | | | may be reprinted if the resource box is |
| in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, | | | | left intact. |
| while saltwater fishing is done in | | | | |