Spinning Rods buying guide

Whether you are an expert finesse fisher or a greenhorn in the fishing game, the best quality spinning rods will never disappoint you. The rod is light in weight and incorporates all the features with which you can quickly reel in your favorite fish.

Many times without proper knowledge about the product, you might invest in the ill-suited option. Moreover, gathering all the information about the rod can be challenging, which may take a lot of your resources, especially your time.

We have researched all the factors and developed this comprehensive guide to aid you in selecting the best product. Go through it and make an informed decision for yourself.

However, let us first get proper knowledge about the product.

What are spinning rods? Why should you use them?

Most of the avid anglers prefer spinning reels for some unique advantages like easy casting, fewer backlashes, replaceable spools, and more.

The spinning reel will be working correctly if only you have a spinning rod perfectly matching with the reel. Therefore, choosing the right type of spinning rod has a significant impact on the spinning reel's performance.

A spinning rod is a crucial fishing gear that makes your fishing game easier. It helps in catching live baits and casting lures effectively, which is why many anglers like to follow this method for light line fishing.

You should choose your spinning rod, depending on the type of fish you are targeting. These rods are equipped with the spinning reels that are placed underside of the rod. Because of the tighter grips, these rods are very helpful in catching more prominent species of fish.

What is the need to read a buying guide before selecting a spinning rod?

Imagine you discover a proper guide with all the information about different performance varying factors of the rod. It is like finding a honeypot for a fisher. Here, in this extensive guide, we have put together all the critical factors that will allow you to get an understanding of the product properly.

You can evaluate all the factors with your needs and pick an elite product for your expedition.

Let us dive into the detailed pool of information regarding the different characteristics of the product.

Things to deem about while selecting an appropriate Spinning Rod

Types of spinning rods

1. Two-piece

This type of rod is extremely travel-friendly. You can break the 2-piece spinning rod into two different parts, which you can carry and transport easily to the fishing spots.

2. Telescopic rods

These rods can be collapsed or extended according to your convenience. These rods are more comfortable to carry and maintain. You can put them in your backpack safely because of the shorter length.

3. Saltwater

A saltwater spinning rod is designed for more extensive and heavier saltwater fish. Also, the material used in constructing these rods is durable and resistant to corrosion.

4. Freshwater

A freshwater spinning rod is used for catching smaller size fish. These rods are durable and lightweight, so they are very comfortable to use.

5. Surf

Surf rods come up with the spinning reels ideal for shore fishing. The longer length of the rods supports you the best for casting long distances. They are also very powerful, so you can cast heavier lures in rough water without any efforts.

6. One-piece

These rods are handy for the quick response and powerful performance. Though these rods are not so travel-friendly, the continuous construction of these rods is a big catch.

Things to deem about while selecting appropriate Spinning Rods

Rod blank material

Two significant materials used in the construction of the spinning rods are carbon fibers and fiberglass. Also, some composite materials are used to design these rods.

Most of these rods are made up of high-grade carbon fibers. Typically, graphite is used in this carbon fiber that is appropriate for flexing and dealing with pressure.

1. Graphite

Graphite makes the rods tensile to withstand a large amount of pressure without getting collapsed.

2. Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber rods proffers a lightweight, sensitive, and powerful blank. High-quality carbon fiber is used to create standard rods. However, rods designed with carbon fibers need to be appropriately maintained.

3. Fiberglass

If you are looking for a tougher spinning rod, you can go for fiberglass material. These rods were popular before carbon fiber rods came in the market, and they also have the same popularity because of their robust structure. They are heavier than carbon fiber rods and do not have much sensitivity. So, they are suitable for slow actions.

4. Composite

The combination of graphite and fiberglass can be the right choice as it makes the rods powerful and sensitive without adding any extra weight. So, if you want a lightweight but durable spinning rod for fishing, you can choose the composite materials effectively.

Rod action

When you put pressure on the rod tip, it automatically bends. Rod action is closely related to the bending capacity of the rods. There are three types of rod action you will find while buying your spinning rods, such as slow action, medium action, and fast action.

1. Slow Action

Slow action or progressive action rods can bend entirely that creates a parabolic shape. When you are fighting a softer mouthed fish, this rod action can absorb the maximum fight to reduce the chance of the hook pulls.

These slow action rods delay the softer action, which is perfect for a rocky, uneven surface. Due to the slower action, it helps the fish to grab the lure without any quick resistance.

2. Medium Action

Medium action rods come with some more backbone, which makes the bottom third a little bit stiffer. These rods are something between the slow action and fast action rods that do not bend entirely through the rod blank.

They are able to compress faster, so they provide the anglers with a longer casting distance. In addition, these rods have some absorption features like slow action rods.

3. Fast Action

Fast action rods have more backbones than the previous two types of rods. Therefore, these rods are very appropriate to target hard-mouthed species.

Ensuring more sensitivity than any other rods, fast action rods are perfect for hook settings. Also, they can be useful for bullying species inside vast vegetation. You can have an increased casting distance with these rods, but always be careful of the hook pulls while fishing.

Handle material

Commonly, two types of materials are used in designing the rod handles.

1. Cork

Most of the spinning rod handles are made out of cork. Many anglers like cork handle as it provides maximum comfort to hold the handle tightly. You can hold the cork handle even with wet hands.

Though cork is an excellent choice for stronger grips, it will make the handle heavier. But if your priority is the sensitivity of the rods, you should definitely go for fork material. In terms of comfort and sensitivity, it is better than EVA foam.

2. EVA foam

However, EVA foam also has some particular advantages. It is lighter than cork but offers more durability. Handles made of EVA foam are also straightforward to maintain. As it is lightweight, they are convenient to use.

So, you must consider your comfort and strength of the material before choosing the right handle material for your spinning rod.

Construction

You should check the structure of the spinning rods properly before making a purchase. There are three critical factors that analyze the construction of the rods.

1. Reel Seat

The reel seat should be designed with metal because the plastic may break easily when it is overtightened. You must consider the handle length and make sure it is matching perfectly with your style of fishing.

For example, when you are fishing on a kayak, you will need a shorter handle. But for longer casting, it will be better to have larger handles to minimize your effort.

2. Hook Keeper & Line guides

Also, make sure the rod you are choosing has a hook keeper. It will be useful to protect the hooks adequately.

Length

The length of the spinning rods matters a lot to maximize your performance. With an optimum rod length, you can have better control over the rods during casting and fighting fishes. You must consider the casting distance and the type of baits before selecting the rod length.

3. Shorter fishing rods

A rod with shorter length offers better accuracy for casting. Shorter rods have more power to deal with a fighting fish. Also, they are appropriate for moving under docks.

Needless to say that shorter rods do not strain your wrist and arm so you can cast in longer distances for a long time. As these rods are designed with shorter handles, naturally, they come lightweight.

So, you can easily carry them with you and store them inside a box or car without any difficulties. When it comes to casting in heavy vegetation, shorter rods provide more leverage to the anglers.

4. Longer fishing rods

If you want to cover a longer casting distance, nothing will be better than a longer fishing rod. Therefore, they are suitable for shore fishing.

You can also use them for surf fishing to cover the maximum distance. Though these rods are not able to reel a stronger and heavier fish from a closer range, you will be amazed at the excellent line speed and rod stroke.

Some anglers are likely to avoid longer fishing rods because of their heavier weight. Moreover, casting with longer rods will need more practice to find out the line accurately.

Weight

Another crucial consideration you should make while buying the spinning rods is the weight. The weight capacity determines the strength of the rods.

There is a wide range of weight available for these rods from which you need to pick up the right one for you. You should select the weight according to your fishing style, fish size, and the weight of lines and lures.

When you are up to casting heavier lures or going for surf fishing, offshore fishing, you will need a heavy spinning rod that can support you in the best possible way to deal with this heavy fishing.

However, if you are after smaller size species, you can look for light or ultralight rods. They are ideal for casting in clear and freshwater.

You should pay attention to comfort and durability as it depends on the rod's weight quite a lot. Therefore, it is better to go for a medium weight spinning rod that comes with great versatility.

Line guide

Usually, line guides of these rods are designed in descending order at the bottom of the blank. Near the reel, the line guides have a larger diameter which gradually decreases around the tip.

The line guide of the spinning reel is not as symmetrical as casting reels. The larger guide near the reel is effective in controlling the cast lines.

Typically, the count of the line guides depends on the rod length and flexibility. So a rod having more guides is able to flex more significantly.

Typically, plastics, ceramics, and metals are used in constructing the line guides. The budget anchors are designed with plastics, where ceramics are used to make the top quality anchors. You must choose a rod with high-quality guides so that you can cover a longer casting distance and help you fight a fish with ease.

Power

The power of the spinning rods indicates the lifting power. There are four different ranges of power, including light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy. All of the rods have different strengths and capabilities.

A heavy action spinning rod is ideal for bigger and heavier lures. This type of rods supports you the best when you need more pulling power to deal with a struggling fish. The rods having ultralight power are appropriate for smaller lures.

You should always be careful lure weight because overmatching can damage the tip. It is advised not to look for too much or too little power. For instance, a 1-ounce lure is not suitable for a rod rated 1/4 ounce. It will cause extra stress on the tip of the rod.

Grip

Having a firmer grip is extremely important to control the spinning rods. You must check that the handle of the rod is incredibly comfortable, and it will not be an issue to hold it for a long time.

Majorly, cork, and EVA foam are used to build these handles. Both the materials feel good in the hand. Though cork is good to be used while your hands are wet, EVA foam is resistant to stains and ensures a tighter grip.

If the handle has an ergonomic grip, it will not bring any hand fatigue, and you can hold the rod as long as you need it. Some rods are available with split-grips to secure your grip during dealing with a fighting fish.

Durability

When you are about to buy a spinning rod, you should never overlook the feature of durability. Therefore, you must check the durability and longevity of the rod you have decided to pay for. A high standard spinning rod makes sure that it will perform adequately for long years without any replacement. There are some factors such as components, construction, the power that you must check to assess the durability of the rod.

It is suggested to invest a little more money to get the best quality spinning rod for your fishing. For, rod blanks you should go for fiberglass to ensure durability. Furthermore, the quality of the line guides and reel seat is also essential to ensure the long-lasting performance of your spinning rod.

The type of water where you are going to catch fish also matters. If you are going for saltwater fishing, you should pick up a rod that is exceptionally resistant to corrosion. On the other hand, you should never use a freshwater spinning rod for saltwater fishing, as it will cause severe damages to your spinning rod.

Steps to clean and store the spinning rods

You must keep your spinning rod clean and store it properly to make sure that it can last long. If you maintain the rod on a regular basis, it will function without any issues. Especially when you use the rods in saltwater, you should clean it properly before storing it. You just need to follow some simple steps to clean and store the rods without any hassles.

Tips for cleaning your spinning rod

1. Every time you come back from fishing activities, you must wash the rod with clean water. It helps to remove sand, dirt, and debris from the rod so that they can not gather in the nooks or crannies on the rod. You can use a mild most to eliminate the particles from the crevices.

2. Then clean the rod with soap and warm water. Using a soft piece of clothes or soft brush will help you to clean stubborn dirt. Any type of harsh items like steel brush, gasoline, bleach will damage the rod quickly.

3. Do not clean the rod in a rough way. You should clean male or female ferrules. Clean the guides and grip properly and, if necessary, replace the damaged one.

4. You should dry the rod entirely before storing it. You can use a lubricant to protect the finish of the rod. Reel grease is essential to protect the guides from corrosion.

Tips for storing your spinning rod

1. After cleaning, drying, and oiling, you should store the rod safely and securely. It is essential to keep your spinning rod in the right place to prevent curvatures and protect them from getting damaged quickly.

2. You can use a cover or sleeve to store the spinning rod. You will find different types of cases that can be mounted horizontally or vertically so you can keep the rod inside the case for better protection.

3. It will be foolish to leave the rod in a corner. Also, do not keep your rod leaning on a wall. You should never store it inside a tube as the moisture will damage the rod severely.

4. Make sure that your spinning rod is not exposed to heat and cold for a long time. So, never leave the rod in the car or boat. Extreme bouncing may weaken the rod, which will decrease its performing power.

FAQs

1. What is the ideal action for lighter lures?

We all are familiar with the different types of actions. For a lighter lure, a medium action is required as it stores high power in its rod, which makes it easier to cast to a long distance.

2. How To opt for the right length?

If you are someone who is looking for an accurate fish catching, the spinning rod with a shorter length is your way to go. However, for all the fishers who go fishing in a wide-open space, you can easily opt for an extended length of the spinning rod. It will allow you to catch more and more fish with the help of an extended cast.

3. What is the importance of a hook keeper?

A hook keeper plays a pivotal role in picking out the best spinning rods. Every rod needs a hook keeper so that you can safeguard your hooks so that they don't get caught in other things, and all the line stays away from getting tangled.

4. Which is the most durable material?

Although graphite, as well as a composite material, are relatively durable, none of them can beat fiberglass. If you use a fiberglass spinning rod, you will get guaranteed durability, affordability, flexibility, and strength. It is the preferred choice of all experienced anglers who aim for a bigger fish.

Final Verdict

Possessing good quality spinning rods allows you to experience a smooth and relaxing expedition. All you need to do is to arm yourself with the correct rod, which suits your style and caters to all your needs.

In this buying guide, we have listed out all the critical factors which can vary the performance and usability of the rod. Plot your selection criteria, evaluate it with the elements from our guide, and invest your money in the right product.