How to Choose a Fishing Rod for Beginners?

What kind of fishing rod are you looking for? IM6, IM7, and IM8; Alconite; SiC; EVA; and Cork Grip, amongst other things…

When it comes to fishing, one subject that anglers often inquire about is, “Which rod should I purchase?”

The answer may be found inside the question itself if one looks closely enough.

You will be the one responsible for fishing in order to catch these fish. You are already aware of the species of fish that you will be targeting.

You feel comfortable in the environment in which you fish because you have fished there before. Therefore, when it comes to choosing a rod, you have more information than anybody else could ever have.

And by reading this, you are contributing to the realization of that possibility.

Table of Contents

BLANK – Core of a fishing rod

Carbon Fiber or Graphite Fiber

It is not heavy, yet it is delicate.
The IM or ton rating is often used for evaluating carbon fiber rods.
The amount of modulus that a carbon fiber rod has is represented by these ratings.

A carbon fiber rod will have a greater modulus if its rating is higher.

According to Gary Loomis…

Modulus is not a thread count. Modulus equates to stiffness.
The higher the modulus, the stiffer a rod will be.
Along with modulus comes strain rate or the material’s measured strength.
An acceptable strain rate for a fishing rod is 680,000 or higher.
An IM6 Hercules Fibres rod will have a modulus of 36 million & a strain rate of 750,000.
As the modulus increase, the strain rate would decrease.
This makes the rod more prone to failures because of brittleness.

To overcome this, high-end rod companies special engineer their rods.
This will increase the price of that rod.
On the other hand, a non-special engineered rod will be cheap.
It will also be extremely brittle & prone to breakage!
Though IM & ton rating is widely used, there is no fixed standard for all to follow.

most will follow this…

IM Rating & Ton Rating

Standard Graphite (33 million modulus) = 24+ Ton Material (Standard Modulus)
IM6 Graphite (36 million modulus) = 30+ Ton Material (Intermediate Modulus)

IM7 Graphite (40 million modulus) = 35+ Ton Material (Intermediate Modulus)
IM8 Graphite (45 million modulus) = 40+ Ton Material (Mid or High Modulus)

while others have their own…

Rating from G. Loomis

Standard Graphite – 33 million modulus
IM6 – 38 million modulus (IM6)

GL2 – 42 million modulus (IM7)
GL3 – 47 million modulus (IM8)
IMX – 55 million modulus

GLX – 65 million modulus

However, when comparing 2 rods from the same company, you can be sure that…

IM6/30+ ton are more forgiving but less light & less sensitive.

IM8/40+ ton or higher is less forgiving but lighter & more sensitive.
IM7/35+ ton is something in between.

Glass Fibre

It is both flexible and robust.

Because of its strength, it is long-lasting.
Because of its flexibility, it is well suited for the production of rods with a medium or moderate action.
On the other hand, in comparison to carbon fiber, it is both bulkier and less responsive.

E glass and S glass are two varieties that are often used in the process of rod construction.
When compared to E glass, S glass is more durable, has larger resistance to abrasion, and has a slightly increased resistance to flexing. As a natural consequence of this change, the price of the S glass will increase.

Glass fiber makes up the part of a composite rod that is see-through.
In order to create a bend, I just needed to apply a little amount of force.
In exchange for this, the power of its rebound will be quite low.
If your victim is apprehensive and easily frightened by strong recoils, then you really need to have this characteristic.

Carbon Nanofibres

The creation of carbon nanofibres involves the molecular-level rebuilding of carbon fiber. Because of the decreased amount of resins and increased number of carbon fibers, the finished product is a rod that is more durable, lighter, and sensitive.

Kevlar

Kevlar is superior to other materials in its ability to absorb stress. In most cases, it is used as supplementary material in order to provide improved protection against rod twist and crush.

Composite

Composite is when 2 or more materials are used in the making of a blank.

PIECES – Different amounts to suit different needs

1 piece

There are no joints that may get sloppy with age.
There are no issues with the joints being out of position, thus the tension is distributed evenly throughout the structure.
In a technical sense, a rod made of one piece is more sensitive.

The conclusion, however, depends entirely on the person concerned due to the fact that every one of us has a unique amount of sensitivity to vibration.

2 pieces

a reduction in the difficulty of storage and transportation without a commensurate reduction in performance.
Beneficial for anglers who do not treat their rods with the utmost care.

Multiple pieces & telescopic

Mostly for the purposes of traveling and hiking with a backpack.

GUIDES – To minimize friction & dissipate heat when fighting fish

Guide Frame

The majority of the time, the guide frame will be built of stainless steel or titanium.
The standard frame is made of stainless steel, which breaks rather than bends.

Even if the frame is flattened down, titanium may bounce back into its original position.

Guide Configuration

Fly rod guides are meant to be used with fly rods.
Single foot guide – Sensitive and lightweight owing to a single wrap around the foot

Double foot guide – double wrap designed for use in applications requiring a great deal of force
Roller guide – Suited for hunting huge saltwater species

Guide Material – Examples from Fuji Tackle

“O” Ring 2nd generation aluminum oxide (brown color)

“L” Ring Hardloy (grey color)
“A” Ring Alconite – Thinner & strength is 1.8 times harder than Hardloy
“S” Ring Silicon Carbide (SiC) – Nearly twice as hard as aluminum oxide

“T” Ring Torzite (ceramic) – Lighter, higher toughness & higher bending strength than SiC

REEL SEAT – To hold the reel in place

Graphite is the substance that is used most often.
The refined appearance of fly rods is achieved by using wood in their construction.

Marine-grade aluminum & titanium carbide is used to resist corrosion.
Every one of them should have a design that is easy to use, not have any unpleasant protrusions, and remain stable even when wet.

GRIP – There are several types, these 2 are the most widely used

EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate)

Foam grips are rather lightweight in comparison.

Superior to cork in terms of durability.
Relaxing to the touch and comfortable overall.
It has a contemporary appearance, and it is simple to clean.

Because of its high density, it is both durable and resistant to chipping.

Cork

Lighter than EVA.
Better at transferring subtle vibrations.

Features a time-honored appearance that only gets better with age and use.

OTHERS – Enhance your rod’s capability

Additional components such as a hook keeper, butt cap, rod balancer, and gimbal may be added to a fishing rod in order to improve its functionality.

SUMMARY

Okay, so now we are out of the thick muck of all this technical blabbering. Now, let’s look at a few instances.

Example 1

You will need a rod in order to fish in the river while you are in the forest.
The 17-gram spoon is the biggest lure you are going to throw at the fish.
It is unavoidable to bang one’s head on overhanging branches and dense plants.
A rod rated between 4 and 12 pounds has the ability to cast 21 grams, but there are other considerations to take into mind.
If you crank that spoon against the stream and get high-speed takes down the river, a rod rated between 4 and 12 pounds won’t have nearly enough force to set the hook until the fish stops moving.
A rod that is appropriate would be either a six-foot rod made of IM6 carbon fiber or a composite rod made of carbon and glass fiber.
Both of these rods are easy to handle and forgiving in these circumstances.
A rod with a line capacity of 8–20 pounds or 10–30 pounds, depending on the speed of the fish’s take.
If you get the rod wet by wading in the river or swimming across it, the EVA grip will continue to work well.

Example 2

When fishing from a boat in deep lakes, you use soft plastic or jigs as bait.
It is essential to have the ability to sense the water, including every bump and structure, as well as even the tiniest take.
There are no low-hanging branches or trees that may hinder your throw, and the additional distance is always appreciated.

The following might make a good rod:

A rod that is at least 7 feet long, since the throwing distance requires it.
Two separate sections make it convenient to store and travel.
For optimal sensitivity, blank material of IM8 or above should be used.

Cork grip allows for more efficient transmission of vibrations to the wrist.

Example 3

You fish in saltwater at least four times a year, both domestically and internationally.

Jigging and fishing on the bottom are your favorite techniques.

When working with rods, you exercise extreme caution at all times.