TECHNIQUE How to choose the right rod for fishing from the boat

When, out of all the fishing rods, one has to choose the ideal fishing rod, given the huge range to choose from, the first step is to set a budget. Let’s say that with 70, 80 euros you have a rod of sufficient quality to sustain your first fishing season. Separate discussion deserves reels, but we will address these later.

How to choose a rod for fishing from the boat

Before we set out to choose the perfect fishing rod, one must have in mind the great division upstream in the rod world. On the one hand, there are telescopic rods, and on the other hand, there are one-piece and decomposable or plug-in rods (in two, three or four elements).

Telescopic rods can serve for all-around fishing. A length ranging from 2.40 meters up to 3.60 meters is a good passepartout to consider as a first rod. Keep in mind that fishing from the boat does not use very long rods. The reason is practical, when there is more than one angler in action on board, the longer his rod is, the more he is likely to annoy others. So to limit this entanglement we limit ourselves in the length of the instrument.

Be careful, rinse the telescopic rod well after use in salt water or if there is dirt on it. Debris, or other material (such as salt) can block telescoping sections and prevent them from retracting. In such a case, the solution is to rotate the two pieces instead of pushing one center the other by force. Wash well and if still not enough, use a spray lubricant.

How many pieces does your ideal rod have?

For one-piece rods, due to their nature, lengths range from 1.80 meters to 2.10 meters. Larger one-piece rods become complex to transport and stow. Same length also for the barrels divisible into two semi-units.

Basically, the plug-in fishing rod also requires more preparation time: you have to join the sections one by one. On the other hand, it has its own advantages: greater accuracy in casting (although little use is made of casting in the boat and none at all if trolling); greater resistance to wear and tear since the sections do not go into locking, the rod tip i.e., the top of the rod is more sensitive and has a better curvature than the telescopic rod.

Products with spigot grafts are the best as they are stronger and have a better stem bend. other engagement systems are metal ferrule (now in disuse) or cap, which compared to the spigot is a bit heavier. It is used in primoprice rods or rods intended for very large prey.

Typically on first-time fishing rods you will already find a reel and it is a spinning, or conventional, model. However, there are also fixed-drum or rotating-drum reels. Generally, a good quality rotary is not cheap. It starts from a base of at least 200 euros. Conventional, spinning reels of decent quality can also be found in the price range of 30 to 60 euros.

Beware of telescopic fishing rods

Beware of telescopic fishing rods. American or Japanese products are not made in this way. The telescopic ones are only rods made in China. Which does not mean it is necessarily junk: an average Chinese rod can exist. Although it often happens that some dealer buys Chinese rods for $30 and resells them for 300 euros, with an incredible mark-up for himself, but not as much satisfaction for the customer. Out of a business choice of respect for my customers, I no longer deal in telescopic products.

To generalize the argument, if you want to get a telescopic rod, it pays to spend very little on average, because only in rare cases will a telescopic rod paid several hundred euros have that real value. Certainly higher quality is had by those rods that are built yes in China, but are assembled in Italy, where there is more attention to final quality.

The choice is dependent on the type of fishing preferred. If you have any doubts about what you are going to get the first choice will be toward the so-called all-fishing or multi-fishing rod. It will not have any specialization, but it will be suitable for first experiences (and even subsequent experiences) with the most common practices: example live trolling or for going live to tuna. There are two-piece or telescopic ones, and they have the advantage that once they are bought they are carried on the boat and can remain on board at all times.

As a construction material now, carbon is the leading material, used as 100 percent pure fiber or in smaller percentages together with fiberglass. Lighter, stronger and more readily responsive than fiberglass, it is now the premier product for making barrel shafts.

Fishing rods. The reel holder and the heel

Basically, for rods to be used from the boat, there are two types: a reel holder with a slide-clip type lower catch, which slides to allow various reel sizes to fit the rod. Or a reel holder equipped with a front screw lock, mounted mostly on spinning rods. The reel is first inserted into the fixed lower part, and then the upper part, by screwing, is lowered down until the reel remains firmly in place.

The fishing rod has loops (the rings) which can be bridged (single bridge or high bridge) and double bridge, with two feet, one facing the handle and one facing the tip; or instead of rings have pulleys.

The handle can be made of Eva or neoprene (black rubber) or cork.

The bead, the end, can be a plastic cap or a cruise, graphite, plastic or aluminum for trolling rods to be inserted in the rod holder.

And now all you have to do is choose the right rod for you! We do not wish you any good wishes because we know that fishermen are very, very superstitious!

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