Casting Rods

There are several things that you need to think about when choosing the right type of casting rod.

What type of reel do you want to use? The types of reels to pick from are; spincasting reels, baitcasting reels (standard or low-profile), and trolling reels.

Another thing that you need to consider is comfort. Most freshwater casting rods range anywhere from 4'6" to 7'6". Choose a rod length that is easy for you to hold and cast for a few hours at a time.

It's important that you learn to hold your rod effectively under any fishing conditions. You want to make sure that you maintain good control at all times without gripping too hard. You can adjust the power of your hold when you're in the middle of a cast. This will allow you to minimize the vibrations of each movement. With just a bit of practice you'll be able to increase the tightness at the same time as you learn to relax your grip.

Most of the fishing rods on the market today are made out of graphite and are designed to allow you to feel when a fish bites. Modern graphite fishing rods have finely tuned actions and tapers for superior performance. They are lightweight and offer outstanding strength, sensitivity, and hook setting power.

Casting rods have two rating systems, one is "power rating" or "rod weight" and the other is "action". This should be labelled on the rod just above the handle along with the rod length and line strength recommendation. The power rating is listed as: light, medium, medium/heavy, or heavy. This would help indicate what species it could be used for (light for small trout, heavy for steelhead/salmon for example).

The action refers to the bend of the rod. This is depicted as: slow, medium, medium-fast and fast. On a fast action rod, only the tip section would flex while on a slow action rod, the flex would continue all the way down toward the handle or butt.

The power of the rod will have a great deal to do with the type of fishing that you're doing. You don't want to use a light rated rod if you're fishing in weeds or submerged branches since you'll need a stronger rod to be able to pull the fish out. A medium or medium/heavy fishing rod will give you the strength that you need to pull fish out of heavy cover while at the same time giving you the flexibility to use lighter lures such as topwater baits.

Another aspect of your fishing rod that you should get to know are the guides, or the eyes. The guide is what transmits the signals of the line to the rod so that it's easy for you to feel the fish on the other end. There are several different types of guides available today. Guides could have rings that are made of ceramic placed inside the outer metal frame. Still other guides have inner rings that are made from silicone carbide, aluminum oxide or tungsten carbide to name a few. The rings of the guides are what aid in the reduction of friction that can cause your line to fray.

The length of the rod handle is important as well as what the rod handle is made of, such as foam or cork. You'll want to choose a rod handle that is still easy for you to hold if your hands become wet. I would suggest a quality cork handle for maximum comfort. You might want to try a trigger handle for certain situations that require more manageability.

One last thing that you should focus on when you're buying a new fishing rod is how the guides and ferrules are attached to the rod. The wrapping must be sufficient so that the guides don't become loose and need to be replaced.

Shimano Clarus Casting Rod

A premium graphite blank gives you the feel you need to detect the most timid strikes with the strength to hoist the big guys from the depths. Cork grips let you grip the rod with comfort and ensure, no matter how many casts you have made, you'll be ready for the next. Fuji® aluminum oxide guides handle all the heat, abrasion and friction that can wear out lesser guides, and their slick surface finish ensures the smooth, accurate casts that you need to catch the fish of a lifetime. Rugged Fuji® reel seats complete the package, giving you the strength and durability needed for years of use and plenty of fish-lifting leverage. Specific tapers and well-defined actions meet the specific needs anglers demand to fit their diverse types of fishing. Land Big Fish

St. Croix Premier Casting Rods

It's been said that the bravest person to ever walk the earth was the first person to eat an oyster. Maybe. But how about the deep thinker who first landed a snarling, snaggle-toothed musky. At least these days, if you're going to go heads up with one of these prehistoric beauties you have our Premier casting rods on your side. Built from our premium SCII graphite, the musky models feature ultra-hard SiC tip tops. Land Big Fish

All Star T Series Casting Rod

Introduced in 2002, the T-Series rods took off fast. Anglers across the country couldn't believe the superior strength, sensitivity and durability of the T-Series. All Star engineers combined the super stretch resin system of the T38X Series with the ultra high carbon fibers of the T40X Series to deliver the lightest, strongest and most durable high modulus Graphite Rod ever built. This new blank technology allowed All Star to deliver a superior blank at a moderate price.
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G. Loomis Classic Mag Casting Rod

The G. Loomis Classic Mag Bass Rods are some of the best values in bass rods and combine the performance and all around fishability that you have come to expect from Loomis. These rods originally designed for pitching jigs and worms for largemouth bass have been discovered by walleye anglers smallmouth enthusiasts pike chasers and even light duty saltwater folks. Land Big Fish