Ideal for a lazy day in the sun or an exciting ocean adventure, fishing is a pastime that while it does not always result in a catch is always rewarding. It is the most popular sport in the UK and is enjoyed by a huge variety of enthusiasts of all ages and walks of life from right across the country.
And in essence, it's a very simple pass time too - all you need is a rod, a reel, some fishing line and a hook and sinker. Nevertheless, there is a huge variety of types and styles of rod out there, adapted for the many different techniques and prey, and made out of a wide range of materials. Here is a basic run down of some of the broad categories of fishing rods
Fly rods - specifically made for the sport of fly fishing, are usually slim and extremely supple. Because fly fishing can at times involve casting a fly long distances, flexibility is important. Fly rods come in a number of different sizes depending on the prey and the size of the fly to be used. The handle is often almost completely eliminated from this kind of rod to aid in the casting action.
Casting rods can cast either lures or bait and come with a spin cast reel placed directly above the handle. These reels have been specifically designed to avoid backlash and cut down on the snaring of the fishing line when casting lures or bait. Excellent for beginners, casting rods are adaptable, powerful, and sturdy.
Spinning rods, made usually from either fibreglass or graphite, come with the reel placed under the rod rather than on top. This allows for greater comfort when fishing. The guides and fishing line also run underneath the rod. Strong and comfortable, these rods are popular with anglers planning to fish for extended periods of time.
Boat fishing rods as the name suggests, are designed for fishing from aboard a boat in coastal waters. Usually of a slightly heavier construction, all the tips, eyes, and handles have been reinforced to accommodate the size of the intended prey.
Another type of sea rod, the beach caster, looks much like a huge casting rod with a long handle. Beach casters are fished from shore or rocks and are generally longer than other types of rods to enable the length of the cast necessary to get the lure or bait out past the surf to where the fish are.
Ultra-light rods, made for catching smaller species of fish, are usually also slightly shorter than other rod varieties. The fishing line and lures commonly used with this rod have to be extremely lightweight. Besides catching small fish, this rod can also be used to generate more excitement and sport when going after larger fish due to the higher degree of skill required to land the fish.
When choosing a rod, the simplest thing to do is head for the area where you intend to use it. Have a chat to whoever is fishing and see what they're using to successfully catch fish.
