The rod you choose for bass fishing plays an important role in your success and landing some bass. Bass fishing rods come in many varieties and each lure you use requires a different type of rod. Deciding between fiberglass and graphite rods, light or heavy rods, and fast or slow rods can be a tough decision that confuses even the most experienced anglers.
Most rods are made from fiberglass or graphite and the material is woven. Modulus is the term for how stiff the material in the rod is. Fiberglass bass fishing rods have a lower modulus than graphite rods, which means that graphite rods are more sensitive, faster and lighter.
The action of the bass fishing rods describes how much the rod bends when pressure is applied to the tip. The action is measured in speeds, like fast or slow. The faster the action, the higher up on the rod the deflection point (the point where it begins to bend) occurs. Most bass fishing rods have fast or very fast action, because it allows the rod to be more sensitive and provides faster power.
The guides on a bass fishing rod are a vital component of success. The best guides are low profile, high power, and lightweight. These will add to the sensitivity of the rod so you will be able to feel even the lightest bites, and will also add distance to your casts. Silicon carbide (SiC) is widely thought to be the best material for guides, because it is very smooth which means less friction during casts and when you’re a reeling in. A bass fishing rod with more guides cost more, but casts better than those with fewer guides. More guides also cause the rod bend more consistently throughout the rod, causing greater distribution or weight and it allows you to maximize the power of the rod.
The power of the rod describes it strength. The stronger the rod, the greater it’s lifting power. A heavy rod is best for very murky waters with heavy cover, and a medium to thin rod is better for open clear water where thinner lines are required to get bites.
The cork of the handle needs to be comfortable, lightweight, and keep a good grip even when wet. The higher quality the rod, the higher quality the cork the manufacturer will put on the bass fishing rod. The better the cork the more subtle the vibrations you are able to feel.
Land based fishing rods for bass or shore based rods come in two varieties depending on what they are used for. If fishing on a very large lake with surf many people use surf rods, which are fairly long. For most fishing on normal lakes the most common land based fishing rods for bass is just a normal spinning or bait casting rod, because you do not need to cast out very far and compete with the surf.
