by Ben Team for AnglersClub.com, January 31, 2016

While you can use just about any fishing rod to catch bass, it certainly becomes easier when you use the best tool for the job. Some poles are just plain better suited for a given situation than others are.

You can fish a drop-shot rig with a flippin’ stick, but it won’t be very fun and you probably won’t catch many fish. You will have much better results if you choose a rod with the right combination of characteristics – especially as it relates to rod length, power and action.

Suggestions for the best length, power and action for a given scenario abound, but few articles or videos explain the reasoning behind these choices. This is unfortunate, as it’s more important to understand the principles behind these characteristics when selecting a fishing rod than it is for you to memorize and copy the values preferred by your favorite angler.



With that in mind, let’s discuss the principles at work when deciding these three characteristics of fishing rods. We will start with rod length and examine rod power and rod action in the near future.

Levers, Length and Lures

Fishing rods are Class III levers, meaning that the input force and the output force both work in the same direction, and the input force is between the output force and the fulcrum. But as far as anglers are concerned, the important thing is that Class III levers are helpful when attempting to trade force for speed.

Casting provides a perfect example of this.

You are certainly strong enough to throw a quarter-ounce crankbait across the pond – crankbaits aren’t very heavy. The reason you can’t actually do so is that you can’t throw the lure fast enough. As they say in the big leagues, you lack sufficient arm speed.

The best way to attain greater speed is to get a longer arm. When casting, the rod becomes an extension of your arm. The longer the fishing rod is, the faster you can move the tip (assuming the same amount of force is applied). The faster you can move the tip, the farther you can chuck your favorite lure.

There is, however, a tradeoff.

Increasing the length of the lever decreases the precision with which you can control it. So, selecting rod length requires you to choose between casting distance and casting accuracy. Choose a longer rod in situations that require long casts in open water, but opt for shorter rods in situations that require you to slide your lure underneath an overhanging tree and drop it to the right of the third stump from the bank.

Rod Length and Hookset

Setting the hook is somewhat like casting in reverse. Instead of whipping the rod through the air this way, you are whipping the rod through the air that way.

Lures with large, single hooks, such as soft plastic baits and jigs, typically require an aggressive hookset. Conversely, crankbaits and other treble-hook-laden lures often hook bass somewhat “automatically” and work well with a slower, steadier hookset.

As with casting, the longer your rod, the greater the tip speed you can generate. This means that you can get away with a shorter rod when fishing a crankbait, but you will want a bit of extra length when working a jig. Longer rods are also especially helpful when you are fishing Carolina rigs. Consider that you may have 40-yards of line and a 5-foot leader out in the water and you must sweep up any slack present in one smooth motion to set the hook.

On the other hand, some lures and techniques require a slow, patient hookset and work better with slightly shorter rods. For example, if you lean back on a topwater lure too aggressively, you may jerk the lure out of the bass’ mouth.

Other Considerations

Alas, fishing is not all casting and hook setting; there are a few other things to consider when selecting the best fishing rod length for the occasion.

For example, longer rods are heavier than smaller rods are. This may influence your decision if endurance is a factor in your fishing. You must also consider your height when choosing a bass rod. Especially tall anglers may never feel comfortable using a 5-foot rod, and shorter anglers may find 7-foot rods unwieldy.

Short rods are also more maneuverable than long rods are. If you are trying to fish from a tree-lined bank, a shorter rod will snag fewer leaves and branches. Short rods can also make some techniques easier; some anglers find it easier to walk a topwater lure across the surface with a relatively short fishing rod.

As it turns out, rod power is the easiest of the three primary characteristics of rods upon which you must decide. While cover plays a small role in your decision, the primary things you need to consider when deciding on a rod power are the weight of the lure and the diameter of your line.



Most rod manufacturers make it easy to match these factors – they print the ideal line diameter and lure weight for the rod right on the blank.

Definitions

The term rod power is widely confused and misused. Simply put, a rod’s power refers to its ability to resist bending. Light power rods bend easily, while heavy power rods only bend under considerable force. Moderate power rods fall in between the two extremes.

Don’t be mystified by manufacturer’s use of terms like medium-heavy or medium-light. They describe exactly what they sound like: rods that fit in between the other categories. A medium-heavy rod has less power than a heavy rod, but more power than a medium rod.

Apples and Oranges

While the terminology describing rod power is pretty easy to grasp, it is difficult to compare rods made by different manufacturers. This happens because there are no industry-wide standards for rod power. One manufacturer’s medium-heavy may be another’s medium, for example.

The only way to deal with this is through experience and experimentation. This is one reason why it is important to try out a rod before you purchase it, instead of simply relying on somewhat arbitrary labels.

Additionally, this variety in power ratings is another reason why it is more important to understand the principles behind rod selection, rather than placing too much emphasis on the exact ratings of your favorite angler’s rig.

Caveats aside, bass anglers typically use rods that have medium, medium-heavy or heavy power.

Lure Weight and Rod Power

Matching your preferred lure with a good rod is very straightforward: Heavy lures require heavy rod power, while light lures work better with light rod power. It is just that simple.

Throwing a weightless 4-inch plastic stick bait? You will want a rod that flexes easily under low weight. Otherwise you will have trouble casting lightweight lures very far.

Throwing a ½-ounce jig with a bulky trailer? You better use a pretty stiff rod to help heave that much weight a respectable distance.

Line Diameter and Rod Power

Line diameter also plays a part in bass rod algebra. If you need to use very light fluorocarbon line, you don’t want to use an excessively heavy rod. Doing so will often cause your line to break. On the other hand, using very heavy line on a rod that flexes too easily can cause your rod to break.

As you may have noticed, these factors tend to work together. For example, you will usually use heavy line with heavy lures, making a relatively heavy rod your best bet.

Consider the Cover

Although lure and line weight should drive most of your decisions regarding rod power, cover is another factor that may influence your decision.

Imagine, for example, that you are fishing a hollow-bodied frog at the edge of a weed line, when Moby Dick swims up and annihilates your lure.

That fish is probably going to head straight back into the vegetation, where she is sure to get your line caught. To get her in the boat, you need to turn her immediately, and get her swimming back toward you. To do this, you will need a stout, medium-heavy or heavy rod; a whippy little light-powered rod is not going to cut it.

Conversely, if you are fishing in the open water with nary a downed log or brush pile in sight, you can get away with a lighter rod power, if you so choose.

Reprinted with permission of Anglers Club Magazine. Check out Anglers Club Magazine for more great articles on fishing!