Bass Fishing Rods & Reels
RODS AND REELS
When you are planning to catch that Largemouth Bass you always dreamed of, there is an important part of your fishing experience that is very necessary. The decision on the Rod and Reel you choose can make the difference between landing that Extreme Largemouth Bass or going home with the minnows you brought for bait. Choosing the perfect Rod and Reel is difficult for even the experienced angler, so you can imaging the confusion that the beginner bass fisherman faces.
THE ROD
A Fly rod usually consists of two sections. These are usually equal in lengths, but on occasion are uneven. They have a joint of some kind that unites the sections when the rod is assembled. A single one piece rod is ultimately ideal, but the benefits of being able to separate the rod for travel and storage out weighs the benefit of a single piece. A metal or plastic case is a good investment and certainly protects the rod during travel.
Rods can be described by a few basic methods of union: Metal Ferrule and External Sleeve.
Metal Ferrule – This consists of two tubes, one that creates a tight push fit into the other. There is the smaller male joint and the larger female joint. The smaller male joint fits into the larger female joint at the base. They are joined together and once assembled create a perfectly placed together rod assembly.
External Sleeve – The External Sleeve uses a wedge union to fit the rod sections together. These sleeves are created with a specific taper that matches exactly each section of the rod such that the ends fit precisely into each other and that over time, even with wear and tear of the rod, the taper actually gets tighter and tighter and not looser.
There are two basic concepts that are important to understand about rods. These are: POWER and ACTION.
ROD ACTION
Rod Action refers to the bend in the rod. Rods bend in different parts and can be separated by three different areas: The last quarter or essentially near the tip. At the last third to the tip and throughout the whole rod. The bend at the tip area is known as a Fast Action Rod. The last third to the tip is known as a Moderate Action Rod, and the bend throughout the rod is known as a Slow Action rod. Knowing the difference between these different actions is important and will determine which type of fishing experience you will have and potentially change the way you fish and the experience you have.
FAST ACTION RODS: Bend at the tip: Will affect the cast and throw since the force will be at the tip and you can usually cast farther and longer . However, since you have more force at the tip, you can fling your bait right off the hook due to the whipping effect that you are able to create. Slow and Moderate Action Rods are less yielding and have less tendency to have a whip effect and won’t throw your bait off the hook as freely, but you don’t get the distance during your cast as with the Fast Action Rod.
ROD POWER
Rod Power refers to the ability of the rod to handle different lure weights and line sizes. Rods range from different designations of Ultra-Light all the way through to Heavy. The lighter the rod, the lighter the weight that a rod can handle. This determines its power. So, for example, an ultra-light rod may only be able to handle lures weighing 1/32 ounce to 1/4 ounce. As the rod increases in its designations, the POWER of the rod increases and will be able to hold more progressive lure weights. Also, the line pound test increases with the increase of the size of the rod such that an ultra-light rod may only be able to handle 2-6 pound test and a heavy rod may be able to handle up to 15-20 pound test line.
Different places and areas for fishing will determine what type of Rod you may choose based on the types of lakes and grasses you will be faced with. The All Around Choice varies with the fisherman and the experience depending on the location, temperature and seasonal changes in the environment.
In my opinion, the best choice for the beginner Largemouth Bass fisherman is a medium-light power, fast action rod for use with a spinning reel. This type of rod gives the beginner the ability to feel the casting action and have the power to bring in a decent sized Largemouth Bass. The cast is not only easy, but you can feel the differences by testing different casting techniques which will further help you get to know the way in which the rod gives and takes with each different cast technique until you master both the Power and Action of your particular rod. If you are going after larger bass in the over 10 pound range, then it may be more prudent to use a medium power rod as you can control the rod better and land the larger fish with less chance of loosing it or having it spit out the lure . Remember the larger the rod, the heavier both the lure and weight you can use but you loose a little in the cast.
There are many different Rods to choose from and depending upon the type of fishing you plan to do will determine which type of rod you choose. Planning properly by getting familiar with the differences between the Action and the Power of different rods will enable you to go out and fish on different days with different climates, wind conditions and terrains successfully. They make different Rods and Reels for a purpose, learn which ones will work better under different conditions and you will land that Extreme Largemouth Bass of your dreams.
REELS
Reels are considered in a variety of ways from the least important and purchased with the equiptment as a starting point all the way to the extreme where it is the most important aspect of the whole package and care must be taken when purchasing one. The type of angling situation and the quality of bass fishing determine where one usually places the reel in the hierarchy of importance.
The reel consists of three main parts: Saddle, Frame, and Spool
Basically, the line wraps around the spool which sits in the frame and is supported by the saddle. The line reel can have different add ons which make the reel vary in types and cost. Most reels now have a line guard that keeps the line from line over-run when the line is stripped from hand or is speedily being taken by a fish on the run. There is also an adjustment screw that can create line tension in order to modify the speed at which the line is pulled out during a cast or more importantly from a bass on the move.
Line spools can be easily removed and replaced which enables anglers to use different line strengths throughout the day, thus enabling quick adaptation to the changing environment during fishing. This avoids the need to carry a variety of reels.
Due to the ever changing technology of fishing today, the reel has taken on a new level of importance in the fishing arena and is often considered as important and sometimes more than the choice of rod. My best advice for the beginner angler is to buy a reel of comparable value to the rest of your equipment. A fly reel needs to be mechanically sound, of good function and design, large enough to hold the line needed for the type of fishing desired. The last thing a beginner fisherman wants to do is hook the Largemouth Bass of your dreams and the equipment is not capable of handling it. A good fish story is only as good as your Rod and Reel.