When going out fishing, the first thing you look for is a fishing rod. Understanding the different parts of a fishing rod will help you understand how it works and also help you choose the right rods for your next trip. The different parts define a good fishing rod. The major parts are almost same on every types of fishing rod (i.e : Spinning, casting). These part performs a specific role in ensuring your fishing success. Whether a beginner or experienced angler, scrutinize the different parts and understand their different materials, styles, and functioning. This article will help you understand these parts and how they function.
Butt
The rod butt is also referred to as the end or plug. It is located at the bottom end of your rod, close to the handle. There are three popular rod butt styles: the doorknob butt that offers extra comfort when fighting fish, the gimbaled butt that locks into a belt with a gimbal pin, and the appealing split grip.
The fighting butt is the most preferred style. They are lighter and more affordable compared to the other materials due to their reduced materials. The triangular and hexagonal rod butts are also preferred since they are easier to keep a firm grip on.
A rod butt should neither be too long nor too short. Longer rods give more leverage; however, if it extends past the elbow, it can bump against your body or get tangled in your clothes. Shorter butt rods, on the other hand, do not extend back along your forearm hence, pressuring your wrist.
Butt Cap
As the name suggests, a butt cap is a cap fitted at the end of the butt. Butt caps protects and enhances the rod’s appearance. Butt caps come in two styles, the slide-off butt cap, bulbous butt caps, and gimbaled caps.
Gimbaled caps lock into the holder, and they are good for trollers and anglers who prefer larger fish species. However, they need to be accompanied by a fighting belt; otherwise, you will get bruised or scraped. Slide-off butt caps, on the other hand, can be used without a fighting belt, and they are removable. Bulbous butt caps are excellent for large rods whose butts might need tucking under the arm or jammed into the gut.
The most common materials for butt caps are rubber and plastic. A rubber butt cap is good since it does not slide; however, rubber often gets tangled on the skin and in your clothes, which could distract you during a fight. On the other hand, plastic rubber caps are lighter and do not tangle in your clothes.
Handle
The handle is the most customized part of a rod. It greatly affects your game. Your choice of the handle will greatly influence your fighting and comfort. There are diverse styles of rod handles. They can be built for lightness, durability, and ease of grip.
While the preference of people varies, the most important aspect of a rod is comfort. The handle or grip is made of different materials including, CORK, EVA, HYPALON, and cord. Cork is stylish and adds a little weight to the rod. Anglers prefer using it since it is easy to work with and can be customed to form an ergonomic grip.
EVA foam handles are also very popular owing to their comfort and ergonomic grip. EVA foam grips are dense, lightweight, and perfect for foregrips. Most anglers prefer this material for freshwater and light saltwater fishing.
Hypalon material has great stretchability and is extremely durable. It is easier to install than the EVA grip handle and has greater power to withstand strong and fighting fish. Cord handles are perfect when fishing with eels and other live baits. This material provides the best grip for slim hands and is extremely durable.
Reel Seat
The reel seat is found at the centermost point of the rod blank. Reel seats consist of different styles and sizes, their common materials being graphite and aluminum. The basic parts of a reel seat include:
The body
This is the main structure, with the main material being graphite or aluminum.
Hood
It is found over the reel foot, and it ensures stability.
Locking Nut
The locking nut tightens and loosens the hood’s position.
Barrel Threads
These are channels for locking nuts to screw up or down.
Trigger
The trigger is located below the casting seat, and they increase control
The reel seats vary in size depending on their application. For instance, saltwater reel seats are larger so that they can accommodate larger reels. The reel seat’s size primarily depends on the inside diameter of the reel seat and the outside diameter of the rod blank.
Handle Blanks
The blank, also known as the pole, is the core of the handle. Blanks are mostly made of fiberglass, graphite, or composite materials. Fiberglass material works best with fast action rods, while graphite is more rigid and has better power.
When choosing a rod blank, your biggest consideration should be on the action of the blank. The action will be determined by the type of water, fish species, and fishing technique. When fishing from heavy cover areas, the blank should be more powerful than the line.
Hook Keeper
A rod hook keeper is a place where you can hold your lure or bait. They also provide a place to store bait after fishing and keep the lure out of the way while traveling. It is located on the side of the fishing rod.
With a hook keeper, you do not have to remove your setups while storing your rod. The different hook keepers designs include:
The single Foot Hook Keeper
This hook keeper offers superior performance and is easy to store. The hook keeper is secured by wrapping the top foot. It is dependant on the bottom portion as an open, clip-like mechanism to click the clip in place. It keeps the hook and baits suspended from the rod, preventing scratching or damaging the blank.
The Fuji Folding Hook Keeper
The Fuji folding hook keeper has been developed to protect dry fly hackles from any damages. These hook keepers have thicker wires and a large body. It folds into itself while fishing and collapses back on top of itself, making it invisible.
The Drop Shot Hook Keeper
This hook keeper houses the hook and baits and prevents them from destroying each other. They preserve the hook, guides, ceramic rings, and plastic bait. It is ideal for texas rigs, and it allows anglers to move from place to place without damaging the lures.
Tip Top or End Ring
The tip-top is the size of the ring where your fishing line passes through. Fishing rods’ top tips have two important diameters, the tube size, and ring size.
The tube size is the inside diameter of the tube. Tube sizes are measured in 64ths of an inch. If the size is 4.0, it means it is 4/64 of an inch.
The ring size is the size of a ring where your fishing line passes through. Ring sizes increase as the cube size increases. End rings or tip tops provide strain relief and reduces fatigue. The most common materials for end rings are stainless steel, aluminum, and silicone.
Tip or Rod End
A rod tip is the metal guide at the very tip of the rod. This is the last place where the line leaves before entering the water. Rod ends vary in size, and to know the right size for you, is by understanding the measurements. The inside diameter of a ring matches the smallest guide on the rod. The standard size for rod ends is 6, 8, and 10mm. This size is perfect for convectional rods. However, for saltwater rods, the size may go as high as 16mm.
Guides/Eyes
Guides circular metal loops fixed to the length of the rod. They are essential when fishing since they provide a smooth surface over which the line slides. They direct your line to the target so, fishing without guides is can be very challenging. Guides also affect the sensitivity and castability of your rod. Lightweight guides transmit line vibrations, effectively increasing the sensitivity.
There are different types, materials, and styles of guides. The most common materials are Silicone, aluminum, and titanium. When it comes to style, guides are produced in single and double-footed formats. Single-footed guides are light and more sensitive and are mostly found in spinning rods. Double footed rods are strong but less sensitive. They are mostly found in casting rods for bass and large game fish.
Winding
A winding is a string that attaches the guides to the main body of a fishing rod. The main role of windings is to help the guides stay in the blank of the fishing rod. Endings are sized to match the rod blank and come in various materials, including aluminum, vinyl, and nickel silver.
These tools can be changed at any time, and changing them is not a difficult ordeal. Additionally, windings can be used in place of foregrips on spinning rods.
Ferrules/Joint
A ferrule is a hollow metal tube that connects two r more pieces of a fishing rod blank. Ferrules and joints are common in two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece fishing rods, making them collapsible for easy traveling.
The different materials of ferrules are brass, nickel, metal, and graphite. Graphite is the most common today, and the manufacturers fix the ferrules. Ferrules also come in different sizes so that you can find the best match for you. However, they require proper maintenance to avoid stuck fly rods and breakages.
How to Read Fishing Rod Specifications
Quality rods from renowned brands have numbers indicated on them. The numbers are three sets. The first set consists of three or four numbers.
These numbers describe the rod length and type. The last number in this set tells you how many pieces there are. For instance, if a set is 723, the rod is 7 feet and 2 inches long, and it is a three-piece rod. The second set of numbers give details about the line, while the third set talks about the lures and the lure weight. However, before you get to understand these numbers, you need to identify the three different sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the small eye on a fishing rod for?
The small eye on your fishing rod is safe to place your hook or lure, so it is not flapping around. This way, your lure will not get caught on clothes and other surfaces. The small eye also comes in handy when storing your rod; you can leave your lure there, and you are assured of its safety.
2. What is the main part of a fishing rod?
Differentiating which part of a fishing rod is better than the other can be difficult. Every part of a fishing rod serves its purpose and ensures your fishing success. If a rod comes without a tip or guide, or handle, it will not function effectively. In my opinion, every part of a fishing rod is as important as the other.
3. What is a Deckhand style rod?
Deckhand rods are rods that have tape grips and no reel seats. This function allows the angler to attach the reel anywhere along with the butt. These rods are quality rods built cost-effectively.
4. What is the dial at the end of my fishing rod?
The dial keeps dial of fishing line sizes and styles. It has four settings for the different line styles, braid, fluorocarbon, monofilament, and copolymer.
Final Verdict
The main interface between an angler and a fish is the fishing rod. The different parts will determine the strength, power action, and fighting power. The different parts of a fishing rod are equally important and if one malfunctions the entire rod malfunctions. From this article, you will understand your rod and how every part functions.