A Detailed Explanation of The Types of Fishing Rods

Reeling in that prized catch can be a whole lot easier if you have the right fishing rod for the type of fish you’re targeting and the conditions that you’re fishing in. There are many rods out there to choose from, and figuring out which one works best for you doesn’t have to be rocket science.

There are three major categories of fishing rods: conventional rods, which include spinning and casting, fly rods, and specialty rods such as surf rods, trolling rods, ice fishing rods, and telescopic rods.

Let’s look at each fishing rod category and break down all the details in a digestible way so that you clearly understand which type of rod is best for the type of fish you want to catch.

Conventional Fishing Rods

A conventional fishing rod is the most commonly used type of rod; it is a great all-purpose rod to have in or to add to your collection. There are two types of conventional rods, casting and spinning. The major difference between a casting rod and a spinning rod is that each has a specific casting technique due to its design.

Both rods are used for very similar purposes, and if you are just starting out, deciding which one to purchase can be daunting. Let’s explore each rod and learn the differences between these two types of popular fishing rigs.

The Casting Rod

Here’s what you need to know about a casting rod, also called a bait cast rod. With practice, a casting rod is very effective in getting your bait or lure precisely where you want it. Casting rods tend to be used more for heavyweight fishing applications; when you need to use bigger lures or are big game fishing where you need the leverage. You also have a greater casting distance with this rod.

Here are the distinguishing features of a casting rod:

The guides on a casting rod are on the top.
The guides are small, and there are usually many that follow the length of the rod.
Many casting rods have a trigger grip or finger grip located on the handle. The trigger helps with hand placement when casting and is a matter of personal preference.
The reel seat on the casting rod is on the top.
The backbone (the part of the rod that holds the strain) of a casting rod follows the guides, making this the best choice for targeting larger fish species.

So, now that you know more about a casting rod, its advantages, and its features, let’s have a look at spinning rods.

The Spinning Rod

The spinning rod is a highly versatile rod that is an excellent choice for lightweight to ultralight fishing. The spinning rod uses an angling technique where the bait or lure spins to entice fish to strike at your hook. Using a spinning rod to fish requires less finesse than a casting rod, making it easier to use.

The distinguishing features of a spinning rod:

The guides on a spinning rod are on the bottom.
The size of the guides is large closest to the rod handle, and the guide size diminishes towards the top of the rod. And a spinning rod will generally have fewer guides.
Rarely does a spinning rod have a trigger grip.
The reel seat is on the bottom of the rod.
The backbone on a spinning rod is on the opposite side of the guides, making this a better choice for medium to small fish species.

So, with all these details about casting and spinning rods, it’s important to point out that there are very few hard and fast rules about which rod you choose to use. Naturally, if you are deep-sea fishing, you’ll want a rod that can handle a large game fish, and if you are trout fishing, a spinning rod might make more sense. You have got to start somewhere, and most folks that get “hooked” on fishing have both types of rods in their collection and develop strong preferences for when they use spinning rods or casting rods.

Here's another great video comparing casting and spinning:

The next category of fishing rod is the fly rod. And here are some details on what makes a fly rod unique.

Fly Rods

A fly rod is a specific rod designed for fly fishing. Fly fishing is an angling method that uses weighted lines and artificial bait presented on the surface of the water to imitate insects. The difference between fly fighting and traditional fishing—when you fish with a conventional rod, you are casting the bait—when you are fly fishing, you cast the line.

The fly rod is similar in setup to a spinning rod, with the small guides and reel seat facing down. However, this is where the similarities end. Let’s have a look at what makes the fly rod unique.

Distinguishing features of a fly rod:

Fly rods are lighter and thinner than conventional rods.
The guides face down and are very small and low profile.
The reel seat is located much closer to the end of the rod, below the grip where you hold the rod. The reel seat being back behind the grip creates balance.

While a fly rod has some similarities to a spinning rod, the fishing line, the bait, and the angling technique are entirely different. There is no other mode of targeting fish quite like fly fishing, which is why all the gear, including the rods, are their own category.

Let’s move on to the next category, specialty rods, and see what they are all about and what makes them unique.

Specialty Rods

Fish habitat is wide-ranging and encompasses conditions that can be challenging. It’s no surprise that the fishing pole has advanced from humble beginnings to high-tech rods with specific purposes.

Specialty rods are designed with special functions in mind; specialty rods optimize specific angling techniques. Examples of these rods are surf rods, trolling rods, ice-fishing rods, and telescopic rods.

Surf Rods

A surf rod is designed to be used in coastal settings where you need the casting power to get your bait up and over the incoming surf. These rods can be casting or spinning rods.

The unique features of a surf rod are:

For the power needed to lob your bait out beyond the surf, these rods are longer than other rods, up to 15 feet in length.
A surf rod has a powerful and more extended handle or butt section, designed so the rod can remain upright in a beach casting holder or in a belt when big game fishing.
The rod is strong not only for distance casting but also to effectively land hard-fighting fish.
The reel seat is generally fixed for a more secure connection for heavy-duty fishing.

Trolling Rods

Trolling is when you fish from a boat, and you are towing your line through the water. If you happen to be fishing in a boat that is not moving, you are drift fishing. A few advantages of trolling are that you can cover a lot of territory in a short amount of time, and in certain instances, you can troll at depths you cannot get to from the shore.

When you are trolling, you’ll benefit from using a trolling rod. Designed with this specific function in mind and trolling rods have the following modifications:

The rod is built strongly so that it can withstand the extra force of line and tackle being towed along with the speed of the boat. The handle is long so that it fits into mounted rod holders in boats.
Trolling rods are shorter and stiffer than other rods. This helps when your tackle gets snagged on logs or stumps. A trolling rod will have very little give (give usually allows your hook to set), your lure will quickly be jerked away.
Another benefit of the short and strong trolling rod is that it effectively allows you to set the lure more quickly with a quick motion.

Ice-Fishing Rods

While you can ice fish with a regular fishing rod, you can increase your chances of catching a fish with specialty rods designed for ice fishing and have a more enjoyable experience.

Key features of ice-fishing rods:

Ice fishing rods are short, 18 to 48 inches in length. You are fishing from a hole in the ice, and positioning yourself right above it is important.
Fish are sluggish in the colder temperatures; ice fishing pole tips are designed to be more sensitive so you can detect subtle strikes.

An ice fishing pole not only helps place you close to where you need to be, but the shorter rod can also help you land your fish. A big issue with landing fish is that the sharp edges of the ice hole can cut your line. You have more control with a short rod, and you can even dip the tip of your rod into the hole (as long as the ice isn’t too thick) and get your line away from the ice.

Can You Use a Regular Rod for Ice Fishing

How Many Types of Fishing Rods Are There?

So far, we’ve covered fishing rod basics, and this list of rods is by no means exhaustive. However, it’s excellent information to get you started. As you learn about fishing techniques, you’ll discover that they are available in different lengths, made from different materials beyond the types of rods we covered. Rods are constructed with differing action and power.

This means that there are a boatload of rods to choose from, and the best way to figure out which is a choice is to figure out what type of fishing you’d like to do and start with a simple rod designed for the fish you are targeting. More than likely, once you’re hooked, you’ll build upon your experience and add more rods to your collection.

Next, let’s look at the characteristics of the different types of rods that we’ve outlined.

What are the Primary Attributes of Each Type of Fishing Rod?

Fishing rods are made from different materials, in various lengths, with a power rating and range of action. Other attributes to consider are lure rating and line rating.

We’ve got a lot of information to present here, so let’s dive right in and explore the unique characteristics of rods.

What are Most Rods Made From?

Rods are made from fiberglass, graphite, or composite (a combination of materials).

Fiberglass– These rods have a low price point. They are the least sensitive and are not considered powerful rods. This rod flexes from the tip to the end when you lift up when it’s weighted. This flexing is known as the rod’s action, and the more flex there is, the slower the action.
Graphite- Rods made from graphite have a high price point. They are extremely sensitive and powerful. Designed so that the flex is in the top third of the rod, they have the fastest action. Because the flex is so limited, they go from stiff to flex instantly.
Composite- A rod made of composites incorporates fiberglass, graphite, and other additives (boron or a ceramic additive). These rods have a medium price point and are more sensitive, have more action, and flex more than fiberglass, but not as much as graphite.

What Range Lengths for Fishing Rods?

Range lengths are the length of the rod, and this will depend on the type of fishing you are doing. Surf rods are the longest and can be as long as 15 feet; ice fishing rods are as short as 18 inches. Casting and spinning rods are as short as 5 feet up to 8.5 feet.

What is the Typical Power Rating for Fishing Rods?

The power rating is the amount of power needed to bend a rod at its action rating. Power ratings are ultra-light, light, medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy. Surf rods are generally rated medium-heavy to heavy to cast the large lures and land big, powerful fish. An ultralight casting or spinning rod is an excellent choice for catching fish under two pounds.

What is the Range of Action of a Fishing Rod?

The action of a rod is how much the rod bends when pressure or weight is applied to the tip. There are three ranges: fast, medium, and slow. Fast action rods bend in the top third, moderate in the top half, and slow bends in the lower third into the handle. Extra fast-action rods are the most sensitive; a great example is an ice fishing rod where you need to feel what’s going on with your bait or lure. A fly-fishing rod is a slow-action; the flexibility helps with the short, accurate, and gentle casts.

What is the Typical Lure Rating for Rods?

Lure rating is the ideal lure weight to use with the rod for achieving the best casting performance. A heavy action rod, like a surf rod, would most likely have a lure weight range from 1oz and up because of the size of bait or lure you are using, and an Ultra-Light rod may have a lure range from 1/32 oz and 1/8oz.

What is the Typical Line Rating for Rods?

Line rating indicates the most suitable breaking strain line to use on the rod. Line ratings are tied to rod weight. A medium weight rod will have a 6-12 pound test, a heavy with a 15-25 pound test, and an extra heavy 25 pounds or more. A surf rod will take a heavy test, and a spinning or casting rod will have a medium test.

How to Choose the Right Type of Fishing Rod?

Choosing the right fishing rod can seem complicated, but if you narrow down what type of fishing you plan to do, you can narrow down which rod is best for you. Once you’ve made this decision, you can consider what other attributes, such as length, power rating, and range of action, work best for the type of fish you are targeting.

Doing your homework and getting an excellent base of information is the best way to decide on which fishing rod. Guides like this one are an excellent resource to get a handle on the basics. Getting to an outdoor sporting goods store and chatting with the professionals who actually use the fishing gear they sell is extremely helpful. And talking with family and friends who love to get out there and cast a line is also a great way to learn which rods are the best to use for specific fish and fishing conditions.

Once you decide and buy your first rod, and you get some time out on the water using it, that experience will help guide you in your future fishing rod purchases.

What Type of Rod is Best for Beginners?

If you are new to fishing and wondering which rod is the best for beginners, the features and attributes of a spinning rod are an excellent choice for those new to fishing. It is a highly versatile and lightweight rod that is easy to learn how to cast.

A suitable length to start with is a 5’ to 5’6” rod, depending on height. Younger anglers should choose a shorter and lighter rod that is easier to handle.

A few things to keep in mind, it’s common practice to purchase your rod first and then pair it with a reel and before you buy a rod online, make sure you have actually felt how the rod feels in your hands.

Conclusion

Now that you have basic information about fishing rods, the types, and their attributes, you should better understand which rod to choose for the fish you want to catch and the conditions you’ll be fishing in. So, grab (or purchase) your rod and head out into the great outdoors and get fishing!