Fishwrench.com Bait Shop Field Guide for the Every-so-often Angler

Extending into darkness, the storefront stretches into a quarter-mile of lures, gadgets, rods, and reels. Most are more appealing to me than they ever would be to a fish. With their bright colors, fuzzy skirts, shiny spinners, flappity-flap-flap paddles, and rattles, I wander in amazement through the fluorescent lit aisles of the bait and tackle shop. I can't help but wonder how others, the new guys, can make it past the charmers, the human lures, without spending a bundle. I know what I'm looking for. I get in, and I get out. But what about those that don't know any better - the newbies, those that are fishing for the first time, or those that hit the open water just a few times a summer - how do they know what they need? There should be an instruction manual or field guide to choosing the right rod, reel and lure combination for the every-so-often angler. Well, now there is! Let me introduce you to the...

...Fishwrench.com Bait Shop Field Guide for the Every-so-often Angler

Let's start with the rod. Most first time fishermen think of a rod as nothing more than a way of getting line out to the fish - a casting tool, but it's so much more than that. A rod is the backbone of a vicious fight with a fish. It's the sensitive touch and feel extending from your fingertips toward the water. The rod can make or break your fishing day.

The rods I prefer have what's called a fast action, meaning that there is strong backbone most of the way up the rod, from the handle to the fourth or fifth guide, and then a very sensitive tip. The backbone, or stiffness, of the rod allows me to work a fish and move her in the directions I need her to go vs. having the fish pull me around. I don't like a rod that's going to double over on me under the pressure of a one or two pound bass. All that should be bending is the tip of that rod - the rest should all be about the fight.

Another job of the amiable tip is to allow me to sense when a fish is tapping at the end of my line. Most strikes are never detected by the every-so-often angler just because their rod wasn't sensitive enough. Surprisingly, bass are not the ferocious lure busters that they've been made out to be. Finesse fishing is one of the most productive methods for working these guys to into your boat, and when finesse fishing, the taps from a bass can be as light as they are from a walleye. They can run with a lure just as far, and be just as finicky. That's why it's so important to have a rod with high sensitivity.

Secondly, the fast taper action of my rod is going to allow me to make wicked hook sets. With just a snap of forearm a hook will dig solidly into the hard lip of a bass, guaranteeing a winning hook set. If my rod were to at all bend further back toward the handle, three - maybe four times the effort would be exerted trying to poke a fish the same way and keep it on my line. This may not seem like much of a difference, but when spending a day on the water trying hook set after hook set, conserving energy and not getting worn out will let you stay on the water that much longer.

As far as length and action are concerned, I would go with a medium action rod that feels comfortable in your hand. You could almost use the rule of thumb for downhill skiing - like a ski, the rod should just be a little longer than you are tall. This length, coupled with a happy-go-lucky medium action will offer exceptional control for the every-so-often angler, and will make for a rod that can be used in a variety of fishing conditions.

A quality rod can run anywhere from $20 to $500 dollars. A tournament fishing friend of mine was using a super inexpensive Wal-Mart brand rod for all of his fishing. They were actually built on a Quantam blank, but relabeled for Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, Wal-Mart switched their blanks to the lowest bidder, so the rod changed. I was never able to purchase on of that caliber as a result. But, for a little more money, I picked up a St. Croix Premiere rod from Bass Pro Shops. It offers the same great features as high-end rods that cost well over $150, but at about half the cost. The IM-8 graphite and Fuji guides make this a quality rod at the right price. Meeting my high demands for a rod, the St. Croix Premiere is more than enough for the every-so-often angler.

By finding a comfortable rod with a strong backbone, a fast taper action, and one at the right price, you are sure to enjoy your day on the water more, and go home with more fish stories to share (annoy) with your wife.