To the novice fisherman, a fishing rod is a fishing rod, but this is a misconception that can result in the novice fisherman not catching many fish at the end of the day!  While you do not necessarily need to have a different kind of fishing rod for every kind of fish, you do need to know what types of fishing rods are best for different fishing conditions to make more educated choices.

Fishing rods are categorized by their weight, or power value, length, and action.  This information can give you a general idea of how the fishing rod will handle in different fishing situations.  Fish rod weights generally come in ultra light, light, medium, medium heavy, heavy, and ultra heavy action varieties.  Obviously, lighter fishing rods catch smaller fish and heavier fishing rods catch larger fish.  Ultra light or light action fishing rods are great for catching trout and pan fish; medium action fishing rods work well with larger river fish, such as smallmouth bass; medium heavy action fishing rods are a good choice for largemouth bass fishing; heavy action fishing rods are used for catching monster fish, such as pike or muskie; and ultra heavy fishing rods are typically used in deep sea or surf fishing.

The length of the fishing rod should be considered based on the type of waters you will be fishing in and its current.  Shorter fishing rods can be used in slow moving streams, but longer fishing rods should be used when fishing in faster moving rivers or in any body of water that has a stronger current.  With a longer fishing rod it is easier to feel those subtle little tugs and nibbles on the bait under heavy current conditions than with a shorter fishing rod.

The action of a fishing rod refers to how a particular rod reacts to the bending force that is created while a fish tugs at the line and how quickly it can return to its straight or neutral position after it has been bent.  The action of a particular fishing rod is usually categorized as slow, medium, or fast.  Generally, slow action rods react more slowly and bend near the base or the butt of the fishing rod and fast action rods react more quickly while bending at the tip or far end of the fishing rod.  Of course, each fishing rod’s action can vary widely depending on the material it is made from, such as fiberglass, graphite, or bamboo.

Choosing which weight, length, and action fishing rod you might need for every fishing situation can be a subjective one.  In the end it all comes down to what you prefer and what works best when you are out on the water.  The best thing to do is to ask the experienced fishermen or guides in the area that you fish most often what works for them.  You might even try borrowing different fishing rods to find what feels right and what produces the greatest fishing results.  One fishing rod will never be the right rod for every fishing situation, so start out with two or three rods and work your way up from there.  Every angler has his own opinions and preferences when it comes to fishing rods, so trying out different weight, length, and action rods until you find what feels right to you is the best way to choose the right fishing rod for the job.  As they say, if at first you don’t succeed, try a different kind of rod!