OK 10ft casting rod ,?
Now I go into shop with my mouth open looking for a good casting rod , is there going to be a way i can tell if the rod will cast , just by looking and feeling sample , or do I rely on luck , makes in Asia are different to U.S.A and U.K , so I can not go by name on rods ,, sorry to keep harping on ,thks
What I look for in a rod are many things.
1) I look for the backbone of the rod, is it strong? This helps when fighting a fish.
2) I look for the action of the rod, is it too whip like? You find this by making false casts and if the tip of the rod flays back and forth like a whip, it may not be a good choice. This makes for setting a hook a bit harder than normal. It’s good for softer mouthed fish but you want a rod that will accommodate every species in your area.
3) I look for balance, does it feel too heavy when you attach a reel? Although most 10 footers are cast once and wait for the bite, there are times when you’ll need to cast several times, especially when using a lure. This may put you in a sore situation the next day if you don’t have balance.
4) I look at the guides and wrappings, are they in good order? One guide mis wrapped or set off to the side just a hair will make fishing questionable. The wrapping may not be holding the guide firmly and it will move, a guide that moves or is off will ensure your line to tangle on itself or you may not get the distance you want.
5) I look for the line rating it can handle, will it manage the line you are using for the species your after? If a rod is rated for 20-40 pound test line then you don’t want to use 60 pound test with it because the guides cannot manage that and making for very poor casting.
6) I look at the butt of the rod. Is it long enough to fish comfortably? A short butted rod on a 10 footer will make the rod top heavy and making you work harder to handle the rod. Not only this, it’ll take more effort to set the hook on a fish.
7) I look at the reel seat, is it constructed well? This is the place where you put your reel and tighten. The parts that tighten should not be made of plastic. If you over tighten the plastic it will break. This compromises it’s holding power to your reel. Another thing to look at is if your reel fits snug, not loose, when you do tighten it down on the reel seat.
I look for the material used for constructing the rod. This is important because there so many materials being used to make a rod ( Graphite, fiberglass, kevlar, hybrids and then some) that not all are equal as far as strength to hold up from snapping in half. You really have to think about the type of fishing you do and how you abuse your gear.
Over all, you should feel comfortable with the rod and reel in your hands, it’s flexibility and hook setting power, action of the tip and aesthetics of the rod itself. There’s big fish in Asia so going with a poorly constructed rod may hurt your chances.
We all have our take on what we look for in a rod, it comes from experience and what type of fishing we do. I’m sure you’ll find the right one for you.~good luck catchin’.
How to Cast a Fishing Rod