Selecting the right fishing pole and reel is crucial.
There are many factors to consider, such as the type of fishing you will be doing, the types of lures you will be using, retrieve ratio and, most of all, the weight of the entire outfit.
There are abundant types of rod and reels on the market today, all with different weights and prices. I personally try to choose one that has a outstanding warranty on it because the best of the poles will break, given the right situation, and a good warranty is worth its weight in gold.
I use the Carbon Lites rod and the Carbon Lite reels. This combination, I promise you, is extremely sensitive and lightweight. You will be able to hold this fishing outfit all day.
There are several styles, weights and lengths you can use. I usually choose a medium action from 7’ to 7.5’ for using crankbaits and a medium-heavy for fishing plastics, jigs, etc. The medium-heavy rods are always 7.5’. The reason for this length is I get a better cast, plus I have more there for a good hookset.
The reels come in several speed retrieves. I will get one to two reels that have a slow retrieve, such as a 5:1 ratio, due to fishing crankbaits and spinnerbaits early in the year when the fish are lethargic -- 6:1 to 7:1 when I want a faster retrieve. This, again, all depends on the style of baits you are using and how the fish are responding to the baits. A faster retrieve will usually get you a reaction bite.
One more important thing is the number of eyes on a rod. You should always get a rod that has at a minimum of 10 eyes. This is for better control on casting and retrieving. Micro eyes will be a little lighter and will give you a longer cast then regular eyes will; however, they are not as good during the cold, icy days.
Remember these points when selecting: total weight of rod and reel, length, type of fishing you are going to do, baits you are using, action of the rod and speed ratio of the reel.
Good luck!
Written by Ricky Clemen
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