By Ernie Horvath
You just purchased a new fishing rod for a specific type of fishing. You put a reel on the rod and went fishing but some- thing just didn’t feel right. The rod and reel combo did not perform to your expectations. The distance and accuracy fell short of your requirements, and the sensitivity was poor or non-existent.

So, what went wrong? You thought you did your homework and checked with your fishing friends to get their input. You researched different manufactures on-line, and you wore the print off the pages of your favorite mail-order catalog. So off you go to your favorite tackle store armed with all the info you thought you needed. Talking to the salesperson they agree and say, “That’s what I use” or something along that line.

The facts are: most rod manufactures mark the rod specs and actions ALMOST the same. For example, a medium action rod with an extra fast tip from one manufacturer is a medium action with a fast tip from another, even though both specify, extra-fast. Also the applications don’t cover the entire lure or fish species the rod applies to. Example: Find a rod marked for speckled trout or weakfish, GOOD LUCK! Actually some of the best inshore trout rods are marketed toward the bass community. Rods marked for shaky head or drop shot series in the lighter actions are perfect for speckled trout. (Just an example)
However the biggest mistake folks make when buying a rod is they don’t bring the reel with them that they are going to use on the rod. Bring your reel filled with line, put it on the rod, take it out and cast it! See how the rod loads with the line through the guides, not deflecting the tip on the floor or ceiling in the store. That does nothing to tell you how the rod will perform. If the store won’t let you test cast the rod, find a store that will.

If you’re still not satisfied, contact a reliable custom rod builder. They will spend the time with you to ensure you get the rod you need for your type of fishing and most of the time the custom rod prices are in-line with the high- end factory rods.

Next month, build your own custom fishing rod!