Fishing Rods

Reel In Your Catch: Learn More About Fishing Rods

From a lakeside morning to an outing at the seashore, discover the best fishing rod to bring home your next trophy catch.

DICK'S Sporting Goods carries industry-leading fishing rods, outfitted with the latest angling technology. Explore popular freshwater rods, saltwater rods and more for your next day at the water.

Keep in mind rod materials when making your selection. The construction of your rod impacts its action and should be designed for your skill level:

• Fiberglass Rods: Fiberglass rods are typically durable and affordable, making them ideal for beginners. When fishing in situations where medium to slow action is needed, fiberglass rods can be effective.
• Graphite Rods: Graphite is often preferred by experienced anglers due to its high sensitivity, which allows the user to detect bites faster.
• Bamboo Rods: This material produces a smooth, fluid back cast and offers excellent flex and feel.

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You should consider your level of fishing experience, game fish and environment when choosing your new fishing rod. Learn more about the different models at DICK'S Sporting Goods:

Casting/Conventional Rods: Designed to have the reel and guides on the top, casting rods are most effective for anglers looking to cast several hundred times during a fishing trip.

• Generally match up best with baitcasting reels.
• Most casting rods can handle heavy line and fish in dense cover and water vegetation.

Spinning Rods: Ranging in length from 5 to 8 feet, this model positions the reel and guides on the bottom of the pole to provide smooth, accurate casts.

• Longer spinning rods with elongated grip handles for two-handed casting are frequently used for saltwater or steelhead and salmon fishing.
• Spinning rods are also widely used for trolling and still fishing with live bait.
• The handle length is balanced against the rod's length.

Saltwater Casting/Conventional Rods: The reel and line are located on top of the rod, and the trigger grip lets you securely clutch the rod while releasing the thumb bar.

• Designed with a quick taper at the rod tip for accuracy and a large backbone at the lower portion of the rod for stability.
• Saltwater bait-casting rods can be made from fiberglass or graphite.
• Fiberglass is more durable and has greater lifting power than graphite, which makes it a preference for larger fish such as tuna and yellowtail.
• Graphite rods are more bait sensitive and work well for surf fishing and open water, where bait may be cast over a greater distance.

Power and action are two essential functions of your new fishing rod:

Power: A rod's resistance to flexing is known as its power. This ranges from ultra-light to ultra-heavy or other similar classifications. If you're after larger game fish, you may need a rod with more power.

Action: This impacts your casting distance and accuracy. The smaller the fish, the lighter the action that you'll need, while the heavier the fish, the heavier the action.

Fishing Rod Buying Guide

A fishing rod is one of your most important pieces of gear. Learn more about fishing rod components and types to find the right one for your next fishing trip:

Fishing Rod Components

The components and parts of a fishing rod may vary slightly based on the style:

• The fishing rod handle is where you hold the fishing pole. This component is generally made from EVA foam or cork to provide a durable grip. Longer handles typically allow grip space for both hands, making them a great option for longer casts, while shorter handles are great for roll casting or shorter casts. Some fishermen prefer a split grip or pistol grip handles that can help create shorter casts with lighter baits.
• A reel seat is above the handle. This is where you can rig your reel by sliding it into the collars.
• If you have a collapsible rod, ferrules are where your rod will come together. When you connect the two pieces, make sure that both guides line up so your line has a straight travel path.
• The blank is the main shaft portion of your fishing rod. Right along the blank are the guides, the circular pieces that the line is fed through for more control. On a casting rod, the guides are located facing the sky, while the guides are on the bottom of spinning rods.

Fishing Rod Lengths

Fishing rod length is measured from the end of the handle to the tip, and usually ranges from 6ft to 12ft. Different fishing rod lengths can influence your cast. Smaller fishing rods cast shorter distances and help when fighting fish because they have less bend. Longer fishing rods can cast further distances, making them a great option for deep fishing and covering more water.

Pro Tip: Fishing rods around 7ft are generally a good option for beginners, because they have a balanced amount of casting distance and accuracy.

Fishing Rod Materials

Fishing rods are typically made from fiberglass or graphite. Graphite rods are sometimes preferred by more advanced anglers because of their rigidity and fighting power, while fiberglass fishing rods are a sturdier option with limited maintenance, but they tend to be heavier.

Composite fishing rods are another option that combine fiberglass and graphite to provide a versatile fishing rod for multiple conditions.