According to A.K. Best, “The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad.” This humorous saying has a lot more truth to it than just the surface joke. In angling, there are times when there are plenty of fish but not one is biting. This may mean the angler is doing something wrong, such as having the wrong kind of fishing rod.
Fishing rods are the primary tool in recreational fishing. Also called fishing poles, these are long, flexible rods with a fishing line attached to one end. At the bottom of the fishing line is a hook and a lure for baiting and catching fish. In olden times, the most common object used for fishing rods was bamboo, but modern materials include fiberglass and carbon graphite fiber. Sophisticated fishing rods have line guides and reel mechanisms for better casting and line stowage.
Fishing rods vary in length, from 24 inches to 20 feet, and according to purpose. Different fishing environments and the kind of fish in mind require different rods. Carbon fiber rods are used in coarse fishing throughout Europe. Fly rods are thinner and more flexible, and rely on casting skill to successfully catch fish. Tenkara fishing rods, commonly used in Japan, are extremely light and are portable, telescopic rods. IM/Modulus rods are graphite rods effective for bass fishing. Spin and bait casting rods have a spin casting reel above the handle. Spinning rods are made of graphite or fiberglass and cork or PVC foam. They are popular in angling for game fish like trout and pike.
Specialty rods are ultra-light rods to catch smaller fish, ice rods for ice fishing, sea rods to reel in huge fish from the ocean, surf rods for surf casting in shore fishing, trolling rods to be used behind or beside a moving boat and telescopic rods that can collapse and lengthen for the sake of portability.