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Fishing lures

Spinning rods - Tips

Rummage around junk stores and you might discover an old steel fishing rod. Or maybe your grandfather let you use his bamboo rod one summer.

Those rods may have been cutting edge technology in their day, but today it's all about space-age materials like fiberglass, graphite and carbon fiber.

Bass spinning rods

Outdoor writer Patrick McManus once wrote about becoming a bass fisherman. The first step, he said, was build an addition to your house for all the gear you'll end up buying.

Let's break it down. There are few fishing thrills that get your heart thumping like seeing an eight-pound bass inhale a top water slider. Fishing a slider, you'll cast a lot so weight is a factor. You don't want to jerk the slider out of the bass' mouth, so you don't want a tip that is too stiff.

A lightweight six to seven foot fiberglass spinning rod with a sensitive feel is going to do the trick. Get one with either a medium action or light action tip, depending on the size of your crankbaits. This setup will also work well with spinnerbaits.

If you prefer worms or jigs, get a graphite rod, which is stiffer than a fiberglass rod. You want a medium action and medium tip on a rod about 6.5 to 7.5 feet in length.

Pike spinning rods

You need to go a bit bigger and stronger with pike, although some anglers like the extra challenge of taking this predator on lightweight gear. For shore fishing, a 9-10 foot graphite/carbon fiber rod with medium-heavy action will do well. A shorter rod will be less clumsy on a boat.

These rods have a "progressive action", which means they bend more at the tip end than at the butt end. Fiberglass rods bend nearer the middle. The progressive action of a graphite or carbon fiber rod gives you more power and control when you are tugging at the grip.

Big pike take big lures and a rod this size will easily throw the bigger sized crankbaits, like the 90 mm slippers or 80 mm shads. It will also handle hefty spinners and buzz baits.

Trout spinning rods

While pike thrills come from battling the beast, trout offer the angler a chance to fish with a little more finesse. A lightweight, or even ultra-lightweight, fast to medium-fast graphite spinning rod will give you a chance with easily spooked trout. A graphite rod a little under six feet to about 7.5 feet will allow you to accurately toss spinners and crankbaits right where the fish are hiding.

Also, graphite transfers the feel of the lure well so you will be able to detect subtle strikes and miss fewer hookups.

Perch spinning rods

You don't need a fancy set up to have fun catching perch. A five-to-six foot, medium-action, lightweight fiberglass rod will do the job for lure or jig fishing. You might choose a slightly stiffer rod for when you go trolling.

If you bait fish, make sure your rod has a fairly stiff tip so you can detect even the slightest strike. Perch are well known for stealing bait.

These guidelines will get you started, but in the end, your personal style will lead you to the ideal rod.