Fishing Rod Selector

• Length comes from the technique and the fishEach technique has a length range. Fish that call for light rods get the shorter half of it, heavy fish the longer half, and everything in between the middle.
• Power adds upIt starts from the power the species calls for, adds the technique's effect, and adds one step in salt water. Every rod is placed on the same seven-step power scale.
• Action follows the lureThe technique sets a usual action, and some baits override it: live worms, minnows, shiners and shrimp, cut bait, crankbaits, topwater lures, spoons and spinners get a slower, moderate action, and jerkbaits and soft swimbaits a moderate-fast one. Where no written rule applies, a beginner's Fast or Extra Fast action is moved one notch softer, because a softer tip forgives a late or hard hookset.
• Common pairings have written rulesFor common pairings, such as bass on soft plastics, walleye jigging or crappie jigging, a hand-written rule gives the length, power and action directly. A rule can go past the technique's usual length range, as crappie jigging does. There are two exceptions to a rule's action: bait on a circle hook keeps its slower action, because the hook sets itself as the rod loads, and a lure or bait on treble hooks, such as a crankbait, keeps its own softer action, so a head shake is less likely to pull the hooks free.
• Fly rods go by line weightFor fly fishing the rod is chosen by line weight and length rather than by power and action.

What it does not know: the brand or model of rod you will buy.

Read the methodology, or tell us what looks wrong.

• Power ratings are relativeOne brand's medium heavy can feel like another's medium. The line and lure ratings printed on the blank are far more comparable than the word.
• Action matters more than most people thinkSingle hooks want a faster action so you can drive the point home. Treble hooks want a slower one so the fish cannot lever them out.
• Length trades accuracy for distanceLonger casts further and gives more leverage; shorter is more accurate under cover. Neither is better in the abstract.