Tackle Frenzy - Boat Rods

The fishing rod has several materials that it can be manufactured from, each having different benefits to the angler. Entry level fishing rods are normally constructed from glass fibre blanks (the bit everything else is attached to) which has been used for years. Glass fibre performs well for it's price and can provide many years of service if looked after, however it is fair to say that if abused it can be snapped fairly easily. The next stage is composite materials, a mixture of glass fibre and low density carbon. Stronger and lighter than glass fibre, most rods below £35 are made of a composite mix. You then have a low density carbon fibre which is lighter again and stronger than composite mix followed by the Rolls Royce of blanks which is high density carbon fibre. As usual your budget will dictate which material you receive in your blank, however every rod sold by Fishing Buddy™ offers value for money so if you are on a fixed budget, a well cared for glass fibre or composite blank will serve the weekend angler well. Click here for more information on rod types.

If your fishing will be off a boat then there are a few considerations before making your purchase such as:

Will you be in-shore fishing or wreck fishing
What fish are you likely to catch
How big will they be or how hard will they fight
How often will you fish

Below are a few hints from our experiences that may help

Inshore Fishing	Go for a lighter action rod of around 12 or 15 pounds. Most fish caught will be smaller than this size and the mighty fight of the small mackerel will be more fun with a lighter action rod. Dog fish, Pollack even Bass if caught can easily be handled on these rods and the lighter action provides better shock absorbency for those keen to get the fish onboard where a stiffer action may just snap the line.
Wreck Fishing	With wreck fishing I would look to a stiffer action rod such as 20 or 30 pounds. There are rods with a dual action that work well, they provide a bend at a different section under more pressure providing more shock absorbency when required. The fish on wreck fishing tend to be larger and more aggressive such as Cod, Pollack or Conger which may over stretch a 12 or 15 pound rod.
A Bit of Both	If you are looking for a multi-purpose boat rod to cope with both then the option should be for a dual action rod. The one I use is rated 15 to 30 pound and copes admirably with both.
Uptiding	Not something I have done much of but my eldest son has an uptider. These are generally longer to allow for the rig to be cast up tide away from the boat and also to allow a better strike than a 6 or 7 foot rod as the line bows out quite a lot when using this method. Really you need a 15lb action rod of at least 9ft to get you going with uptiding.
Spinning	If you want to spin off a boat then your 6ft 15lb boat rod is no good, a bit too short and a bit too stiff. You really need a 7 or 8 foot rod (7 if fishing of a dinghy) designed for spinning. The softer more through action of the spinning rod is designed to cast your spinner or lure a greater distance than a short stiff rod.
How Often	If you will be fishing as much as possible from your newly made boat investment then it makes sense to choose a rod that will stand up to heavy punishment and a decent carbon rod with quality ring guides is what we suggest. However if you will be fishing a couple of times a month when the weather is fine then value for money dictates a carbon composite rod or glass fibre construction. As you will have guessed carbon rods can be expensive but they will last a long time and their light weight and positive action have brought more fishing pleasure to many anglers.