Fishing is a great hobby, but it can also be a bit tricky at times. If you want to master the art of fishing, the first thing for any new angler to learn is how to use a fishing rod.
As a beginner in fishing, setting up and using a new fishing rod is one of the most difficult challenges to face. However, with a lot of practice and getting some experience you can overcome this challenge.
Fishing rods come in various lengths and sizes, depending on the type of fish you plan to catch. Therefore, it is quite confusing, especially for a newbie to choose what kind of rod should be suitable to use.
Due to this, I have provided a guide that explains the process of using a fishing rod in a way that will be more helpful. By the end of this article, you would not be short on confidence to use a fishing rod next time you go fishing.
What is a fishing rod?
A fishing rod is a long pole with a handle attached to it. When you cast the line, the rod bends slightly, allowing the line to unwind from the reel. This action allows you to control where the bait or lure lands in the water.
How to Cast a Fishing Rod for Beginners?
Before going into the details of how to use a fishing rod, there are some factors that as a beginner you should consider while learning the art of using a fishing rod.
1. Choose the right rod
The first thing you need to do before using a fishing rod is to choose the right type of rod. You should consider the length of time you plan to use the rod, how often you plan to fish, and what kind of fish you plan to catch.
The length of the rod determines its strength. Therefore, if you plan to fish frequently, then you should get a longer rod than if you only plan to fish once or twice a year.
2. Pick the right reel
Next, you need to pick the right reel. There are many different types of reels out there, including spinning reels, baitcasting reels, and spin-casting reels. There are pros and downsides to each type of reel. The size of the reel determines how many lines you can pull out.
Spinning reels are great for beginners because they are simple to operate and have a low price tag. Spin-casting reels are ideal for experienced anglers who want to cast farther distances and have the ability to change line sizes. Baitcasting reels are best for those looking to catch larger species of fish.
3. Make sure the line is tight
You want to make sure that the line is tight before casting out. When you cast out, you want to make sure that it is not loose at all. If it is, then you will lose some distance and possibly even break the line.
Steps of Using a Fishing Rod
The best way to use a fishing rod is by using it correctly. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use a fishing rod properly.
Step 1: Selection of Lure
To start, you need to first select the right kind of lure. There are different types of lures like jigs, spinners, spoons, flies, etc. So choosing the best lure is very crucial if you want to achieve more with your fishing rod.
Why Lure?
As compared to bait, for a beginner, the most suitable and recommended option is to use a lure. The reason is it can quickly cover a major area of water especially if you want to target a specific kind of fish. Despite being expensive, using a lure is dependent on the fish type and conditions of the water.
Step 2: Lure Adding
After choosing a lure, the next step is to add a lure. First, with the Arbor knot make the line tied with the reel. Then, just like a lure, different kinds of knots are available such as the Unit knot, and Palomar knot that can be used to tie the lure.
Step 3: Fishing Line with Bait
Like in the case of a lure, the selection of bait is also dependent on the kind of fish you want to catch. In addition, the hook’s size can also be measured by looking at the size of the fish you are trying to capture.
In this step, you have to make sure that the hook does not fall off. This can be done by threading your hook to pass through the 2 points of the bait. In simple words, the hook should be on the head as well as on the stronger side.
Step 4: Casting
In fishing, the weather conditions and location always matter and the same is the case when you are casting out. Every angler should know how to cast properly. Casting involves making sure that the rod is straight, the line is taut, and the hook is facing forward.
- For covering a large distance, you should do overhead casting. It can be done with a rod and reel, but it is most often done with a fly rod. The fly line should be long enough so that when you release the line from your hand, it will travel over the top of whatever you are fishing for at least 15 feet (about 4 meters).
- To cover a short and small distance (about 10 yards) pitching technique should be employed. In this method, the rod should be held up while the lure should move down towards the reel. After that, the reel’s button should be pushed with your strong hand while the weak hand should hold the lure.
- By dropping the tip of the rod, the lure should be pushed back while keeping the line straight. Using your less dominant hand, the lure is pulled back to allow the tip of the rod to be raised. Keep in mind that all of this process should be done in a one-time action.
- Lastly, to prevent the line from exceeding the measured distance, slow it down with your thumb.
Step 5: Reeling the Fish
Once you master the basics, you can move on to reel the fish. Reeling in the fish means letting the line go slack until the fish pulls back on the line. When you feel the tension increase, you should begin reeling in the fish.
Conclusion
For any angler, a fishing rod is the most important tool for catching fish. However, a fishing rod should be used properly and with immense care to get better results.
For that purpose, I have gone through the steps of how to use a fishing rod in this post. I hope that this will be helpful for you in understanding the significance of using a fishing rod in the right way. Now go on grab your rod and start catching fish.
