Today, the trend in fishing seems to be toward more and more specialized rods.
Certainly technology plays a big part in this since the lighter, stronger fiber materials of today, such as graphite along with lighter resins and bonding agents, allow today’s fishing poles to be 7 or 8 feet long and still be amazingly light.
But if you are not a diehard fisherman, can you get by with just one pole?
I suppose there is no black and white answer — the best fishing pole depending on the species, technique, skill and expectations of the fisherman. After all, the rod is a tool and you use different tools for different results.
However, unless you have more space than I do, there is a limit to how many poles you can store and use. This requires the average angler to search for a rod that will fulfill the quest for different species, to compromise if you will. Depending on how serious a fisherman you are and what the species of fish decides how many rods you own.
If you don’t fish a lot — maybe hit the streams some for trout, a little bass fishing or just messing around for whatever hits — you will need a rod that will do a little of everything. Your rod has to have a light enough tip to cast small bait or lures, yet still have enough backbone to set the hook on a larger fish.
Luckily, most rods have specifications printed on the base of the ferrule, just above the handle, telling the prospective buyer what lure’s weight the rod has been designed to handle. Since compromises are most always unfulfilling to the philosophical mind, the all-around rod must do many things well, but none perfectly.
A trout rod ideally should be easy to cast, sensitive, light and handy either on small streams, larger creeks or even lakes. A bass rod should have some power to set the hook and battle a larger fish that may be diving into the weeds. Can both these criteria be met?
It can, by managing your line weight.
If you purchase a rod designed for one-eighth to three-eighths of an ounce you can squeeze by, barely. In the spring, spool your medium capacity reel with 4- or 6-pound test line. Though the tip may be a bit stiff for light weights, the light line will allow you to cast lighter lures.
A lot of practice at home with just 1 or 2 BB-sized split shot will teach you how to use that stiff tip accurately for your purposes. You will have to be delicate on your hook set, you don’t want to rip their lips off, the trout may not fight as long or strongly on the stiffer pole, but you can get by with it. As I said, it is not pretty, but the compromise is adequate — barely.
After an unfortunate incident, which resulted in my shattering my $100 UL in a nasty fall, I was forced to do this one year. I spooled the spin cast reel with 4-pound and hit the stream with my 6-foot bass rod. It took a while to get the hang of casting in slow motion, with a quick flip at the end, to toss out salmon eggs or lures, but I was able to catch rainbows almost as well as the UL. The trout didn’t fight as long or hard, my casting accuracy was not as precise, the rod felt big and clumsy, but it got the job done.
In June I spooled the same reel with 12-pound mono and caught bass. I used Rapalas, spinner baits, plastic worms and tubes. The stiffer, heavier line with less stretch made the fishing rod feel entirely different and I was able to cast and set the hook with some authority. However, once I purchased a new UL rod, trout fishing felt more like an art and was much more enjoyable than plowing along with the heavier pole.
For years I used a 5 1/2, medium action UL. I recently changed to a very light, much thinner, 6-foot graphite pole and after a break in period, found I like the longer rod very much. The rod is extra sensitive and also very stiff and fast.
My first cast with this outfit left me laughing. I had positioned myself perfectly on a nice hole, determined the correct spot to place the bait and cast using the same motion I would for my much slower, medium action, old rod.
To my astonishment, the salmon egg landed on the same side of the stream I was standing on, 20 feet above me. Thinking something had gone astray, I cast again and this cast also landed on my side of the stream. It took a few casts to catch on, but soon I was back on target, presenting the bait with a quick flick of my wrist.
In conclusion, by buying a quality fishing rod rated for one-eighth to three-eighths of an ounce lures with a fast action, you can use it for many different species. Generally speaking, keep your line weight from 4 to 6 pounds for trout, crappie or sunfish.
If you are going after larger fish such as walleyes or bass, choose a line of 10-pound test and for larger species such as pike use 12- or 15-pound test. Nothing here is perfect, but this type of compromise will allow you to enjoy fishing for a wide range of species with one fishing rod.
Good luck and good fishing!
