Material

The key to a good baitcaster rod is a lightweight design because the angler is likely to be making multiple casts while fishing. However, the baitcaster rod also needs to be strong enough to fight and land a trophy sized fish. For these reasons many people choose a graphite fishing rod because it is very lightweight while still offering strength. It can take some time to adjust to a graphite rod if you are used to fishing with a heavier fiberglass rod, but it is well worth it.

Size

Most baitcaster fishing rods are short with a light tip and strong butt section of the rod (where the rods gets its power from). The average size is from 5 to 6 feet in length although they can be longer than this in some cases. A longer rod is a good choice if you are using non stretch braided fishing line because it allows for some extra shock absorbing through the rod. Shorter rods are generally used by anglers that fish tight waters where very accurate casting is needed.

Price

This is probably the most contentious issue when buying a baitcaster rod. Making the decision between a cheap fishing rod and a more expensive one can be difficult. The cost can also reflect the quality of the rod. For example a cheap fiberglass baitcaster might be worth $30, but the better quality graphite rods retail for over $100. In the end it is probably best to purchase the best fishing rod that you can afford at the time. It never hurts to be on the lookout for sales or special deals either.

With literally thousands of different makes and models on the market, choosing a baitcaster fishing rod isn’t an easy task. Talk to other anglers about their preference and always be sure to have a test of the rod before buying if it is possible. Take a little bit of time to shop around for the best price so that you get the very best deal.

You do not need to go into debt on your first fishing rig, as there are less expensive alternatives to get your feet wet with this sport. You can actually purchase a complete rod and reel combo for less than a hundred dollars to start out with on your new adventure. This will keep costs down at first, but be forewarned that an avid veteran fly fisherman can have ten grand tied up in his personal fishing gear in no time flat. That does not include the cost of transportation to the best fishing spots in the world, plus professional fishing guides, and let us not forget those trips to that special “Fishing Lodge”, in Canada or Alaska. It is a big sport with an even bigger price tag, and you will be hooked so hard, that you will want to get a part time job just support your fishing addiction.

Maybe one day they will be able to mass produce those expensive bamboo rods at a lower cost, and we can all own the ultimate rig for a couple of hundred dollars. For now, it takes a person with discretionary time and money to have fun with this sport. Be aware that there are other items to purchase besides your fly fishing rod and reel before you go out on your first fishing trip to the local river or lake. You will need a fly fishing vest, to hold your flies, weights, extra leader lines, drinking water, and sunscreen, plus a hat to keep the sun off your face. Hip waders to keep you dry while walking out into the water, jockeying for a good place to catch that fish you so badly want to mount on the wall in your den. Oh yeah, your significant other is really going to love this new hobby, as she will become the latest “Angler’s Widow”, in your neighborhood. You never know, she might want to join you on your next angling adventure!

They come in many different materials, but the most popular or purchased are bamboo, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and graphite. Kits can be purchased online or locally in prices ranging from twenty dollars on up to some bamboo blanks cost three to four hundred dollars a set. Some anglers pride themselves on making their own fly fishing rods, and at first feel like they have bitten off more than they can chew. The process is not hard, but it is exacting, and requires patience to finish the project. The longest part of the process is the drying procedure after the epoxy has been set, once assembled.

Selection of the supplementary parts to make the rod into a finished product is just as important as choosing the right blanks. The handle can be an expensive undertaking as well, with prices starting at about sixty dollars and shooting up to over seven hundred very quickly. Guide sets and tops, ferrules, plus winding checks and hook keepers are a required inventory of building a top-notch fly rod. Fortunately, there are kits that come with all the necessary parts, epoxy, and an instructional DVD to step you through the process.

Mind you, building a fishing rig like this is most likely not going to save you money or time, but give you pride and satisfaction knowing that you were the craftsman behind the rod that caught that trophy size salmon, or large mouth bass. Who knows, you may have stumbled into a hobby that will turn into a part time business, or become so popular with your custom rods that you can open your own full time shop, and quit your day job! Either way, this all started out with you shopping for fish rod blanks, and now your ready to take on the sport fishing industry.

Doing a cursory search online will reveal more results than you will be able to sift through in a week. The best thing to do is check with local sporting goods stores, to find the right fishing rod that will accommodate you. Then go back home with this information in tow, and start reducing your options of the products online until you find the best deal for what you want. Some sporting good stores have an online presence as well, and the will allow you to order your fishing rig online, and then pick it up at the store when it arrives.

If you are like most people, after the first trip out to the nearest lake, you will become overwhelmed with joy at your new-found hobby. Hooking that trout in a stream, river or lake will become an obsession that you will never be able to shake in a lifetime. Trout fishing is exciting during the fight when bringing that trophy sized fish into the boat or ashore, but it also very relaxing and almost Zen like during the quiet times. It is a perfect time for bonding with a child or the whole family if you can get them interested in sport fishing on the weekends with you.

You will soon be wound up in the sport, and picking out exotic flies, lures, and baits that will help you land more and bigger fish. Then that memory of buying those cheap trout fishing rods will be but a whisper from your past, when signing on the dotted line for a new boat and motor. We are getting ahead of ourselves though, to get started head out for a few weekends to the nearest stream or lake, and get used to casting your rod, and have fun snagging whatever size trout you can manage. The more you fish you land, the better you become at the sport.

The prices on bamboo fly rods can be a bit intimidating for the budget conscious, they can cost up to four thousand dollars, but a more realistic price, especially for the fly-fishing neophyte is around three to four hundred dollars. You may wonder why they cost so much, and the reason is they are handmade, and can take any where from three weeks to six months depending on the methods used to create them, and the popularity of the rod smith that makes your custom fly fishing rod. Waiting lists with some rod craftsman can be up to two years before they even start on your order.

If you have deep pockets, and want one right now, then an antique bamboo rod will be your best bet. Be prepared to spend anywhere from five thousand dollars at the low end, and up to eighteen thousand for one that was built in the late 1800s. There are literally collectors of these rods that have never even been fly-fishing, as they just enjoy acquiring these pieces of American history, and displaying them in their home for bragging rights with friends and family. If you feel lucky, use the process of online auctions for the procurement of your high end fishing tool. However, you would be well advised to buy the rod in person, as some online sellers are less than stellar in their representation of their products and themselves.

As you can see these rods will out live the person that purchases one in new condition, and the only requirements for keeping one in good shape is to have the eyes restrung every so often, and the tapers checked for fitment. The best bamboo wood is called Tonkin and really should be your only choice when spending this kind of money for a hobby.