If you’re new to fishing you might wonder about the differences between a 1 piece vs 2 piece fishing rod including which is better, and why. The answer isn’t that complicated.
One piece fishing rods are superior to two piece fishing rods in all regards except mobility. One piece fishing rods are more sensitive, durable, and less likely to have issues while fighting fish. The best rod manufacturers also tend to exclusively manufacture one piece fishing rods. IF they offer a two piece variety, the selection is very limited. The only reason you’d buy a dedicated two piece fishing rod is if you had little room for them in your car or boat and needed a rod that can store easier.
The Few Main Advantages of 2 Piece Fishing Rods
While I feel you you should really spend your money on a 1 piece fishing rod vs. a 2 piece rod, there are some advantages of a 2 piece fishing rod. The advantages of a two piece fishing rod basically boil down to ease of storage, reparability, and price.
- Storage & Transportation. A two piece rod breaks into two short pieces. This means it’ll fit into the trunk of your ol’ Hyundai Elantra with the missing headlight with ease. You don’t need to get creative with how or where to put a two piece rod as they’ll fit pretty much anywhere. This could make them ideal for someone who lives in an apartment or has a small car.
- Reparability. If you break a one piece fishing rod and your manufacturer won’t replace it under warranty, the repair is probably going to change the rod for the worse. Often, if the tip is damaged the only way to repair it is with a replacement tip that shortens the rod, changes its action, and decreases its sensitivity. With a two piece fishing rod, just get a replacement part for the part you broke, and you’re good as new. Some manufacturers will even mail you this.
- Price. This isn’t really an apples to apples advantage of a 2 piece fishing rod vs. a 1 piece rod, but two piece rods tend to be less expensive. Unfortunately, the reason for this is that they tend to be of lesser quality too. So, while “yes,” your 2 piece rod will be less expensive than the typical 1 piece, it will also be “worse.” Still, with inflation doing its thing lately, price can matter in a big way.
More Obscure Advantages of 2 Piece Fishing Rods vs. 1 Piece Fishing Rods
While storage and price are the two main advantages of a two piece fishing rod, there are a few more obscure perks you may not have thought of.
- 2 Piece fishing rods make it easier to spool line. The main reason I keep a 2 piece fishing rod around is to help me spool line on reels. While I suppose you could go and buy a dedicated line spooler, it’s easier, in my opinion, to just toss the reel onto a two piece fishing rod, take off the top, and go to town.
- If you hate buying things on the internet, you might have more options. Most of the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Dick’s Sporting Goods are going to have more 2 piece fishing rods vs. 1 piece fishing rods for sale. You might have an easier time finding that particular power or action you’re looking for on any given day. On the other hand, much as with price, while there are “more” rods that doesn’t mean the surplus is any good!
The Critical Disadvantages of 2 Piece Rods
Although 2 piece fishing rods have some advantages like storage and price, their disadvantages are overpowering. Here are some of the critical disadvantages of a two piece fishing rod:
- Less durability. Because you’re adding a connection point between the two halves of the rod, you’re creating a weak point that can break. Couple this with the fact that most (though not all) two piece fishing rods are of lesser quality than their one piece counterparts, and you can have a rod that’s more likely to break, even if it can be easier to fix when it does.
- Decreased sensitivity. Because the blank is not one unified structure, a 2 piece fishing rod is generally going to be less sensitive than similar 1 piece rods. Granted, there are plenty of techniques out there where this doesn’t matter (basically everything to do with power fishing), but for some, like jigs, it can make a big difference.
- More things to go wrong. A two piece fishing rod comes apart into two pieces. This seems obvious enough. The problem is the act of taking the fishing rod apart and putting it back together creates wear and tear. Over time, this joint can crack and break. There’s also the possibility that you don’t connect the two parts (called “ferrules”) together fully, which could cause them to come apart while you’re fighting a fish. Finally, if you don’t line them up perfectly, it can impact casting distance or contribute to line twist and other issues.
- A lack of high-quality options. While there *may* be an argument that there are “more” 2 piece rods than 1 piece rods out there, there aren’t more that are of a high quality. Most of the top tier manufacturers do not offer a 2 piece option throughout their entire lineup. While you can find a few, you’re going to have a much better chance of finding the type of elite rod you want in a 1 piece vs. a 2 piece fishing rod setup.
Advantages of 1 Piece Rods
There are enough advantages to a 1 piece fishing rod over a 2 piece rod that to me, it’s a no brainer to buy them so long as you have the space. Here are some of the more important ones.
- More sensitive. While it’s not strictly necessary for every type of fishing, one piece rods are more sensitive than two piece fishing rods. This is because the blank is one unified shape and not broken into two pieces. This makes it easier to feel vibrations, taps, and bites. Having said that, you’re only going to notice or need this in certain situations (example, fishing jigs or such).
- Durable. One piece fishing rods tend to be more durable than their two piece counterparts. The same system that allows vibrations and taps to be felt evenly throughout the rod allows stress to distribute evenly across it too. This makes it less likely to snap, even if when it does, it’s more of a problem.
- Less things to go wrong. With a one piece rod, you don’t have to worry if you’ve put it together all the way or aligned it perfectly, so there’s less chance of things going wrong, like the rod falling apart while you’re fighting a fish.
- Less tangles between rods. While a minor concern, placing a number of broken down 2 piece rods near each other in a rod box is a great way to tangle them. You’re less likely to tangle single piece rods though it also isn’t impossible. Also, fishing rod sleeves require a rod to be built – you can’t use them on a broken down 2 piece rod.
- Wider range of high-quality options. There are more high-end fishing rods offered in 1 piece than 2 piece. If you’re after a particular brand and model, 1 piece is probably your best bet.
- Better resale value. Most of the guys who are going to buy a high-end rod, new or used, are going to be looking for that sensitivity that only a 1 piece fishing rod brings. Thus, they tend to be easier to sell and will have higher resale value. Of note, I wrote an article once about how to buy used fishing rods with confidence that you might enjoy.
The Few Disadvantages of 1 Piece Rods
Even though I feel 1 piece fishing rods are superior vs 2 piece rods in most ways, they do have a few disadvantages.
- Damage can be catastrophic. While damaging a two piece fishing rod means you’re replacing the half you broke, if you damage a one piece rod, you’re replacing the whole thing. Even if you only damage something like the tip, repairing it can mean shortening the rod and changing its action, or decreasing its sensitivity. Further, I have had a one piece rod snap on me right in the middle once and there is no salvaging that. If you break a one piece rod, that’s usually it, so get one with a good warranty.
- Take more space. One piece rods take up more space in your boat or car than a two piece fishing rod would. Further, the trend seems to be to make fishing rods longer and longer still, so this could become an issue for more anglers. If you have a small car or rely on public transportation, one piece fishing rods can be problematic. Further, if you have limited space where you live, it can get dicey, though there are several good storage options that can keep rods out of the way. Here’s an interesting way to hang rods from your garage ceiling (or living room, if your wife will let you)!
- Generally more expensive. 1 piece fishing rods tend to be more expensive vs. 2 piece fishing rods, but this is because they tend to be of a higher quality too. This means this disadvantage isn’t really “apples to apples.” In the rare instances where you can find a high-quality 2 piece, it too will command a hefty price.
When Should an Angler Buy a 2 Piece Fishing Rod
I know I’m talking a bit of smack about 2 piece fishing rods in this article, but I promise you, they catch fish. For some of you, a 2 piece fishing rod is probably even ideal vs. a 1 piece.
2 piece fishing rods are just fine for people who don’t take fishing that seriously, don’t go that often, and/or don’t have that much space. If you live in a city and have a small car or rely on public transportation, they are clearly your better option. Likewise, if you’re just starting out, or raising kids who are, a 2 piece fishing rod is going to be much less expensive and will meet your needs just fine.
You’re also good to go with a 2 piece rod if you’re fishing something like spinnerbaits or topwater lures that don’t leave any doubt when a fish hits. “Sensitivity” is only important for techniques like jigs and soft plastics where it can be hard to tell if a fish is biting, or if you’ve just hit a rock. If your budget is a concern, you might load up on 2 piece fishing rods for your power fishing applications that don’t require the sensitivity.
Which Type of Angler Should Buy a 1 Piece Fishing Rod
Frankly, I think everyone that has the space for them should buy one piece rods. While I suppose the argument can be made that your average weekend warrior isn’t going to “need” them, they’re just a pleasure to fish with and true heirlooms you can pass down. They also have significantly better resale value and often better warranties if something does go wrong.
Competitive anglers especially would do well with 1 piece fishing rods vs. a 2 piece. If money is on the line, you want to have the advantages that the one piece offers over the two piece rod. While I commonly coach that not all techniques out there (e.g. spinnerbaits) “require” a sensitive rod, the fact is, there are techniques that do. Why give up that sensitivity if you don’t have to?
Finally, anyone who wants a “high end” rod is going to want to buy a 1 piece fishing rod simply because there aren’t many “high end” 2 piece rods out there. If you enjoy the sport and want to “treat yo self,” 1 piece rods are where it’s at.
My Favorite 1 Piece Fishing Rods
My favorite fishing rods are all 1 piece vs. 2. I only own the 2 piece rods that I inherited from dad growing up. Most of them are Ugly Stiks and they’ll do the trick. However, when I put my own hard-earned money to the task, I’m grabbing a 1 piece fishing rod, and it’s going to be made by St. Croix.
I know some guys enjoy having different types of rods by different manufacturers so they can mix and match. I prefer to purchase all of mine from the same. The reason is that the power and action rating of fishing rods is not standardized. What one company calls a “medium heavy” another might consider “medium” and so on. By sticking with one manufacturer, you avoid the issue of accidentally buying something inadequate for your needs.
I did an in-depth review of St. Croix rods in this article about the best fishing rods out there. If you haven’t tried the brand, take a look at it as I review several of their models.
Are There Any High End 2 Piece Fishing Rods?
While you’re going to be very limited in what “high end” 2 piece fishing rods you can find, there are a few manufacturers who make a few of them. Even my favorite brand, St. Croix Rods, has a spattering of 2 piece rods for sale. Most of them are in their lower-level offerings like their Triumph line, but even this is a high quality product compared to most 2 piece rods on the market. However, if you’re really willing to break the bank, you can also find 2 piece fishing rods in St. Croix’s vaunted Legend Elite lineup. The only question is why on earth would you?
Conclusions
While I hope this article was helpful, I also hope it didn’t bum you out too bad if you only have two piece fishing rods, or if they’re all you can afford. While a 2 piece fishing rod does have significant disadvantages vs. a 1 piece offering, I will promise you something: the fish don’t care. As long as you’re out there on or near the water having fun and catching fish, it doesn’t matter. Frankly, if you’re the target audience of this blog, you’re just starting out fishing with your kids. They’re going to smile regardless of what rod catches what fish, so enjoy!
Thanks for reading,
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
