Tag: fishing rods

If you’ve spent much time around anglers, chances are you’ve heard them talk about their fishing rods and fishing poles. You might have even wondered if there is a difference between the terms, or if it is simply a “soda vs. pop” sort of thing.

To put it simply, what most people in North America refer to as “fishing poles” are, in fact, fishing rods. Anything that has line guides, a reel seat, and a reel attached to it is a fishing rod and is meant for casting lures. Fishing poles, on the other hand, simply have line attached to their tip. They are meant for placing bait quietly and precisely.

Frankly, it’s a petty thing to worry about so if you’ve grown up your whole life calling rods poles, go right ahead and keep it up. Only a fishing snob would correct you!

Why the Confusion?

Part of the reason people mistake these terms is simply that their fathers and grandfathers before them used the term “fishing pole,” so that’s what people grew up knowing.

At one point in the past, a line attached to a stick was the main tool anglers had to catch fish. Modern fishing reels have only been around a few hundred years and accessible to the masses for even less. Those who couldn’t afford these fancy contraptions had no need for a fishing rod, and caught their fish with handline or by attaching some line to the end of a stick – the fishing pole.

This isn’t exactly a life or death error so there’s been no need for correction, so the mistake has carried on for generations.

The issue is compounded, interestingly, by SEO enthusiasts. You see, those of us writing these posts on the internet generally want someone to read them, so we try to write for terms we think people will search for to enable them to encounter our websites. With the term “fishing pole” being so common in the United States, you’ll find many bloggers use it for this reason. To be fair, I have too on occasion. No harm, no foul as it helps us get information to you, but it certainly contributes to the confusion.

Fishing with Rods

I have no hard data to back this up aside from my 30 years on the water, but I will tell you point blank, very few anglers in North America use fishing poles. Almost everyone uses a fishing rod.

Fishing rods cast lures through the air. Hopefully towards water, but often towards trees. Let’s face it: always towards trees when children are involved. In any event, they’re meant to cast a lure towards distance targets, at which point the lure is retrieved through the water column, hopefully drawing a strike.

Advantages to Using Fishing Rods

Using a conventional rod and reel set up has many advantages over less viable fishing poles. These include:

• Increased casting distance.
• A wider range of available presentations.
• An ability to cover water quickly in search of fish.

Increased Casting Distance

If your reel is properly set up, and your lure is of an appropriate weight for the rod, you can get incredible casting distance with by using fishing rods. With time, you can also increase your accuracy, especially when you’re casting short distances with techniques such as “flipping and pitching,” though you’ll never be as accurate as using a pole to simply plunk some bait right where you want it.

Because you are flinging a lure through the air, its momentum carries it a great distance. If you are throwing with the wind, this distance can increase even more.

How to Maximize Your Casting Distance

If you’re using a rod to be able to cast out far, you might as well learn how to cast it as far as possible. Here are some tips for how you can increase it:

Proper Lure Weight

You always want to match the weight of your lure to your rod’s power. Most manufacturers will print this information right on the rod blank. For example, my son’s Ugly Stik Elite is an ultralight model. It is rated for lures that weigh between 1/32 and 1/4 oz. A lure lighter or heavier than this wouldn’t cast as far as one that was within scope.

Consider Your Fishing Line

The thicker the diameter of your fishing line, generally the less distance that your rod will cast. This is due to friction on the reel. Thinner lines will tend to cast a lot farther (and also get your bait deeper) for this reason. With that said, there’s a balance to everything, because some baitcasters are hard to use with very thin lines and need a minimum diameter to function easily.

Longer Fishing Rods Cast Further

Generally speaking, the longer the rod, the further the cast. There are limits to this of course – you need to have room to wield the larger rods. They won’t do you much good if you’re fishing from a tree-lined bank or in your kayak. There, you’ll want a shorter rod so you can get appropriate leverage and backswing to launch your lures.

Greater Variety of Presentations

I had a spirited rant in another article about “The Bait Monkey,” which is this evil doer who causes… nay, forces fishermen to part with their paychecks for the widest arrange of lures known to man.

While I’m sure this dastardly monkey also visits Europe and other lands that favor fishing poles instead of rods, I can’t imagine it is so sinister there simply because your presentation options are more limited if your exclusively using vertical presentations.

With a fishing rod, you’re able to work the entire water column. You can explore the depths by bouncing jigs along the bottom, the middle of the lake with crankbaits that dive to various depths, and the topwater with poppers and buzzbaits. Rods can toss anything the fish want, at any given time.

You Can Cover More Water

This same versatility of presentations is one of the reasons you can cover more water with a fishing rod than a fishing pole. Because you’re casting and retrieving lures, you get to search for fish everywhere between you and as far as you can cast. You can cast to multiple angles quickly, targeting a different one each time until you have thoroughly probed the entire area.

It’s also easier to walk around with rods if you’re fishing on foot. Modern fishing poles can be as large as 60′! Even though many are telescopic (think of how a telescope compacts), many aren’t! Imagine having to construct one of these at each site you want to fish. Just watch the first 30 seconds of this video and tell me that you could do that all day.

Disadvantages to Fishing Rods

While most people in North America use them, there are a few disadvantages to fishing rods. For starters, they are generally a less accurate way to present bait or lures than fishing poles. Secondly, they have more equipment and parts, which means there are more things to go wrong, and more widgets (such as reels) to upkeep. Finally they can be more expensive, all things considered. While I’m sure you could find an example of an expensive fishing pole, it doesn’t have a reel and you won’t be as susceptible to the Bait Monkey.

Fishing with Poles

I have to be honest, being from North America, I thought fishing poles were something that Huckleberry Finn would have used. Sure, I’ve seen a few crappie fishermen in Florida use them, but I just didn’t think it was popular equipment in this day in age. Apparently, I’d be completely wrong over in Europe or Asia as I’ll describe a bit further below. First, let’s look at a few advantages and disadvantages to using fishing poles instead of rods.

Advantages

The main advantage fishing poles have over rods is that they can present a lure or bait in a much more precise manner and in a stealthy fasion.

Precision

To use a fishing pole, one simply guides it out over the precise part of water they wish to cover, and then lowers their bait or lure down. This allows extreme precision as one can easily move past any reed or obstruction and get their bait exactly where they want it.

This could have far-reaching implications even in bass fishing. For example, consider attempting to present a Senko in a very precise pocket in a nasty weed bed. Even if you were able to flip or pitch to it accurately, you’d still need to reel it in past the weeds to get it out. While I’m not exactly certain how well a fishing pole would work to horse a bass out of that sort of cover, it would at least allow you to make an entirely vertical presentation without fouling your lure.

Stealth

Some folks who fish professionally can make a perfect cast every time that enters the water with minimal splash. Then, there is the rest of us. A fishing pole eliminates the giant splash of a lure as you simply move it out over water and then ease it in. This is a stealthier approach if the fish are spooky, at least if the pole itself doesn’t frighten them. Given that these aren’t that popular in much of North America, it might be the first time a fish has ever seen it, and they may think it’s just a stick.

Disadvantages

There are several disadvantages to fishing with a pole rather than a rod. Many were covered in the rods section (such as a fishing pole’s comparative lack of maneuverability), but there are a few more to consider.

Unwieldy

I suppose this goes hand in hand with lack of maneuverability, but the longer fishing poles out there can be difficult to wield. Many techniques, especially in Europe, appear to be best-suited for those sitting down as you need to brace an especially long pole against something to control it. There are other techniques, such as Tenkara fishing discussed below that alleviate this, but it’s something to consider depending on how you plan to fish.

Availability

I work five minutes from my local Cabelas and before COVID-19, I was there most lunch breaks. I cannot recall ever seeing a true fishing pole. Likewise, I’ve never seen one in the tackle shops I frequent. The bottom line is that depending on where you live, you might have a hard time finding one of these! This isn’t a problem if you aren’t pressed for time, but if you break your only pole and want to get back to fishing, you could be waiting awhile.

European Roach Fishing

There is a species of fish called a “roach” in Europe that anglers use enormous fishing poles to reach. If you go search the internet, you can find plenty of videos showing the tactic, such as this one here.

I’ve never tried this, but it looks as though the anglers make use of these enormous fishing poles to first deliver a ball of chum or attractant over to an area, and then to dangle a baited hook over it to catch a fish in the ensuing frenzy.

Having watched a few of these videos, I might take back the “fishing rods are more expensive” argument I made a few sections higher. Some of these folks bring entire modular towers with them that they plant into the lake or stream to allow themselves to reach even farther.

Japanese Tenkara Fishing

Tankara Fishing is a new term to me, but apparently it has been around for a few hundred years in Japan. Essentially, it is fly fishing in a stream but without a reel. You just have the fishing pole, line, hook, and bait. You still swing the fly back and forth through the air to give it some momentum before casting it, but the amount of line attached to the end of your line is all you get.

I have to say, I’m a bit intrigued by this. I think it might be a decent technique for children, as it isn’t that complicated and the poles aren’t too long or heavy, at least compared to the roach poles in Europe. Who knows, if I try this out with my son, maybe it’ll someday make its way into my book’s sequel.

While researching this article, I learned that this technique was brought to North American in 2009 by a company called Tenkara USA. They have a website that discusses how to get started with the technique, and also offer started packs with everything you need to catch a fish besides the stream.

If you’re into minimalist fishing (and with kids, that might be a good thing) then you might want to give this technique a shot.

Conclusion: It’s Mostly Semantics

While there’s always going to be “that guy” who gets uppity if you call a fishing rod a fishing pole, let’s face it — it’s semantics, and a trifling one at that. Call it what you want, the bottom line is they both catch fish.

The only time I’d be concerned about the difference is if I was booking a charter in another country. You’ll want to know what kind of equipment your guide is using so you can tell what sort of experience you’re about to have. While I could go for some Tenkara fishing, I’m not sure I could deal with sitting in one spot waiting for a roach to bite.

I hope this article helped quell your insatiable thirst for information on this exceptionally important topic. If you have other pressing questions, poke around my site a bit as you’ll learn wondrous lessons such as if you can fish with dead worms, or use WD-40 as fishing attractant. Armed with this trifecta of knowledge, you will crush all fish before you!

Finally, I’d like to invite you to join my Facebook page so I can keep in touch with updated content and fishing reports.

Thanks,

-John Paxton

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you’re aware that I really enjoy St. Croix Rods. While I’ve written about them many times in the past, I thought it would be good to write a more detailed review for you. I’m going to start with a review on the St. Croix Triumph Spinning and Casting Rods. I’ll tell you if they’re worth it and what type of techniques I’d use them for.

Is the St. Croix Triumph a Good Fishing Rod?

In my opinion, the St. Croix Triumph is a really good fishing rod for anyone who is passionate about fishing, but doesn’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on a setup. They are St. Croix’s “entry level” model and available at most sporting goods stores (their higher end stuff often isn’t), but don’t let this dissuade you. An entry level St. Croix rod is still a great purchase, and miles above many other manufacturers.

While you aren’t getting the best components the company has to offer, this is still a great rod that is relatively lightweight and sensitive. The SCII graphite blank has held up to everything my son and I have put it up against without fail. I also appreciate how it has a classic look. I know that is cosmetic, but I’m not much for the flashy rods out there. The Triumph series has a very subdued look to it which I appreciate.

If you don’t have a nice rod yet, then this is a great one to start with. If you do have “better” rods, then this can still be a good addition to your arsenal. I own most types of rods that St. Croix makes from the Triump to the Legend Xtreme and I’ll tell you, you don’t need a hypersensitive blank for every technique. You can save yourself a lot of money by being sensible and picking up a few from the Triumph series for your spinnerbaits and other lures that don’t require the same sensitivity.

Versatility

One great thing about this tier of rods is that they are versatile. With six types in its “family,” there’s a rod for every situation.

You can buy St. Croix Triumph spinning and casting rods in either single piece or as two-piece travel rod. The Triumph lineup also has dedicated salmon and steelhead spinning and casting rods. Finally, there is “the big boy” Triumph Musky rod, though this is only available as a casting rod.

Available Rod Length, Power, and Action in the Triumph Lineup

The St. Croix Triumphs add to their versatility by coming in a lew of sizes, powers, and actions. For example, the spinning rod can be found in lengths from 5′ all the way to 7’6 and powers ranging from ultra light to medium heavy. The smaller sizes work well with kids making this a great birthday present for a grandchild. They light up knowing they have a “special” rod, and you don’t break the bank buying it for them.

There aren’t as many options with the St. Croix Triumph casting rods, but that is because you don’t throw as light of tackle on baitcasters. There are currently five models available in the base spinning, ranging from a 6′ medium power / fast action to a 7′ medium heavy power / fast action. If I was getting started, I’d grab the latter as it would work well for spinnerbaits, plastic worms, and lighter jigs.

If you’re looking for a rod that could handle plastic frogs and heavier jigs, remember that you do have the option of beefing up to the St. Croix Musky lineup. They have several models, such as their 7’6″ Heavy / Fast action that would work just fine for tossing a few toads.

I don’t fish much for salmon or steelhead but the Triumph series comes in a variety of longer models to accommodate fishing for those species. I see no reason why they too wouldn’t be quality products.

You Can Fish for Darn Near Anything

All of this versatility means that you can fish for just about anything with these rods. The ultralight models are great for panfish and the Musky models are great for… Well… Musky.

If you like throwing crankbaits, you can find some medium light models that would work well. The 6’6″ medium / fast rod would do just fine with jerkbaits, and as said above, there are plenty for worms and spinnerbaits. This means that if there’s any hole in your arsenal of fishing rods, you can plug it affordably. That’s important in this day and age.

Where are St. Croix Triumph Rods Made?

If you are looking for an American-made rod, the Triumph will disappoint. While it is designed in Park Falls, Wisconsin, it is manufactured in Fresnillo, Mexico.

Do St. Croix Triumph Rods Come With a Warranty?

The St. Croix Triumph lineup comes with a five year warranty. St. Croix rods offer good warranty service in general (trust me, I’ve had to use it a few times). You should visit their website for full details as they seem to strive to make this better each year. For example, I see they now have an “Excelerator” program that will get you a rod much more quickly, as they’re able to process it based on a photo.

Would I Buy One of These Rods for My Kid?

My children are still young so casting rods are out of the question, but I have purchased a St. Croix Triumph spinning rod for my son. I wouldn’t recommend this as the first rod you purchase for a kid. You’ll want to ensure they like the sport first, and also make sure they know how to take care of their stuff, as this is no Ugly Stik, but I’d have no qualms about recommending this rod for any child who fits that bill.

What Reel Should I Pair This With?

You could put pretty much any spinning or casting reel on a Triumph but, again, one of the benefits of this tier is it isn’t that expensive. It wouldn’t make much sense to take out a second mortgage for a reel for this rod. Instead, I’d keep things simple. I have Plfueger Trions paired with my Triumphs and they work quite well. For casting, I’d go with a Pro Qualifier from Bass Pro which you can often get on sale.

Conclusions

If you’re in the market for your first “nice” rod, it’s hard to beat a St. Croix Triumph spinning or casting rod. They comes in enough lengths, powers, and actions to allow for many presentations and does this all without being too expensive. It is also backed by a 5-year warranty and St. Croix’s great customer service. I own several and wouldn’t hesitate to buy more if my wife wasn’t looking.

Finally, I’d like to invite you to join my new Facebook group to be updated on new articles. I’ve thought about how best to reach folks and decided that I hate mailing lists, so Facebook is the way to go. Please consider liking the page so we can keep in touch.

-Thanks,

John Paxton

One of the fun things about writing this blog is that I get to search the internet looking for different questions about fishing that beginners are asking so I can write an article that answers the question and helps them. Today, we’ll discuss two of the ultimate beginner questions: what is the difference between a spinning reel and casting reel, and can you use a spinning reel on a casting rod? While we’re at it, we’ll discuss if a fishing rod can break if it’s bent the wrong way, because if you’re going to mismatch equipment, this is a real concern.

Yes, you can put a spinning reel on a casting rod in a pinch and you might even find the combination serviceable for light fishing, but there are several drawbacks. (1). You’ll have reduced casting distance. (2) There is the potential for damaging the rod. (3) Your rod will have reduced power and action for the blank. (4). Everyone who doesn’t have a life will be laughing at you, or at the very least rolling their eyes.

Let’s talk a little bit about these in detail so you can make an informed decision before you head off to the lake with one of these mismatched combos.

Spinning vs. Casting Reel – What’s the Difference?

It’s beyond the scope of this article to discuss all the differences between spinning reels and casting reels but you do need to at least know what they look like and how they generally work to understand why you shouldn’t swap the two.

A spinning reel is designed for use with a spinning rod. These reels are meant to be mounted on and fished from the underside of a rod, so it is facing towards the ground while you’re reeling.

Line is kept on the spinning reel by way of its bail. In the photo below, look at how the line leaves the reel and bends in a 90-degree angle before continuing on towards the rod tip. The point where it bends is called the line roller, and the golden semi-circle extending away from that is called the bail.

To release line, you would “flip” the bail by moving it up towards the top of the spinning reel. This releases line from the spool (the part the main bulk of line is wrapped around), as it is no longer kept under tension by the bail and line roller. Note, the spool does not spin while line is being released. It only spins while line is being reeled back on.

A casting reel is designed for use with a casting rod. These reels are meant to be mounted on and fished from the top of a rod, so it is facing towards the sky while you’re reeling.

Line is held onto the spool by a lock which is disengaged by pressing the spool release button at the back of the reel. This allows the spool to spin freely as line is stripped from it. To reengage the spool lock, one turns the reel handle.

The different design of these two reels necessitates use on different types of rods. Line from a spinning reel releases much further away from the rod than it would from a casting reel, which sits much closer. Thus, the line guides on the rod are aligned differently.

Let’s examine that a bit further as I discuss the first reason you don’t want to use a spinning reel on a casting rod:

1. While You Can Use A Spinning On A Casting Rod, It Won’t Cast As Far

If you’re seriously considering trying a spinning reel on a casting rod, I doubt you’ll care about the three other concerns I’ll raise in this article, but you should care about this one. Everyone benefits from longer casts.

If you look at a spinning rod you’ll notice that the first two line guides closest to the handle tend to be much further out than the line guides further up the blank. This is to accommodate the fact that line leaves the spinning reel farther away from the rod than it would on a casting reel.

By putting a spinning reel on the wrong type of rod, you’re risking reduced casting distance because the line can no longer flow as naturally or evenly. Instead, it has to immediately bend towards line guides that sit much closer towards the blank on a casting rod.

This immediate deflection is going to cause friction which is going to reduce casting distance. Does this really matter if you’re just going for panfish off a dock, or even just fishing for fun? Probably not.

On the other hand, if you’re fishing spinnerbaits or other lures where you want to cover a lot of water, the cumulative effect of multiple casts at a reduced distance could arguably translate to many less fish caught over the course of a day.

Just picture this: If you lose 3-5 yards on your cast because you’re using improper equipment, that’s 9-15 feet of water that potentially holds fish that won’t see your lure on that cast. If you make 40 casts an hour (which is a pretty conservative figure) and fish for three hours, you’re looking at 1,080 – 1,800 feet of untouched water. A lot of fish could hide there!

2. Using the Wrong Reel Has Potential for Rod Damage

I will admit that I’ve never put a spinning reel on a casting rod in the first place, much less broken a rod by doing so, but there seems to be a heavy debate out there on if putting a spinning reel on a casting rod (or putting a casting reel on a spinning rod) endangers the rod and makes it more likely to break when bent.

How Fishing Rods are Built

The reason for this concern is because fishing rod blanks (the main “rod” part) all have a spine that is formed during their construction.

Fishing rod blanks are hollow and are built by rolling a sheet of graphite or fiberglass over a metal mandrel. Doing so creates a section of overlap called the “spine.” Because of this overlap, this section is thicker than the rest and is considered the “backbone.”

The side directly opposite the spine is thinner and will bend easier, so the objective when building a rod is to align the line guides or “eyes” are opposite to the spine of the rod blank. This way, when a fish strikes, the rod will bend towards the softer side and not against the spine.

Will A Fishing Rod Break If Bent the Wrong Way?

Some people argue that by putting a spinning reel on a casting rod, or a casting reel on a spinning rod, you end up forcing the rod to bend in the opposite direction than it was intended, against its spine, and this can risk catastrophic failure.

The jury is definitely out on that one. There are a lot of people repeating it, but then several others who don’t seem to think it’s a problem. I’ve seen a few results on popular forums where experienced rod builders have taken both sides of the issue. This is clear as mud.

I tried to figure it out myself by taking one of our less expensive rods and just bending it every which way, and I didn’t notice any difference in how far the rod would bend, or feel as though it was about to break.

I’m not sure I’d try it on one of my nicer St. Croix fishing rods, but on the other hand I’m fairly certain (much more than a hunch really) that if you’re fishing with a high-end fishing rod, you probably are going to have the correct type of reel for it.

On the other hand, if you’re just starting out and found this crazy combo in your granddad’s shed, or pieced it together for a few bucks at a local tag sale, does it really matter if the rod eventually breaks?

3. A Mismatched Rod and Reel Can Alter the Rod’s Power and Action

This one I’d definitely believe. Fishing rods are carefully crafted to ensure that they meet manufacturer standards for power and action.

Power is the rod’s resistance to bending in the first place, while action refers to where along the blank it will bend (a fast action would bend near the tip, a moderate action further down towards the middle).

Altering the rod in any way is likely to change this. If you don’t believe me, have a rod re-tipped after you break it. Compare it against the same rod, undamaged. The shorter one is going to feel different (usually less flexible) than its unbroken sibling.

If you are mismatching your rod and reel type, then you’re using the rod in a way the manufacturer never intended or designed for. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is something to consider. You might find that the rod performs a bit differently is all.

This could be a deal breaker for someone who demands precision, but I again suppose that if you’re the type of person who is doing this, the rod’s power and action probably aren’t at the top of your concerns!

4. “They’re All Going to Laugh at You” If You Use a Spinning Reel on a Casting Rod

Sometimes you just want to “fake it ’til you make it,” but if you’re using a spinning reel on a casting rod (or vice versa), you aren’t fooling anyone. This isn’t really fair as the reason you’re using this strange combo may simply be it’s all you stumbled into and could afford, but such is life.

There are plenty of people across the world who have the intestinal fortitude to mismatch a spinning reel and casting rod, who brave all the dangers I warned about, and who catch fish regularly. It will work, but you are going to look silly doing it.

Granted, this drawback really shouldn’t matter to you as a grown adult (what do you care what someone else thinks of you?), but it might matter to your kids. Bullying is tough these days and even if experiencing it can teach resilience, we shouldn’t set our children up for it on purpose.

If you see someone out there using their rod this way, cut them a break and don’t be rude. You don’t know what their circumstances are. This might be all that they can afford, or perhaps it’s all they know. You can offer assistance or insight but be kind when you do so and don’t be a jerk about it. The world is full of jerks and us fishermen and women need to stick together.

Conclusions

As discussed, while you certainly “can” use a spinning reel on a casting rod, there are several good reasons why you shouldn’t aim to. It’s one thing to just pick up a couple of odds and ends at a tag sale and throw them together to make things work, but you certainly shouldn’t buy a mismatched rod and reel new.

If you do, there’s a good chance you’ll break your fishing rod because it bends the wrong way, and an even better chance that you won’t get to use it to its full potential. It would be a lot like trying to drive in a nail with the butt of a screwdriver. Yeah, it’s passable if it’s all you have, but certainly not recommended.

If you’re new to fishing and are looking for some tips on what type of gear you should buy, consider checking out my post on the basic skills you need to take your kid fishing. It will set you up with a rod and reel combo suggestion as well as discuss what other gear you should buy.

I also have a detailed post on whether or not expensive fishing rods are really worth it. Reading this might shed some insight that can save you a few dollars to put towards a reel that matches the rod.

Finally, if you’re on a tight budget and need to find a spinning rod to go with your spinning reel, consider reading my post about how to buy used fishing rods with confidence as this is something I do frequently that saves me a lot of money and allows me to get some quality items for a great price.

As always, I hope you found this article helpful. If you did, please consider sharing it so it can help others too.

Thanks,

John Paxton

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!

My wife constantly teases me about how I turn one of the world’s least expensive hobbies into one of my most expensive obsessions. She can’t fathom why I would “need” a rod that costs several hundred dollars when there are plenty of perfectly good ones out there for less than fifty. If you’re new to fishing, you or your spouse might be wondering the same thing. Is there really a point to buying an expensive fishing rod?

In my experience, you can definitely feel the difference between expensive and cheaper fishing rods. Expensive rods are more sensitive, able to detect smaller bites, and generally more fun to use than their cheaper counterparts.

With that said, the law of diminishing returns definitely applies. There’s much more difference between a $50 rod and a $150 rod than between a $100 rod and a $300 rod.

Before we go any further: please note that most of the rods here are recommendations for parents. If you’re seeking some advice on what type of rods you should buy for your kids or grand kids, I have another article that discusses that here. Further, if you’re interested in learning if expensive fishing reels are worth it, I wrote an article that discusses that here. Check it out.

Expensive Fishing Rods Have Diminishing Returns

As you’ll soon see, I currently own eight different classes of St. Croix rods, including their entry level bass fishing rod, the Triumph, and their top-end product, the Legend Xtreme. I will tell you right now that there is a huge difference between these two rods.

There is significantly less difference between my Avid rods (a mid-tier offering) and the Xtreme series. There is almost no perceptible difference between my Legend Elite and Legend Xtreme rods, although the latter has a few nice touches.

Keep this in mind as you read through my reviews. You may not have a legitimate need or purpose for one of the higher-end rods. You may live a perfectly happy life with rods lower on the price scale.

Intended Use of the Rod

When you’re trying to figure out how much you should spend on a fishing rod, or what class of rod to purchase, you also want to consider the intended use. Ask yourself a few questions. What types of lures you want to use with the rod? How likely it is that you’ll know a fish has struck with the technique you’re using?

I use my Legend Xtreme as a bass jig rod because I am less comfortable with that technique. I wanted a rod precise enough to help me understand what was happening under the water. The Legend Xtreme allows me to feel every twitch, to differentiate between rocks and leaves on the bottom, and to make the most out of this technique.

It would, however, be total overkill for a spinnerbait. There is never any doubt that a fish has struck a spinnerbait. You could use any rod in this list below equally well with this technique. The only reason you might prefer one of the more expensive fishing rods would be that they have a lower weight, but you’re only shaving off tenths of an ounce. That absolutely would add up if you were fishing 8-10 hours per day, but if you’re just a recreational fisherman, you’re wasting your money.

A Few Notes Before We Begin

When comparing fishing rods it’s important to realize that their measurements are not standardized in the industry.

Fishing rods come in many different powers, such as medium-heavy. However, two different manufacturers could have completely different opinions for what “medium-heavy power” is. This makes comparisons difficult unless you happen to favor one brand.

Luckily, I do. While I do have more than my share of UglyStiks, as they’re great rods for kids, the majority of my rods were manufactured by St. Croix Rods. They are high-quality, reasonably priced, feature a great warranty, and most importantly (to me at least), sticking with one manufacturer gives me the consistency in power ratings.

It’s also important to remember that St. Croix Rods offer many more series than these, but these are the ones I’ve owned, used, and thoroughly tested. I’m uncomfortable making recommendations about products I haven’t fielded, so this won’t discuss every last series that they make.

I also own one of their panfish series of rods, but will concentrate on their bass lineup here. If you want to learn more about my thoughts on why the panfish series is an awesome “high-end” rod for kids, you can read my post about it here.

I feel this helps me select the right tool for the job, and also should lend some consistency to this article. With that out of the way, let’s discuss the differences between the various lines of St. Croix Rods that I own.

St. Croix Triumph

The St. Croix Triumph series is their “entry level rod” but that is a relative term. An “entry level” St. Croix rod is still an impressive fishing tool that you’ll keep in your rod box for years.

The Triumph series features SCII graphite and is manufactured in Mexico. It comes with a 5-year warranty, though I’ve found the rod to be sturdy and hold up well even to my four-year-old’s use.

These come in a variety of sizes, including short ultralights which are very appropriate for small children and anyone else who is fishing for panfish.

These rods are affordable and could be good “workhorse” rods for your family. You can buy two or more of them for the price of some of the higher-end series discussed below.

I don’t find these rods to be the most sensitive that I own so I tend to use them for things like topwater or spinnerbaits. They’re fine for any technique where the bite is going to be obvious. You certainly don’t need an overly expensive fishing rod for every technique. Use Triumphs where it makes sense.

If you’re interested in picking up this great rod, you can buy it at Amazon:

St. Croix Premier

The St. Croix Premier are a step above the Triumph. They are designed and built in the United States out of SCII graphite and feature a 5-year warranty. I’d consider these to almost be the “standard” rods that St. Croix offers. They come in an enormous variety of lengths, powers, and actions, and are one of the few in the lineup that feature a spinning rod that comes in heavy power.

I wanted to get my wife a rod that she could fish frogs with and I knew she would need a heavy power brute to pull fish from vast vegetation, but she doesn’t use baitcasters. The Premier spinning rod in heavy power, fast action is a great spinning rod for frog fishing.

Recently, I picked up a 6′ model with medium power and fast action for my son’s first “spinner baits” rod and presented it to him for his 5th birthday. This really is the line where you can find a rod for anything.

I don’t own very many of these, but I do appreciate the wide variety offered and the range of applications they support. You can pick your own up at Amazon today.

St. Croix Mojo Bass

The Mojo Bass Series is very popular for St. Croix and it’s easy to see why. They were redesigned a few years ago and now feature SCIII graphite though mine are the older versions with SCII. These come in split grips, have a 5-year warranty, and are a good all-around value for the money. While this series is designed in the United States, it is not manufactured here if that is important to you.

I own a few of the Mojo series and spend quite a bit of time fishing with them. My main spinnerbait rod is a medium-heavy power, fast action Mojo casting rod. I like it because it’s lightweight enough to toss all day but also inexpensive enough that I don’t think twice handing it to my five-year-old to reel in a fish.

I would recommend it as a good balance between price and performance. They series comes in a variety of lengths, powers, and actions with specific techniques in mind.

I used to consider the Mojo series a good rod for techniques where you really didn’t need a hyper-sensitive blank to detect light bites, but now that they share the same SCIII graphite as the Avid series (discussed below) they make a lot more sense for other techniques where you want greater sensitivity.

This change to SCIII might allow the Mojo to take a serious run at “best bang for your buck.” Check them out on Amazon to find the best price.

St. Croix Avid Series

In my opinion, the Avid series is your best bang for your buck. I’d argue that after this series, the law of diminishing returns really kicks in. These rods have SCIII graphite like the Mojo, but feature a 15-year transferable warranty. That alone is worth the price difference from a Mojo, and makes the Avid series a great rod to purchase used (see my guide for doing so here).

The Avid family comes in a variety of shapes and colors. I’m kind of a “meat and potatoes” guy, so I personally prefer the classic look of the Avid Spinning and Casting, both of which are designed and built in the United States.

I really enjoy the Avid series so I use them for most of my fishing. Even though I probably don’t need a rod this sensitive for a spinnerbait, it is just fun to toss one with these. I also like using an Avid for throwing out Senkos or texas-rigged worms as I can detect bites better.

If you’re looking for a great gift for your wife or daughter, you can pick up the Avid Pearl, which is a rod designed specifically for women. These are gorgeous, high-performing rods. My wife has owned one for the better part of a decade and it has never let her down. I do wish it came in medium-heavy power as a spinning rod, however.

St. Croix Legend Tournament

I picked up two St. Croix Legend Tournament rods at an auction once and ended up selling one of them as it was a little bit more specific of a power/action than I needed. These come in a ton of casting models and a decent amount of spinning models, and they’re “technique specific” meaning that each variation was specifically designed for a particular use.

This of course doesn’t mean that you can only use them for what the label says, but it does help you plan as you’re building your arsenal.

They come in SCIV graphite, are designed and built in the United States, and feature a 15-year transferable warranty. They really are designed more for the tournament fisherman than just a simple fishing father, and if money was on the line and you wanted a great balance of sensitivity and performance, I could see building out a rod locker mostly comprised of these.

While they certainly aren’t cheap, they’re not anywhere near as expensive as the Legend Elite and Legend Xtreme fishing rods discussed below. If you’re the kind of person who really values high-end equipment, this brand might be your “workhorse” rather than some of the more affordable options others use to fill that role.

St. Croix Legend Elite

While the Avid series might be the best bang for your buck, I absolutely LOVE my Legend Elites. I own one for each of my two favorite fishing techniques: the drop shot and the jerkbait.

They are one of the more expensive fishing rods out there, but they’re well worth it. Their cost is explained by their combination of premium SCV and SCVI graphite and other quality components. These come with a 15-year transferable warranty and are designed and manufactured in the United States.

These are just the perfect drop shot rods. My medium-light power, fast action “wizard wand” is hands-down the favorite rod I own. I could fish with it all day long and it has caught some extremely large fish for its size and power, including a bruiser carp.

The 6’6″ medium power, fast action rod I use for jerkbaits is also great and allows me to work this labor-intensive technique throughout a long day without tiring. I don’t really “need” this sensitive of a rod for a jerkbait (the bites are obvious), but when you’re jerking in giant lures all day, it’s nice to do so on a very light rod.

These are high-end fishing rods and deserve a high-end reel. I favor the Pflueger Patriarch as I’m a fan of the brand and feel it matches very well.

It’s a little hard for me to recommend that anyone go and spend the kind of money that these command new, but if you can find one used, the transferable warranty makes these a great buy, especially if you prefer their subdued design over the more pronounced Xtreme series.

St. Croix Legend Xtreme

The St. Croix Legend Xtreme is another very expensive fishing rod. It is technically the “best” fishing rod that I own, but I don’t use it that often because I don’t really fish bass jigs that frequently ever since my son started coming out fishing with me. This is a big fish lure, and therefore this is my big fish rod, so I’m usually only tossing it the rare times I go out myself.

I had a tough time learning to fish with bass jigs. It’s a technique I taught myself later in life and didn’t grow up on. Because of this, I found I had a hard time detecting light bites and didn’t have much success until I went out and bought this rod specifically for the purpose.

I’m much more successful now and do feel that the rod made a difference. I’m glad I have it and I wouldn’t sell it. If you have a technique that you really need to feel precisely what is under the water, it might make sense to look at a top-class, expensive rod such as the Legend Xtreme, but I do think it would be completely overkill for most techniques.

The Legend Xtreme features a combination of SCV and SCVI graphite, comes in a wide range of sizes, powers, and speeds, and is designed and manufactured in the United States. It comes with a 15-year transferable warranty.

Where to Buy These Rods

If you’re wondering where to buy any of the rods in this article, let me fill you in on a little secret: St. Croix rods rarely, if ever, go on sale in box stores. Most of the sales that these stores have will specifically exclude this brand. While you can, on occasion, find that the manufacturer itself will offer a sale for select items, it’s very rare to see them discounted at a local store.

Thus, these rods a great way to support a local tackle shop that carries them, as you don’t have to worry about missing out on a great deal by supporting your neighbor. Or, if you don’t have a tackle shop nearby, you can also simply use Amazon and enjoy the convenience of buying from a retailer you have probably used extensively in the past. Here’s a link to the rod that I personally feel is the best value.

Conclusion: Expensive Fishing Rods Are Worth It (Sometimes).

You shouldn’t let a hobby break your budget, but if you’re going to get into one as potentially frustrating as fishing, you ought to start with decent equipment. While I’d certainly advocate buying a less expensive brand for your kids, you as the fishing father or mother should invest in quality. St. Croix Rods are a great choice.

Out of all of the rod series discussed above, I’d argue that your first one should probably be a Triumph, or a Premier. These are solid fishing rods that you can be proud of without spoiling yourself with something too expensive, or light.

Neither of these models will let you down and you could pick up a few different sizes, powers, and actions in these series for the price of one of the more expensive ones. This will allow you to build up your arsenal quickly and experiment with different lures and techniques.

I hope this article and my review of the different models helped to break down some differences and give you a little real world perspective on the different St. Croix rod series. I’d like to invite you to join my Facebook group to be updated on new articles. I’ve thought about how best to reach folks and decided that I hate mailing lists, and Facebook is the way to go. Please consider liking the page so we can keep in touch.

Thanks,

John Paxton

If your family is just starting to learn to fish, you could be in for some “sticker shock” when you look at the fishing rods section at your local tackle shop. With some rods running several hundred dollars, you might wonder: is it worth it to buy an expensive fishing rod? In a word, yes, it is. But it’s even better when you buy that expensive fishing rod used. This article will help you learn what to look for when buying a used rod.

Why Expensive Fishing Rods Are Worth It

There’s little point in considering the benefits of buying a used fishing rod unless you understand why expensive ones are worth it. I wrote an entire article that goes into that topic in detail, and I suggest that you read it. It breaks down an entire lineup of rods that I own and discusses the pros and cons of each.

For those in a rush, expensive rods are more sensitive, tend to be a lighter weight, and are better balanced. This means that you can detect fish bites easier, and fish for longer without becoming tired.

Why Buying An Expensive Fishing Rod Used is the Way to Go

Buying your fishing rods used is a great way to reduce expenses while still acquiring quality equipment, but it can be a little nerve-wracking. You might worry that there’s something wrong with the rod and you’re buying a lemon.

While it’s always going to be tough to judge a rod by some photos in an online auction, I do have some tips for how you can purchase a used fishing rod with confidence. If everything is OK with the rod, you get a smoking deal, but even if something goes wrong, you’ll at least break even with what the cost of a new rod would have been with the method I’m about to teach you.

I know this works because I’m the second owner for most of my fishing rods, and I have learned a thing or two after several dozen purchases.

In this article, I will teach you how to research a warranty to know the “break even point” for price, examine a rod in person or from photos, and then buy it without losing any sleep.

It should go without saying that much of the issues I’ll discuss aren’t a huge deal for a children’s starter rod that you pick up at a tag sale. The scope of this article is more directed at the nicer rods that you might wish to acquire used.

NOTE: Further down, I’ll show you a case study showing my exact methodology while researching an actual high-end rod. I’m not going to use the manufacturer’s name because the terms and conditions of their warranty could change at any moment, as could their product’s price.

Step 1: What to Look For When Buying a Used Rod

There are some ways that you can tell if a used fishing rod is damaged before you buy it. If you’re buying online, get as many photos as you can and ask the seller for more if necessary. If in person, examine the following very carefully:

The Line Guides Especially the Tip

Before buying a used fishing rod, look at the line guides and examine them for any signs of wear. Specifically, you want to make sure that they all appear aligned properly, that the threads holding them to the rod appear to be original, and that there are no deep cuts or gouges in the line guides.

While some rods are designed with guides that don’t all align properly, if there is obviously an issue with one of them being bent too far, it could be a warning sign that the rod hasn’t been maintained very well. It’s not that hard of a thing to fix (gentle pressure will usually bend it back) but it is a possible failure point in the future that you should be aware of.

Line guides are held onto the rod blank by two sets of threaded bands on the top and bottom of the guide. These are wound tightly and have a finish applied over them. If one set of bands is a distinctly different color than the others, it could be a sign of prior damage. You will want to double check and make sure that this wasn’t a stylistic choice of the manufacturer before you pass on a rod because of this.

You’ll also want to double check each guide to make sure that the spacer or insert within each guide is intact. Some manufacturers have a metal circle that they place inside of the guides and these are common failure points. You’ll notice that they are missing on some rods.

Some older rods don’t do very well with braided line because the line cuts into their guides over time and creates a groove. This in turn can compromise your fishing line if it touches the groove as it passes through the damaged guide.

Many people secure their hooks and lures against the line guides. This is terrible for them as the sharp hooks can ding them up and damage them, but it is prevalent. Basically, just check for anything that seems out of the norm. It’s easy to do this in person, just run your finger through each guide and see if it feels smooth. When buying online, this obviously isn’t an option, so insist on good photos.

Bear in mind that all of these issues are only magnified as you move further up the rod blank towards the tip. The guides all get smaller and more fragile and more likely to break. There is no shortage of fishing rods in this world with a broken tip.

The Handle

Before buying a used fishing rod, look at its handle, especially if it is cork. Check for pitting or gouges in the cork. A little is normal but you wouldn’t want anything excessive as it is a sign that the rod was neglected or is very old.

You’ll also want to check the coloration. Cork will darken over time as grime, dust, and sweat rub into it from fishing. Lighter cork could indicate less use, or it could simply indicate a seller who bothered to clean up the rod and make it presentable.

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but when I see a cork handle for sale that needs a proper cleaning, a little voice asks, “If the seller can’t be bothered to clean this before listing it for $200, what other maintenance did he forgo?”

If you’re in person, make sure that you check the reel seat to see if it feels tight and snug, as these tend to loosen over the years (bringing along your own reel to test it with will help). This is a fairly annoying issue if you don’t catch it, and it almost cost me a reel once that fell into the depths of Otter Creek, Vermont (Luckily, I was able to retrieve it – 1 yard at a time).

The Hook Holder

Many rods have a hook holder near their handle. This is generally a piece of metal that almost looks like a paper clip. After I had the little bilge fiasco that I discussed in this thread, I noticed that a few of my rods started rusting over in this area.

This doesn’t seem to have affected their action at all but you have to figure that eventually the hook holder will fail and I’ll need to find another option. Though they do sell some snap on hook holders, you really don’t want to add unnecessary weight to a high-caliber rod, so you’re better off if you can find a rod without this issue.

The Label

This is one of the most important things to look for when buying a used fishing rod, especially if it is a more expensive brand. Many manufacturers will void their warranty on a rod by removing or scuffing up their label. This indicates that the rod had a traumatic failure (usually a snapped tip), was returned to the factory and repaired, but is not as good as new.

If you see a rod with a missing label, you run a significant risk that there is no warranty or an exceptionally short warranty (that may or may not transfer to the second owner, anyway). It might not be worth it to buy an expensive brand of fishing rod that is missing its label as that could be a sign that it is damaged and no longer as sensitive.

You’ll notice in online listings that these rods tend to have an unusual length. Whereas many rods come in 6’6″ or 6’8″ sizes, very few deliberately are 6’4″ or 6’7″. Double check what you’re buying and make sure that the rod is truly as advertised.

“B-Stock” Rods

While we’re on the topic of understanding exactly what you’re buying, you should realize that some manufacturers will sell so-called “B-Stock” rods at a steep discount. These are rods that were flagged during the manufacturing process as having some sort of blemish, or that were returned with very little use.

They aren’t going to carry the same warranty, which makes them more dangerous to purchase (and renders my method below useless), but as long as the seller identifies them as such, you don’t have to question their honesty.

Step 2: Research the Fishing Rod and Its Warranty

Physical blemishes and defects aren’t the only things you need to look for when buying a used fishing rod. You also need to consider issues such as how expensive the rod is new, and what kind of warranty it comes with.

If you don’t do this research, you might find yourself in a situation where you think you’re getting a great deal on an expensive brand of fishing rod, but you’re actually buying it for more than it’s worth.

New Cost – (Used Cost + Warranty Deductible + Shipping)

When I’m thinking about buying a used fishing rod on E-Bay, I’m trying to figure out if the used rod is truly worth it and safe to buy. You might see a rod listed for $50 less than new and think to yourself, “well, why wouldn’t it be worth it – I can save $50!!!”

OK… So what if the rod breaks instantly and the warranty deductible is $60? Still think it’s a good deal? Of course not.

The equation I use when purchasing a rod used is:

“New Cost – (Used Cost + Warranty Deductible + Shipping).

I use this method to make sure that I never pay more than a new rod would have cost me, even if the rod breaks on my first cast.

Research the “Actual” New Cost of the Fishing Rod

An important thing to look for when buying a used rod is what that same rod costs rod new. You’ll also want to understand if it ever goes on sale, and if so, for how much. Knowing this will allow you to put a number on the “actual” new cost of the rod. If you skip this step, you’ll never know if that “deal” you found on that expensive fishing rod is really worth clicking “Buy It Now.”

Some of the bigger fishing stores out there like Bass Pro Shops have their own branded products that they put on sale regularly. Generally speaking, they have a sale around most of the holidays and also a very big “Spring Fishing Classic” each year. You can often find their products heavily discounted, and their fishing rods and reels especially tend to be high quality.

If you’re looking at a rod from one of these shops, you need to get an idea of how much it might be discounted in the near future to understand what the “true” new cost is. It changes from year to year so honestly I’d just go to some fishing forums like www.ultimatebass.com, www.bassresource.com, or www.walleyecentral.com and ask around to see what deals different members have received.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking at a so-called “elite” fishing rods from a name brand, realize that they don’t usually go on sale at individual retail stores. Often, the manufacturers insist that the tackle shops out there sell their rods for a certain price and do not allow discounting.

If you want to buy these on sale, you generally need to sign up for the manufacturer newsletter and buy directly from them. Most often, the rods they offer for sale are either brand new models they want to get out there, or discontinued items that they still have lying around. This makes these sales very tough to predict and I wouldn’t bother waiting. Just consider the MSRP as the new cost.

Understand the Warranty in Detail

A well-made fishing rod can last a lifetime if reasonably cared for, which is one of the main reasons why its worth it to buy expensive fishing rods used. Thirty years later, I’m still using some rods I first cast as a child. All of those were second hand from my father.

Unfortunately, if you’re buying used, you’ll usually have little idea if the last owner abused it. This can be scary, especially if you’re looking at an expensive rod up for auction.

A rod’s warranty can remove the fear of purchasing it used if you understand what the warranty actually covers. Check the manufacturer’s website and look for the fine print on that used fishing rod model before you buy it. Here is the warranty information for St. Croix rods, which is my personal favorite brand.

You need to understand the fine print. Namely, will the warranty transfer to a second owner and what is the deductible for that second owner in case of damage? Further, who pays for the shipping? Is it included in the deductible fee or extra?

This is very important. Many manufacturers offer a much more robust warranty for original owners which obviously won’t help you when buying used. You need to read through the fine print and figure out exactly what you’re getting into.

You also need to understand if there is anything that second owner must do to transfer the warranty to their name. Some companies require registration on their website while others require nothing at all.

I’ve found that some companies reduce the warranty length for second owners. Whereas they might offer the original purchaser a lifetime warranty, a second owner may only get 10 years from the date of manufacture.

“Well, how on earth would I know this?” you ask? Look for a series of weird numbers on your rod. That is the serial number. If you call them or visit their website with that information, they should be able to tell you. Make sure you do this. You need to know if the warranty is still in effect or this entire process I’m teaching you is worthless.

Understand the “Actual” Used Cost

This is the easiest part of the whole equation – what is the seller asking for and how much do they want to ship the rod to you? Is the fishing rod worth buying at that price, or is it actually more expensive than if you bought it new?

I would submit that if you’re looking for the absolute best deal, you should consider if the price is negotiable, or (if purchasing through auction) if the “buy it now” price is actually better than what the rod will typically command after bidding. These will help you determine which one you should target.

Understand if shipping is a fixed cost, or based on your location. Try and get the seller to commit to a firm number agreed to in advance if possible, or even waive the shipping costs as part of the deal. Sometimes, it’s possible to meet someone and pick the rod up in person. Just make sure you stay safe while doing this, and meet in a well-lit public place.

Step 3: Do the Math and Make a Decision

Once you have your numbers, do some math. I promised you that I would use a “real world” example, and here it is. Again, I’m not using the manufacturer info because they could change their warranty conditions at any moment and I don’t want you to rely on outdated warranty information and find yourself underwater.

For the purposes of this study, let’s assume four things:

1. You’re looking to buy a used rod from a seller you do not know;
2. Unbeknownst to you, the rod was broken through negligence (i.e. not a manufacturer defect) and the seller is either unaware of this or trying to pull a fast one;
3. You don’t have any guarantee that you’ll get your money back;
4. You need this rod and will replace it if it breaks.

Bear in mind that the goal here is to avoid EVER buying a used fishing rod for more than it would have cost new.

Case Study #1

Here we have an online “buy it now” option for a high-end rod. As you can see, this is a terrible deal. At best, you’re only saving $9.99, yet you’re exposing yourself to $75.01 of risk. You should not purchase this used rod.

Case Study #2

This is a much better deal. While you won’t break even, even if the rod was broken, you’re only out $4.12 over what the cost of a new rod would have been if you bought it new in the first place. I can stomach $4.12 of risk for the potential $80.88 savings.

If I was in the market for this rod, and it looked reasonably maintained from the photos, I would jump on this one and not lose a wink of sleep.

But How Should I Bid On a Used Fishing Rod?

You can use this same exact method to determine what your maximum bid should be when you’re trying to buy a used fishing rod. The only difference is you don’t worry about the asking/selling price, because you don’t know what that is yet. It will be whatever the top bidder is willing to pay.

Your job is to figure out what you’re willing to pay without exposing yourself to more risk than you can handle, should the experience go south.

Here’s an example from a current auction:

As you can see, if the bidding ended today, the buyer would get a phenomenal deal, but even if the cost increases, any price lower than $258.05 guarantees that in the absolute worst case scenario, you aren’t paying more for a used item than it costs new, and in fact, you might one day wind up with a new rod for a discount.

Closing Thoughts

I enjoy fishing tremendously and have bought several fishing rods over the years used with confidence by employing this method. I personally feel that it is worth it to buy expensive fishing rods, but only if the price is right. Because I know what to look for when buying a used fishing rod, I’ve been able to use this system to expand my arsenal with expensive, high quality fishing rods, all without breaking my budget.

It’s not rocket science but it is also not something that everyone thinks about, so I thought I’d write it to try and help someone out there. I’m clearly not getting any commission on an article that suggests you buy products used, so I hope you feel you can trust my advice!

If you enjoyed this article, consider purchasing my book, Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guide. In it, you will find numerous tips and tricks for teaching children to fish. If you are trying to get your kids (or yourself) into this sport, or know someone who is, it’s worth a read.

Thanks,

John Paxton