All about fishing rods

🎣 Special Presentation at Team Jo-Jo’s August Gathering! 🎣

We’re excited to announce that Team Jo-Jo’s one and only Big T-Doc will be making a special presentation on fishing rods at our August gathering!

Big T-Doc has been building and repairing rods for over [insert years, if you'd like] years and brings unmatched expertise to the table. His fully stocked rod-building laboratory (see attached pictures!) is filled with rods, reels, guides, eyes, thread, finishes, and everything you can imagine.

He’ll be bringing a selection of custom-built casting, spinning, and fly rods for all to see, feel, and learn from — a hands-on opportunity to take heed of his talent and craftsmanship.

Whether you're a seasoned angler or just rod-curious, bring your questions — this is a session you don’t want to miss.

🎣 Hope to see you there!

Custom BUILDING A FISHING ROD

1.   How Fishing Rod Blanks Are Made

2.   Rod Blanks

a.   Action

b.   Power

c.   Spine (Spline)

3.   Grips

a.   Construction

b.   Mounting

4.   Reel Seats

a.   Bait Casting

b.   Spinning

5.   Guides

a.   Preparation

b.   Spacing

c.   Mounting

d.   Finishing

6.   Cosmetics

a.   Marbleizing

b.   Decals

c.   Feather Art

d.   Thread Wraps – Cross Pattern

Hot Month of August Topic Fishing Rods:

·         Ever wonder how:

o    How fishing rods  made and repaired

·         Action:

·         Fast Action:

Rod bends primarily near the tip. Good for lure control, quick hooksets, and fishing around cover. 

·         Moderate Action:

Bends more in the upper third of the rod. A versatile option for various techniques. 

·         Slow Action:

Bends throughout the rod, including the butt section. Offers a softer presentation and better fish-fighting ability, especially with treble hooks. 

·         Extra Fast Action:

Bends only at the very tip. 

·         Power:

o    Ultra-light: For small lures and light line, often used for panfish and trout. 

o    Light: Slightly more powerful than ultra-light, suitable for slightly larger lures and fish. 

o    Medium: A versatile power rating for a range of lures and fish species. 

o    Medium-Heavy: Good for heavier lures and more powerful fish. 

o    Heavy: Designed for larger lures and heavier lines, often used for bass and other larger species. 

o    Extra-Heavy: For the heaviest lures and strongest fish. 

§  of action of a rod

·         How Action and Power Interact:

o    Generally, faster action rods are paired with lighter power ratings, and slower action rods are paired with heavier power ratings.

o    However, there are exceptions, such as surf rods which can be both slow and fast while being heavy power.

o    When choosing a rod, consider the type of fish you'll be targeting, the lures you'll be using, and the type of fishing you'll be doing. 

Example:

A heavy-power, fast-action rod is suitable for fishing for bass with heavy lures and pitching into cover. A light-power, slow-action rod is better suited for finesse fishing for trout with light lures. 

·         How to match rod with various types of fishing techniques:

§  Popping corks

§  Tight Lining

§  Worm fishing

§  Crank baits

§  Jerk baits

§  Live bait

§  Trolling

§  Fly fishing

·         How do I choose a rod power and action?

·         The type of water you're fishing for will help determine the power of the rod you should select. Thick, heavy cover will require a strong rod to get the fish out before it can tie you up. Clear, open water will often require thin, hard to see lines in order to get bit, meaning you will need a lighter power rod.

·         What is a heavy power fast action rod good for?

·         Fast rods excel in techniques where you might get slack line such as bottom contact-oriented jig fishing where control over the line and bait is essential. Many of these techniques heavily favor from a quick hookset and a fast rod will give you that.

·         How do I tell what action my rod is?

·         A fast action rod will bend in the top third or less of the blank, a medium or moderate action rod will bend in the top half or so, and a slow action rod will bend starting in the lower third of the rod and into the handle. Action, simply put, is where a rod bends.

*        Why would you want a slow action rod?

Slower actions allow bait and lures to flutter and move naturally and produce the least amount of resistance when a fish commits. The parabolic bend of slower actions also helps maintain a load on the rod, both when trolling and when fighting fish.

What is the difference between fast and moderate fast action rods?

AI Overview

A fast-action rod bends mostly near the tip, providing sensitivity and a quick response, while a moderate-fast action rod bends further down the blank, offering more forgiveness and a smoother feel. Fast actions are generally preferred for techniques requiring precision and strong hooksets, while moderate-fast actions excel with moving baits and live bait fishing. 

What do the numbers on a fishing rod mean?

AI Overview

The numbers on a fishing rod typically indicate its length, power, and sometimes line or lure weight ratings. Rod length is usually expressed in feet and inches (e.g., 6'6" or 7'0"). The power rating, often denoted by letters like UL (Ultra-Light), L (Light), M (Medium), MH (Medium Heavy), or H (Heavy), indicates how much force the rod can withstand and how much it bends under pressure. The line and lure weight ratings, usually expressed as ranges (e.g., 8-17 lb line, 1/8-1/4 oz lure), suggest the optimal weight of fishing line and lures to use with that rod for best performance. 

🎣 Team Jo-Jo’s August Gathering Invitation 🎣

Please come out and join us for Team Jo-Jo’s upcoming gathering!Bring all your questions about fishing rods — from action and power to length and material — and we’re sure someone in the crew will have the right answer or advice.

It's always a great time with good food, great company, and even better fishing talk.Hope to see you there!

Good Fishing

Team Jo-Jo & Oneofthepack