The humble hickory fishing pole Tom Sawyer once used to catch catfish as described in the classic "Huckleberry Finn" has today evolved into one of the most high tech piece of equipment used by today's recreational anglers. Early fishing rods used in Australia were made from bamboo cane and hickory. There was even one type made of steel! They were called "angles" because of the line running from the tip, thus leading to the word given to today's fishermen: "Anglers".
Then came fiberglass, and all sorts of composites, but the rods of today are made of high-tech materials which were developed by NASA for use in their space projects. Materials like graphite and Kevlar are mixed with all sorts of epoxies under great pressure so as to produce the high elasticity and fast responses (the return to its original shape) of today's rods.
The rod helps us to put our bait or lure right where we want it, and hopefully, in front of the fish. To do this, we should practice casting to a specific spot every time we cast. This is done by imagining you are a bowler making the cast with a full sweep from behind you and arcing straight over your head and finish pointing at your target. A cast like this should give you most distance.
Casting tips:
Let your rod do the work, not the reel. The primary purpose of your rod is to apply hurt to the fish and to retrieve line. We do this by lifting and then winding down, keeping tension on the line as the rod is lowered. Do not lower the rod quicker than you can wind your reel. Always keep tension on your line trying not to trip the drag on your reel. If your fish goes for a big run, hold your rod high and cease winding until your fish ceases taking line and drag. Once the fish slows down, continue to wind down and lift, wind down leading the fish to the position you want it in. If you continue to wind while the fish is taking drag, all you will succeed in doing is to put twist in your line.
We offer a complete line of Falcon and Fenwick rods, featuring the Techna AV and others. If we don't have it, we'll get it for you. Pictured below are rods in the Fenwick line.
