Bass Rods

What length rod to choose when lure fishing for Bass?

With the vast array of makes, lengths and casting weights on the market it can be baffling to the angler as to exactly which rod is fit for purpose. Rods come in many different lengths and casting weights but each rod actually has a different use which I’m hoping to explain in the article.

Firstly the length of the rod. This is probably the most important characteristic as it dictates the way you are going to fish. The longer the rod the more blank there is to compress, making them better at casting distance but giving the angler less control over the lure when it is retrieved. This tends to apply to rods in the 9-10ft bracket. This group of rods have certain features that make them an ideal choice for the sort of lure fishing they are designed to do. The rods casting weight in this instance is dictated by the kind of lure they are manufactured to cast. Most lures of this kind weigh between 9 - 40g and the casting weight of the rods reflect this. The new Defiance rod range from Savage Gear are great examples of this. The lures that this kind of rod are made to be used with also govern the rods action. Distance casting lures are made of a dense material such as a metal like zinc or alloy. They tend to be shaped to give them an irregular swimming action on retrieve. Examples of this are the very popular Dexter wedge or the Savage Gear Seeker. This negates the need for the angler to give the lure an action , so the rod tends to have a soft tip action for bite registration. Other features of this kind of rod tend to be guides that are conducive with low diameter or braided lines, small guides that are close to the blank to eliminate wind knots when fishing in blustery conditions. A short butt measurement from butt cap to reel seat for controlled 2 handed casting completes the features.

Bass are predatory hunters and will strike at prey at all depths. As a result lures of different densities can be used to tempt them into a strike. There is nothing more exciting than fishing with surface lures for feeding bass. Poppers and other surface lures don’t tend to be the densest lures in the anglers armoury and their shape, chiefly their conical nose means they must be worked to get the most from them. Examples of this kind of lure are the Xorus Patchinko or 

his means dipping or twitching the rod to make the lure spit water, giving it the look of an injured bait fish. The instant response needed from the lure can not be achieved by a soft tipped rod that would flex before connecting with the lure. A shorter, stiffer blank, 7 to 8ft 6 with less and larger line guides is needed to both cast and work the lures. The Savage Gear SGS2 7ft6 Extra Fast with its quick tip recovery is a prime example of this. The stiffer tip allows the angler to connect instantly with the lure twitching the rod on retrieve to bring the lure to life, whilst the larger guides allow freedom of line movement for accurate and more frequent casts. It may take 3 or more casts to showing fish before a strike is tempted from a feeding bass and accuracy is key to getting that fish to strike

So to summarise. The rod choice is controlled by the choice of lure , which is dictated by the choice of venue. Longer rods for casting, shorter rods for working.