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Fishing Pole, how to choose the right one?
Choosing a fishing pole is one of the most important decisions you have to make before heading out to battle the mighty bass. Your fishing pole is like an extension to your arm and ultimately your body. You must take care to match the rod you are using with what you are planning to use it for. Sound confusing? This is not nearly as confusing as you may think. I am like most tournament fishermen and have a rod for every situation. My wife doesn’t think it is so good but it works for me. Many fishing poles can be used for many different situations. For example, a good medium action rod with a fast tip can be used in most situations and would be a great place to start if you have a tight budget or you are just getting started. The 2 main things to consider when picking a fishing pole is the action and the tip speed. In bass fishing, the action is going to be anywhere from medium light to extra heavy depending on your intended use. The tip speed though should always be fast or even extra fast at times. In the past I have sacrificed some quality in my fishing poles to spend the extra money on the reel. I have since began to change my philosophy on this subject. I think you should spend only what you are comfortable with but get the best combination rod and reel that you can afford. I used to work in sales at one of the big box sporting goods stores and I can tell you that if you watch the racks where they sell combo units, (those that are already matched with a reel), you often times get a better price then if you buy the fishing pole and reel separate from each other. 
Spinning Rods
Spinning rods are where most anglers are going to start. The most common size of this style fishing pole is between 5’10” and 7’ in length. When it comes to bass fishing, I recommend not having a spinning rod with an action that is heavier then a medium and always use one with a fast or even extra fast tip. There are many different bass fishing techniques that demand that a different fishing pole be used. For the most part though, you can accomplish many things with a 6’ medium rod with a fast tip but I will out line some of the more common techniques and the rods I recommend you use for them. When Skipping I like to use a 5’10” medium rod with an extra fast tip. The medium action gives you some back bone to get the fish back to the boat and the extra fast tip helps you skip the lure further. When Shaking I like to use a 6’3” medium rod also with the extra fast tip. The medium strength helps with being able to shake the lure while the extra fast tip makes it almost bouncy for added action to your presentation. A bit lighter action is required for Split Shotting. I like to use a 6’6” medium light action with a fast tip. The medium light action helps with the feel of this finesse fishing technique while the fast tip gives it a bit more strength and power. Speaking of Finesse fishing, I prefer a little longer rod for this technique. I go with a 6’8” medium action with an extra fast tip. The longer length helps to get the lure out there with further casting distances and the extra fast tip helps you to detect the lightest of bites. One of my favorite techniques is the Drop Shot. When drop shotting a always us e my 6’9” medium light fishing pole with an extra fast tip. This is a great set up for lighter line that allows you to feel the bite while still having the back bone to set the hook in deeper water. The last thing that I use a spinning rod for is the Tube. I like to use the longest of all my spinning rods for this technique. I use a 7’ medium action rod with a fast tip. The added length help with casting and picking up line when setting the hook after a long cast while the fast tip helps to feel the bite. Casting Rods
Casting rods are designed most of the time with a single lure type or application in mind. These can be very specialized fishing poles but once again keep in mind you can get by with using 1 pole for many situations. For bass fishing, the casting rods I recommend are from 6’3” to 8’ in length and all come with a fast tip action except the rods I use for crank baits which have a medium fast tip. When throwing a Spinner Bait, I like a shorter rod for better accuracy. I go with a 6’3” medium rod with a fast tip. This combination allows me to direct the spinner bait to where ever I want it to go. A great early spring bait is the Jerk Bait. I like a 6’6” medium strength rod with a fast tip. Although I use this for mainly jerk baits, it is a very versatile fishing pole and can be used for almost any application. Another of my favorite presentations is the Jig Worm. When using this deadly technique, I go with a bit heavier rod then with the jerk bait. I like a 6’6” medium heavy rod with a fast tip. The heavier rod helps to get the fish out of the heavier cover that I normally use this technique in. Top Water is perhaps the most exciting bass fishing you can experience. When throwing my favorite popper or walking the dog with a spook, I like a 6’8” medium rod with an extra fast tip. I like the back bone and the extra fast tips helps with the movement. Throwing in Slop or using a Frog, I like to use a 7’ medium rod with a medium tip. This is a great combination to get the lure out there and get the fish back to the boat. The Carolina Rig is a great classic bass fishing technique. I like a longer 7’3” medium heavy rod with a fast tip. The added length helps with casting and picking up slack line when the fish hits. The tip is sensitive enough to feel any bite no matter how light it is. Pitching is got to be one of the best ways to target bass holding in tight to cover. When targeting these fish I like to use a 7’6” medium heavy rod with a medium fast tip. The added length makes it easy to get into the tightest spots with deadly accuracy. The good old Flipping stick is hard to beat. When flipping, I like a 7’10” - 8’ heavy action rod with a medium fast tip. The length is for accuracy and the tip is for strength. This combination makes the biggest bass come to the boat just as they should, fast and easy! When it comes to Crank Baits, I like to use a 7’ medium to medium heavy rod with a medium tip. The action of the rod depends on the size and depth of the crank bait you are using. The bigger the bait, the heavier the rod!
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