A NEW FISHING ROD
By Bob Jensen

It is not too early to start thinking of Christmas gifts. Strange but true, Christmas is not that far away, and many of us often struggle with selecting Christmas gifts. A fishing rod makes a great gift if the person you’re buying for is an angler. I recently had the opportunity to fish with Dave Ohlaug. Dave has been in the business of creating fishing rods for quite a few years, and he has been very successful at it. I questioned Dave about the difference in rods: What makes one rod more appropriate than another for certain uses. Dave’s comments might be of help when you’re selecting a new rod, either for yourself or as a gift.

First off, Dave indicated that rods being made today are a great value. A rod that would retail for fifty dollars five years ago is now selling for about twenty dollars. He used the Berkley Cherrywood rod as an example. The Cherrywood has been around a long time in one form or another. The newest version of the Cherrywood is of graphite construction, has nice guides, and is very sensitive. It will do a great job for many anglers

Let’s say you are selecting a rod for the walleye angler. Some anglers, especially those who have been fishing for a long time, know exactly what they want. But if you’re looking for a rod for a new angler, Dave suggests a medium action six or six and a half-foot spinning rod. This size and action will be great for jigging, rigging, and slip-bobbering, and those three techniques are the backbone of walleye fishing.

Another great choice would be a casting rod in the same length and action. A casting rod with a straight, longer handle is the choice of most anglers. This rod will be perfect for bottom-bouncing and trolling crankbaits.

The way the rod is constructed has a bearing on how much it costs. Some of the more expensive rods are constructed using more intricate processes. These processes add to the cost but result in a rod of the highest quality. It almost seems like if a fish looks at your jig you can feel it. Fenwick, for example, has created an entire family of rods that are of the highest quality. If you are a discriminating angler that wants a rod specifically for, let’s say jigging with lighter jigs, you can find a rod in the Fenwick line that will be perfect for doing that. Some rods are good for several techniques; other rods are absolutely great for one or two techniques. The individual angler needs to decide what is right for him or her.

The rods available to anglers today are far superior to rods of just a few years ago, and they are less in cost. The actions of the rods are much better, and there are a lot more rod actions available. Whatever your fishing skill level, there is a great selection of rods at excellent values available to you. 

For more fish-catching information, visit the fishingthemidwest.com website.