The Parts of a Fishing Rod

So you are interested in fishing but know nothing about rods, reels, fishing line, terminal tackle reels, etc. We’ve got you covered. In this article you will learn everything you need to know about rods, reels, and fishing line.

What are the parts of a fishing rod?

The market offers different types of fishing rods, in many sizes and built with all kind of materials that are meant to make them either more lightweight or flexible. The parts and terminology in the next paragraphs are for all fishing rods, no matter their type, size or building materials.

Fishing Rods vs. Fishing Poles – Fishing rods are not to be confused with fishing poles. While rods feature guides and can have line attached to them, poles are made from cane and have no guides at all. The line on poles goes at the tip end. Also note that poles have no reel.

Here are the basic parts of a fishing rod:

Butt Cap – The butt cap is situated at the handle’s bottom and can be made of rubber or cork. The butt cap is that end of the rod that you push into your stomach when you’re trying to catch a larger fish.
Handle – Also known as the grip, the handle is the part where you keep hold of your road. The grip can also be made from cork or foam.
Reel Seat – The reel seat is that part on your rod where the reel goes. It can feature many different mechanisms for attaching the reel. For example, there are rods with rings going over the reel foot, yet many rods today have a screwing hood mechanism that goes up and down and keeps the reel in place.
Hook Keeper – The keeper ring or the hook keeper is that special space where you put the hook when you’re on the move so that you don’t risk impaling yourself.
Butt – The butt of a rod is very close to the handle and thick.
Ferrule – In case you have a 2-piece rod, or perhaps one that breaks into more pieces, know that the ferrule is that joint or joints where the rod makes the connection between its parts.
Guides – The guides on your rod are nothing else but the rings through which the line is supposed to go down the entire length of the rod, from the tip to the handle. The spacing between the guides, their number and size depend on what type of rod you have decided to use. High quality rods have a guide for every foot or placed every 0.30 m. This means a 6 foot or 1.8 m rod should have 6 guides.
Butt Guide – The butt guide is the guide that’s placed near the handle, in the butt part of the rod.
Windings – Windings determine the way in which guides are attached to your rod. They’re practically strings that are wounded around each guide’s foot and painted with enamel for protection.
Tip – The tip is the upper part of the rod. It’s also very thin and the most flexible.
Tip Top – The tip top of your rod is the guide nearest to the tip, as well the smallest and perhaps the most important too. Be careful with your tip top because it can easily break, especially if you’re not paying attention when carrying your rod in the car. You can slam it in your car door and lose it.

Why Should I Know Fishing Rod Terminology?

It can be a headache to know all this information about fishing rods, but it surely is helpful when you need to shop for equipment and to compare what you have found. More than this, if you have a question about your gear or on how to fix it, you need to know what to say.

What is the Action of a Rod?

Now that you know everything about the parts of a rod, you need to also understand what Action means. When going shopping for rods, it’s very helpful to say what you’re looking for in terms of action. Simply put, action is than the flexibility of a rod. It tells where a rod bends when loaded and how much.

Her are the action variations you can expect to find:

Fast Action – The stiffest rods on the market, fast action rods bend only at the tip and are suitable for jig and worm fishing.
Medium or Moderate Action – These rods bend deeper and are more flexible, both at the tip and in the middle. They’re perfect for casting lures.
Slow Action – Slow action rods are obviously the most flexible and bend very well, even at the butt end part. They’re ideal for top water and multi-hook lures. Choose the action of your rod according to the fishing technique you’re planning to use and the targeted fish’s habits.