Why Your Fishing Rod Might Be Ruining Your Lure Fishing Fun
Many beginners often face this issue: small lures can’t be cast far, big lures feel too heavy, and you never experience that “electric bite” feeling. Truth is, it’s probably not your technique—it’s your rod.
How should a beginner pick their first set of gear? Is a general-purpose rod suitable? This article breaks down hardness, action, and length so you can cast farther with ease, feel bites clearly, hook fish accurately, and enjoy fishing more.
Understanding Fishing Rod Parameters
1-Hardness
Rod hardness ranges from soft to hard: UL → L → ML → M → MH → H. Hardness determines how heavy a lure you can cast.
Example:
- UL rod: 1.5g lure bends the rod easily and casts far; slightly heavier lures can overload it.
- M rod: needs 15g lures to bend the rod; light lures won’t cast far and feel awkward.
Pro tip: Choose rod hardness based on lure weight, not randomly. Match lure weight to the rod’s recommended range.
2-Action
Action determines how the rod bends under pressure.
- Fast action: less bend, more sensitive, great for ambush predators like juvenile trout or Largemouth Bass.
- Slow action: more bend, longer casts, better for active fish like Chub or Carp.
Pro tip: Proper rod handling improves sensitivity; see specialized tutorials for techniques.
3-Length
In theory, longer rods allow longer casts due to bigger lure travel, but overly long rods are hard to maneuver in tight spots like under bridges.
- Short rod (~1.5m): ideal for light lure precision fishing; easy single-hand casts.
- Long rod (2.3m+): better for long-distance casting heavy lures; easier with two hands.
Tip: Shorten rod and lighten handle to balance weight and improve casting efficiency.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Misleading “all-purpose” ML rod
Many “all-purpose rods” cover 3–7g lures, but they’re too stiff for 2g lures, too soft for 10g lures, and slow action dulls sensitivity.
Mistake 2: Random beginner kits
Mismatched kits result in light lures that won’t cast, heavy lures that don’t reach far, and medium lures that catch nothing.
Beginner recommendation:
- Daytime light lure → UL fast action rod
- Nighttime heavy lure → M/MH slow action rod
- Both → use different rods for each scenario
Practical Tips & Tricks
- Casting principle: lure weight bends rod, which stores energy to cast.
- Sensitivity boost: fast action + proper grip → clear bite.
- Easy long casts: shorter rod + light handle → fatigue-free high-frequency casting.
- Product tip: REeffun offers a series of excellent lure rods, well-designed for beginners.
External Resources
Summary & Sharing Advice
Choosing the right hardness, action, and length is key for beginners to enjoy lure fishing. Expensive doesn’t always mean better; proper parameters = longer casts, better bite feel, more catches.
Share this with your fishing buddies—they’ll save money and avoid rookie mistakes!
