| Here's a few tips to help you pick out a Surf Fishing | | | | will be fitted with silicon carbide guides. These are |
| Rod. Surf Rods are unique in their design | | | | considered to be the best guides because they are |
| characteristics to be used for fishing in surf. These | | | | very hard, resist wear and are very smooth which |
| tips will help you make an intelligent choice when | | | | improves casting distance. The next best choice is |
| selecting your first or next surf rod. | | | | ceramic guides. Ceramic guides are not as hard as |
| Design features to consider are: | | | | silicon carbide but are still a good material for guides . |
| - Rod Length | | | | There are a few different kinds of ceramic used for |
| - Rod Taper | | | | guides some are harder than others. It is not possible |
| - Rated Rod Power | | | | to determine the quality of the ceramic by inspection. |
| - Type, Quantity and Location of Rod Guides | | | | Don't be too concerned about the quality of the |
| - Reel Seats | | | | ceramic when choosing a surf rod. |
| Rod Length | | | | Besides the guide material consider the quantity of |
| Fishing the surf requires the ability to cast long | | | | guides. Generally speaking more guides are desirable |
| distances using surf casting techniques. To be able to | | | | because they spread the load over the length of the |
| cast as far as possible surf rods are long. A good | | | | rod more uniformly. Since a surf rod design bends |
| length for a surf rod is 10' to 12'. Rods that are | | | | from the upper third the number of guides and |
| shorter will sacrifice casting distance and rods that | | | | spacing along that section are important. Bend the |
| are longer will be more difficult to cast. | | | | rod at the tip to see the arc it makes under a load. |
| Rod Taper | | | | Pay attention to the shape of the arc and the |
| Fishing rods are designed for different types of | | | | location of the guides. The guides should be located |
| fishing. Some rods require a fast action and others a | | | | at the transition points of the arc. |
| medium or slow action. This is accomplished through | | | | Due to stress on the main line when casting surf |
| the design incorporated into the rod taper. Rods with | | | | casters use a shock leader tied to the main line. The |
| a fast action will bend from the upper third of the | | | | rod guides can hinder the casting distance if they are |
| rod length. A slow action design bends from the | | | | not large enough to allow the shock leader knot to |
| lower third. When a rod is designed for the surf it | | | | pass through during the cast. Make sure that the |
| should have a medium action which bends from the | | | | guides at the tip of the rod are not too restrictive. |
| upper middle half of the rod. | | | | Reel Seats |
| Rated Rod Power | | | | The final component of a surf rod that I want to |
| The power rating of any fishing rod is refereed to as | | | | cover is the reel seats. Reels seats are made from |
| it's backbone. This is the fish fighting strength of the | | | | different metal alloys or graphite. The surf |
| rod. Surf fish can be very powerful but you don't | | | | environment is very corrosive. Reel seats should be |
| want a rod that has too much backbone because | | | | made from a non corrosive metal such as stainless |
| you will sacrifice casting distance. The best | | | | steel or other rust proof alloy. Graphite reel seats are |
| compromise is to choose a surf rod with a medium | | | | not recommended for surf rods. |
| heavy power rating. | | | | Use these tips to help you select a good surf rod. |
| Rod Guides | | | | With this information it should be easy to for you to |
| Materials used for rod guides vary. Top quality rods | | | | make a good decision. |