Things to consider when purchasing a new rod.

At Causeway, we stock a tremendous number of rods and reels made by many different manufacturers in many different styles, actions and price points. There are so many different rods and reels that it can be quite confusing, for even the “veteran” fisherman. We at Causeway, when selling a rod and reel to a customer, will occasionally relate fishing rods to golf clubs or tools. You can’t play golf with only one club… why… Because every hole is different and sometimes you need to hit the ball as far as you can, sometimes 150 yards, maybe 20 yards and finally putt the ball into the hole. Each shot requires a certain club to suit that shot. With tools it’s the same theory. You have flat head screws, Phillips head screws, nuts, bolts and so on. Many of these require a tool made for that specific type of screw or bolt. Well, fishing is much the same. For example, one day you like to fish for flounder, in the back-bay where you only need a 2 or 3 ounce sinker and the fish you might catch can be a pound or two. The next day, it’s the Blackfish you want to target, and you need to fish in about 100 feet of water with an 8 or 10 ounce sinker to deal with a heavy current and the fish can range from 3 to 10 pounds. We believe these should be two completely different rods and reels. A heavier outfit for the heavier sinker, heavier line and definitely for more line capacity than you would need in the back bay; And the other rod would need to be much lighter with less line capacity for the shallow, calmer waters of the back-bay. In a perfect world we would ALL love to have 50 different outfits, but… being in the bait business, none of us at Causeway are millionaires… so we understand BUDGETS too! So, here’s the deal… if you ask yourself these few simple questions, and it can make your buying decisions much easier. Question one. How much would you like to spend on a rod and reel? Let’s face it, at Causeway for example, we stock products in many… and I mean MANY, different price points and the last thing we want to do is sell you something you really don’t need, can’t afford or something that simply won’t suit your needs. Ideally, try to know about how much you’re willing to part with, and at the very least, it will narrow down the choices and make it easier to pick something. Second question. What kind of fishing do you intend to do THE MOST of? Keep in mind that “multi purpose” rods and reels DO exist, so you don’t have to go to the extreme, and buy a rod and reel for one specific purpose. Just try to narrow it down a bit. For example, bay fishing or ocean fishing. In our area, our bays are relatively shallow and typically have less current than in the ocean. So a rod that can comfortably fish with 2 to 4 ounces of lead, bait or lures would do the job around here. On the other hand, the ocean fishing here is typically much deeper and far more diverse, so you’ll usually need heavier gear… say a rod that can comfortably fish with 6 to 10 ounces of lead or bait or lures. Try to customize your gear for the conditions you plan to encounter the MOST. Again, we would all love to have a zillion rods and reels but that’s just not a reality for most. And… Question three. How often do you plan on using your new rod and reel? Are you going to fish 5 and 6 days a week like some of us do, or are you going to wet a line a few weekends a month? This is something to seriously consider because you really “get what you pay for” in this day and age! Compare it to your car. Do you drive around town or do you commute and travel? How hard you’re going to use it should help determine how “tough” you’ll need it to be and how easy it can be repaired. Things that you could also consider can be the action of a rod, fast action or slow action, what a rod or reel is made out of and what the manufacturers warranty covers and for how long. It’s just the tip of the iceberg really, but it doesn’t have to be all that complicated, especially if you can answer those simple questions. Bottom line…Having the “right tool for the right job” will make your fishing experiences more pleasurable. You don’t want to catch a flounder with a pool cue and you wouldn’t have a chance with a blackfish using a light rod with light line. After all, you want to do more “CATCHING” than fishing…RIGHT?

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