You need to learn to crawl before you can walk and eventually run.
In the same manner, you should know how to set up a fishing rod before you head out to the water.
You wouldn’t want to miss out on a big catch just because your fishing knot was loose or you used the wrong lure type.
If you’re a beginner angler, you’d be surprised to know that the fishing rod is a complex piece of equipment.
The good thing is that once you learn how to set it up, it becomes second nature. So, just follow these steps, and you’ll be angling like a pro in no time.
What Makes Up Your Fishing Rod?
Before we discuss how to set up a fishing rod, you need to familiarize yourself with its components.
You might not be able to understand the instructions or tips later on if you do not know the terminology. Here are the basic parts of a modern fishing rod:
Fishing Rod
Fishing rods either come as a single, solid piece or can be broken into two or more separate parts.
For multi-piece rods, the point where the parts connect is called the ferrule. There is a male ferrule and a female ferrule, and the first one fits into the second one.
The parts where you hold the rod are the handle and the foregrip, and they are usually made of cork or foam. Cork offers more sensitivity, while the foam is easier to grip.
The thick end right below the handle is the butt.
Heavy fishing rods usually feature a gimbal that provides shock absorption. It fits nicely into a rod holder or a fighting belt.
Somewhere next to the handle is the reel seat, which is the part where you mount the reel.
Some reel seats have openings through which you can see the rod blank, which is the “backbone” of your fishing rod.
If you remove the handle, gimbal, reel seat, reel, and other parts, what you have left is the rod blank.
At the opposite end of the butt is the tip, the narrowest and most flexible part of the rod.
You will also find four to five rings attached along the length of the rod. These are the rod eyes that will help guide your fishing line.
Fishing Reel
The fishing reel is the component that you use to stow or retrieve your fishing line.
While anglers generally use it in combination with fishing rods, some mount it directly to the boat. Others also use it to retrieve a tethered arrow when they go bow fishing.
In any case, the most common types of reels are spinning reels and baitcasting reels.
Spinning reels are generally designed for lighter baits, while baitcasters are for heavier lures.
Reels come with a handle and spool, which holds the fishing line.
It also has a knob for drag adjustment, a bail that releases or guides back the line, and an anti-reverse switch that keeps the drag from turning backward.
Finally, the reel foot makes it possible to mount the reel to the rod.
Lure
The lure or bait is what you use to attract fish, hence the name. It can be something artificial, but it can also be natural.
Artificial lures usually look like small, colorful fish, which is very enticing to bigger fish. Natural baits can be anything that fish tend to feed on, like the classic worm.
What You’ll Need To Set It Up
Now that you have the angler jargon down, there is one more thing you need to do before you can set up your fishing rod.
You should make sure you have all the materials and tools on hand. This way, you won’t waste too much energy getting up from time to time to look for something.
Aside from your rod, reel, and lure, you need the right type of fishing line.
You can generally choose from three types of fishing lines: monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided line.
Monofilament is more stretchable, which is better for fighting big fish.
Braided lines cast farther, while fluorocarbons are hard to see for the fish. Just take your pick based on what you think is easier to control.
Another tool you need to prepare is a pair of scissors.
How to Set Up a Fishing Rod in 5 Steps
Fishing is more complicated than some people might think. You need to know what type of bait to use and find out what fishing techniques work best.
What’s more, the modern fishing rod is a lot more elaborate than you would expect.
If you do not set it up right, you won’t be able to reel in the big one.
To increase your chances of succeeding on the water, just follow this simple assembly guide:
Step 1: Put the Rod and Reel Together
First things first, you need to make sure all the parts are clean. It doesn’t mean that you should wash it with soap and water.
Simply wipe away all dirt and debris to prevent them from scratching your fishing rod later on.
Doing this also helps ensure the ferrules fit perfectly. After this, you can start piecing the fishing rod together.
Lay the male and female pieces flat on a clean surface and align them with each other. If there are guides, use them.
Next, hold the female in place as you rotate the male into it.
If they don’t fit, do not force them. Otherwise, you will run the risk of damaging the thread.
Instead, try to realign the parts until you can connect them smoothly.
You could also check out the user manual or look for instructional videos to make sure you don’t miss something like a locking mechanism.
Once you have assembled the rod, you can move on to the reel.
Look for the reel seat, which is the part of the rod where you can mount your reel. This should be somewhere at the bottom section of the rod, close to the handle.
Next, insert the reel foot into the reel seat and lock it in place by turning the knobs on the reel seat.
Make sure the foot sits snugly into the seat before you tighten it to ensure it won’t loosen later on.
Also, check that the knob or coil is rotating smoothly. If it is not, there might be something wrong, like dirt on the thread or a misalignment between parts.
Do not force the knob so as not to cause any damage to the thread.
Step 2: Thread the Fishing Pole
Once you are done attaching the reel to the rod, the next thing you need to do is thread the fishing pole.
However, before doing this, you have to flip the bail on the reel to the other side. If you don’t, the fishing line will remain locked, and you won’t be able to pull it out.
Flipping the bail does not require much force.
If you feel that it does, you have to check again for restrictions, or you might be looking at the wrong part.
Also, make sure the fishing line unwinds in the same direction as the rotation of the reel.
If it does not, you might end up with kinks and knots that would make it impossible for you to fish. Simply flip the spool in the other direction if they do not match.
Next, take the end of the fishing line and thread all of the rod guides one by one. Start with the ring closest to the reel and work your way to the top of the rod.
Once you have cleared the final rod guide, lock the bail again by flipping the arm back into its original position.
To check that you have successfully closed the bail, give the end of the fishing line a slow but firm tug. You should not be able to unwind the line anymore if you do this.
Step 3: Attach the Lure
After threading the pole, what comes next is the lure.
There are many lure styles available today, so you might have your work cut out for you when deciding which one to use.
That said, there are ways to narrow down your options depending on the weather, the type of fish you want to catch, and other conditions.
For instance, a silver lure would be very effective on sunny days because its reflective surface will be more attractive to the fish.
On the other hand, a gold lure is easier to spot if the sun is covered by clouds.
Once you have chosen your lure, you can attach it by threading the fishing line through its eye.
Leave around 10 inches or 20 centimeters of excess line, then wind it back to itself through the lure.
Do this up to five times before tucking the end of the fishing back through to make a knot.
It might be best if you practice a basic fishing knot first on a string or shoelace. You could also try an improved clinch knot.
The key is to make sure the lure is secure so that you don’t end up losing any fish that takes the bait.
Step 4: Add a Sinker
At this point, you are almost done setting up your fishing rod. But if you want, you could add a sinker to your thread.
It can help make your lure go further down in the water, making it easier to cast your line or slow down the fish a bit.
However, this step is optional, and you could skip it if you feel confident about how you set up your rod.
Step 5: Set the Drag
The final step before you cast your line is to adjust the drag of your reel.
Drag is the amount of pressure that it exerts on the fishing line. If it is too high, you might break your line, and if it is too low, the fish could get away.
A good rule to follow is to set it at 1/3 of the line’s breaking strength. So, if you are using a 100-pound fishing line, you could set it to around 33 pounds.
Take Care of the Basics
While fishing can be a complicated sport, there are ways to make the experience less confusing and more enjoyable.
Just make sure you have your bases covered by setting up your rod properly, and you’re good to go!
