Having the proper equipment is essential when it comes to fishing. As a beginner, you might have many questions about fishing rods and if they can bend both ways or not. Well, we’re here to solve your dilemma!
Can a fishing rod bend both ways?
Yes, it can. There is no harm in it. But it is not supposed to bend both ways. Every fishing rod has a spine that indicates which way to bend. To find out which way it should bend, find the spine, the type of gear needed, and the difference between the power and action of the fishing rod.
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Which way should a fishing rod bend?
In order to find which way a fishing rod bends, you have to find the spine on the blank rod. You can do this with a spine finder test. While building your rod, first they’ll find the spine and make it a casting or spinning rod depending on that.
Spinning rods are best for starters and less tangible than casting rods. Casting rods are preferred for casting reels or conventional reels.
Finding the spine is a relatively easy method. Follow the following steps to find your fishing rod’s spine and know which way your fishing rod should bend:
- Step 1: Wrap a masking tape around the middle section of the rod. (A colorful one is recommended)
- Step 2: Make sure that the part of the rod blank is positioned approximately at a 30-degree angle. (Before this, secure the top section of the rod using an open palm.)
- Step 3: With the help of your other hand, apply downward pressure on the rod blank as you’re rolling the blank on a uniform surface.
- Step 4: Notice where the tape lies and you will see that the blank springs into a visible curve.
That’s it! You’ve just found the spine of your fishing rod. For a clearer understanding, watch a youtube video.
It’s not absolutely necessary to know which way your fishing rod should bend but it helps reflect your rod’s true potential.
How much can a fishing rod bend?
The type of action your fishing rod has will decide how much it can bend. There are typically three types: Light, Medium, and Heavy. A light action rod bends very easily. There are also ultra- light actions that are suitable for catching small bait fish.
Heavy action rods bend around 3 to 4 inches before it goes to the blank. This is quick compared to other rods. These types of rods are ideal for large fish in deep-sea fishing.
A medium action rod will bend in the top half of the rod. Light action rods tend to be slower. It will bend to the lower third of the rod and can bend even more.
There are also other types of fishing rods that have more power levels. For example, ultra-heavy fishing rods.
Why do fishing rods bend?
Fishing rods bend to relieve stress to your line to make it more flexible and so that it doesn’t break right away. It allows you to adjust the drag on your reel.
It also depends on the action of your rod. Your rod will have either of the 3 actions, light, medium, and heavy. Every type of action bends in different positions of the rod.
In addition, having a bendable rod helps you understand when you have a bite since the edge of the rod will twitch or flex a little. This is especially useful while bottom fishing.
Why is it important that fishing rods bend?
It is important because it is simpler to control the tension while using a bendable rod. It enables you to reduce the amount of stress from your line, hook, and knots while tackling a fish. The bend also allows you to cast further.
This is known as ‘Load’. However, it should not be too bendable, or else it will be difficult to cast larger baits.
If your rod is not bendy enough, it can cause you to lose your fish and damage your equipment from the tension created. This is why it’s always necessary to know the bend of the rod when purchasing a fishing rod.
What type of fishing rod bend most?
Most fishing reels are bendable nowadays and have some kind of tension adjustment. But which ones bend the most? Soft fishing rods bend the most. They are also known as ‘Light’ and ‘Slow’. It slows down the casting motion making it harder for the fish to get away.
This type of fishing rod is best for fish who try to catch the baits off the hook instead of tackling. The additional bend enables the baits to be cast farther than usual.
Can you break a fishing rod?
Yes. No matter how tough the material of the fishing rod is, it is breakable.
But don’t fret if it breaks because fishing rods are replaceable. Poor maintenance and poor quality are the biggest reasons why fishing rods break.
Your rod might get stuck in between your car door, causing it to break. It can also break if you put it somewhere where there is no proper room for your fishing rod. The rod can get hit by hard objects which can make the tip or edge break.
Besides these, the quality of your rod plays a role. Cheap fishing rods tend to be built improperly and can break while fishing. Moreover, high temperatures can make your fishing rod snap so check the weather before going fishing.
Do graphite rods break easily?
Not easily. But they are not impossible to break. It can break if you’re applying too much pressure while spooling a new line to the reel.
This is why if you have a modern graphite rod, it’s best not to spool a new line to the reel running the line through all the runners. This will cause accidental breakage on the top of your fishing rod.
To avoid that, spool a new line to the reel using only the bottom 2 guides on the rod. No matter what, always keep your rod in a safe spot, or else over time it can break if something heavy falls.
There are many other ways by which your graphite rod can break.
But it’s not as easy as you think. And most of the time it’s not a manufacturing defect, rather it is more likely to snap due to mishandling of the rod.
What causes the fishing rod to break?
There are several reasons why your fishing rod can break. Some of them are listed below.
- High-sticking. You can identify it if the breakage is 12 to 18 inches from the tip.
- Holding the rod above the foregrip
- By impact. This occurs very often so always place your fishing rod in a safe and open space.
- Crushing force. This type of damage is usually not fixable due to irregular breaks. It will not fall apart at once but will fail eventually.
- Too much load. The amount of load your rod can take is limited to its design. If exceeded, it can make your rod break into 3-4 pieces.
- Manufacturing defect. Although very rare, your fishing rod can break if the quality of your rod is poor or if the material is bad.
- Shear Failure. This can be difficult to notice which is why check the rod’s ends behind the breakage.
- Mismatched tackle. Your line could be too heavy for your rod.
- Accidental Breakage. It can snap if something heavy falls on the rod or if you accidentally step on it too hard.
There are many other reasons why a fishing rod can break. However, you can identify the root of the problem just by taking it to a tackle shop.
Can you fix a broken fishing rod?
Yes. A large crack or a completely broken rod on the main shaft cannot be fixed. But if your tip is broken or if you have a crack on the ferrule, this can be fixed with the help of a few tools. Bruised line guides can also be fixed.
There are some factors you should consider. First, figure out what kind of damage it is.
- Cracked ferrule
- Broken rod tip
- Damaged or lost line guides
- Bruised cork handle
All of this is fixable to some extent depending on how great the damage is.
How to fix a broken fishing rod?
If you have a broken rod tip, you can replace it with a new one. Replacements are available online or you can get one in a local tackle shop.
Broken fishing rods can be fixed using epoxy and fiberglass which can cover the damage. Line guides can be replaced as well. Only a few tools are required.
Contacting the manufacturer is always a good idea because they can help you out. They can send you proper replacement parts for your rod.
You might have a warranty as well that you are not aware of, so contact the manufacturer before fixing it on your own. A simple email or call can fix your problems.
If that doesn’t work, get it fixed professionally. Take it to a local repair shop. It might be expensive but it’s cheaper than buying a new fishing rod. But if the fishing rod is important to you or antique then make
sure the shop can ‘actually’ fix it instead of damaging it even more.
This is why it’s necessary to properly take care of your fishing rod to avoid damages in the future.
It’s better if you consult with a person who is experienced with fishing or get in touch with a local tackle shop before choosing a fishing rod. Their experience can help you select the right fishing rod.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much weight can a fishing rod hold?
Why are fishing rods so expensive?
Do fishing rods attract lightning?
Do fishing rods come with line?