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Top Best Fishing Rod Reviews 2016
Going out on fishing trips can prove to be rewarding and fulfilling. It is a fun activity that you can do on your own, with your partner, or together as a group with family and friends. Whether you are a casual hobbyist or a seasoned fisher, you will surely enjoy it. The problem, however, is that fishing can be frustrating. To minimize your frustrations, one of the things that should be done is to invest in a high-quality fishing rod.
For many people who are looking for fishing rods, they will most probably make a choice based solely on price. They will most likely pick a cheap option, especially those that are budget-conscious. Nonetheless, we highly recommend that you go beyond price. At the end of the day, a fishing rod should be seen as an investment. Therefore, you should not hesitate to spend if this is tantamount into being able to enjoy better quality.
Are you looking for the best fishing rods that are available in the market? If you are, keep on reading and we will provide you with insights on some of the most important factors that should be taken into consideration. We will also be comparing three popular models, and in the end, we will recommend which one can provide the best bang for the buck.
Our Pick: Top 3 Best Fishing Rods 2016
1. Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit
2. Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo
3. PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod
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Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo |
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PRICE |
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PORTABILITY |
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LENGTH |
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DESIGN |
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Six Things You Need To Consider When Buying A Spinning Reel
- Price
- Materials
- Portability
- Ease of Use
- Length
- Design
Price
You get what you pay for – this is one thing that you have to keep in mind when buying a fishing rod. Just like in the case of other products, cost is often relative to quality. If you are a beginner, you should consider buying a cheaper option. Once you are able to master the basics of fishing, you can invest in a more expensive model, which will have more advanced features.
The price of the fishing rod will be affected by different factors. For instance, it can be affected by the reputation of the manufacturer and the specific features. There are fishing rods within the cheap or medium, which will be perfect for beginners. For the more experienced users, rods can be more expensive. At the end of the day, more expensive rods will be more feature-rich. In addition, they will also be more responsive and more accurate.
Materials
When evaluating the options that are available in the market, it is also important to take a look at the materials that are used. Nonetheless, keep in mind that high-end materials may make the rod more expensive. You should, however, not hesitate to spend more if this means that the materials used will be better.
Why is it important to consider the materials that are used? First and foremost, material will have an impact on weight. Choose lightweight materials if you want one that is going to be easy to handle. In addition, you should also choose materials that are long-lasting, which will be indicative of the durability of the product.
- Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit: This is an impressive pick because given its affordable cost, it is surprising that it is made from materials with exceptional quality. The rod itself is made from graphite composite, which has been given words of praises by many because of being lightweight and comfortable to handle. More so, it comes with stainless steel hooded reel seats, ceramic guide inserts, and aluminum spool.
- Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo: The body of this rod is made from glass filled nylon, which makes it an innovative option. It also comes with a stainless steel guide and aluminum spool, which is the same with PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod and Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit. The reel seat, on other hand, is made from a combination of graphite and fiberglass. If we have to pick the best in terms of the materials used, this is going to be the winner for us. It is going to be a long-lasting option. It is also lightweight.
- PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod: The rod itself is made from high-density carbon and fiberglass, which is an excellent material combination that can offer the benefit of being lightweight while being long-lasting as well. More so, it is designed with stainless steel hooded reel seats, which are the same with Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit. It also has aluminum spool and guide inserts made from aluminum oxide, which is different from the other two models we have earlier compared.
Portability
If you decide to go on a fishing trip, for sure, you would not want to bring anything that is bulky and heavy. With this, it is important to consider how portable a product is before having it purchased. It will be good to choose a fishing rod with lightweight design, which will make it easy to bring along. Nonetheless, even if weight is reduced, see to it that quality and functionality will not be compromised in any way.
- Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit: If there is one thing that makes it portable, and unique compared to the two other models that are being compared, it would be the inclusion of a travel bag. This makes it a snap to organize all the essentials and bring it when you head out. The graphite composite construction of the rod, in addition, is also a major reason why it is deemed to be an excellent pick when talking about portability. It may not be telescopic, but it is a good thing that it can be broken down into five pieces, making it easier to bring with you.
- Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo: Unlike the Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit and PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod, there are no notable features that are mentioned with regards to how portable it can prove to be.
- PlussinoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod: One of the most impressive things about this product is the use of the carbon technology, which is basically the one that is responsible for the reduction of its weight. It is also a good thing that it comes with multiple lengths, making it easy to have it collapsed. This will make it shorter, and hence, easier to bring with you in your fishing destination. It is a telescopic rod, which is one of its most significant differences from Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit and Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo
Ease of Use
With the multiplicity of the choices that will confront you, one of the things that should be done is to consider how easy the fishing rod is to use. This is especially an important consideration for beginners. If the fishing rod is not easy to use, you will most likely end up being frustrated, and hence, you won’t be enjoying your fishing trips.
There are different things that will have an impact on ease of use, with one of the most important being weight. Generally speaking, lightweight rods are easier to use. You also have to take a look at the design of the grip and see to it that handling the rod will never be a problem. Take a look at any other special feature or innovative technology that will make the fishing rod user-friendly.
- Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit: Assembling and breaking down this fishing rod is surely going to be a piece of cake, which is exactly one of the reasons why we are picking this as the best from the three products when it comes to ease of use. It is not only compact and easy to carry, but it also has comfortable cork grip, which will make it a breeze to handle.
- Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo: Based on the reviews that have been shared by other users, this model is easy to cast and has lightweight construction, which contributes to ease of use. Nonetheless, the design of the handle and the grip is not as impressive when it is compared to Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit and PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod.
- PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod: When it comes to ease of use, it has been lauded by many because it comes with EVA fore grip, which is not seen in Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit and Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo.
Length
When looking at the specifications of fishing rods, another thing that should be done is to take a look at the length. There is no rule of thumb with regards to the right length. Nonetheless, for the purpose of this article, we are recommending that you chose one that has an adjustable length, which will make it useful for a variety of fishing conditions, and which also means that it can be easily used by any person, whether a beginner or an expert in fishing.
- Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit: This model has a length of 6 feet.
- Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo: This model has a length of 4 feet and 8 inches. This is shorter compared to Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit and PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod.
- PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod: This model comes with an adjustable length. The shortest is 6 feet while the longest is at 11 feet. Because of the adjustments that can be made in the length of this fishing rod, we are picking this as the best option.
Design
This is one thing that is going to be ignored by many people. After all, aesthetics will be useless if functionality is compromised. Nonetheless, all things equal, provided that functionality remains superior, you should choose one that comes with an appealing design. From the way it looks to its overall design, it will be good if the rod is stylish.
- Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit: We are picking this as the best in terms of design. We liked how a cork is incorporated in some parts, which creates an excellent contrast from the rest of its body. The included travel case also makes it look trendy.
- Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod Combo: This model comes with a modern, minimal, and sleek appeal, unlike in the case of Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit.
- PlusinnoTM Telescopic Fishing Rod: Like the Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod combo, it also comes with a modern appeal. However, compared to Okuma VS-6-5-20 Voyager Spinning travel kit, the handle is cushioned with EVA foam and not cork.
Conclusion
In sum, shipping for the best fishing rods will not be a walk in the park. Given the abundance of the choices that you will have, it will be challenging to come up with a well-informed choice. Generally speaking, you should not decide on the basis of price alone, you should consult what other people have to say, take a look at the materials used, and consider the technical specifications of the fishing rod to see how one is better than the other.
From the summary of the ratings presented above, it is quite clear that our top recommendation is Okuma VS-605-20 Voyager Spinning Travel Kit. While it may not necessarily be the cheapest option that you will be confronted with, it is going to be an excellent pick, especially when it comes to portability, ease of use, and overall design. For sure, it is going to make your fishing trips less frustrating, helping you to easily have your fresh catch for the day.