Fishing as a newcomer to the sport can be an incredibly daunting process. Unlike many other sports and physical activities, fishing comes with a lot of different requirements when it comes to understanding and purchasing a lot of unfamiliar gear. However, as a hobby and a way to get out into nature, fishing is unequivocally well worth the investment of time and money. It’s no wonder then that so many people take up fishing in later life that it’s essentially a cliche of the adulthood experience.
If you’re still wading into the world of fishing, whether it be flyfishing or angling, we thought it’d be best to provide readers with a solid foundation that they can bounce off. That way, when it comes time to take those first steps out on the water, you should have a better idea of what you’re up against.
How to Set Up Your Fishing Rod
Learning how to set up a fishing rod is a relatively complex process, due to the fact that a fishing rod is just a pretty fiddly piece of equipment. To start, once you get it back from the fishing store, your rod has several different components that come together to form the whole:
- The Handle – The part of the rod that you grip.
- The Butt – Close to the handle of your rod there’s a thick area which is going to be the most stable part of your rod.
- The Tip – The part furthest away from the butt, right at the top of the rod. To provide the highest level of maneuverability, a fishing rod’s tip is the most flexible part.
- The Guides – These are the small guidance rings that go up along your rod.
If you happen to have a rod that splits into two parts for storage, there’s also going to be a connector on each piece called the ferrule. There’s a male ferrule and a female ferrule, both of which slot together to connect up the rod.
Once you’ve cleaned the pieces, which is important as dirt and grit can severely damage the connectors which keep pieces together, you can start to assemble your rod:
How to Assemble Your Fishing Rod
- Your male and female ferrule should rotate together. If you feel like you’re rotating them correctly but they’re not clicking in properly, stop immediately and check your instructions to avoid damage.
- Attach your reel using the opening at the bottom of your rod. Then, place the reel seat over the butt of your rod and slide it into place. Make sure you’re not overtightening the reel in the process.
- Lift the bale arm (the silver lifting piece on your reel) and begin pulling the edge of the reel’s thread to unravel it. This will allow you to start threading the fishing rod.
- Start threading your line through the aforementioned guides, moving through each one until you reach the top of your fishing rod.
- Once you’re done you can close your bale arm back in place, and start thinking about which lure you’d like to use.
There are many different lures that can be used for different types of fishing and different preferred catches. Feel free to explore the link above for information on some good varieties to get you started.
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Beginning a new hobby or sport is always going to be a little nerve-wracking. After all, it’s your first step into the unknown, the first chance to fail at something, and that is going to be a little overwhelming. However, that’s also the joy of taking on something new, both in success and in failure, and it’s a wonderful thing to make your life a little bit richer. Good luck on your journey, and happy fishing!
