Aside from rod length and rod material type, another vital feature of a fishing rod is the ‘bend.’ Fishing rods bend, and they do so for a reason.
In this article, you will find out why fishing rods bend. You will also find if fishing rods can bend in different directions.
Here Is Why Fishing Rods Bend:
All fishing rods bend, although some may bend more than others. One of the reasons they bend is to distribute pressure and weight when fighting fish. Also, bending helps you cast well. The more your rod bends, the longer and more accurate your cast can be.
Should A Fishing Rod Be Flexible?
The flexibility of a fishing rod simply refers to the rod’s action. This connotes how fast and far a rod can bend from the tip.
Fishing rods need to be flexible. The reason is that the flexibility helps to transfer weight from the line and hook to the rod. With this flexibility, there is a lower chance of breaking your rod or losing a fighting fish.
Beginner anglers may find themselves stuck between choosing flexible rods or stiff ones.
When picking a rod based on flexibility, you should first consider the type of fishing you are into. For instance, light action fishing rods are great for bass fishing. In contrast, heavy action rods are ideal for fly fishing.
However, as with the size and weight of a rod, the degree of flexibility also varies from rod to rod. Generally, you will find the rod’s flexibility level categorized into:
- Light or slow action rod: Light action rods fall under this category. Rod with lighter action lacks stiffness and will bend as far as possible.
The bending starts from pretty low from the handle area of the rod. An advantage of these rods is that they are great for fly fishing and have more sensitivity.
Also, slow-action rods perform well with light baits such as rattle baits and crankbait.
However, light action rods do not work well with larger lures and do not perform well in heavy windy weather conditions.
- Medium action rod: Rods with medium action are an excellent option for beginners. However, in big rivers where you need longer casts, the rods may not perform as well as fast action rods.
A medium-action rod provides you with a moderate bend. The rod usually starts bending from around the middle section of the rod.
- Heavy or fast action rod: Heavy action rods have less flexibility and lower feel or sensitivity.
Nevertheless, they remain many advanced angler’s favorites. The rods are great for making quick, long casts. You will notice that they start bending towards the middle or close to the tip area of the rod.
It is safe to say that both stiff and flexible rods have their respective benefits. Thus, whether a fishing rod should be flexible or not will depend on the individual preferences of anglers and how the rod feels in their hands.
Can A Fishing Rod Bend Both Ways?
Fishing rods can bend both ways. However, the fact remains that they are not manufactured to bend in different directions.
Therefore, it is better to bend them in the only one direction that the spine indicates.
The fishing rod spine usually points out the soft and stiff sides of the rod blank. It also reveals the direction in which the rod would naturally bend to.
Here is how you can easily locate the spine on your rod:
- Place your rod in an upright position on a flat hard surface. The tip should touch the surface while the butt of the rod should be up.
- Place your finger on the butt of the rod.
- Then slightly apply pressure on the rod with your finger placed on it.
- The rod should bend to the soft side of the spine.
Once you have located the soft side, you should only bend your rod in this direction, which points out the natural bend of your rod.
Why Is It Important That Fishing Rods Bend?
Fishing rods cannot just bend for no reason. There are several benefits attached to the rods being able to bend. Here are some of these benefits:
- Your rod will give you more feel or sensitivity: The farther your rod can bend, the more increased sensitivity you get from the rod. You will be able to detect small bites and slight tugs easily.
An increased sensitivity just makes the entire fishing experience more fun.
- You will make long and more accurate casts: A popular benefit often associated with how far a rod bend is casting. When a fishing rod bends, the cast result is more accurate and extended.
A rod that bends more tends to cast slower. But the slow cast would mean more sensitivity and feel on your rod. Also, the weight of the rod tends to feel lighter in your hands when your rod bends.
- There are more chances of overcoming a fighting fish: One of the challenging aspects of fishing presents itself after you have successfully hooked fish. That is, winning the fish fight.
A rod with greater flexibility does a great job in helping you put pressure on the fish as the fish struggles to break free from the hook.
When you catch a fish, and the rod bends, it distributes the weight to the stronger parts of the rod. This reduces pressure on the rod and results in losing fewer fish during fish fights.
- You get less damage to your rod: If rods are so stiff with little to no chances of bending, then you can imagine what happens when there is a slight bend. The rod is bound to break.
Generally, rods break once they bend past their curving capacity. But the fact that the rods have this ability to bend would make them less prone to breaking whenever they curve within their limit.
How Much Should A Fishing Rod Bend?
How much a fishing rod should bend largely depends on the rod’s action. For instance, heavy or fast-action rods will not bend so easily. You can expect the rod to bend only three to four inches.
On the other hand, light or slow action rods will bend the farthest. The rod can bend four times or more compared to heavy action rods.
Will Storing My Fishing Rod Bent Hurt It?
Although fishing rods are made to bend to a certain degree, it is not the best decision to store them in a bent position.
Doing this a couple of times for short-term storage may pose no harm. The major problem comes when you store the rod in the same bent position for a long time. This position can create a weak point in the bent area. Thus, there is an increased chance of breaking your rod.
If your rod is made of graphite, it is more likely to assume a permanent bend when stored in a bent position. Compared to fiberglass rods, graphite rods are less durable, have lighter weight, and bend easily.
The best way to avoid these disadvantages altogether is to store your fishing rod properly. Proper storage goes a long way in determining how long a fishing rod will last.
How Do You Fix A Bent Fishing Rod?
If your rod has an unnatural bend, you can correct the deformity with just a little heat and pressure. The steps to fix a bent fishing rod are as follows:
- Hang your rod by the tip.
- Keep the rod straight by attaching a weight to the rod’s butt.
- Prepare a heating tool. You can use a heat gun or a hairdryer.
- Apply heat to the bent area.
- Let the rod sit for a couple of minutes and check for the straightness.
The method works best with rods made from fiberglass or other composite material.
Although heat is vital in straightening a rod, you would want to go low on the heat. Too much heat can damage the rod blank and guides, causing more harm than good.
Takeaway
Manufacturers design fishing rods to bend for reasons like increased sensitivity and longer casts. However, the degrees of the bend will depend on the rod’s action.
Even when not fishing, it is normal for rods to look slightly bent. However, once it curves past the natural bend, you may resort to a little heat and pressure to straighten your rod back.
If your rod does not return to its natural look after attempting to straighten it, it can signal that you need a new rod. Also, you can decide to manage the rod in its bent structure