A guide to choosing the right rod and lures for snakehead fishing

Criteria for choosing a snakehead fishing rod

 

A lure rod is truly essential; not only does it help anglers avoid hand fatigue and make it easier to entice snakehead fish, but it also makes landing the fish much smoother. The article below will guide you on how to choose a snakehead lure rod to ensure a successful fishing trip.

 

 

The sight of snakehead fish makes your fingers itch

 

As you’ll know from lure fishing techniques, one of the basic requirements is that the angler must always hold the rod in their hand to work the lure on the water’s surface. This can lead to hand fatigue and affect your fishing sensitivity. For this reason, a rod used for lure fishing must, first and foremost, be lightweight and convenient. You should opt for a two- or three-piece model as they are compact and easy to transport.

 

However, the choice of lure rod will also depend on the fishing terrain and the target species. Here are a few suggestions regarding the criteria for selecting a lure rod for your reference:

 

* Rod length: this is important, and choosing the right length for lure fishing can be quite a challenge for anglers new to this style! Generally, lure rods ranging from 1.8 metres to 2.1 metres are the most standard, though these are only suitable for lure fishing in small rivers, lakes or relatively overgrown areas. For larger lakes, rods measuring 2.4 metres, 2.7 metres or 3 metres are more appropriate.

 

* Action: It is worth noting that snakehead fish often drag their lures into grass, duckweed and water hyacinth, rather than in open water like sea bass. For the best results, you should start with a ‘Medium’ action to get used to casting the lure; once you’ve mastered this, you can then move up to ‘MH’ or ‘H’ actions.

 

* Rod weight: A lightweight rod is preferable for ease of movement and to prevent fatigue when holding it for long periods; the rod’s weight should therefore be less than 300 grams. Naturally, the lighter the better; a good-quality rod weighs around 120g.

 

 

 

In addition, some essential accessories for lure fishing for snakehead—such as lures, fishing line and hooks—differ from those used for other species. Therefore, you must purchase the correct type of accessories to make the activity easier. With snakehead lure fishing accessories, you only need to buy them once and can use them for many years, so it’s very cost-effective.

 

Some good snakehead fishing rods

 

If you’re looking to buy some snakehead fishing rods, here are some we’d like to recommend. Depending on your needs, you can choose from a variety of different snakehead lure fishing rods.

 

For high-quality snakehead lure rods, you can opt for genuine brands such as Daiwa and Shimano, or imported Taiwanese rods like the Tsurinoya brand.

 

There are also many joint-venture rods from China at lower prices that meet the needs of regular snakehead lure fishing, with sufficient load-bearing capacity to catch snakeheads weighing 1–2 kg; however, their durability is inferior, as the saying goes, ‘you get what you pay for’. Genuine rods can last 3–5 years, whereas cheaper snakehead lure rods typically last 1–2 years.

 

Quality and Brand

 

1. Genuine Shimano Zodias fishing rods

 

Perhaps the most popular on the Vietnamese market at present, the Shimano Zodias is currently the hottest model of lure rod, thanks to its quality and its top-tier Japanese brand reputation.

 

This is an excellent rod, weighing just 112g for the 2.1m size.

 

 

This snakehead lure fishing rod likely has no rival in its price range, even compared to models such as the Shimano Expride, which is around 1.5 million VND more expensive but is unlikely to offer better quality than the Zodias; the main differences lie in the wooden handle design and the guides.

 

Currently, the genuine 2020 Shimano Zodias is sold by Tuấn Kiệt at prices ranging from 3.3 million, depending on the specific model.

 

To purchase an authentic Shimano Zodias, please click here.

 

2. Daiwa Tatula or Daiwa Bass X

 

The Daiwa brand also hails from Japan, and its fishing rods are of very high quality; notably, the Daiwa Tatula is one of the most worthwhile lure rods.

 

Typically, each model from the brand is designed for a specific market, but the Tatula (Black Spider) version is usually exported worldwide to major markets such as Japan and the US… so just hearing about the quality of this product, we already know what to expect, don’t we?

 

 

A step down from the Tatula is the Daiwa Bass X, which comes in a range of models—including side-cast and top-cast reels—and varying lengths, with a weight of 139g depending on the model. This is arguably one of the most promising lure rods on the market; what’s more, Daiwa is currently running a promotion on the 2019 Bass X model – normally priced at 2.1 million, it’s now on sale for 1.7 million, making it well worth an angler’s investment.

 

 

3. Genuine Daiwa AIR X Rod

 

This is an authentic lure fishing rod from Vietnam, so you can be assured of its quality. Made from high-grade carbon fibre and weighing just 98g, it is quite lightweight, preventing hand fatigue when lure fishing.

 

 

Featuring X-twist carbon fibre and guides specially manufactured for Daiwa—which are far superior to standard guides—the rod has a medium action tip ideal for artificial lures, and a uniquely styled reel seat.

 

To purchase this rod for 1,100,000 VND, please click here.

 

 

4. Genuine Taiwanese Tsurinoya Hacker Fishing Rod

 

This is a genuine Taiwanese-imported fishing rod made from X-twist carbon fibre, featuring anti-twist PU tip guides, Fuji guides, and a handle crafted from very hard and durable EVA.

 

 

The reel seat is made from carbon fibre with an attractive powder-coated finish; with this rod, you needn’t worry about quality whilst fishing – your only concern will be catching too many fish!

 

Below are the specifications for the Tsurinoya Hacker fishing rod

 

• Material: Cross XXX Force carbon
• Action: ML
• Guides: Fuji
• Blank: Carbon
• Length: 2.2 metres
• Number of sections: 2
• Tip diameter: 1.7 mm
• Rod weight: 129g
• PE line: 4–10lb
• Lure: 4–15g
• Brand: Tsurinoya
• Imported from: Taiwan

 

To purchase this Tsurinoya Hacker fishing rod for 1,480,000 VND, please click here

 

 

5. Normandy Lightcalvary Lure Rod

 

The Normandy Lightcalvary 2.1m fishing rod from Taiwan features a two-piece design that collapses to 108cm and is extremely lightweight at just 128g, making it ideal for lure fishing for snakehead.

 

 

This fishing rod is currently on sale for 1,650,000 VND; to purchase it, please click here.

 

 

6. Budget lure rods

 

For general snakehead fishing, you can opt for joint-venture snakehead fishing rods from China at a lower cost, priced from 500k VND and below.

 

Some affordable snakehead lure rods:

 

a. Shimano Alivio lure rod, priced from 380k

 

The Shimano Alivio joint-venture rod is an affordable lure rod suitable for beginners

 

b. Eagle Super lure rod

 

This is an affordable lure rod, priced from just 430k for both spinning and casting models, available in two actions – M and MH – with a lure weight range of 10–28g

 

 

This affordable Eagle Super lure rod weighs 160g and comes in lengths of 1.8m, 2.1m and 2.4m, making it ideal for catching snakehead fish

 

To purchase this rod from 430,000 VND, click here.

 

 

Once you’ve chosen a good snakehead fishing rod, the next step to successfully catching them is to find a suitable fishing spot and the most effective snakehead bait – and you’re all set

 

Snakehead bait

 

Bait: Some suitable baits for snakehead fishing include ducks, frogs, toads, cockroaches, etc. There are many types of lure bait available, so you’re probably wondering what the most effective snakehead bait is, aren’t you?

 

The ‘most effective’ snakehead bait is sharp-toed frogs or round-bodied frogs (used whole), followed by lizards (geckos) or small rohu fish (golden rohu). One small requirement is that all these baits must be alive in order to easily entice snakehead fish to take the bait.

 

Artificial snakehead bait

 

Currently, the Frog Toon V1 is highly rated as an artificial snakehead bait and is being sold by the shop at 120k per piece; it’s fair to say that the Frog Toon V1 is the snakehead’s nemesis.

 

 

To purchase this artificial bait for 130k, please click here.

 

Soaked snakehead bait

 

So, what exactly is soaked snakehead bait?

 

a. Snakehead fishing with bee larvae

 

The soaking method is commonly used when fishing in lakes. The bait for this method is mostly bee larvae, which are strung in clusters onto the float hook and sinker. However, this type of bait is somewhat difficult to find and relatively expensive. Furthermore, the technique for preparing the bait requires precision; it may even take several attempts to create bait that is effective enough to entice the fish to bite. However, using this method is sure to make the fish strike the bait immediately.

 

 

 

b. Live frog bait for snakehead fishing

c. Snakehead fishing with tadpoles

 

We have compiled a summary of the most effective snakehead fishing baits in this article; please click here to read it.

 

Snakehead fishing line

 

When fishing for snakehead, the choice of fishing line is a crucial factor. The most suitable lines for snakehead fishing are thin, soft lines with a high degree of smoothness, making them ideal for casting far and accurately. Currently, most anglers use PE line for lure fishing for snakehead.

 

 

If you want greater reliability and durability, for the ‘tip’ – the section of line connecting to the lure – we’ll use a section of fluorocarbon line, commonly known as a leader.

 

Fluorocarbon leaders have a slight degree of elasticity; furthermore, their stiffness and excellent abrasion resistance help prevent snags when fishing in areas with dense vegetation. The stiffness reduces the likelihood of getting caught on branches, whilst the abrasion resistance ensures the line is less prone to wear and tear. Furthermore, the leader is colourless and transparent – often referred to as ‘invisible’ – which helps the bait appear less conspicuous whilst fishing.

 

High-quality leader line from Varivas – genuine product

 

There are many types of leader line; here at our shop, we’d like to introduce the genuine Varivas Shock Leader

 

 

Hooks for snakehead fishing

 

Choosing the right hook is always the first and essential step on every fishing trip. As snakehead fish are known for their powerful strikes, the hooks used must be of high quality, with a sharp and durable point. Consequently, hooks made from AK-47 bullet casings are often used by anglers; this type of hook is made from extremely hard steel and boasts exceptional sharpness.

 

 

 

Realistic artificial lures

 

Nowadays, to make fishing more compact and convenient, many types of artificial lures made from flexible rubber have been developed, offering sensitivity comparable to that of live bait; The fish are deceived by the action of the artificial bait; when swimming, the tail rotates just like a live bait, and furthermore, the artificial bait has a swimming blade that creates a splashing sound, causing the snakehead fish to mistake it for real bait.

 

Soft lures and the Ar15 hook

 

 

The above are some tips on how to choose the best lure fishing rod; I wish all anglers every success on their fishing trips!