Advice on which type of lure rod to choose: a spinning rod or a baitcasting rod?

STAND-UP SPINNING RODS

How to choose a spinning rod

When fishing, choosing the right stand-up lure rod will be of great help throughout the process and improve your fishing efficiency. Moreover, stand-up lure rods are easier to use than side-cast lure rods.

a. Regarding the reel seat

Depending on your budget, you can choose a reel seat made of aluminium or graphite. Currently, stand-up lure rods with graphite reel seats are more popular. A stand-up lure rod with a reel seat made from this material will be lighter than one made from aluminium. The price of a graphite-bladed vertical lure rod is also very affordable for the majority of Vietnamese anglers. Furthermore, graphite-bladed vertical lure rods offer extremely high resistance to rust and salt corrosion.

Shimano Zodias lure rods

However, if your budget allows, you should opt for a spinning rod with an aluminium frame. This type of frame is characterised by its rigidity, strength and superior protection of internal components compared to graphite. In particular, when fishing for large fish weighing over 10kg, a spinning rod with a graphite reel seat is unlikely to withstand the pulling force of such fish. In this situation, only a spinning rod with an aluminium reel seat can withstand the force and heat generated by the fish’s pull.

b. Regarding reel size

When using a spinning rod, you should choose a reel size of 3000, 4000 or smaller, depending on the specific rod
type. Only spinning rods with reels of these sizes have sufficient power for lure fishing.

c. Regarding the drag system

The drag system is an extremely important component of a spinning rod.
Nowadays, this component is usually made from carbon fibre, graphite fibre, cork or ceramic.
The best material for the drag system is carbon. With this material, the drag operates more smoothly. Furthermore, it provides better braking power and its durability is second to none.

d. Regarding bearings

When selecting bearings for a spinning rod, you should prioritise those with a ‘+1’ specification. This specification indicates the bearing configuration within the reel. A spinning rod with bearings rated ‘+1’ means it has a bearing in the roller. With this design, the reel will spin both forwards and backwards smoothly whilst fishing.

You should also choose a spinning rod with as many bearings as possible. The reel will run more smoothly with a greater number of bearings.

Highly rated spinning rods

Top-rated spinning lure rods currently available

a. Spinning rods

Among the 2.1-metre spinning lure rods currently available on the market, the following five models are particularly noteworthy:

• Daiwa Tatula 702MS spinning rod
• Shimano OCEA PLUGGER BG S80M spinning rod
• Daiwa Bass X spinning rod
• Tsurinoya Hacker S682UL spinning rod
• Abu Gracia Black Max 3 spinning rod

b. 1.8-metre spinning rods

Here are 5 models of 1m8 spinning rods that you should try at least once when you go fishing:

• Eagle Super 1.8m spinning rod
• KunfusSurf 1.8m stand-up lure rod
• Daiwa 1.8m spinning lure rod
• Rivulet 1.8-metre spinning lure rod
• 1.8-metre Shimano spinning rod

SIDE-REEL LURE RODS

Criteria for choosing a side-reel lure rod

When choosing a side-reel lure rod, there are two key points to bear in mind: selecting the rod and selecting the reel.

a. Choosing the rod

When selecting a lure rod, you should opt for a ‘fast’ action. A rod with a cubsf blank and a flexible tip is most suitable.
Regarding length: for fishing close to the shore, choose a lure rod between 1.8m and 2.4m in length. For fishing further from the shore, you should choose a rod 2.7 metres or longer.
Regarding stiffness and power: if you frequently fish in areas with many obstacles, you should choose a spinning rod that is as stiff as possible.

Shimano Zodias lure rod

b. Choosing a reel

When lure fishing, the primary requirement for a reel is smooth operation. The smoother the reel, the greater the casting distance. Lure anglers commonly use the following two types of side-cast reels:

• Low-profile reels: also known as ‘turtle’ reels. This type is suitable for short rods. They are compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry, and offer excellent smoothness. However, their line retrieval speed is somewhat slow. Furthermore, their load-bearing capacity is also low.
• Conventional Reels: these are side-cast reels featuring a horizontal spool. Conventional side-cast reels have a faster line retrieval speed than Low-profile reels. The load-bearing capacity of conventional side-cast reels is among the best. This type is suitable for lure fishing far from the shore in complex terrain with many obstacles. However, a minor drawback of this type of side-cast reel is that it requires heavy lures; lighter lures cannot be cast very far.

Shimano spinning rods

A range trusted by millions of anglers

When it comes to conventional lure rods, Shimano is currently the number one brand. Below are the six best-selling Shimano conventional lure rods:

• Shimano Poison Adrena side-casting rod
• Shimano Scorpion 1652R-2 side-casting rod
• Shimano Lunamis B806ml side-cast lure rod
• Shimano Ocea Jigger B60-3 side-cast lure rod
• Shimano Bantam 170MH-2 Spinning Rod
• Shimano ZODIAS 1610M-2 Spinning Rod

STREAM LURE RODS

How to choose the right stream lure rod?

Stream lure fishing is a relatively difficult technique. In addition to fishing technique, the stream lure rod is also an extremely important factor.

A stream lure rod must have high elasticity. When fishing in streams, encountering obstacles is inevitable. Therefore, the more elastic the stream lure rod is, the lower the risk of it breaking.

The second criterion when choosing a stream lure rod is stiffness. The stiffer the stream lure rod, the better. When stream fishing, you should choose lures rods with a power rating ranging from H to EH. The reason stream lure rods need to be stiff is that streams contain many crevices, caves and nooks; a stiff rod will help you jerk the rod straight and quickly.

SHIMANO LURE RODS

Shimano rods – a brand from Japan

Choosing a Shimano lure rod

Shimano is currently the leading fishing rod brand. Therefore, when purchasing a Shimano lure rod, you can be completely confident in its quality. However, there are still a few points to bear in mind when selecting a Shimano lure rod:

• Choose a Shimano lure rod based on the weight of the fish: If you frequently fish for large fish weighing over 5kg, you should choose a Shimano lure rod with high rigidity and a length of over 3 metres. Conversely, if you only intend to fish for smaller fish weighing under 4kg, a Shimano lure rod of around 1.5–2 metres in length with medium stiffness will suffice.
• Shimano lure rods come in a wide variety of colours. However, when fishing, you should prioritise dark-coloured Shimano lure rods. Colours that are too eye-catching will startle the fish and make it easier for them to spot the rod.

Popular Shimano lure rod models

Do take a look at the 5 Shimano lure rods listed below before making your decision.

• Shimano Bantam 170M2 lure rod
• Shimano Expride 1610M lure rod
• Shimano Zodias 1610MH lure rod
• Shimano Speed Master Lure Rod
• Shimano Poison Adrena 1610M lure rod

THAI LURE RODS

Thai lure fishing rods – a range of affordable, durable and attractive rods

If you’re on a tight budget and can’t quite afford to bring a Shimano rod home, why not have a look at the Thai lure rod range? The key feature of these rods is their low price, whilst the quality is still considered to be quite good. Thai lure rods also come in a wide variety of designs and sizes. If looked after properly, a Thai lure rod can last up to 10 years.

When choosing a Thai lure rod, you should pay attention to the following criteria:

• Material: you should prioritise Thai lure rods made from fibreglass.
• Handle and guides: choose a Thai lure fishing rod with guides made from metal or hard plastic.

In this article, we will also recommend three models of Thai lure fishing rods that have received 5-star ratings from many anglers, such as:

• Kawa Sureflex Hitalure Thai lure fishing rod
• Kunfusurf Thai lure rod
• Noeby K5 – 2019 Thai lure fishing rod

UL LURE RODS

UL Lure Rods – A range of rods favoured by Vietnamese anglers

UL lure rods are a range of products specifically designed for catching snakehead fish. Most UL lure rods feature a compact and refined design. The primary material used in the construction of UL lure rods is high-grade carbon alloy. UL lure rods always have a very comfortable grip, so you can hold the rod for hours on end without your hands getting sore.

Some of the most popular UL lure rods currently available are:

• Tsurinoya Hacker S682Ul lure rod
• Tsurinoya Pro Flex S632Ul lure rod
• Daiwa Crossbeat 593TULFS lure rod

SECOND-HAND JAPANESE LURE RODS

Why not give a used Japanese lure rod a go?

Second-hand Japanese lure rods are also the choice of many Vietnamese anglers. The advantage of this range of second-hand Japanese lure rods is that they are affordable whilst still offering excellent quality. To purchase a good second-hand Japanese lure rod, you’ll need to spend quite a bit of time doing your research.

Firstly, you must find a reputable retailer specialising in Japanese-style lure rods. Buying from such outlets minimises the risk of having components swapped or being sold second-hand Chinese rods disguised as genuine Japanese-style ones.

Next, you need to thoroughly understand the construction and how to select a lure rod. If you’ve already equipped yourself with this knowledge, you won’t feel overwhelmed when shopping for a Japanese-style lure rod and will easily be able to choose a product that suits your needs.

Don’t forget to haggle; the prices of used Japanese lure rods can vary wildly, so consider the condition and quality of the rod to arrive at a fair price. It’s quite possible that if you know how to haggle, you’ll be able to buy a used Japanese lure rod at an extremely bargain price.

CHEAP LURE RODS

Affordable lure rods: the top choice for anglers

If you’d like to use a new rod but are on a tight budget, do take a look at the range of affordable lure rods. There’s a wide variety of affordable lure rods available, sourced both domestically and from overseas. The designs of these affordable lure rods are also incredibly diverse.

The price of affordable lure fishing rods ranges from 200,000 to 400,000 VND.

Top 6 best-selling snakehead lure rods currently available

If you’re looking to buy a lure rod for snakehead fishing, the six models below will be excellent suggestions for you.

• Noeby K5 Snakehead Lure Rod – 2019
• Kawa Sureflex Hitalure Snakehead Lure Rod
• Rapala Snakehead Hunter II Snakehead Lure Fishing Rod
• Surecatch Rublex Pro Micro RXP Snakehead Lure Rod
• Ecooda Ranger snakehead lure fishing rod
• Zodias 2.1m Snakehead Lure Fishing Rod

The most popular place to buy second-hand lure rods today

For buying and selling second-hand lure rods, head straight to Tuân Kiệt Fishing Gear. Not only do we offer you a wide range of second-hand lure rods in terms of variety and price, but Tuân Kiệt Fishing Gear also provides high-end lure rods, sea lure rods, stream lure rods and more…

We are committed to providing you with lure fishing rods at the most competitive prices on the market today.

Buy fishing tackle at the Tuấn Kiệt shop on Shopee: