Do you get tired of having to tell 'the one that got away' fishing stories? Would you rather be able to talk about your amazing day on the bank of a swiftly moving stream, a gnarled willow shading you as you pull in a big fish, your fishing rod straining the whole way. In the end, it could be your fishing rod that makes the difference - it can be the deciding factor in whether or not you land that fish.

Fishing rods can be made from all sorts of different materials, including, fiberglass, graphite, steel, bamboo or wood. Fishing filament, or line, is threaded through the ferrules (eyes) located along the flexible rod. There's a rod at the base of the pole, which the line winds onto, and the other end of the line has a barbed hook for attaching the bait. Once a fish takes the bait, you use a handle to reel in the line.

Fishing rods come in a wide range of sizes, with everything from 4-foot rods for children, right through to 16-foot rods. Generally they're around 6 feet in length. A longer rod puts more force on the angler's arms. It's important to choose a rod that's right for you, as it's the backbone of your fishing tackle. When you're deciding on rod length, you need to consider what type of fish you're planning to catch, and the fishing location itself, including the type of water.

If you're fishing hole is located in a treed landscape, with lots of overhead branches, you're best choosing a short, flexible rod to prevent snagging. Short, strong rods are good for landing game fish. In moderate wind conditions, you might find a flexible, thin rod around 10 to 12 feet in length works best. Thicker, stronger rods are only for large, aggressive fish, such as muskellunge, northern pike, walleye and Arctic char. A light and flexible pole would soon snap landing those fish. Flexibility is determined by the diameter of the pole, and is the amount the pole can bend before it breaks. Strong rods are thick and rigid, light rods are thinner and more flexible.

There are ferrules, or small metal rings, spaced from the handle to the tip of a rod. They help you to cast and retrieve more smoothly by guiding your fishing line. The tip ferrule is crucial in directing your cast. The reel is attached to the rod using a reel seat, which is generally located near the handle grip.

If you want something simple, a fishing rod can be as basic as a bamboo rod with a line attached. Something like this is great for kids. Or you can go to the other extreme, and buy an expensive handcrafted rod, also made of bamboo, for fly fishing purposes. You can spend anything from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars on a bamboo rod. Generally, though, unless you're keen on fly fishing, you're better to look at fiberglass or graphite rods.

For beginners and kids, fiberglass rods are a great choice. You can choose from a variety of lengths and flexibility. You can usually buy one at a reasonable price, and there are plenty of different types of rods available. They're quite resilient, and require very little maintenance, if any at all.

If you're a little more experienced, though, you may prefer a graphite rod. These are extremely strong but still very lightweight. Graphite is generally considered the best of the basic rods.

When you're starting out, it's often simplest to buy a prepackaged rod and reel, and then you can move on to more sophisticated tackle when you gain some experienced. If you really don't know whether you will enjoy fishing, it might be a good idea to borrow a rod from a friend, rather than spending money on tackle that sits in the cupboard.

A fishing rod needs to complement your style, if you want to become a skilled and successful angler. It acts as an extension of your arm, and is the backbone of your fishing tackle. However it doesn't have to be a big ordeal to choose the right rod. Ask yourself some basic questions, such as where and how often you plan to fish. For example, are you planning to catch freshwater or saltwater fish? Freshwater fishing is done in the interior of the country, at locations such as lakes, rivers, ponds and streams, whereas saltwater fishing is done along the coast or out on the ocean. Different rods suit difference conditions.

If you're starting out, buy something at a reasonable price, and only spend the bigger dollars when you have some experience and you know you want to keep fishing. It might be worth asking a friend who's an experienced angler to go rod shopping with you, to make sure you find a rod that's comfortable and appropriate for your fishing needs. Otherwise, spend some time chatting with the staff at your local fishing store. They have a lot of experience in rod selection, and are sure to be able to help you find a fishing that's perfect for your needs.

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