I wouldn’t recommend buying a rod 
under $100 but look at your options 
to suit your budget carefully, it is 
best to just buy the rod and not a 
combo as these package deals aren’t 
always what they seem.  Consider if 
you need a two-piece rod to break 
down or a one-piece rod is fine.  Do 
you want a shorter 7ft rod or prefer 
a longer 7’6” plus rod for casting?
Also consider if you are fishing 
with braid in the lighter 4-8kg 
range or heavier 5-10kg?  This 
will make a key difference to your 
casting and where you fish, with 
lighter line (say 4kg) best used 
when fishing over sandy bottoms.
ROD BUILDER ADVICE
Graeme Paterson from Lanza Rods 
knows how to build a quality softbait 
rod and he provided the following 
comments on what to look for when 
looking for a good softbait rod.
“It is true to say that softbaiting 
has been here in Godzone now for a 
generation. It’s part of nearly every 
angler’s tackle kit, as they either 
got into this method of fishing first 
up or as a complement method 
or backup to their bait fishing.”
“So, what are you actually looking 
for when purchasing a softbait 
rod?  Like I said, softbaits have 
been here for at least a generation 
and as such, the technology has 
moved with it across the board.”
“Softbaits, reels, rods are now 
at that next level and it’s the 
rods I will cover, not brands 
and just what to look for as 
far as fit for purpose goes.”
“Firstly, we need to balance 
three main factors, weight of the 
rod, length of the rod and type 
of rod meaning 1pc or 2pc etc.”
“Weight of the rod is covered by 
two factors, the length, with material 
and fittings used. Nearly all softbait 
rods should have carbon fibre in 
them for lightness and rigidity, and 
some may contain fibreglass as this 
gives flex and resistance to breakage 
but is mainly found on a cheaper rod.”
“Length of the rod should be 
between 6'6" and 8'3" for castability. 
When choosing, it is best to think 
of the platform you will be fishing 
from.  For example, an 8ft rod will 
"The best quality rods have 
carbon fibre for lightness, 
improved strength and rigidity 
to achieve distance when 
casting and help work the lure."
60  FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE
Feature
Most softbait spin rods in Godzone 
are two-piece and it is best to 
choose a butt joint rod.

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