How to Use a Shimano Fishing Rod

Using a Shimano rod is much easier due to quality materials and components.

Shimano produces a wide range of quality fishing tackle for both fresh and salt water fishing applications. Shimano rods and reels are widely recognized for their durability and reliable performance. Shimano rods are available in spinning or casting configurations. From small mountain trout to large offshore marlin, there is a Shimano rod designed to meet the task at hand. With features such as IMC 10 graphite and high quality Fuji guides, a Shimano rod is simple and pleasurable to use.

Things You'll Need

• Shimano spinning rod with matched reel and line
• Shimano casting rod with matched reel and line

Instructions

1. Hold a Shimano spinning rod with your dominant hand. Your fingers should be split with your index and middle finger gripping the rod on the front side of the support arm and your ring and little finger gripping the rod behind the support. Your thumb should be wrapped comfortably around the handle for support.

2. Turn the handle of the reel mounted on the Shimano rod so that the line roller is positioned at the top of the spool. Reach forward with your index finger and hook the fishing line in front of the line roller and hold it securely against the rod.

3. Open the bail of the reel and continue to hold the line against the Shimano rod. Choose a target on the water and bring the rod up and back so the rod tip is over your shoulder. Bring the rod tip down in a smooth and rapid motion. As the rod tip nears the direction of the target, release the line and allow the lure or bait and line to move toward the target.

4. Hold a Shimano baitcasting rod with your dominant hand so that your index finger is hooked around the trigger of the rod and your thumb rests comfortably on the spool of the reel. Press the spool release button with your thumb, and maintain pressure on the spool to prevent line from unwinding.

5. Bring the rod tip up and back over your shoulder and then down with a smooth and rapid motion. At the rod tip nears the target on the water, lift your thumb allowing the line and lure or bait to move through the air. As the lure approaches the target on the water, apply pressure to the spool to prevent over spooling.

6. Raise the tip of either the spinning or casting Shimano rod to cause your bait or lure to move up and down in an erratic motion in the water. Set a hook with either type rod when a fish strikes by raising the rod tip, reeling down on the line, and setting the hook with a side ways motion with the rod.

7. Maintain pressure on a hooked fish by keeping the tip of your Shimano rod raised slightly so that tension is maintained on the line. Guide the fish with your Shimano rod away from structures including posts, pilings, brush, tree stumps and rocks that could cause the line to snap.

References

• Shimano: Rods

Resources

• World of Spinning: Spinning Reel Parts