Salmon remain one of the most popular species of fish for fishing enthusiasts to try to catch. It helps that they’re one of the most versatile fish species and that schools of them are to be found in a great many waterways, including both inland bodies of freshwater and the salty depths of the open ocean (salmon spawn and are born in freshwater but live the majority of their lives in saltwater).

You therefore have a great selection of fishing hotspots for you to visit and catch salmon. Hit a few up, once you’ve gotten yourself one or more trusty salmon fishing rods.

Salmon fishing rods for saltwater fishing put a premium on rod strength. Like most ocean-going fish, salmon that live in the ocean will likely have a lot more fight in them than their inland counterparts, most of whom are at the end of their spawn and therefore more demure.

Though freshwater salmon fishing can be a challenge, too. You’ll find lots of freshwater salmon in fast-moving rivers that are interspersed with rocky rapids. Good-sized salmon will be heavy enough, but the drag effect of the water current will make them feel doubly heavy. Be prepared to work your arms when going after them, and make sure your fishing rod is up for the task.

But since freshwater fishing may involve a lot of trekking through the back country, portability will be a critical factor when you’re looking for freshwater-appropriate salmon fishing rods. Steer clear of those pocket-sized mini fishing rods; they’re definitely portable enough but might be too brittle to withstand the pull of grown salmon. Pick out a sturdy segmented fishing rod that you can break up into its two or three composite parts and store in a compact fishing storage box, and you should be good.

The Lamiglas G200 Salmon and Steelhead series is one popular brand of rods for salmon fishing. Top-notch guides equipped with rings of aluminum oxide are one of their features, as are high-quality cork handles and up-locking reel seats that have cushioned hoods. The rod blanks are made of graphite and bear high gloss finishes and metallic ice-blue trims. All these rods are two-piece rods and earn high marks for portability.

The Fenwick HMX Salmon and Steelhead Fishing Rods also deserve mention. Outfitted with dual-tapered graphite blank design that has cross-scrim construction, these rods can definitely handle the pull of salmon caught on their lines.

When spring starts and the weather begins to warm, the trout comes out to feed. Fishing enthusiasts who like to catch trout especially look forward to this time of year for the feeding binges that schools of trout will embark on at major tributaries, rivers, and underwater springs. You’ll be in good stead if you’re at big bodies of fresh water, where the largest trout are found.

Of course, it will also help if you’ve shopped wisely for the best trout fishing rods. Don’t worry if you’re new to trout fishing. Ask anybody who works at a fishing-supplies store for some advice, and they can fill you in on what trout fishing rods will give you the best results when you’re out on the water.

But a few general rules will be good for you to know in advance. The first is to look for light poles. Successful trout fishing requires lots of sensitivity; you need to feel when the trout are biting on the line. So instead of a big heavy pole, look for a pole that is demonstrably flexible, lightweight, and bendable.

The Eagle Claw Featherlight series is one brand of rods that make for great trout fishing rods. Composed of extra-sensitive, lightweight polyester fiberglass, these rods are high on performance and fast action while exceptionally easy to grasp and hold. You get gold-shaded stainless steel guides that make casting superbly smooth, and the graphite reel seat keeps your grip secure. What’s more, the cork rod is high-quality and will stay comfortable in your hand even if you’re casting it all day long.

The Daiwa Tournament Trout Spinning Rod is another brand that fishing experts like. It’s a small but powerful rod that will deliver great results in a diverse variety of fishing environs, though it is said to really shine in light-tackle luring and kayak fishing. Comfortable cork grips, a refined graphite blank, and cut-proof oxide guides are among its noteworthy features.

Whatever rod you choose, you’ll up your success rate if you equip the rod with a light spin-casting reel (assuming the rod isn’t already equipped with one). Also buy the proper line: A 4-pound or 2-pound test microfilament fishing line will be ideal. Heavier lines are best avoided, since trout have sharp vision and may see them. The drag, or line tension, should be on medium or medium-high when you start. You can loosen it later if needed.

Freshwater fishing is fun. But depending on the type of fish, you might find yourself doing a lot of trudging through woods and ravines to reach the streams where the getting happens to be good. This is all fine and good if you like to hike. But you obviously want your fishing gear to be fairly mobile and easy to carry. Nothing will take the fun factor out of a wilderness fishing trip like overly cumbersome gear that weighs you down.

Herein lies the appeal of the telescoping fishing rod, a type of rod whose length is retractable (note: It’s also sometimes called the telescopic fishing rod). You can withdraw a telescopic fishing rod to a stub as short as 12 inches when you need to pack it up and bike, hike, or drive to your destination. When you get there and it’s time to cast, you can then unfurl it to its full length, which on some rods totals 20 to 30 feet.

Fishing enthusiasts who snowshoe, kayak, and surf fish love these rods due to their ease of transport. And as you can imagine, storing a telescoping fishing rod is very low-hassle. Fishing-supply stores sell collapsible storage tubes that the rod will fit into in a cinch.

The rod’s spinning reel will usually be ultra-light mechanisms made of low-weight monofilaments. You’ll find it easy to use and very fast-action. Add new line to it at the start of each fishing season and it will be all the faster.

There are hundreds of telescoping fishing rod brands and models on the market. One of the most respected of them is the Ogeechee Outdoors Palos Verdes Series Telescopic 7 Ft Spinning Rod, a 7-footer that closes to 18-and-a-half inches. It’s most often recommended for campers and anglers.

Anglers may also like the Chuck Woolery Travel Rod. It’s not as compact—the rod closes to 25 inches—but it is light and easy to tow around. Advanced anglers are the crowd for whom this one is recommended. It’s said to be too challenging for beginners.

The Master Telescopic Fishing Spinning Pack Rod is also worthy of note. It collapses to 14 inches and expands to 6 feet. For its small size, it is nonetheless a very durable rod that will hold firm even when a very hard-fighting fish is on the line. And it’s simple enough that beginners and master anglers alike can enjoy using it.

There’s a saying that “big things come in small packages.” And it seems to hold very true when the subject is fishing poles. Pen-sized “mini” fishing rods will fit right into your back pocket but hold enough strength to catch and reel in fish many times their size.

The Pen Reel Pole is a definitively mini fishing rod, measuring just 8 inches long when it’s sealed up in its encasing. But roll it out and snap on the reel and it extends to 37 inches and bears enough strength to catch fish weighing as much as 4 pounds.

At rest, this mini fishing rod looks like a pen. Its steel shape even ends in a pen-like cap top. When you’re ready to use it, you just remove the cap, slide the reel in between two grooves near the pen’s bottom, and twist it to securely fasten it. Then you let the rod slide out to its full 37 inches of length and start casting.

The reel is a compact stainless-steel mechanism designed with drag control, a casting brake, and forward-and-reverse ratchet stop capability. Hooks are included, and you’ll find that the Pen Reel Pole has a capacity for up to 120 yards of 5-pound line. The steel that composes this rod’s outer layer makes for not only a strong fishing rod, but a protective layer of casing that will avoid damage while in transit.

A mini fishing rod whose is as portable a rod as you’re ever going to find. That makes it a handy type of fishing rod to take with you on a hiking trip into the deep backcountry. Whereas as regular-sized rod will need a carry case and altogether add a few pounds and a square foot or two of space to your travel pack, a rod that’s the size of a pen is so light that you could forget it’s there. And it need not take up any space in your pack at all—tie it to your belt buckle or store it in your back pocket if you feel so inclined.

However, don’t plan on taking it with you if you’re going on a fishing trip out into the ocean, or anywhere else where the fish grow really big. These tiny rods can catch small and medium-sized fish quite well. But larger fish need larger fishing rods. Their resistance could be enough to break a pen-sized fishing rod.

When fishing enthusiast Jamie Parker-Fitting won first place in the January 2010 Eel/Tenmile STEP Steelhead Derby in Oregon for catching the most steelhead fish, the derby organizers included a Lamiglas fishing rod in her prize package. This should be no surprise to most users of Lamiglas fishing rods. All speak highly of the products and the service that its manufacturer provides.

Test out the Lamiglas fishing rods for yourself. But only after you’ve decided what particular kind of fish you’d like to catch: The more than 400 rods in the Lamiglas product catalogues include specialty rods for species-specific catching: salmon, bass, halibut, steelhead, trout, big saltwater game, or inshore fish, among others.

The salmon rods are a very popular buy. Look around this sub-group of Lamiglas fishing rods, and you’ll find terrific models like the Certified Pro Fiberglass rod, a product optimum for trolling anglers and back trolling anglers alike. It’s equipped with Fuji Alconite Concept guides, comfy cork handles, and a solid graphite rod composition that will withstand even the toughest pullback from fish on the line.

One happy user of the Lamiglas 803 told an online discussion forum that he couldn’t believe how many fish he caught while using it. The 803 series encompasses many rods, the Spring Creek Fly Rod Model AT 803 being one of them. This 803 rod is itself available in six models; all of them are short pieces that are great for fishing in small rivers, brooks, and streams.

The Spring Creek Fly Rod Model AT 803 comes with hand-polished graphite blanks and low-weight single-foot snake guides. Sharp, accurate casting strokes and a nimble feel are what you can expect while fishing with it. You can also look forward to admiring glances from your fishing companions: The rods’ burgundy-colored wraps inlaid with gold and the reel seats of silver and nickel with rosewood inserts make this a very classy rod. A complementary Lamiglas travel tube allows for easy storing and toting.

In general, Lamiglas spinning-reel rods get high marks for user comfort. The surf King Series Fiberglass Spinning Rod is an exemplary specimen with its high-grade graphite construction, sharp tapering, cork grips, and reliable aluminum-oxide set of guides. The rod is a 10-footer that snaps apart into two composite pieces. It readily accommodates 14-30 pounds of line and lures in the weight range of 2-3 ounces. You’ll snare and pull ashore many a saltwater fish with this rod.

If your kid is old enough to swim, then he or she is plenty old enough to go with you on your fishing trips. All you’ll need to do first is find the right kids fishing rod for your kid to use. Fishing-equipment manufacturers are here to supply. They’ve got all kinds of fishing rods made specifically for kids.

Does your kid have a favorite cartoon character? The Kids Fishing Shop sells fishing poles decorated in homage to Dora the Explorer, Spider Man, SpongeBob Squarepants, and other big animated stars.

If your kid would prefer a kid’s fishing rod that’s less cartoon-y, then you’ll find that at Kids Fishing Shop, too. The ZEBCO 404 Kids Starter Rod and Reel Combo is a simple black rod and grey reel that, put together, command enough strength to reel in some sizable fish. The 6-foot-long rod is sufficiently compact and light, though, that a youngster will be able to handle it with ease.

The Sturdy Stik Bigwater Spinning Combo, made by Shakespeare, is another kid-friendly fishing rod. Its 5-foot-six-inch solid glass bank rod is well-suited for both bottom fishing and fishing from a boat. The spinning reel of graphite with an anodized aluminum spool, reliable multi-disc drag system, and user-friendly EVA grasp handles and anti-corrosion steel guides will serve your kid well for many years.

The Sturdy Stik Bigwater Spinning Combo is one kid’s fishing rod out of many in the Shakespeare catalogue. The Sturdy Stik Ocean Combo is another. Featuring s 5-foot-six-inches rod and a solid conventional reel, it’s a rod that a kid can use while on a boat just about anywhere and catch flounder, yellowtails, bluefish, you name it.

In addition to poles, the Kids Fishing Shop sells complete kits that have everything a kid will need to get started fishing (except for the bait; that you’ll have to get on your own). The Catfish Kit, for example, packs a six-and-a-half foot Shimano fishing rod, a small tackle box, and a book, Kids Gone Fishin’, which is full of facts about catfish and other species of fish, plus tips on how to find and catch them.

The rod in the Catfish Kit is two pieces that snap together and apart for carrying convenience. Its reel is a push-button contraption that a beginner won’t have much trouble using for casting and catching. Rigs and hooks specially designed for catfish are in the tackle box.

If you’re a fishing enthusiast who’s got a boating trip coming up, then it’s a given you’ll be taking your fishing rods with you. What better place to use them than out on the high seas, after all? Depending on the waters, the fishing could be spectacular. The deep sea is where the really big fish congregate, after all.

But on those moments when you’re not fishing—and no matter how hard-core a fishing enthusiast you might be, there will be those moments—you’ll need a place to store the rods. Space is at a premium on a boat, so this could take some prior planning. But any one of the many fishing rod storage containers designed for use on boats may make your job easier.

Cabela’s Polished Aluminium Rod Rack is a wall-mount rack that it lightweight enough to be easy for you to lug on board, yet solid enough that it will hold an array of fishing rods upright for as long as you need it to. This fishing rod storage unit is available as a single rod holder, triple-rod holder, four-rod holder, or six-rod holder. Whichever size you choose, you slide each rod into an individualized slot on the mount until you need it.

The RodMounts RodLoft Pro Rod Holder is convenient ceiling-mount unit. It’s designed to accommodate just about any cabin size. The holders can be arranged in up to five different layouts, depending on how wide or narrow the cabin area happens to be. Six rods will fit within its foam-core holders. Security straps ensure that they stay in. Additional inserts will fit tackle boxes and other equipments.

Maybe you’d rather that your fishing rod storage unit be more portable. You want something that you can carry above and below deck as needed, not something that’s permanently nailed into a wall. In that case, you could probably use a rod carry case.

The Frabill Pack-a-Pole Rod and Carry Case is worth considering. It’s roomy enough for you to pack away four rods without even having to remove the reels. It’s a secure storage due to the thick protective walls of injection-moulded plastic, interlocking arrangements of ribbing, and foam padding. Your rods will be safe even if you run into a little turbulence along the way. Additional lure compartments allow you to leave the separate tackle box at home. This carry case is safe against theft, too, with its four padlocks.

Like anything built by people, fishing rods are prone to malfunction once in a while. Fishing rod repair is a nuisance, but it has to be done from time to time in a fishing aficionado’s life.

It’s always safest to have a professional attend to the rod when there is a problem with it. But if you’re an old hand at fishing and know the rod well enough, you might be able to trouble-shoot on your own.

You’ll save yourself a lot of grief ahead of time if you keep your home stocked with an emergency fishing rod repair supply stash. This stash should have replacement guides, rod finishes, disposable brushes for applying the finishes, and wrapping threads.

All of these products are for sale on fishing-merchandise Web sites. You can buy most of them in one foul swoop—and probably for a lot less money—if you buy a complete repair kit. Fuji’s Rod Repair Kit is a simple package that includes three rod tips and one tube of glue.

The Flex-Coat Rod Building Start-up Kit, on the other hand, is much more comprehensive. One kit has a rod finish, tube of melt glue, utility knife, thread clipper, finishing brushes, coat-mixing cups, and mixing sticks. An extra DVD and rod-building book teaches you all you need to know about assembling and repairing fishing rods on your own.

When trouble does arise, diagnose it and then determine what manner of fishing rod repair you will need to undertake. For instance, if it’s broken in the middle, then trim the break square’s ends and insert a ferrule (a metal sleeve for joining or binding two other components together) into the break. Then you’ll cement one side of the ferrule to the top of the rod and cement the other side of the ferrule to the rod’ bottom half.

If the guide is broken, then you need just replace it with a guide that’s the same size and weight. Cut the string to which the old guide is tied and remove it. Then retie the new guide into its place and coat the string at the tie point with lacquer to secure it together.

If the problem is a broken tip, then what you’ll want to do is trim the rod square’s end and cement a new tip to it. Make sure that you’ve got the new tip properly aligned with the rest of the guides.

When does a fishing rod get written up in the Washington Post? When it sets a world record, like the GoFastandLight Ultralight Collapsible Fishing Pen Rod and Spinning reel. This collapsible fishing rod, as the Post reported, has the distinction of being the “world’s smallest fishing pole.” It weighs in at just 55 grams and measures 36 inches when at full length. But snap it apart into its composite segments and it will fit right into your pocket.

A fishing rod that’s this compact is a worthy asset to a hiking expedition, when light weight and minimum bulk are key. Needless to say, you won’t find many rods that are anywhere near this small. But you won’t have to, as long as you’re looking for a collapsible fishing rod. This includes any fishing rod that is not one solitary pole, but several segments that fit atop each other. They snap together when you are ready to fish and snap apart when you are done.

The Daiwa Mini Spin Travel Pack is one very popular brand of collapsible fishing rod. It’s available in two packaged deals: an ultralight spinning rod and reel combo, or an ultra-light spin cast. Both give you a four-feet-six-inches ultra-light fishing rod (made of four segments) and a complementary carry container with compartments for gear and tackle. The reel has a twist buster that reduces line twist, a ball bearing, a fold-down handle, and a left-and-right retrieve.

A few fishing rods come close to the GoFastandLight’s tiny size. One, the TeleBrands Fish Pen, measures 8 inches long when folded up into its carry case and 37 inches when fully assembled. A closed-face reel and tiny hooks and bobbers are included. Don’t plan on catching any really big fish with this, but it holds up well if you’re out for smaller game.

The Emmrod Packer fishing pole is a slightly heavier rod, though small, too: 14 inches when folded up and 22 inches when put together. The rod itself is just 14 inches, if you’re not counting the handle and the Shakespeare reel. For such a tiny rod, it gets high praise from reviewers for being a rod that casts very well.

Another compact fishing rod-plus-reel, the Mitchell Traveller’s Full-Size Fishing Set, combines a five-segment graphite fishing rod with an open-faced aluminium reel that has four guides. Make sure the guides line up and you’ll be very pleased with its performance.

The aphorism “you get what you pay for” holds true in fishing, to a certain extent. Fishing rods that are cheap are sometimes cheap for a reason: flimsy materials, low responsiveness, or overall subpar handling. But do your research, shop wisely, and you can find a fair number of rods that are inexpensive and nonetheless dependable.

Some safety lies in shopping by brand name. You can get a marked-down rod from a discount site and have confidence in the product if you know and trust the manufacturer. For example, you could spend hours perusing all the discount rods available at low prices on Gofishin.com. The cheap fishing rods from trustworthy manufacturer names include a Calypso Beach Comber spinning rod on sale for $19.99, A South Bend Eclipse Trout Spinning Combo for $19.99, and a Fenwick HM salmon steelhead rod for $69.99.

Amazon.com is another site that buyers frequent for cheap fishing rods. Many of those rods are cheap because they are used. Of course, anything that is used may have a bit of wear and tear that won’t be found on an item that is new. But Amazon affords you some peace of mind in that the seller has to indicate what condition the rod is in—like new, fair, or poor—and you, the buyer, have the right to return the item for a refund if the item that arrives in your mailbox is in a lesser condition than the seller had let on.

There’s something to be said for selecting a fishing rod live and in-person, though. You never really know how a rod is going to feel in your hands until you actually get to hold it. Target is one good place to look for cheap fishing rods offline. Look in Target’s store shelves and you’ll find Daiwa spin-cast rods selling for $23, Zebco spin combos for $27, and Shakespeare fishing combos for $26.

And while you’re looking around for good used rods, why not check with people you know? Maybe you’ve got some friends, cousins, aunts, or uncles who like to fish. Maybe a few of them have accumulated a bunch of fishing rods over the years and would like to give some of them away? Since they’re friends or family, they might give you a rod for free. And you can—at least, one would hope—trust them more than you could a random buyer online.