The spinning test these days is considered the main operating parameter of this type of specialized fishing rod. Although three decades ago, manufacturers did not attach much importance to this characteristic, producing tackle with a focus on high strength with a relatively light, but at the same time rigid blank. Most often, this indicator was achieved by using a duralumin alloy tube with passage rings soldered into it, decreasing in diameter towards the tip of the tackle, to make the working part of the fishing rod.
The approach to the testing characteristics of spinning rods has been radically changed by the invention of innovative materials that are lightweight, elastic and highly ductile, combined with reliability and resistance to forces that cause fracture. Fiberglass, and subsequently carbon fiber with graphite, made it possible to be scrupulous in the manufacture of the blank, taking into account narrow ranges of ultimate fracture loads. This approach to the production of gear provided the prerequisites for the use of lighter baits in fishing, expanded the range of modifications of baits and simplified their delivery to long fishing distances, and also greatly simplified the methods of controlling the game of simulators, which increased the chances of catching.
Anglers choose a modern spinning rod based on the range of its test, completing their arsenals with tools of different meanings, used depending on the fishing conditions. The following article will highlight issues related to the test performance characteristics of a spinning rod and will help you understand its proper selection for various types of fishing.
What is a spinning test?
The spinning rod test determines the possibilities of comfortable work with a fishing tool based on the weight of the bait used. In most cases, the test parameter is not a rigid numerical expression, but consists of an optimal range in which the loads exerted by the bait during casting and retrieving do not cause a critical impact on the reliability of the form. When choosing a spinning rod, the digital range can be seen on the form marking at the butt of the tackle. Depending on the manufacturer of the equipment, the parameter is expressed in grams or ounces.
Thus, the bait weight used should not exceed the maximum numerical value recommended by the manufacturer. Using lures with a lower mass of less than the lower value will be inconvenient for making long casts, and exceeding the value can lead to a crease in the quiver tip or the blank itself. The size of the test is influenced not only by the material of the rod, but also by the location of the guide rings. Today it is difficult to name a spinning rod with universal test parameters. Under this definition, it is a stretch to include instruments with a wide range of values, which are above 30-40 grams in their limits. Equipment of this type is recommended for beginning spinning anglers to acquire initial fishing skills and master the technique of casting and guiding baits of various types of structure.
In the classics, manufacturers put the gear test parameter in increments of 15–20 grams, and specific and narrowly targeted spinning rods have these indicators in an even more compressed range. Knowing the test indicator of the form, the angler can select with a high degree of accuracy the most effective bait in terms of weight for casting without worrying about overloading the gear, and, consequently, the comfort of fishing.
Passing rings
One of the most important parts of a spinning rod is the guide rings. The purpose of the guide rings is not just to hold the cord, but also to ensure minimal friction between the ring and the fishing line.
The material from which the rings are made plays an important role. The rings are of poor quality; from constant friction of the fishing line or cord against the ring, grooves form on the rings. Rings with such grooves literally wear out the fishing line in just a few casts and rewinds, which breaks during the next cast and the bait is shot. Bypass rings with defects cannot properly perform their intended functions and must be replaced.
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The number of throughput rings depends on the length of the spinning rod and the degree of its rigidity. The passage ring on the top of the spinning rod is called a “tulip”. Spinning rod guide rings can be made entirely of metal, or have a metal base with a ceramic, Teflon or fluoroplastic insert inside the ring. The best rings today are those with Alconite (black) and SIC (gray) inserts.
The inserts must be firmly held inside the passage rings without turning. The guide rings themselves must be firmly and tightly wound with thread to the rod blank.
What are the tests?
Classification of spinning rods by test is a fairly common technique developed for the selection of fishing rods among many manufacturers of fishing equipment, but unfortunately, this area of gear identification is conditional, since it does not have global parameters and clear boundaries recognized by all brands. For example, American and Japanese brands that produce spinning rods use different criteria from Europeans to determine the type of tackle. Inconsistency among manufacturers can cause some difficulties when choosing the equipment necessary for fishing conditions, and especially such difficulties arise for anglers who are taking their first steps in mastering spinning rods.
The European classification is based on direct digital information about the gear parameter, but the Americans use more letter designations for tools. To make the right choice, we will provide the angler with a unified and generalized topic of test presentations of gear, thus eliminating misunderstandings that arise when deciphering a test on a spinning rod of any manufacturer. Spinning tests are divided into seven main groups, allowing you to cover almost all fishing conditions. Having information on the main groups of these form values, the angler can easily determine the desired spinning rod option for the bait chosen for fishing.
Ultra light ul
The very first group is considered to be the ultra-light gear classification group, recognizable by the abbreviation UL - Ultra Light . This spinning rod allows you to fish with very light baits, the weight of which does not exceed seven grams. Cords for such fishing will not be thicker than 0.18 mm, with maximum breaking loads not exceeding 2.5 kg. Most of the rod material is graphite. Ultralight fishing is designed for catching small predators like perch or peaceful white fish. The gear looks miniature, with thin quivertips and small winding rings. They have a small mass, as well as their overall length.
Light l
Light class in the designation L - Light . Its parameters range from 7–12 grams. The optimal thickness of the fishing line used for fishing does not exceed 0.2 mm, and its maximum break does not exceed a mass of 4.5 kg. Taken together, the test and fast action represent the tackle of this group as a twitching tool for fishing with wobblers for fish of medium size and weight. The narrow range of masses of the baits used initially positions such a spinning rod as a tool for an already experienced fisherman who knows the nuances of the technical side of casting and retrieving.
Moderate light ml
The ML gear class is more universal - Moderate Light or Medium Light . This medium-light spinning rod has an expanded corridor of masses for medium-weight baits. The range from 8 to 20 grams using not thick, but not quite thin fishing lines of 0.22 mm with a tensile strength of up to 5 kg, makes spinning a widespread type of tool for a large army of spinners of various levels of tool proficiency. This group contains the largest number of budget spinning rods of fairly high quality, which is something that a novice spinning angler should definitely pay attention to, and it’s no secret that it’s easiest to start mastering spinning fishing with this gear.
Moderate m
M – Moderate, Medium or middle class. Often this is a spinning rod with a test weight of 10–30 grams, which can also be considered one of the universal options for catching medium-sized fish. The optimal cords for this fishing gear are 0.25 mm thick with a maximum breaking load of 6 kg. Lures weighing in the middle of the test level of the form, 12–18 grams, are most often suitable for catching pike and pike perch, which are popular in our country, which also provides the prerequisites for focusing on this type of equipment as a promising and main tool in the fishing arsenal of tackle.
Moderate heavy mh
The medium-heavy group of spinning gear, designated as MH - Moderate Heavy, Medium Heavy , includes spinning rods with a test weight of 10–40 grams. Fishing with such rods is carried out on fishing lines 0.3 mm thick with a breaking load of 8 kg. These are already quite serious parameters of the tool that help plan the catch of large fish from the common trio of predators: pike, pike perch and catfish. Heavy spoons, large silicone for fishing at great depths and large wobblers are quite suitable in terms of characteristics for fishing with tackle of this class.
Hard h
The class of heavy gear, designated H - Hard , is intended for the use of large and massive simulators, often with the trolling method of fishing. A 20–50 gram test spinning rod can withstand heavy loads during long-distance casting and deep-sea fishing of baits at high speeds. This type of fishing involves the use of powerful fishing lines with a diameter of 0.4 mm and a breaking load of 12 kg. The spinning rod looks like a massive tool with ring reinforcements. The length of gear of such classes varies in values of 3-3.5 meters.
Extra heavy xh
The most powerful class of gear is extra heavy or heavy hx . This is a rather specific spinning rod for harsh fishing conditions with super-heavy deep-sea lures when trolling. Used for catching trophy, large-sized fish. The masses of baits used in the extra-heavy class exceed the parameters of 50 grams. The cords used are at least 0.5 mm thick and can withstand loads of 20 kg. The form is made of carbon fiber materials, with winding rings reinforced with three fastening supports.
Material
Almost all modern models of spinning rods, especially if the manufacturer is well-known, have markings that allow you to find out what material the rod is made of. Today you can find spinning rods that contain only three main groups of material:
- FIBERGLASS . Such spinning rods are made exclusively from fiberglass. This material is one of the heaviest. But at the same time, fiberglass has a high level of strength and low cost. Due to these advantages, it is often used for the manufacture of modern models of spinning rods.
- GRAPHITE. Carbon fiber is used to make this form. This material is much lighter than fiberglass and is not inferior in terms of strength, but its cost is several times higher.
- COMPOSITE. Such forms are made from composite. This material is made from fiberglass and carbon fiber. The advantage is that the composite perfectly combines the positive qualities of both materials. Spinning rods made of composite are, of course, a little heavier than those made of carbon fiber, but at the same time somewhat cheaper. Such fishing rods belong to the middle price category.
Which spinning test to choose based on bait weight
The spinning test recommends selecting baits by weight, but there is a method for selecting the optimal and actual weight of the most effective baits for casting with this particular rod.
Important! Since rods are marked with different units of mass, it will be important for the angler to operate with the ability to convert ounces to grams that are more familiar and understandable to our perception. Note that one ounce equals 28.35 grams.
To determine the optimal weight of the bait, let’s take a spinning rod with a dough of 2–10 grams as an example. The optimal weight of the simulator is calculated using a formula consisting of the sum of the extreme limits of the range divided by two. Thus, the optimal weight for our example will be equal to (2 + 10): 2 = 6 g. A six-gram bait will receive the longest cast and the best controllability parameters when retrieving with our blank.
To calculate the actual spinning test, a slightly more complex calculation is used. Initially, we determine the minimum real value by subtracting from the average weight the smaller mass limit, that is, 6-2 = 4 g. Next, we calculate the maximum real value of the test parameter of the gear, adding to the average value the minimum weight of 6 + 2 = 8 g. The resulting limit is 4– 8 grams is considered a real test of a spinning rod, in the range of which baits will work with the best performance indicators.
Spinning line test
In addition to the optimal selection of bait weight for equipping a spinning rod with certain test parameters, the selection of the appropriate fishing line is required. The correct selection of the thickness, and therefore the breaking load of the cord, will prevent the quiver tip of the tackle from bending as a result of overload when casting an illiterately selected simulator or a technically incorrectly executed bait delivery technique. If such situations arise, the line will break, but the tackle form will remain intact. The line test is indicated by the manufacturer on the form of the fishing rod or entered into its passport. This parameter is measured in kilograms or pounds.
Important! For reference, 1 pound (lb) is equal to 0.46 kg.
In the data on the characteristics of the form, the entry will be presented in the form line 6–15 lb. What would the line's breaking load range mean from 6 to 15 pounds or 2.76-6.9 kg. Based on the tensile strength, select a cord corresponding to the diameter values. In practice, they try to take the arithmetic average of the recommended range. The selection of fishing line is important for fast and extra fast spinning rods, where a rigid and snappy quiver tip is sensitive to overloads when casting baits with weights close to the upper test parameter.
Build
Now you can figure out how you can find out the designation of the spinning rod based on its markings. Action is one of the characteristics that allows you to find out the degree of flexibility of a fishing rod, taking into account the load acting on it.
It can be determined more accurately after the tip of the form is secured. You need to hold the spinning rod by the handle, and the whip should move as carefully as possible from side to side so that you can determine how well it bends in one part or another.
Action designations for spinning rods are written in the same row as all other characteristics. Most modern gear models have a formation designation in the form of Latin letters. Today there are four main groups:
- Extra Fas (EF) - this is the designation for those forms that have an ultra-fast action. They bend under the influence of load in the upper part of the rod.
- Fast (F) - fast action spinning rods. Most flexible in the upper third part of the length of the whip.
- Medium (M) are among the universal spinning rods and have a medium action. It is best to bend in the upper half of the rod. The structure of such fishing equipment can also be called parabolic.
- Slow (S) form with a slow action. Such spinning rods bend perfectly along their entire length. This parameter can be specified either abbreviated or in full.
Compliance of the test for the weight of bait and fishing line with the class of a spinning rod
As we have already seen from the information presented above, you can find out the test from the marking of the rod on the tackle form or in its passport. Based on the recommendations, it is worth selecting bait and fishing line with the optimal diameter. For ultra-light and light tackle, monofilament fishing lines and baits in the form of small silicone and zero-numbered rotating spinners are more suitable.
The medium and medium-heavy class of spinning rods work best on thin braided cords with different types of wobblers, oscillating spinners and most types of medium and heavy silicone baits. The heavy and extra-heavy class of gear is applicable in tandem with thick cords and deep-sea massive wobblers. When deciding on the purchase of gear, it is worth highlighting the main list of baits used in fishing and the focus in obtaining a trophy. After all, baits, lines and the power of the gear reflect the main aspects of fishing that contribute to the ultimate achievement of the goal - the effectiveness and success of fishing.
General recommendations
When purchasing and using gear, I would like to focus your attention on a couple of practical recommendations that will facilitate the competent and durable operation of the spinning rod.
First of all, the purchase should be made with a reference to a well-known brand. The initial investment in a quality product will be more significant and will pay off in time and reliability of using the rod.
Also, you should not purchase gear that is narrow in test range. The specifics of the operation of this tool will be available only after gaining solid fishing practice.
After purchasing a hunting weapon, it would be useful to more accurately determine the test at home. There are a number of simple methods for such measurements. The data obtained will contribute to a more thorough study of the capabilities of spinning rods.
Do not overload the forms with baits that are excessive in weight and do not use cords that exceed the recommended breaking load tolerances. Throwing a bait with a weight exceeding the tolerance can lead to deformation of the form with an irreversible loss of its qualities.
Experienced spinning anglers keep their fishing gear in hard tubes, completely eliminating the possibility of defects during transportation and long-term storage of the fishing tool.
