Action is one of the key performance components of a fishing pole. Defined by the shape of the rod and its material, action dictates how much and where your rod will bend. Action also controls the speed at which the rod goes from “loaded” back to its original position. That’s where the fast, medium, and slow designations come from.

Obviously, action has a major influence on the way you handle your rod as well as what kind of fish you’ll be able to land with it. The three main rod actions you want to know are:

If you’re the type of angler that’s looking for performance above all else, chances are that fiberglass and graphite rods won’t cut it. This is where composite materials come in. 

A mixture of graphite and fiberglass, composite fishing poles give you all the flexibility you need without adding much weight or sacrificing sensitivity. In plain English, this is how you get to handle a 100-test lb line on a 20–30 lb frame rod. 

Because they’re so versatile, composite rods are a great choice if you’re used to fishing a variety of different waters. As you’d expect, composite rods are the most expensive variety out there. There’s no denying that they get the fish aboard, it’s just a matter of if the extra cost is worth it for you.