It can be comical to watch a novice angler select a rod. They shake it, bend it, cast it and may even recruit their buddy or spouse to test the sensitivity by placing the tip on his/her throat and having him talk to see if they can feel the vibration.

These methods for testing may work, but featured that are most important – and many times overlooked – are the components of the rod. What kind of blank is it? What type of guides are on it? Are they evenly spaced and placed correctly on the spline? What sizes are they? What kind of real seat does it have? Is it a glued-in blank or does the blank go all the way through the handle? Does the reel seat have a comfortable feel?

One of the most important factors when choosing a rod that is best-suited for a particular application is indeed the components. Whether it's catfishing at grandpa’s farm pond, bobber fishing for bluegills with the kids or tournament fishing on a competitive tournament trail, your rod selection should be based on the species you're fishing for and the techniques for which it will be used.

Fuji, the industry leader in components and innovation since 1960, believes a good rod can become great with the right components. Savvy bass anglers, for the most part, will act as if they know this, but do they really? How many of those same anglers actually look at rods based on the line that will be used? Or in the case of braided line, will the rod hold up to the rigors of braid?

Each rod in the angler’s arsenal is a tool, and knowing how that tool will be utilized is essential. Companies like G.Loomis, Lamiglas, All Star, St.Croix, Falcon, Shimano, Quantum, Diawa, Castaway, Fenwick, Rapala, Star, Orvis, Sage and Shakespeare all use Fuji guides and reel seats.

Braided line is an animal unto itself. It’s tough, abrasion-resistant and has great sensitivity and strength, but it can put a real hurting on guides because of heat and its ability to cut through them if they're not matched properly. The true test is putting the right blank with the right components, and Fuji works hand-in-glove with the aforementioned companies to match them up appropriately.

When using braided line, the best guide in the marketplace is silicon carbide. It retains the excellent feel and castability, but withstands the heat generated by braid without issue. The properties of silicon carbide make it suitable for monofilament, but it really shines with braid.

Another great option for braided-line applications is alconite guides, which are a bit less expensive than silicon carbide.

Fuji has always been an innovator, and they're the only choice for reel seats and guides.