Fishing rods are an entirely personal matter and to explain and understand the intricacies of how they work would require a nuclear physicist to explain it correctly. Unfortunately I do not fall into this category so the best advice that I can give is the same advice that was given to me and it has been a great help. The best advice and the most simplest way to help you make up your mind would be to try to get a lend of a rod that you like so you can try it for your self as this is the only real way you can actually see how it performs as you don't have this luxury in tackle shops. If the option of actually trying the rod you desire is not a possibility then you have no other choice but to do the hard yards and go to different tackle shops and hear what the sales persons have to say. Just make sure you know exactly what your budget is and what you intend to use the rod for but just keep in mind that there is always a limitation to a certain rods capability. Some rods can perform well doing multiple tasks but unfortunately it's a big ask to expect one or two rods to cover all your fishing assaults so an angler will ultimately build on his /her collection. When seeking advice on purchasing your new casting rod it would be advisable to be weary of tackle shop salesman and their recommendations as many will have ties to certain brands and not give you advice on a broad scale. Unfortunately it's this sort of bias toward products through the tackle shops that can make your job of finding a rod that suits you very difficult and can leave you with a sense of untrustworthiness toward the tackle shops. However, on the other hand you will finally run into a very genuine sales person who will almost blow you away with helpful advice and a great insight into the art of rod building and using. It's these types of sales people that you will time and time again keep going to when you want advice on what equipment you want to purchase.

Another very good way to get some helpful information is to join in on some of the internet discussion boards and chat room's and there you will definitely find very unbiased information from people who are probably using the equipment you want and these guy's are just normal fisho's just like yourself. A great discussion board to try is on the Tacklebox.com.au - Forums, here you will find many very knowledgeable fisho's who are more than happy to help out and it just happens to be one of the friendliest fishing sites in Australia and prides itself on it.

Also try the links below to get a feel of some of the different brands & models available. You will also be surprised at the quality of information on using a rod that can be found on manufacturers websites so take the time to navigate the sites for info on the subject.