Rod
Most rods manufactured today are made out of graphite and come in a variety of lengths. Most anglers feel a one piece rod has the most natural feel, but are difficult to transport. Two piece rods are joined together by a ferrule and if engineered well, won't give up much in the way of having a natural feel to it. Fishing rods are sorted by the rod's action, as well as it's power. Power refers to how much force is needed to make the rod flex. Action is determined by where the rod flexes.
Guides
The guides of a rod are either metal or ceramic and are attached along the rod in a variety of locations. The guides are where the fishing line is threaded through. If you have a two section rod, it's important to have the guides lined up, so your line will flow from the reel through the guides properly. Depending on the style of rod and it's length, the placement and size of the guides will vary.
Reel Seat
The reel seat on a rod is located above the base and is where you attach the reel to the rod. What reel you use, will determine what the reel seat will look like. Since there are three standard reels, there are three standard reel seats. There are fly, casting and spinning.
Handle
The handle of a fishing rod is what you hold onto while fishing. The type of rod will determine what the handle looks like. Spinning and fly rods have a thinner and more streamlined handle, compared to a rod used for casting. The majority of handles are manufactured out of foam or cork.
