Mo Pieces, Mo Better

If you are still looking for a perfect gift for the angler in your life – or just something to make your own obsession a little better – I’d suggest that you buy them a quality three- or four-piece fishing rod.

I know. Capital-S-Serious anglers only use one-piece sticks. They’re better, crisper, stronger, cooler. The rod locker on your 21-foot Hydroblaster will store ‘em up to 9 feet long, so there’s no need for anything that breaks apart – and they won’t stand up to the double-digit bass you’re chasing. Tell that to the dudes using JDM sticks with detachable handles to subdue giant tuna. Tell it to the fly anglers who tote dainty tubes on planes to far away atolls to catch otherwise tackle-wrecking giant trevally.

Today’s multi-piece rods are not the same as those you might’ve used as a kid. Put together properly, they won’t come apart during the cast or while fighting the fish of a lifetime. The best compliment I can give them is that after you’ve used a good one for a while, you’ll forget that it’s anything but one-piece.

I’ve used one made for bass to catch yellowfin in Panama. I used another on a trip to Lake of the Woods to catch big smallmouth. I just bought the Dobyns Kaden swimbait travel rod, not necessarily to throw big swimbaits, but rather for planned trips to Bolivia (arapaima and payara) as well as Argentina (golden dorado) in 2026. Phenix also makes a number of them that are exceptional – and aimed not just at freshwater users but also for dedicated saltwater record chasers. 

More than just the tangible rod itself, this kind of gift opens up worlds to the owner. It gives you the opportunity to place it under the seat of your vehicle and hit that roadside pond on the way to grandma’s house that has always looked so juicy. It gives you the opportunity to stash it in a suitcase and hit some sneaky fisheries on a business trip. And most importantly it gives you license to dream about faraway places. I may never get to the Seychelles or New Zealand or the Arctic Circle, but it’s nice to know that I’ll be ready – and not scared of tackle limitations – when the invitation comes.