How I pick a rod:

 

First and most important, I fInd a niche/edge case situation I can justify buying a new rod for. 

1. Look around and pick a few contenders.
2. Read a million online reviews.
3. Agonoize for weeks/months, make a lot of navel-gazing internet posts about rods.
4. Late one night, impulse buy one of the rods.  

It's worked out well for me so far, I have a pile of rods that I love and even still miss most of the ones that I have sold.  

 

16 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

For the love of god, don’t hold rods by the tip like this. 

 

I found that guy's reviews recently, I was really into them until I got to one of his "power/taper" tests.  I think I made a hissing noise and slid my chair away from the screen.  

 

 

I haven't found a way to tell without fishing with the rod for a little while.  I've had light rods that felt heavy, heavy rods that felt light, cheap rods that were sensitive, and big money rods that felt dead.  You just can't tell without getting out on the pond and using it.  Also be careful taking advice from "prostaff" guys.  Their getting benefits from a company to promote a product, but that's a story for another time!

buy rod, keep plastic on handle, take out to fish with for a day, get home clean it up, put all tags back on and take it back, get store credit, buy a different rod but dont expect you can return this one or buy more lures, its a win win.