Following on from How to buy your first fishing rod (part one), here are five more things to consider before you make that all important first rod purchase...

6) Is the rod comfortable? Now you're at the stage where you're browsing rods, take the time to find one that will be comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Some rods can look very comfortable in magazine pictures, but when you're outside, cold, wet for long periods of time, that may not be the case.

7) Can you use your existing reels with this rod? If you already have a main rod and are choosing this new one for occasional use - such as to catch a specific kind of fish - then make sure you can use the reels from your existing rod with the new one. While you can buy a new fly fishing reel, you'll save money if you don't need to.

8) Is the rod easy to assemble and disassemble? You're going to be putting the rod together and taking it apart quite frequently, so make sure it's easy to do. One extra tip is to try doing this wearing gloves, so you know it won't be too tricky when you're by the lake.

9) What brand will you choose? There are many brands of fishing rod to choose from, some you'll know of, some you won't. Ask around for advice, but stay open-minded about your selection. The perfect rod for you might not be perfect for somebody else and there is a wide selection available to choose from.

10) Are you getting value for money? While you may not want to dig too deep for your first fishing rod, you could save more in the long-run by getting it right first time. A quality rod will last you a lot longer than a cheap one, plus you're likely to get more use out of it if it's of a high industry standard as it will be more comfortable and successful!

You now know all of the tips for selecting your first fishing rod. So, whether you needfly fishing rods, spinning rods or any something a little different, ask the questions covered in these two articles first and make the right decision.