A good rule of thumb to follow is, the smaller the fish, the lighter the rod; the bigger the fish, the heavier (and longer) the rod. There are exceptions to this rule, of course. Here are some general configurations to match the type of fish you plan to catch: Ultralight: bait fish, crappie Light: small fish such as bluegill Medium-Light: bass, trout Medium: bass, catfish, striper Medium-Heavy: salmon, pike, snook Heavy: salmon, sturgeon, tuna, tarpon Extra-Heavy: sailfish, tuna, halibut