Questions About Rods

[Ima Bass Ninja]

I have seen a few posts that I am having trouble understanding so maybe someone can help me clarify

1st.. cutting the butt and tip section of a rod will slow the action of the rod..

I can certainly see the tip section but how does trimming the butt section slow the action? I know a rods taper affects the action but most rods I have seen have a parallel butt section up until about where the reel seat is. So the taper starts from the reel seat to the tip so trimming the butt section should have no effect. Also when holding the rod you do so by the reel and not the butt end so the reel seat is basically the fulcrum point. As long as it is not trimmed above the fulcrum then the action or power of the rod should not be affected.

2nd. The longer the rod the more line you can move when setting the hook.

I believe this is only the case if the distance between the reel and tip of the rod is longer. Not just because that the rod as a whole is longer. A 7' rod with a 10" butt section will move te same amount of line that a 7'6" rod with a 16" butt section. The only reason I say this is because I had a 7'6" rod that had the same distance between the reel and tip as my 7' rods. So the line movement theory didn't apply.

So what am I missing something on these 2 things?

[flyfisher]

I can't speak to everything but I disagree that shortening the tip slows the rod down. Each rod has a given flex point with faster actions being closer to the tip and moderate flexing the entire blank. If you cut the tip the flex arc remains the same but there is less tip to flex hence speeding up the action. I had a 6'6" mhf that I broke 6" or so off of and I replaced the tip. This rod now has very little tip flex now so the action has sped up accordingly.

Your theory on picking up your line on the longer rod is correct. It is about the amount of rod from the fulcrum point to the tip which creates a longer arc hence pulling up more line.

[Arv]

I have seen a few posts that I am having trouble understanding so maybe someone can help me clarify

1st.. cutting the butt and tip section of a rod will slow the action of the rod..

I can certainly see the tip section but how does trimming the butt section slow the action? I know a rods taper affects the action but most rods I have seen have a parallel butt section up until about where the reel seat is. So the taper starts from the reel seat to the tip so trimming the butt section should have no effect. Also when holding the rod you do so by the reel and not the butt end so the reel seat is basically the fulcrum point. As long as it is not trimmed above the fulcrum then the action or power of the rod should not be affected.

2nd. The longer the rod the more line you can move when setting the hook.

I believe this is only the case if the distance between the reel and tip of the rod is longer. Not just because that the rod as a whole is longer. A 7' rod with a 10" butt section will move te same amount of line that a 7'6" rod with a 16" butt section. The only reason I say this is because I had a 7'6" rod that had the same distance between the reel and tip as my 7' rods. So the line movement theory didn't apply.

So what am I missing something on these 2 things?

Can't speak to the first point. If one of my rod breaks, I'm sending it back or getting a new one. But you nailed it on the second point. If you think of the reel seat like the center point of a circle and the rest of the rod to the tip as the radius, the longer the rod the more line moved. In your case you would not see a marked increase in line movement from your 7' to 7'6 rod due to the butt section.

[SirSnookalot]

I personally would not over analyze it. From my own experience I set the hook on autopilot and don't give any thought to "moving line around". I have never broken a tip on a rod, but if I did I would replace it. I use 7' max for bass fishing, I mainly use but 1 spinning rod with any kind of lure, exposed hooks or not, I'm taking thought out of the equation and I instinctively react. I think a shorter butt makes working a top lure a bit easier, my longer butt rods are use in saltwater where it's common practice to place the butt under your armpit to handle some of the larger fish, that technique is something I have never had to do for bass fishing.