Topwater Rod - Length, Power, And Action

[Baddy]

What characteristics are you looking for in a topwater rod as for as length, power, and action, not worried about brand.  Lures include LC gunfish, sammys,prop baits, and pop-r's, 

[rockchalk06]

For me I want something with a fast action. I use a lot of Poprs and flukes that don't weigh much. I use a medium fast in 7'. I like a little bounce in my rod to load well. I have no trouble pushing 30-40 yards with a small Popr and braid.

[Maico1]

My favorite is 5'10" fast action with medium heavy power and 1/4oz. to 3/8oz. lure weight rating.

[J Francho]

I use a shorter, as well as short handled casting rod, an Avid AVC62MXF.  For walk the dog style baits, I like a x-fast tip for quick recovery time after each twitch.  The medium power flexes into the mid section nicely, offering some flex along with stretch in my copoly to protect the small treble hooks, and keep constant pressure on the fish without pulling free.

[LgMouthGambler]

Just made a trade on the is site for a great top water rod, and am very pleased with the characteristics. Its an older Shimano Compare 7` MH Mod. This thing is great for my spooks

[Teal]

For most topwaters (not the huge ones) i like shorter rod. 6'6 is a good length so im not slappin my gel coat. I got a 6'6" Dawia t rod back in 2011, med x fast, as a cheap solution to the problem and i really got my 65 bucks worth. I use mostly powells but i see no need in spending extra money to upgrade that rod when the action is perfect for sammys,gunfish, and my beloved PopRs.

I also use this as a jerk bait rod and it does well there too.

[J Francho]

I love watching guys toss spook type baits and suspending slash baits with long rods.  Looks uncomfortable to do all day.  Give me a short, lightweight rod, that's ever so slightly tip heavy, so I can spend all day long making light twitches straight down, with minimal effort.

[Teal]

Hahaha like the guy throwing a spook with an 8 foot catfish rod ...lol

[J Francho]

I had a friend that threw a Heddon Tiny Torpedo on a 7'6" Ugly stick. It looked so awkward, but he had the cadence down, walking that little devil into some pretty good fish. A personal best, in fact, down on Santee-Cooper:
 

[Teal]

Oh wow. Nice. Lol i didnt say it would work. It just looks like it would feel awkward

[J Francho]

Trust me, I rode his butt all week about his style, lol.

[Quitlimpin]

For smaller baits I use a Cumara Reaction 6'3 M and a Lami Don Iovino 6'2 ML. For spooks and bigger baits its hard to beat the Dobyns 705CB glass/fast

[Jigfishn10]

I use a short rod - 6'0 - MH, medium fast action rod. I tend to use more walking style baits and find it much easier with less fatigue using smaller rods.

[Fishes in trees]

I like a medium or medium light rod for top water hard baits like a pop-r or sammy.  If I use anything longer than a 6' rod I am slapping the rail of my boat more often than I would like.  Currently, I'm using a rod that I got at Walmart over ten years ago.   A Mitchell Fulcrum, 5'9" straight handle, Medium action.  Prior to that rod I used a 5'6" pistol grip rod - a Lightning Rod I think - not sure.  Anyway, the point of this post is that I like a shorter rod for this kind of top water lure.

[Hanover_Yakker]

I am very pleased with the versatility of my St. Croix AVID 6'8" MXF casting, but I also have a Shimano Crucial spinning rod that is 6'3" MXF as well. Both work well for me even out of a kayak

[iabass8]

i'm 6'3 so i prefer a longer 6'10 MF for the baits you mentioned. 

[thehooligan]

I use the 6'3 medium fast fenwick elite tech smallmouth rod. Absolutely love this rod for topwater. My favorite length is that 6ft-6'6 range. I mainly throw sammie 85-100's, horny toads, and poppers. This rod balances really well my stradic fj 1000.

 

I recently got a 6'5 medium shimano cumulus thats rated up to 3/8oz lures but really excels at 1/4oz. Ive been throwing small poppers and owner zipnziggys, im loving it.

[baluga]

Cumara CUC 63M Fast Action  for Zara spook jr to Gunfish 115.

Cumara CUC 63H Fast Action  for Gunfish 115 to Super Spook.