What's The Down Side Of A Rod That's Too Heavy Action?

[Fireguyfrank58]

I just got done reading the sticky post on jig fishing and now have a question. What is the down side of buying a rod with too heavy an action for your fishing. I was going to buy a *** rod 7'3" mh. I already have a Abu Garcia Vertitas 7'3 MH. I read that you really want a heavy action rod for jig fishing and that's a new technique I want to add to my arsenal. Right now 99% of the time I Texas rig with 1/4oz weights. The MH action is perfect for that and the cover in my lake. So I was thinking I buying the *** in heavy action so I could use it for jigs and hopefully t rigging also instead of having 2 of the same style rods.

[PABASS]

One down side is using the wrong line and hooks for the action of the rod, I wouldn't use light line with a light wire hook with that rod.  Heavy wire hook with I would say at last 17# test line is what this combo will excel at.  I am no expert but I do know there is no standard meaning each manufacture uses its own scale, some rods that are label MM are similar to other manufacture's MH.  I don't believe I own  MH rods and the jig has been my most productive lure this year as in most years and I don't have any issues.  The key is right line and hook, don't go to light wire or you will bend the hook, don't go to light light with a heavy wire hook or you may break the line and or not get the proper hook set.

[rippin-lips]

The *** 7'3 H has a 3/8oz minimum lure weight. Throwing something lighter won't load the rod properly and could hurt casting distance. Buy the rod to suite your needs.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The power needed depends on the size bait, cover and expected size of fish to be caught. Ex: a 1/8 hair jig in open water would be fished on a med power most likely, on the other hand, a 1oz football jig fished in pads for 5lb> Florida bass might be fished on an XH. Then there's everything in between.

[Fireguyfrank58]

I have been running my MH Abu with #50 PP and Owner 3/0 hooks since I was starting to bend Gammy EWG hooks. I was wondering if I ran my Texas rigs with those 1/4 oz weights would be way too light for the heavy rod, not so worried about casting distance mainly sensitivity.

[ec1]

If you can see the rod in person, and the rod has enough of a tip - you don't have to worry about being too heavy at all. Of course, you'll get to the point where if you're using a H powered rod that catches fish averaging 1lb or so, you won't have much fight from them.

Don't worry about power especially if you're fishing in a lot of weeds. The more power then, the better.

 

If you fish that one lake exclusively, and had no problems with an MH rod, go for that again. I rarely ever find myself on the same lake twice in a row, so I prefer to have one thats MH, and another that's H. Plus, you can eventually dedicate one rod to frogs or jigs, and the other for a lighter job.

[Jrob78]

Heavy is a power, not an action. You have to decide what baits you plan to throw more of. Personally, I like to throw all but the lightest jigs on a heavy powered rod. I throw most of my regular t-rigs on a MH rod. If I had to pick one or the other, it would depend on which I planned to throw more often.

[motodmast]

The *** 7'3 H has a 3/8oz minimum lure weight. Throwing something lighter won't load the rod properly and could hurt casting distance. Buy the rod to suite your needs.

even though it says 3/8 ive throwen a 1/4 oz weight with a small plastic and can still cast it far, the *** rods have a pretty good tip on them. that dosnt apply to all rods though..

 

if i were you, i would get a heavy, that way you can run jigs, do some light punching, with out having to worry 

[Fireguyfrank58]

Thanks for all the input guys. I believe I will get the heavy instead and dedicate that to mainly a jig rod. I can still tie on some heavier tungsten weights on my T Rigs if I wanna swap up the feel of the rods. I am really interested in getting into the jigs. Also, honestly I could probably use a heavy rod most of the time on the banks I fish since there are a lot of large boulders and logs that I regularly have to pull across.

[new2BC4bass]

even though it says 3/8 ive throwen a 1/4 oz weight with a small plastic and can still cast it far, the *** rods have a pretty good tip on them. that dosnt apply to all rods though..

 

if i were you, i would get a heavy, that way you can run jigs, do some light punching, with out having to worry 

 

I can believe that.  Add plastic to a 1/4 oz weight, and you are probably at or slightly above the 3/8 oz. rod specification.

 

Frank, are you set on the Veritas?  Search using      6'10" Quantum SuperLite on ebay   It is a $229.99 rod being closed out at $69 + $18 shipping.  All guides are double feet.  It is a very nice looking rod.  The gentleman who told me about them says they fish at least as well as an IMX.  Haven't used mine yet as I haven't been out locally except for some casting practice.  Would have loved to have it while in Florida, but can't afford to ship rods back and forth.  Didn't want to leave it there.

[Fireguyfrank58]

I already have the Veritas I am looking at a second setup

[Virtuoso]

The stronger the power of the rod the heavier the rod. The heavier the rod the less sensitive it is. DVT's post is spot on. Those are the factors that dictate the power of rod you need. If you are fishing jigs in really heavy cover a Heavy would be the way to go. For open water a MH would suffice. 1/4oz jigs has me thinking you should stick with MH. If you do choose a heavy rod, make sure the baits you will throw are going to be within the rods parameters.

[Fireguyfrank58]

Just an update, I fished a 1/2 oz Jig last night with a Baby Brush hog trailer and it fished extremely well with my MH.  The water I fish is fairly open, no heavy grass, mainly just reeds and light grass on the bottom.  I actually caught the first bass ever on a that rig.  Was not the biggest fish but weight 2.22 lbs.