Rod lure weight confusion

[River Ratt]

I have a 7' BPS Bionic Blade MH Fast action rod. It's rated for 3/8 oz to 1- 1/2 oz. lures. Right now I'm fishing soft plastics texas rigged and using a 1/2 oz bullet weight for almost all conditions.

How are people using baitcasting rigs with a similar setup and using 1/4 oz. weights? I also see people going weightless. This isn't within the rods limits or even close.

I would like to stick with the rods weight guidelines, but a 1/2 oz. weight does go to the bottom a bit fast. Are most using 1/2 oz. weights and higher on average with this type setup? I keep being told to start with 1/4 oz. but that seems a bit light for the rod?

I constantly find myself unsure of what  oz. weight to use. And the mixed box of weights I have don't say the weight on them. I only know what a 1/2 oz. looks like. May have to buy a new box so I know what size they are.

Suggestions and tips appreciated. 

[Scarborough817]

don't forget that your hooks & soft plastic have a weight too just because it's a 1/4oz bullet doesn't mean that is what the whole rig weighs

[Blues19]

 I tend to go to 1/4 as the lowest with 3/8 as the highest when texas rigging on a MH baitcast rod. I tend to feel that the higher weight suggestion is the more important one as if you have too much weight there is a chance it could snap the rod on a cast.  It you can cast a lighter weight on it, go for it. Like Scarborourgh said, the plastic and hook have a weight as well, and sometimes that plastic can be quite heavy.

[zeth]

I find rod ratings useless. Actually your problem can be solved with a sharpie. Just cross out the ratings and throw whatever feels good on that rod. If it feels to heavy or to light then dont throw it or change rods. Line can be a factor as well.. Lighter line tends to cast better with lighter lures etc.. Good luck.

[Missourifishin]

19 hours ago, Scarborough817 said:

don't forget that your hooks & soft plastic have a weight too just because it's a 1/4oz bullet doesn't mean that is what the whole rig weighs

This. Plus, going slightly lighter than what the rod says isn't going to do any damage. I usually go with 1/4 myself.

[rippin-lips]

You already said the word... guidelines is exactly all they are. 

I throw 3/16oz 70% of the time and go up/down as needed. 

[Poolshark]

A 1/4 ounce bullet weight+ hook and lure should put you in your rods respective range. Its a recommendation to give your rod the best performance but it's not the end all be all. A weightless stick bait weighs probably close to 3/8 ounce anyways which should load up fine on that rod. Honestly my rod loads up fine throwing a 1/8 ounce weight and 7 inch ribbon tail worm. Just use what feels right and adjust from there. 

["hamma"]

 go with the lightest weight you can feel while fishing,...not casting,...then consider what setup that lure should be on.

[new2BC4bass]

Yup.  A guideline only.  I have a 3/8 to 1-1/4 oz. MH that barely casts 1/2 oz. a halfway decent fishing distance.  I have a ML saltwater rod rated 3/8-3/4 oz. that I can cast a 3/16 oz. crankbait on.  I do have to be very aware of my thumb, tho.

[smalljaw67]

When you see guys using a rod and casting a weightless worm on it, 99% of the time it is a 5" or larger stick worm or Senko, that worm in a 5" weighs 3/8oz by itself.

[new2BC4bass]

18 minutes ago, smalljaw67 said:

When you see guys using a rod and casting a weightless worm on it, 99% of the time it is a 5" or larger stick worm or Senko, that worm in a 5" weighs 3/8oz by itself.

Which is enough weight for my Zillion to sling it.  No need for a finesse reel...or rod.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Unfortunately there are no industry standards for Rod specs, it's all subjective. Lure weight ratings are just suggestions plus one company's mh can have different power and specs from another's. Next, weightless refers to added weight not total weight of the bait. A 5" senko is far from"weightless ". 1/4 oz weight with a good sized plastic will weigh 1/2 or better most likely. A little trial and error will show you a rods sweet spot and limitations. Then you can fill in around them if you feel the need. 

[Turtle135]

here is a tip on casting lighter weight presentations with a baitcaster

 

[fishwizzard]

It took me an embarrassing amount of time to clue in on just how much soft plastics weigh.  I was going by rod rating and having a really hard time figuring out why I couldn't cast with reasonable accuracy nor get any retrieve other then "just crank the d**n lure back in" to work.  It is a testament to how durable decent rods are that I managed to make dozens of casts with a L rod with a "weightless" 5" senko and never broke anything.  You would think that it would be hard to make a two handed cast with a 5'6" L rod, but I am just that "clever". 

[Deleted account]

Can we link this thread to the one about the flouro that was ruined by getting wet?

here's a crazy idea, cast a lure with the rod, and see if it works ok or not. 

[River Ratt]

On April 13, 2016 at 1:13 PM, reason said:

Can we link this thread to the one about the flouro that was ruined by getting wet?

here's a crazy idea, cast a lure with the rod, and see if it works ok or not. 

And the questions I had still would have been unanswered. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks everyone for the replys and help. Got it all figured out and making reasonable casts now.

[Jrob78]

On 4/11/2016 at 2:31 PM, River Ratt said:

I would like to stick with the rods weight guidelines

Some things in life aren't meant to be taken so literally, fishing is one of those things.