Does power effect sensitivity?

[topwaterw]

Dumb question but I'm upgrading to a medium heavy fast action rod from a medium fast action rod and it seems alot more beefy, just wondering if it'll have any effect over feeling a fish biting..

 

Thanks 

[IndianaFinesse]

Theoretically, yes, but there is not a noticeable difference in sensitivity between powers.  It should have the same feel as your other rod, as long as it is the same model and has the same line spooled on it.

[MichaelCopeland]

If I'm not mistaken the action determines the sensitivity and power determines the backbone to set a hook and pull a fish out of heavy cover. A fast action has great sensitivity, at least my Medium Fast rod does and the heavier the power the more backbone to get a harder job done. I'm still new to alot of the bass fishing, the rod powers and action and all so I may not be totally right on that though.

[Catt]

Sensitivity strarts in the hands & continues up to the brain.

[Mike L]

The rod is just tool, not the be all to catching a bass. 

All things being equal a faster action rod CAN increase sensativity but so can useing flouro or braid over mono. It's the combination of all things.

Some higher end medium action rods are claimed to be more sensitive than some fact action rods.

 

But in reality it's all in the hands of the beholder. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

What @Catt said! I'd maybe expand a little to emphasize focus. I fish for fun so sometimes my mind wanders and my casting gets a little mechanical. I still pick up on the "tap tap" of a bass grabbing a T-rig or jig, for example, but I know I miss fish when the pick-up is more subtle.  I've not noticed the initial contact and when the line moves and I do finally set the hook, I usually land several pounds of weeds into which my rig has been carried before being spit out. In my opinion, focused fishing is more productive fishing so I'm working on concentrating on every cast.  I try to observe the info that any rod I use is transmitting. For me, it's not the rod that is the culprit, regardless of power or action.

[Catt]

If you're talking bottom contact techniques & you're quite adept at these types of techniques then yes you'll notice a difference.

 

What ya will notice is the ability to move larger bass quickly!

[CTBassin860]

9 hours ago, MichaelCopeland said:

If I'm not mistaken the action determines the sensitivity and power determines the backbone to set a hook and pull a fish out of heavy cover. A fast action has great sensitivity, at least my Medium Fast rod does and the heavier the power the more backbone to get a harder job done. I'm still new to alot of the bass fishing, the rod powers and action and all so I may not be totally right on that though.

The action determines how fast you get to the backbone.

[MichaelCopeland]

2 minutes ago, MassBassin508 said:

The action determines how fast you get to the backbone.

Doesn't the flexibility of a fast action also help with sensitivity? 

[CTBassin860]

6 minutes ago, MichaelCopeland said:

Doesn't the flexibility of a fast action also help with sensitivity? 

I can see guides,line and the material used in the blank contributing to sensitivity. Power and action have nothing to do with it. Your ability to feel and react with your own two hands are the contributing factor.

[MichaelCopeland]

15 minutes ago, MassBassin508 said:

I can see guides,line and the material used in the blank contributing to sensitivity. Power and action have nothing to do with it. Your ability to feel and react with your own two hands are the contributing factor.

Right on. My hands do feel the sensitivity and I feel it lots more with the braided line I use. I have a Lew's Carbon Speed Stick MF spinning combo. I was under the impression, from what I've seen others post or comment on here in the past, that several factors help with sensitivity. Action, line, guides, brand, material and ones own two hands. Thanks for clearing that up about action and power being a factor.

[Montanaro]

More material means more mass for vibrations to move through/be absorbed by.

 

So yes a heavier power rod will be less sensitive....to what degree varies

[WRB]

Rod "sensitivity" is a marketing tool, what you feel is line movement with your fingers and see with your eyes, that information is sent to your brain as sensitivity. A rod can dampen line movement by being too flexible like a fly rod for example and line guide placement can dampen line movement. The bottom line is feel the line using your finger tips, they are sensitive. I use heavy fast action 5 and 6 power jig and worm rods to get solid hook sets and control big bass, the rods weigh less than 4 oz, have micro guides and I can feel everything going on with my lures, so no power alone doesn't dampen line movements. The misconceived notion that a high modulus rod is like a tunning fork excellerates vibrations down the rod blank for you to feel is blue sky.

Tom

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Neither power or action have a direct correlation to sensitivity but they aren't unrelated either. For example you'll lose contact with an 1/8oz hair jig fished on a flipping stick. If you use common sense and match and balance all the components you'll have all the sensitivity you need

[Fishydishy]

On 8/6/2017 at 1:53 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Neither power or action have a direct correlation to sensitivity but they aren't unrelated either. For example you'll lose contact with an 1/8oz hair jig fished on a flipping stick. If you use common sense and match and balance all the components you'll have all the sensitivity you need

I have the same experience. My 6’8 Bass X MXF is more sensitive than my 6’10 Tatula MHF with a 1/8oz Texas rig. I can feel the bait hitting the bottom on the Bass X, but not the Tatula. Supposedly Tatula is a more sensitive rod. So I think the power of a rod plays a role in sensitivity.

[The Maestro]

I'd say it does to some degree. If we use an extreme example. An ultralight panfish rod is going to be more sensitive than a musky rod even if you were to use the same length, materials and action. Going from a medium to medium heavy though, in most cases there won't be much difference.

[WRB]

Old thread.

Combination of overall rod weight, length, power and action, line, lure weight determines how you “feel” line movement at your finger tips.

Eg; a heavy power 7’3” moderate action crank bait rod weighing 5 oz has less feed back then  heavy power fast action 7’3” jig & worm rod weighing 4 oz using the same line and lure weight.

The more rigid the upper 25% the rod is (action) the better you feel the line move.