Moderate Vs. Fast Action

[EGbassing]

I'm about to order the White Bird casting rod from Favorite Rods, (Free shipping for 24 hours ) but I can't decide if I should get the 7'4" Moderate Action, or the 7'0" Fast action. It would mainly be used for spinnerbaits, texas rigs, jigs, and frogs. Which would be better for those applications? Thanks in advance.

[NorcalBassin]

Definitely fast action for those techniques. Moderate action is great for treble baits, but you'd basically be throwing those frogs on a bit of a noodle. 

[papajoe222]

What he said.

[islandbass]

x2

[EGbassing]

11 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

Definitely fast action for those techniques. Moderate action is great for treble baits, but you'd basically be throwing those frogs on a bit of a noodle. 

Thanks. I guess I'll go with the fast action then.

[Cak920]

Guess it’s just me but I always liked the feel of moderate actions better than fast actions. I have both and haven’t noticed any difference in hook set. Personal preference really

[J Francho]

12 hours ago, EGbassing said:

It would mainly be used for spinnerbaits, texas rigs, jigs, and frogs.

I've used White Birds, you want fast.  No doubt about it.

[LionHeart]

Easy choice.  Fast action for those lures.

[EGbassing]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

I've used White Birds, you want fast.  No doubt about it.

Thanks, by the way, what do you think of the white bird? 

[J Francho]

I think they’re a decent rod for not much money. They get the job done for someone on a tight budget. 

[haggard]

On 4/5/2018 at 10:17 PM, EGbassing said:

I'm about to order the White Bird casting rod from Favorite Rods, (Free shipping for 24 hours ) but I can't decide if I should get the 7'4" Moderate Action, or the 7'0" Fast action. It would mainly be used for spinnerbaits, texas rigs, jigs, and frogs. Which would be better for those applications? Thanks in advance.

Fast action. From what I understand, moderate action is good as a "shock absorber" when using thinner treble hooks (common with swimbaits/crankbaits) when you don't want to rip the thin hook out of the fish. Moderate action in this case also helps to keep the steady pressure on. For your applications, fast action.

 

[ChrisD46]

On ‎4‎/‎6‎/‎2018 at 10:17 AM, EGbassing said:

Thanks. I guess I'll go with the fast action then.

+1 Fast Action

[EGbassing]

Question: Would a fast action work with squarebills?

[J Francho]

Absolutely.  I prefer a fast action for square bills since I am generally throwing them into heavy wood cover.  I want to feel it hit the cover and react immediately to keep from hanging up.  Can't get that with a slower taper. 

[EGbassing]

Just now, J Francho said:

Absolutely.  I prefer a fast action for square bills since I am generally throwing them into heavy wood cover.  I want to feel it hit the cover and react immediately to keep from hanging up.  Can't get that with a slower taper. 

Thanks. I've heard that you need a medium action to keep from ripping the hooks out on a crankbait, but I guess that's not necessary. I'm just glad I can use my white bird with cranks.  

[J Francho]

I think the ripping baits out with a fast action rod is total hooey.  Once you are into the power section of the blank, all loaded with a fish on, a medium power is a medium power.  Whether the tip is a long slow bend, or a fast short bend matters little once the rod is completely loaded.  Chances are, it wasn't hooked well in the first place.  What makes a slower rod better for diving baits is the how the bait reacts when it deflects off bottom or cover.  That slower action with more forgiving band lets the bait do it's thing. 

[Junger]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

Absolutely.  I prefer a fast action for square bills since I am generally throwing them into heavy wood cover.  I want to feel it hit the cover and react immediately to keep from hanging up.  Can't get that with a slower taper. 

I don't fish squarebills, but that's probably next on my list of techniques to try.  But from what I've read, isn't a slow tip suppose to give better deflection so that the hooks don't dig into cover and hang up? The blank absorbs the hit with cover, and aren't you suppose to stop and let the lure rise a little before starting retrieval again? A fast tip would immediately whip the hooks into cover as the blank straightens out yeah?

 

[J Francho]

With a medium to deep diver, there's a big bill there, protecting the hooks from the bottom.  The slower tip gives the bait room to shimmy.  Square bills have a relatively short bill, and hang up in grass and wood easily, and the faster tip gives you more control and time to kill the retrieve, and let the bait rise, and back away from the cover.  This isn't totally based on fact, but what I *think* is happening, and trying to explain why I've found that one works better than the other in each situation.  So, basically, my answer is is"because" it's what I found works over the course of 30 years.  I'm not so certain, the "why" above is totally right, but it works for me.  I am certain ripping hooks out is not a real thing.  There's guys here that fish all their cranks on braid and heavy/fast action rods.  If ripping hooks out was an actually a thing, then these guys would be losing fish constantly, but they aren't.