Confirm Rod's Best Applications/Line?

[TotalNoob]

I got this Okuma 6'8" M rod that's specific for "Topwater & Jerkbait". On the rod itself it states "Carbon" and on the attached tag it states "...carbon blank". I've attached a few pics for reference. I don't see the word "Graphite" anywhere. 

 

This may seem like a silly question but I would like to make sure I understand fully ... is this a fiberglass rod? I understand fiberglass is for the purpose of having more "flex" and leverage when fighting a treble-hooked fish, which would make sense here. I only see the word "Carbon", though. 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, if this is a fiberglass rod then can I assume it would also be good for throwing smaller (~1/4oz) crankbaits?

 

The rod is rated for 1/8oz to 3/4oz (8-17lb line) and that's the exact range of topwaters and jerkbaits I'll be throwing. I just got a Daiwa Fuego CT to pair with this and I'm currently trying to determine the best line to put on it.

 

I'm definitely using braid but where I get a little fuzzy is determining the lb test to match with what lb test leader (and whether leader should be mono or fluoro). I assume mono leader for topwater ... but what lb test?

 

What lb braid would you spool and to what lb leader for the above applications? Any/all input appreciated. 

[CroakHunter]

30lb braid 10-14lb copolymer or mono leader

[new2BC4bass]

https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/okuma-b-series-62816.html

 

EDIT:  There are a few videos on the EVX B line as well.

 

https://www.google.com/search?ei=EuVoW8TmPOOZ_QbJ2JbIDA&q=okuma+evx+b+review&oq=okuma+evx+review&gs_l=psy-ab.1.1.0i71k1l8.0.0.0.6916.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c..64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.oRnuFAbDWk4

 

[TotalNoob]

4 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/okuma-b-series-62816.html

 

Yea that article from here on BR was literally the only info I could find on these rods prior to purchase. I actually made a thread a couple weeks ago asking if anyone had any experience with these rods.

 

Again this may be a stupid question but is Carbon Fiber the same thing (or similar) to Fiberglass? At least for fishing applications?

 

How comfortable would you feel throwing crankbaits on this rod, despite it's stated purpose?

[deep]

Last I heard, graphite is a form of carbon (the element). So are diamonds, btw.

 

Shallow cranks should work well on it, not that I have any first hand experience with the rod.

[LionHeart]

Gonna speculate here and say it isn't glass or graphite.  It's a carbon fiber rod.  I'd throw some 30 or 40 lb braid and whatever mono you have laying around for a leader.  If you plan on using it for jerk bait, 10 or 12 lb would do just fine IMO.

 

You seemed to use the words 'flex' and 'leverage' like they are synonymous.  Maybe I misunderstood, but they are kinda the opposite.

[TotalNoob]

4 minutes ago, LionHeart said:

Gonna speculate here and say it isn't glass or graphite.  It's a carbon fiber rod.  I'd throw some 30 or 40 lb braid and whatever mono you have laying around for a leader.  If you plan on using it for jerk bait, 10 or 12 lb would do just fine IMO.

 

You seemed to use the words 'flex' and 'leverage' like they are synonymous.  Maybe I misunderstood, but they are kinda the opposite.

Where does a Carbon Fiber blank fall in the fishing application category?

 

Generally speaking, I know Graphite is for sensitivity (bottom applications) and Fiberglass is for moving baits w treble hooks where sensitivity isn't as important. What are the pros and cons of Carbon Fiber?

 

Didn't mean to add any confusion with terminology. I just meant that the rod is meant to absorb some of the shock involved with keeping a fish pinned with treble hooks.

[LionHeart]

I think the whole deal with carbon fiber is that it is light and flexible, while still being sensitive.  Now you've got me wanting to know.  I got check this out.

[TylerT123]

Carbon is a sort of a “raw” material, it’s more durable than graphite, but I wouldn’t say that’s completely true everywhere, just for the most part. Graphite is basically carbon but cooked or heated up more than carbon, and that makes it brittle compared to carbon.

[MisterDeadeye]

To make it simple, they're carbon fiber. Very similar to graphite(they start out as the same thing), just slightly different in the manufacturing process. It's potentially lighter, more sensitive, and more expensive to produce usually, unless they start out with lower grade materials.

 

Actually, I'm saying they're carbon fiber based on a video on the rod's page, on Okuma's website, that says they're made out of carbon fiber, but they also say that it's carbon fiber wrapped, so it could be largely constructed of graphite and carbon fiber reinforced which makes the result slightly different.

 

Rods that are marketed as being carbon fiber(most graphite rods have some amount of carbon fiber in them, so it's kind of a misnomer), are typically meant to be the best of both worlds. They're supposed to be light and sensitive like a typical graphite rod, but also flexible like a fiberglass rod. The rod you're using probably has a relatively slow action so it will be great for the typical treble hook hard baits like the intended topwater/jerkbaits, as well as crankbaits.

 

Now, despite the fact that technically speaking graphite and carbon fiber are different, all "graphite" rods are composites, meaning they aren't 100% graphite construction. Like I said above, graphite rods use carbon fiber, so the use of the term in their video and the use of the word "carbon" instead of "graphite" could just be the marketing team doing their job. Feel out the action for yourself, but it doesn't really even matter what the composition itself is because rod manufacturers don't release that information. The only thing we can do as consumers is test and compare various rods.

 

 

Edit: I'm not sure exactly what lures you're using, but I don't like leaders and usually just use straight braid. If you need the stretch, you could always just go full mono or have a leader that's a couple feet long so that it's past your guides when getting ready to cast. 

 

As for what lb test, I like 30lb braid, but some people like to go to 40 or even 50 for general use. Mono, I'd go with 12-15lb Big Game whether we're talking about a leader or main line. 

[Deleted account]

STOP! In sporting good items, everything from golf clubs, skis, tennis rackets (or raquets if you prefer), bicycle frames, fishing rods, etc, carbon fiber (or Fibre) is just another name for graphite. Because of it's atomic make up, carbon is one of the most significant elements (along with hydrogen and oxygen). Everything from CO2, diamonds, pencils, most every living thing, booze, and last and least sporting equipment abounds with it. Composites and laminates vary mostly in the density (modulus) and resin (in addition to layup of course).

[J Francho]

13 hours ago, TotalNoob said:

How comfortable would you feel throwing crankbaits on this rod, despite it's stated purpose?

I haven't tried the Topwater/Jerkbait rod referenced, but I have BOTH their cranking rods.  They are indeed very light, and very sensitive, despite the mod/mod-fast rated taper.  The medium is a little more powerful than my SC Avid AVC70MM and the medium heavy is on par with my SC Avid AVC70MHM.  The two rods have replaced my Avids for most cranking duty, with the exception of peanut size cranks, which my AVC70MM excels at.