Do I need a Med Moderate Action Casting Rod?

[Buffdaddy54]

I'm making life way to difficult I think. 

I purchased a Lightning Shock Casting Rod off EBay thinking it was a med moderate, ( because that's what the listing said it was)? but it came as a MHF. Now I already own a MHF Casting Rod and I'm tying myself up in knots convinced I need a med. I'm not going to return it because I only paid 33.00 for it. 

Tell me I can relax and just use the drag correctly with the mono line I have and I can get away with using this for shallow cranks and treble hook baits. 

Waters I fish are typically no deeper than 12, and I fish from shore. I also have a med mod in a spinning setup.

Help me with my compulsion??

[J Francho]

The whole moderate action to keep trebles from ripping out is well over played on the internets.  I feel the moderate action aids in better bait action after deflection when using deeper divers.  In the case of shallow cranks, like square bills, or for traps, I like a fast action.  This so I can recover and react quick to when the bait hits weeds or wood.  In other words, you'll be fine.  Now, do I think you need a true med-mod?  Absolutely.  One of my favorite sticks for tossing lighter, diving cranks is a 7' MM stick.  But for what you listed, you got it right.

[new2BC4bass]

I finally broke down and bought a dedicated crankbait rod a few years ago.  Before that I used MF.  I don't do deep divers.  Also you have to realize that there are no set rules for actions or powers.  My understanding is the Shocks have softer actions because they were built for braid.  Also quite a few rods listed as crankbait rods have a Fast rating.  Pretty sure 2 of my crankbait rods are listed as having a Fast action.

 

EDIT:  Research.  Should find posts by ww2farmer regarding fishing treble hook lures on Shocks.

[WRB]

How does the rod feel compared to your other MHF rod? By feel I mean flex under light pressure and cast the lures you use?

There isn't a reliable standard to compare different mfr's rods having the same power and action rating. You read all the time on this site that St Croix is different then Dobyns just to name 2 mfr's. Power and action is subjective to each user.

Tom

[burrows]

You need a medium it’s essential for bass fishing. Also the monkey ? says to get one ASAP ?

[the reel ess]

I use a 6'6" M/MF regular Lightning Rod for treble lures & topwaters. I don't think I'd want one any more flexy than that. It's already a little too limp for bigger topwaters like the 130 Whopper Plopper.

[the reel ess]

On second thought, the Pop R standard size is a little too light for my M-MF rod. So a M-M might do well for that.

[CroakHunter]

I own 0 medium power casting rods. I have 1 that fishes close to that but it is labeled medium heavy. You'll be just fine. 

[J.Vincent]

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

I use a 6'6" M/MF regular Lightning Rod for treble lures & topwaters. I don't think I'd want one any more flexy than that. It's already a little too limp for bigger topwaters like the 130 Whopper Plopper.

I 100% agree with this.....there is a 6ft6 Medium Berkley Lightning rod which has a Moderate Fast action and it's an excellent rod for lures which don't require a great amount of sensitivity. These are the only sub $100 dollar rods I own , and I have two of them; one for Sammy style Topwaters and one for Shallow SquareBills up to 1/2oz. They just work and surprisingly good !

[NHBull]

I think how a rod flexes is more important than the perceived speed....A great example is the Loomis MBR'S which are labeled fast, but parabolic bend pins the fish.  I prefer these over my st croix M/