Rod action of the pros

[Fishin Dad]

I have been watching a lot of the tournament action this year.  The thing I have noticed is it seems a lot of the pros seem to be using moderate action rods?   Am I just seeing things?   As I understand it (as a general rule) moderate or moderate fast rods are good cranking, flipping, and some top water.  Is that about correct?  The other reason I ask is, I have a glass cranking rod and one for chatterbaits and love them!  Easy to cast and nice for fighting fish.  I understand it might be harder to drive a bigger hook in, but they were using them for pitching and Flippin I thought.  It appeared some were using these for other techniques.  What are your thoughts on using moderate to moderate fast rods?  

 

Thanks

[A-Jay]

A-Jay

[iabass8]

They're all using custom made rods from the North Pole forged from the blood of a centaur and epoxied /w the tears of baby unicorns. 

[Fishin Dad]

Great, my wife will think I am heading up there to ice fish.  Does Tackle Warehouse carry those?

[MickD]

Your observation is right on.  While we keep worshipping "faster is better," they are using moderate action rods for most techniques.  

[newyorktoiowa57]

They are using mod/mod fast for reaction techniques.  They definitely use fast or extra fast for bigger single hook(non-moving) baits though.  

 

A decent number of pros are not using rods anywhere near as expensive as the rods some of the guys on the boards use.  It simply depends on who is sponsoring them.  For example Brent Ehler uses the Tatula Elite at $180 and Edwin Evers(who just won an MLF event) uses the BPS Johnny Morris Platinum at $180.  Aaron Martens also uses $120 enigma rods which is odd given that he used to be sponsered by Megabass, and they have pretty poor reviews. 

 

IMO this shows that super expensive, sensitive rods are not necessary if pros aren't using them.  Regardless for things like Jigs, frogs they are using fast rods, though probably not as fast as say, an NRX/GLX/Helium 3.   

[JLBBass]

This is why I own around 14 reels for bass fishing, ( around 6 spinning, 8 baitcasters) but own around 30+ rods! ?

[ohboyitsrobby]

I've seen Wesley strader throw the blue Powell endurance line quite a bit. Think they run $120-130ish. 

[CrankFate]

Now that I got my tinfoil hat on, I believe they are using a custom rod to their specs in the color and style of the sponsor rod. My tinfoil hat tells me this because they often have rods with butt sections much longer than what the rod they are using has in retail stores.

[DogBone_384]

On 3/2/2019 at 6:49 PM, MickD said:

we keep worshipping "faster is better," they are using moderate action rods for most techniques

I own a couple mod-fast Kistlers and one Abu.  I find I use them more and more when kayak fishing because I take only 3 rods.  They’re about as universal as you can get.

[TxHawgs]

Not seeing things, they can be used for anything. Not getting into why but it's pretty self explanatory. And yes some guys use them to pitch plastics and jigs with. Look how many companies make mod fast actions anymore and not in crankbait rods. Its cuz people are using them more. I could take a M MH H and XH mod fast rod and fish everything with them.

[Glaucus]

I always refute the claim that the universal best starter bass rod is a 7 foot MH/F. It's not. MF is by far more universal. 

[Heartland]

2 hours ago, Glaucus said:

I always refute the claim that the universal best starter bass rod is a 7 foot MH/F. I believe that MF is by far more universal. 

fixed it for you

[Fishin Dad]

I want to find a rod with that moderate or MF tip that loads to a strong backbone.   I like the feel and ease of the cast and I feel it helps with fighting the fish on a M or MF action.   I do like some backbone to set the hook and help power a fish out of cover if needed.  Any suggestions?   I would like one for throwing weightless Senkos and one for jigs/Texas rigs.   

[Boomstick]

16 hours ago, Glaucus said:

I always refute the claim that the universal best starter bass rod is a 7 foot MH/F. It's not. MF is by far more universal. 

I have also had discussions with people that M/F is just as versatile as as MH/F, it's all about preference.

[Glaucus]

12 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I have also had discussions with people that M/F is just as versatile as as MH/F, it's all about preference.

I should clarify that when I said MF I meant moderate fast, not medium power/fast action. 

 

Power is really subjective to area, but a moderate fast action is the most versatile action there is - not fast action imo

[Boomstick]

1 hour ago, Glaucus said:

I should clarify that when I said MF I meant moderate fast, not medium power/fast action. 

 

Power is really subjective to area, but a moderate fast action is the most versatile action there is - not fast action imo

*facepalm* I feel stupid now.

 

On that, I used a mod. fast rod for crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, swim jigs and chatterbaits last year, with no issues at all (other than losing the biggest fish of my life but I blame hitting my kid in the face on the hookset for that one). I have enough backbone I could probably throw braid on it and fish a frog or soft plastics just fine as well, especially if I keep my hooks sharp.

[Heartland]

Take your rod and reel outside and try this little exercise.  Have a friend, wife, neighbor, someone walk off about 30 -40 yards.  Give them the end of your line whatever line you would normally use.  With them 30-40 yards away have them pinch the line between their thumb and fore finger, then see if you can pull it loose from their grip by imitating your hookset.   You may be surprised.

 

[MickD]

I know what a mod and mod/fast action ROD are but don't know what a mod and mod/fast action TIP are.

[Fishin Dad]

I mean a moderate or moderate fast action rod, but would like it to have a softer tip section and load to a more stout backbone.  

[LionHeart]

2 hours ago, Heartland said:

Take your rod and reel outside and try this little exercise.  Have a friend, wife, neighbor, someone walk off about 30 -40 yards.  Give them the end of your line whatever line you would normally use.  With them 30-40 yards away have them pinch the line between their thumb and fore finger, then see if you can pull it loose from their grip by imitating your hookset.   You may be surprised.

 

For this reason (well , one of many) I use braid.  A hook set at 40 yards carries almost the same authority as 5 yards.

[kschultz76]

4 hours ago, Fishin Dad said:

I want to find a rod with that moderate or MF tip that loads to a strong backbone.   I like the feel and ease of the cast and I feel it helps with fighting the fish on a M or MF action.   I do like some backbone to set the hook and help power a fish out of cover if needed.  Any suggestions?   I would like one for throwing weightless Senkos and one for jigs/Texas rigs.   

The Gen 1 MB Orochi XX Diablo Spec R comes to mind. I wouldn’t call it moderate, but the action is on the slower end of fast, but crisp and responsive with a strong backbone. I can throw everything on that rod from trigged creature baits to swim jigs to lipless to square bills and I have. If you like rods of that action JDM offerings would be to your liking. 

 

The Kislter KLX Crank Rip Twitch rods in MedHeavy MedFast come to mind as well. Also the Kistler H3 Light MedHeavy Fast I think you’d like too. 

[waymont]

I think the Dobyns fast action is kind of a moderate/fast action or between moderate/fast and fast.

When I first started using them for jigs and texas rigs I thought they would be too slow, but I changed my mind after catching a few bass on them. They keep fish pegged and are easy to cast too. I still have some fast action Loomis and St Croix rods that I love, but the slower action is great too. I also found Dobyns actions are great for spinner/chatter baits and square bills too. Great all around action.

[Heartland]

5 hours ago, LionHeart said:

For this reason (well , one of many) I use braid.  A hook set at 40 yards carries almost the same authority as 5 yards.

Try it, you might be surprised

[Fishin Dad]

9 hours ago, LionHeart said:

For this reason (well , one of many) I use braid.  A hook set at 40 yards carries almost the same authority as 5 yards.

I would use braid for this type of rod.  I am about 50% braid on my set ups.  With this type of rod I think it would be great for casting, feel, and hook sets.  Thanks

Thanks kschultz and waymont.   I will definitely be looking at those rods. I do own a Dobyns, but I use it for chatters as it is a glass rod made for them.  Have always wanted to try a JDM rod and a Kistler.