Industry standard for rod power ?

[Bird]

Was bored today " rain "  greased worm gears.

Well that didn't keep me entertained so tied a 5lb weight to each rod and raised each one taking note, visual.

 

I have a couple of heavy actions that bend slightly more than MH of same length.....I know, elementary. 

 

But does raise a question. 

What formula is used to determine a rods power ? And is there an industry standard?

 

I often hear members giving reviews of particular rods claiming that they're MH is on the heavy side or vice versa. 

 

Just curious. 

[Tywithay]

M, MH, ML...they're all pretty much worthless. Lure ratings tell a better story. 

[Mike L]

There is no industry standard. 
Every manufacturer labels their product according to their own standards. 
 

Lure rating of each rod is the only guidance you’ll get. 

 

 

Mike

 

[NJBasstard]

Basically what everyone else said.. Just want to add that even lure rating can be misleading. I've had rods rated up to 5/8 that feels over powered with a 5" weightless senko and I've had rods rated 1/4-1oz that don't like anything under 1/2oz.

[MN Fisher]

Prime example

Diawa - MH is 1/4oz to 1oz

Dobyns - MH is 1/4oz to 3/4oz

 

Look at the lure/line ratings and buy based on that - ignore the words.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

2 hours ago, Bird said:

Was bored today " rain "  greased worm gears.

Well that didn't keep me entertained so tied a 5lb weight to each rod and raised each one taking note, visual.

 

I have a couple of heavy actions that bend slightly more than MH of same length.....I know, elementary. 

 

But does raise a question. 

What formula is used to determine a rods power ? And is there an industry standard?

 

I often hear members giving reviews of particular rods claiming that they're MH is on the heavy side or vice versa. 

 

Just curious. 

Using your own post as an example its not elementary. People (most pros) cant even correctly differentiate power or action when relating to a rods attributes. You do mean heavy power correct not action? Action is not the same as power. Action to me is extra fast, fast, mod-fast, moderate, slow or where/how the rod bends not the weight it takes to bend it. So to get a standard the correct terminology needs to be set understood first.

[STBen1215]

2 hours ago, Tywithay said:

M, MH, ML...they're all pretty much worthless. Lure ratings tell a better story. 

Yes however lure ratings are often times misleading and not accurate IMO. For example, Duckett doesn't provide line and lure ratings.

 

For example, Phenix rates there X series 7 Heavy to 3 oz crankbaits, which in my opinion is way off. G Loomis rates ther 845 CBR IMX Pro to 1 oz crankbaits and in no way would I throw anything over 1/2 oz on. Another example is Dobyns rates there Xtasy 755 to 1.5 oz and has noticeably less power than the GLX 895C, which is rated to 1 oz.

 

There is no true system unfortunately. Best things are to research, ask, and try to get your hands on the rods.

2 hours ago, NJBasstard said:

Basically what everyone else said.. Just want to add that even lure rating can be misleading. I've had rods rated up to 5/8 that feels over powered with a 5" weightless senko and I've had rods rated 1/4-1oz that don't like anything under 1/2oz.

Exactly!

[Bird]

33 minutes ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Using your own post as an example its not elementary. People (most pros) cant even correctly differentiate power or action when relating to a rods attributes. You do mean heavy power correct not action? Action is not the same as power. Action to me is extra fast, fast, mod-fast, moderate, slow or where/how the rod bends not the weight it takes to bend it. So to get a standard the correct terminology needs to be set understood first.

Yes, my bad, talking about power.

I'm well aware of fast action, moderate and so on and understand the concept, just trying to grasp why different rod manufacturers vary so much 

 

[jimmyjoe]

45 minutes ago, Bird said:

, just trying to grasp why different rod manufacturers vary so much 

 

   For the same reason so many different sized girls all look so pretty, whether they're long and tall or short, whether they're stout or skinny as a rail. The girls and the rod manufacturers are both trying to do the same thing ..... get someone interested in them. The rods and the girls merit the same advice; don't trust what someone else says, try them out to see the difference before you commit.       ?       jj

[Big Hands]

And to further muddy the waters, so to speak, line and lure ratings of the same model casting rod are sometimes different than the spinning rod version.

[MassYak85]

It's honestly the most confusing part of bass fishing tackle to me. I usually spend hours researching a rod before buying it cause I like to hear a consensus opinion that it handles what I'm looking to do well. I don't really care what the actual rating/action/power is as long as it's up to the task. 

[Ogandrews]

Honestly I don’t really pay much attention to rod power and I especially don’t pay any attention to the lure weight rating. I have two 7’10 heavy swimbait rods, one is a $130 Cabela’s rod and the other is a st croix mojo bass which is 140 I think so very similar, same length and claimed power. Both are rated 1-4oz. The Cabela’s rod feels like a piece of cooked spaghetti trying to cast anything over 2oz and casts lures 3/8-1 oz like a dream. The st croix rod doesn’t really load up with anything under 1.5 oz and I have comfortably fished 5 oz musky jerkbaits and plastics with it. I have a dobyns 735c that is called a mag heavy and it is a softer rod than a lot of medium heavies I use (not a bad thing, a Sierra 735 can throw so many different lures well it’s an amazing rod). There are endless examples of this being the case, and even more with lure ratings being wrong. Generally I find that companies keep close to the same power per rating with their rods in their different lines. I think it is quite important to try to get a rod in your hand before you buy it if you can, will really help you gauge how heavy or light the rod actually is.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

There’s no industry standard but there is a system widely used among custom builders and a few fly rod makers. If you want to geek out lookup the Common Cents system by Dr Hannaman. 

[OkobojiEagle]

10 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   For the same reason so many different sized girls all look so pretty, whether they're long and tall or short, whether they're stout or skinny as a rail. The girls and the rod manufacturers are both trying to do the same thing ..... get someone interested in them. The rods and the girls merit the same advice; don't trust what someone else says, try them out to see the difference before you commit.       ?       jj

You offer sound advice jimmyjoe, and that's exactly why I never buy fishing rods at closing time...

 

oe

[MickD]

8 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

There’s no industry standard but there is a system widely used among custom builders and a few fly rod makers. If you want to geek out lookup the Common Cents system by Dr Hannaman. 

Absolutely right!  It is not that difficult to make your own setup to get objective numbers on power and action.  If you have a workshop with a vice and a level floor you can do it.  Then you'll get a good understanding of the ratings you see, and you can even test a new rod to see if it is what you want.  The testing does no damage, leaves no marks, so the rod could be returned if it doesn't fit your needs.  CCS was developed for fly rods, but it works for any rod, period.  https://www.common-cents.info/

[roadwarrior]

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/rod-actions-power.html

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Those are still just subjective with no actual measurement. So it can’t be applied across the board. 

[waymont]

17 hours ago, Bird said:

heavy actions

I think you mean heavy power and not action. Action=moderate, fast, extra fast.

[fishwizzard]

In my ideal world manufactures would provide deflection charts for every rod they sell.  This, combined with the lure/line rating and either a Force/Power number or the more standard M, MH, etc rating give you the most complete picture you can get without holding the rod in your hands.  

[JediAmoeba]

The problem with any of the powers is how deep the rod flexes too.  Those parabolic whipping sticks and their powers are baffling.

[WRB]

To the best of my knowledge Fenwick was the 1st fresh water rod company to use numerical power system 1 through 6 back in the70's. Looking at the F# system above the Fenwick power rating would be 100% load bottoming out the rod at 45 degree angle.

1 = 1 pound, 2 = 2 lbs etc., dead weight using line from the reel to apply force

Lamiglas also used the numberical system.

1 = light, 2 = Medium light, 3 = Medium, 4 = Medium Heavy, 5 = Heavy, 6 = XHeavy.

Basically a 5 lb weight should bend the H rated rod 100%.

Marketing folks started the subjective letter rating system for bass rods that has become useless.

Tom

[Fishingmickey]

15 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   For the same reason so many different sized girls all look so pretty, whether they're long and tall or short, whether they're stout or skinny as a rail. The girls and the rod manufacturers are both trying to do the same thing ..... get someone interested in them. The rods and the girls merit the same advice; don't trust what someone else says, try them out to see the difference before you commit.       ?       jj

I think I will keep that analogy between us Jimmyjoe.

FM