Extra Fast vs Fast Action Question

[Greg728]

I know action and power ratings are subjective but I'm curious if you guys notice a huge difference overall. I just bought a MH rod that had everything I'm looking for but they only had XF available in the size and power I wanted. I'm going to be using it for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs, etc. but I'm slightly nervous that the XF action is going to be really unforgiving with hooksets and casts. Do you see a huge difference between the two? I bought this to be my workhorse rod that I use most of the time but some opinions I see make XF action out to be something so application specific that you can only properly fish a few things with it. Also if anyone has experience with the Johnny Morris Signature Casting Rods and can speak to the action on them I would appreciate it.

 

Thanks!

[Teal]

Typically for me, I like the xf, on a jig or bottom contact rod.  Fast is what you were looking for, there's on side that believes a even med fast, or mod fast would be more appropriate for.keeping that fish pinned.   I think you can certainly.use it. ALMOST ALL My Powell rods are listed as extra fast and I use them for moving baits..both my 723s  Just try it out.. If your concerned you can counter act the fast action a bit by using a line that has little stretch    mono would worl, and there are a few flor o lines out there that have more stretch.   I would take it out and try it and see if.it WORKS FOR YOU.  

[Alex from GA]

If it really doesn't work for you cut an inch or two off the tip and put a new tip top on it.

[JediAmoeba]

2 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

If it really doesn't work for you cut an inch or two off the tip and put a new tip top on it.

Whoa, don't do that - that will mess the rod up changing the action, the flex and how the rod works.

[Greg728]

1 minute ago, JediAmoeba said:

Whoa, don't do that - that will mess the rod up changing the action, the flex and how the rod works.

Lol

[LCG]

I have a carbonlite 2.0 6'9 MH-XF casting rod that I use for anything of 1/2 oz. It works well for me, I use it for spinnerbait, jigs, texas rigs, and Frogs (still yet to catch one though). 

[Greg728]

How is it casting with a 1/2 oz spinnerbait? I've never fished XF before but I've heard that lack of flex in the rod while casting can be difficult to deal with with the wrong baits. 

[RoLo]

 

A 'Fast' action blank offers the best compromise, therefore it's by far the most popular action.

Nevertheless, it all depends on the task at hand, and where you place your priorities.

Barring discrepancies between rod brands, an X-fast tip is going to offer faster spine access,

which translates to greater sensitivity and quicker hook-set response.

 

Roger

 

 

[Greg728]

Just now, LCG said:

I have a carbonlite 2.0 6'9 MH-XF casting rod that I use for anything of 1/2 oz. It works well for me, I use it for spinnerbait, jigs, texas rigs, and Frogs (still yet to catch one though). 

Still yet to catch a frog or a fish? 

 

4 hours ago, Teal said:

Typically for me, I like the xf, on a jig or bottom contact rod.  Fast is what you were looking for, there's on side that believes a even med fast, or mod fast would be more appropriate for.keeping that fish pinned.   I think you can certainly.use it. ALMOST ALL My Powell rods are listed as extra fast and I use them for moving baits..both my 723s  Just try it out.. If your concerned you can counter act the fast action a bit by using a line that has little stretch    mono would worl, and there are a few flor o lines out there that have more stretch.   I would take it out and try it and see if.it WORKS FOR YOU.  

When I hear bottom contact I think a big football jig in deep water... does bottom contact always mean deep? What about soaking a senko or dragging a texas rig along the bottom but in more shallow water? Will XF work for that in your opinion or no?

[LCG]

Just now, Greg728 said:

How is it casting with a 1/2 oz spinnerbait? I've never fished XF before but I've heard that lack of flex in the rod while casting can be difficult to deal with with the wrong baits. 

Personal preference, but at first it was a little odd, but I got use to it fast. For me the length is perfect and I find the action gives excellent accuracy. I use 30lb braid to a 12-15ft 14lb mono leader, which helps with some stretch. A spinnerbait catches a lot of air during a cast, so it's not a long distance bait for me, it a decent 40yd accurate cast Lure. 

 

I also use a 6'8 M-XF Carbonite 2.0 spinning rod. They are both my go to rods now. I like the xf action. 

1 minute ago, Greg728 said:

12 minutes ago, LCG said:

I have a carbonlite 2.0 6'9 MH-XF casting rod that I use for anything of 1/2 oz. It works well for me, I use it for spinnerbait, jigs, texas rigs, and Frogs (still yet to catch one though). 

Still yet to catch a frog or a fish? 

Never caught one on a frog, plenty on the rod though

[Heartland]

One thing that I almost never hear mentioned here is that actions only describe where the rod will begin to bend or where on the rod the backbone begins. It does not describe what the tip of the rod will be like.  You can have XF action rods with a very fast tip or an XF rod with a nice soft tip they are not all the same.   I like XF rods with fast tips for things like jig fishing, frog fishing, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and sometimes swimjigs depending on how the fish it taking the bait.   Just something to think about.

[Mike L]

24 minutes ago, Greg728 said:

Still yet to catch a frog or a fish? 

 

When I hear bottom contact I think a big football jig in deep water... does bottom contact always mean deep? What about soaking a senko or dragging a texas rig along the bottom but in more shallow water? Will XF work for that in your opinion or no?

Bottom contact is bottom contact regardless of the amount of water top of it. 
Bass can be caught in 40 fow and 6” of water. 
The action of the rod doesn’t matter. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Teal]

28 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Bottom contact is bottom contact regardless of the amount of water top of it. 
Bass can be caught in 40 fow and 6” of water. 
The action of the rod doesn’t matter. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

This^^^ 

[dodgeguy]

I have a 7-6 Johnny Morris Signature Series heavy /extra fast. It casts frogs and jigs ok. It's more sensitive than heavy fast. Yours is mh/extra fast so it should cast better than my flipping stick. I only own the one heavy exfast but my impression is it's better suited to worms / jigs. My other rods are moderate fast and fast action.

[Greg728]

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

Bottom contact is bottom contact regardless of the amount of water top of it. 
Bass can be caught in 40 fow and 6” of water. 
The action of the rod doesn’t matter. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

That's what I thought man! Someone said XF was only good for bottom contact if you're fishing deep right above them from a boat and your bait is vertical. I can see how that is good for that application but I wanted to fact check to see if it's only good for that or good for bottom contact in general.

[Heartland]

3 hours ago, Greg728 said:

How is it casting with a 1/2 oz spinnerbait? I've never fished XF before but I've heard that lack of flex in the rod while casting can be difficult to deal with with the wrong baits. 

Just pay attention to the ratings on the rod, they will give you a good idea of what amount of weight it is going to take to load the rod for proper casting.  These ratings are not usually exact but they will give you a great starting point.