Favorite power/action for bass spinning rod?

[shimanoangler]

4 hours ago, MickD said:

For just one rod that will do it all pretty well, MF.

Power and action can be measured, with CCS, and can be objective, not subjective.   Preferences for different powers or actions are subjective.  Length is objective, easily measured.  Preferences for length are subjective.  But the length of the rod does not have an impact on action and power.  Any length of rod can have any power and any action.  This does not mean I disagree with your preferences, but just the second sentence.

Maybe I should have stated my position with "in my experience" longer rods tend to hit the backbone deeper in the rod, given them the feeling that they have more flex, or fish softer than a similar powered shorter rod.  With the rods I have fished, and I tend to stay in family of rods so I am comparing same blank materials with a company using a similar rod rating system, my experience is that a 7' 3 power fishes firmer than a 7'6" 3 power rod.  As "subjective" as that may be, my experience based on rod performance is that the longer the rod, the more forgiveness a rod tends to has when it comes to fighting fish (keeping in mind that I almost exclusively fish spinning set ups).   

[Junk Fisherman]

17 hours ago, shimanoangler said:

As important to me as power and action is, I think length is equally as important.  In fact I think length of rod has an impact on action and power.  My two favorite setups are 7'4" Medium Power Fast Action  (Dobyns Xtasy, just the best tube and paddle tail swimbait rod) and 7'6" Medium Light Power Fast Action  (Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS/Daiwa Cronos Stinger Tip, both great a neds, hair, deep water drop shot, wacky rigs/neko rigs).

 

The added length helps you play fish on lighter line, especially those fish that surge at the boat.   

This is a great point.  I have changed over to using longer rods over the past couple years and will never go back.  My small swimbait rod is a 7'9" mL and the extra length is great for fighting fish and hooksets too if you need them.  I hooked into a 20+ lb carp with that rod and the extra leverage with the longer rod was very noticeable.  I also use that rod for lakers and it does the job well.  Another example- I have two Dobyns rods in the same blank and action- the 7'4" lite is my ideal Ned rig rod while the 7' lite is too light and is for sale.