Medium Heavy rods

[Ravox]

Sorry if is a stupid question

 

Regarding Medium Heavy baitcasting rod, makes a big difference if I use a lighter lure than what is specified on my rod for example lighter than 

3/8 - 3/4 oz.?  not sure if i did a good choice since the medium can fit most bass baits around there but and not sure if i can cast a texas rigged worm with 1/4 with this rod.

[Pavlooskin]

For me, I like to go with lighter gear for more finesse tactics, and heavier for times where it's easy to detect the bite--like topwater or cast-and-retrieve lures.

[MN Fisher]

18 minutes ago, Ravox said:

Sorry if is a stupid question

 

Regarding Medium Heavy baitcasting rod, makes a big difference if I use a lighter lure than what is specified on my rod for example lighter than 

3/8 - 3/4 oz.?  not sure if i did a good choice since the medium can fit most bass baits around there but and not sure if i can cast a texas rigged worm with 1/4 with this rod.

1/4oz weight then the worm?

A 5" Senko weighs just over 1/3oz - so your total is going to be over 1/2oz - you should be fine using the MH rod for that.

[Pavlooskin]

You probably won't be able to detect the bite as easily on a heavier rod with a lighter lure. That's why they make rods specifically for panfish.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Finn Johnson said:

You probably won't be able to detect the bite as easily on a heavier rod with a lighter lure. That's why they make rods specifically for panfish.

Or finesse techniques - my spinning rig arsenal runs from Light to Medium-Heavy, my casting rig arsenal runs Medium to Heavy.

My shore-rigs for bass or panfish are a Medium-Light spinner, a Medium spinner and a Medium baitcaster.

[Ravox]

My idea for this rod is not panfish is for bass and peacock bass in Florida, so worms, flukes, cranks,  and maybe frog 

[Pavlooskin]

Oh, I just go medium on those

[kayaking_kev]

It also depends on the manufacture of the rod. My MH Dobyns Xtasy will throw a lot lighter baits than what it's rated for, compared to my MH G.Loomis/Shimano Conquest.

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, Ravox said:

My idea for this rod is not panfish is for bass and peacock bass in Florida, so worms, flukes, cranks,  and maybe frog 

Definitely the MH then - especially for the frogs in weeds...you'll need the power to pull them out.

 

Getting more detailed on the T-Rig. A rod's best casting is when the weight of the lure is close to the mid-point of it's rating

A rod rated 1/4oz to 1oz has it's mid-point at 5/8oz... 0.625oz

A 1/4oz weight (0.25oz) with a 5" Senko (0.37oz) totals 0.62oz

 

Wow - right about the mid-point for the rod.

 

I don't drop to Medium for T-Rigs unless it's a 3/16oz or less weight with lighter worms. 1/4oz with 5" plus goes on my MH rig.

[jimmyjoe]

  

13 minutes ago, Ravox said:

My idea for this rod is not panfish, it is for bass and peacock bass in Florida, so worms, flukes, cranks,  and maybe frog 

 

   For all single-hook techniques, I would err on the heavier power side rather than the lighter side. For the techniques you described, I would go MH/F, possibly MH/MF.

   Unfortunately, some things you have to try to see how they work for you rather than the guy next to you. That's life.

   BTW - @MN Fisher has given you good advice.   jj

[Bankc]

The biggest issue you'll likely run into is casting distance.  It'll be hard to properly load a rod with too light of a bait.  You may also loose some sensitivity versus and identical, but lower powered rod.  But, other than that, it won't hurt anything.  

 

So I'd fish whatever you want with you have now, and then maybe consider getting a medium for your next rod.  

[Ravox]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Definitely the MH then - especially for the frogs in weeds...you'll need the power to pull them out.

 

Getting more detailed on the T-Rig. A rod's best casting is when the weight of the lure is close to the mid-point of it's rating

A rod rated 1/4oz to 1oz has it's mid-point at 5/8oz... 0.625oz

A 1/4oz weight (0.25oz) with a 5" Senko (0.37oz) totals 0.62oz

 

Wow - right about the mid-point for the rod.

 

I don't drop to Medium for T-Rigs unless it's a 3/16oz or less weight with lighter worms. 1/4oz with 5" plus goes on my MH rig.

Mine is rated 3/8 - 3/4 oz --- goes beyond a texas rig on your example, this is not an issue in this case? or its a rule that i can only cast between 3/8 - 3/4 oz?

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Ravox said:

Mine is rated 3/8 - 3/4 oz --- goes beyond a texas rig on your example, this is not an issue in this case? or its a rule that i can only cast between 3/8 - 3/4 oz?

It's not a rule so much as a strong suggestion. You can cast lighter and heavier than that...but - lighter won't load the rod well and your casting distance will suffer - heavier and you won't want to try and 'reach orbit', but swing lighter with the rod as to not overload it.

 

Far as the T-Rig example I posted - mid-point of your rod would be .56oz - so the .62oz of the 5" Senko and 1/4 weight is still in the 'middle-third' of the rod rating...so you're still good.

[PhishLI]

9 minutes ago, Ravox said:

Mine is rated 3/8 - 3/4 oz --- goes beyond a texas rig on your example, this is not an issue in this case? or its a rule that i can only cast between 3/8 - 3/4 oz?

It's not realistic to rely solely on the lure weight ratings listed on the rod, including action. The variations are too extreme. The numbers rarely reflect what's actually going to happen with a range of baits. Only a clue. The rod will tell you once you're out chucking baits.

 

If I'm out wading with one rod I'll typically have a pretty stiff  4+ power 7'3" MHF rated from 3/8-1oz. I can compensate for the lack of load by lighter baits with a longer lure drop from the tip before the cast. The leverage provided by the longer rod plus the added length between the rod's tip and the lure allows me to cast true 1/4 oz baits without issue. Combine that with a reel with a fairly light spool and I can throw light baits below what the rod's bottom rating suggests. This also means that I'm more versatile with a large range of baits up to the rod's reasonable upper limit. I can throw lots of presentations with this rig, and casting distance is not an issue.

[Ravox]

27 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

It's not a rule so much as a strong suggestion. You can cast lighter and heavier than that...but - lighter won't load the rod well and your casting distance will suffer - heavier and you won't want to try and 'reach orbit', but swing lighter with the rod as to not overload it.

 

Far as the T-Rig example I posted - mid-point of your rod would be .56oz - so the .62oz of the 5" Senko and 1/4 weight is still in the 'middle-third' of the rod rating...so you're still good.

Perfect explanation thank so much this make me happy with my choice them lol

5 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

It's not realistic to rely solely on the lure weight ratings listed on the rod, including action. The variations are too extreme. The numbers rarely reflect what's actually going to happen with a range of baits. Only a clue. The rod will tell you once you're out chucking baits.

 

If I'm out wading with one rod I'll typically have a pretty stiff  4+ power 7'3" MHF rated from 3/8-1oz. I can compensate for the lack of load by lighter baits with a longer lure drop from the tip before the cast. The leverage provided by the longer rod plus the added length between the rod's tip and the lure allows me to cast true 1/4 oz baits without issue. Combine that with a reel with a fairly light spool and I can throw light baits below what the rod's bottom rating suggests. This also means that I'm more versatile with a large range of baits up to the rod's reasonable upper limit. I can throw lots of presentations with this rig, and casting distance is not an issue.

Yes i think the same way too regarding MH rods..  versatile and you can experiment more than a M rod  thank your help and amazing explanation

[WRB]

Medium Heavy power is usually considered the call around bass rod. But....today we have application specific rods with no standard to define what MH means.

MH, frog rod is different then MH  crankbait rod is different from a jig & worm rod. Action comes into the conversation Medium, fast, mod fast, extra fast etc, etc.

Make and model helps a lot to answer questions to narrow down all the unknowns.

Tom

[ironbjorn]

The worm, hook, and weight will usually be more than enough fish with your rod. Unless I'm going 1/8oz, I opt for MH regardless of what the rod says. And anyways, I'm usually pitching Texas rigs rather than bomb casting them. You generally want the stout MH to drive the hook through the plastic and through the mouth of the bass; and that doesn't even begin to touch the cover. You made a good choice (unless you got a Lightning rod because those are the specs of it; that rod's clear plastic reel seat with crack or shatter on you soon).

[tholmes]

You'll be fine. I routinely throw a 3/16 oz. bullet weight and a 7" worm on my MH rods with no problems. Ditto for a1/4 oz. jig with a trailer. 

Don't get hung up in the details, just go catch some fish.

 

Tom

[Michigander]

I throw 1/8 weights with a Rage Craw on MH all the time and am fine. You'll be fine too as long as you aren't trying to throw something featherlight.

[FishTank]

1/4oz weight and a worm of any kind will cast fine on a MH rod.  It may not be the rods sweet spot for max casting distance but a fuzz (1/16 - 1/8 oz) over or under is ok on most rods. 

[The Maestro]

Not only is there not a standard for power ratings among the different rod companies, there really isn't even a standard within the same company or even within the same product line.

[Boomstick]

A 1/4oz with a worm will cast beatutifully on most medium heavy rods. The weight of the soft plastic will put the total weight up to 1/2oz or so depending on the soft plastic used. I usually use 1/8oz myself with a MH rod unless I'm in deep water or sometimes where I know I need the extra casting distance.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I find accuracy negatively affected when using an over powering rod as well. 

[lo n slo]

7 hours ago, Ravox said:

Sorry if is a stupid question

 

Regarding Medium Heavy baitcasting rod, makes a big difference if I use a lighter lure than what is specified on my rod for example lighter than 

3/8 - 3/4 oz.?  not sure if i did a good choice since the medium can fit most bass baits around there but and not sure if i can cast a texas rigged worm with 1/4 with this rod.

i throw a 3/16 oz Texas Rig with no problem.