What really is “medium heavy?

[BrianMDTX]

Or medium, heavy, etc?  It’s a rhetorical question. I read a lot of posts for a while that Rod A’s medium is more like Rod B’s medium heavy, etc, and took a lot of that with a grain of salt. But having purchased several new rods over the past year, I find it to be relatively true. I have two MHF baitcasting rods: a Daiwa Aird-X and a Falcon Lowrider. I thought the MHF Aird-X was just that compared to my Aird-X MF, but the Falcon MHF is definitely a stouter rod. Which is fine for me as it’s turning out to be a great rod for Texas rigs and other soft plastics rigged on a 3/0 EWG hook. But it may be too “medium heavy” for others. 

 

No doubt there is no standard such as spine in arrow shafts. At least the vast majority of similarly spined arrows (like a 300) from different manufacturers are pretty close when cut to the same length with like components. But rods? It’s a crapshoot! 

[Michigander]

Yeah, total crapshoot. I think a lot of it is that there's different aspects to a rod's power but manufacturers only use one general term.

 

For example, the Common Cents system defines three attributes that comprise a rod's power.

 

Power
Generally used to describe a rod or blank's stiffness or resistance to bending. See Tip Power, Power Reservoir, Intrinsic Power

 

Tip Power
A measure of the power of the tip of a rod as defined by the CCS.

 

Power Reservoir
A measure of the force required to deflect a rod a distance equal to one half of the rod's length.

Intrinsic Power
See ERN. Also expressed in units of grains in accordance with the conversion tables of the Rosetta Stone

[The Maestro]

There's really no standard or consistency even within the same line of rods made by the same manufacturer.  2 rods with the same power rating can feel totally different.

[FishTank]

I tend to give up on the power schemes and pay attention to the line and lure ratings.  Case in point, I picked up a Megabass P5 Super Destroyer.  It feels no different than a Med or MH but it is rated as a Heavy (1/4 -1 1/4 oz) and it is true to those ratings.  Another example but this one feels like a Heavy > the G. Loomis 844C.  It can go 1/4-1oz and feels stiff and powerful in hand but it is not as powerful as the much thinner and lighter Super Destroyer.  Weird...

[Cigarguy]

At best those are just general guidelines.  Rod power and action for that matter is similar to describing taste and smell.  It is subjective.  With my other hobby of cigars, whiskys, and beers I see it all the time.  I never did figure out what a cigar that smell like a white lotus flower on the 2nd day after a full moon 2 feet from a donkey's arse taste like.  I rate my rods like my cigars and whisky (maybe women)....bad, good or gooder. 

[roadwarrior]

45 minutes ago, Cigarguy said:

....bad, good or gooder. 

 

[new2BC4bass]

I have weight ranges in mind (just my opinion) for various power categories.  Obviously I look at the rod's lure rating, but as it constantly gets pointed out that often isn't all that accurate either.

 

So what is a guy to do?  Buy lots of rods, naturally, and find out yourself the weights that work best on it.    I'm working my way through a few. 

[WRB]

Medium heavy is half way between medium and heavy.

Since no standard for any power rating exist is a guess by golly definition and also changes with the rids intended use and type.

Crankbait specific rod is rated differently then a jig & worm rod. A swimbait rod different then a spinnerbait rod...a bait casting=rod different then a spinning rod, etc...etc.

Medium Heavy is generally thought of a your typical bass rod until those were superseded by application specific rods.

Power at one time was the rods  “lifting” power before bottoming out. Fenwick was thec1st rod builder that I recall using number ratings for bass rods followed by Lamiglass.

1 # lifting power for each number 1 through 6.

This was followed by names starting with light through heavy.

1 = Light

2 = Medium light

3 = Medium

4 = Medium Heavy

5 = Heavy

6 = Extra Heavy

Today with dozens of bass rod builders all looking for marketing edge the objective power rating is subjective.

Tom

 

 

 

[Boomstick]

Simple: Medium heavy is a rod power that is stronger than medium and not as strong a heavy.

 

Now do you expect to be able to translate it into a practical application without mentioning a specific brand or even line of rods? Well I'm no rocket scientist so I'm out.

20 hours ago, Cigarguy said:

I rate my rods like my cigars and whisky (maybe women)....bad, good or gooder. 

I thought cigar ratings were Cuban, Equadoran, Dominican or Honduran?

[Deleted account]

5 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I thought cigar ratings were Cuban, Equadoran, Dominican or Honduran?

 

Arturo Fuente, Romeo, AND Julieta just all rolled  in their grave...

[CrankFate]

I was using a Tatula XT rod today. The label says “Medium Light” if I compare it to most rods in general, the label it should say “Medium Heavy.” It’s a nice medium heavy rod, but isn’t even close to medium light. So my answer to the question is, take these ratings with a grain of salt. 

[Glenn]

Like the clothing industry, there are no standards in the fishing industry.  For clothing, one brand's L is another's XL, and even if 2 brands are close in XL, one might have much longer sleeves than the other.  

 

Same thing with rods.

 

Each company has a different definition of rod ratings. However, like clothing, a MH, H, and Moderate rod will be within a reasonable ballpark as L, XL, and M shirts - and of course, there are the exceptions that blow all that out of the water.

 

So....it boils down to your personal preferences and what you consider to be MH.  Combine that with the reel seat placement, making the rod handle longer or shorter, which also changes the way the rod performs, and you end up with dozens of opinions on any given MH rod across multiple brands.

 

Neat, huh?

 

[Spankey]

The reason I hate to buy a rod untouched. Very rarely have I ever done this. Brand X and Brand Y most likely have even the slight feel differently. Plus if possible put the reel on it you are going to use. The deciding point most of the time.