Rod Power In Casting VS Spinning

[LakeWinni]

Is a medium power rod the same in casting vs spinning? I ask because I am looking at the same rod, casting version is offered in medium heavy and heavy. But the spinning version is light, med light, and medium. I know people like spinning for lighter techniques but are there other reasons why casting rods are mostly offered in heavier powers and spinning in lighter?

[MN Fisher]

Not identical, but close enough to not really matter. One thing to note with spinning rods is that the tip is sometimes softer. Some Fast action spinning rods would be considered a Moderate-Fast as a  casting rod.

 

You can find heavier power rods for spinning. I have an Okuma Reflexions MH/F spinning..rated to 1.25oz lures...and Dobyns has 4 and 5 power spinning rods in some of their lines.

[jimmyjoe]

  Rod manufacturers make what sells. For freshwater, fishermen don't seem to like spinning reels and line to throw 3/4 - 2+ oz. lures. They like casting setups to do that. So the manufacturers give them what they want, and what they'll buy.

   OTOH, look at saltwater gear. Saltwater spinning reels can throw a table lamp and tow a boat. That's what saltwater fishermen want, so that's what the manufacturers make. 

    It all balances out.   ?         jj

[Deleted account]

28 minutes ago, LakeWinni said:

Is a medium power rod the same in casting vs spinning?  

LMAO. A medium power rod is not even the same between casting vs casting....

[Fishes in trees]

I don't know - I think the correct answer is maybe yes - maybe no.   I have a several years old Fenwick HMG Spinning rod 7" MH / ex fast tip.   I don't use it often, but when I was fishing as a co-angler once a month, I found it helpful to throw 3/8 & 1/2 oz jigs.   I used to have the exact same rod in the bait casting format - but it broke (operator error).   So I think some companies, from time to time, might use the same blank in a spinning and bait casting configuration.  I don't think it is common, mostly for the reasons listed previously.  I got both rods in the same tackle shop, in Clinton, MO - one year apart.

[ironbjorn]

I've found that spinning rods with identical power ratings to their casting alternative are always a little weaker. If you like the way a M powered casting rod feels and you want the spinning rod counterpart, go with MH in the spinning, etc etc.

[huZZah]

10 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

I've found that spinning rods with identical power ratings to their casting alternative are always a little weaker. If you like the way a M powered casting rod feels and you want the spinning rod counterpart, go with MH in the spinning, etc etc.

Same, and I think it’s also cause of how the spinning rods pull down from the eyes and not through the rod. 

[T2DM]

Same here, It feels like my Zodias 7' MH Spinning rod is equal to my Zodias 6'10" Medium casting rod.

[ATA]

The only rod I have that they are exactly same power is my two conquest 842, I have casting and spinning. so when I bend them, they are identical about where they bend. also in fishing I didn't feel they are not the same. Only thing between them is the fact is one casting and the other spinning. but still I am going to do another side to side test with hanging 4oz weight and see how they both react and ill share it here.

[Boomstick]

Most spinning rods run a little lighter. Most medium heavy spinning rods are similar to medium casting rods that run on the heavier side.

 

 

Sometimes it doesn't really matter, and other times you may want to go a power heavier.

[LCG]

I have two medium power rods,one spinning and one casting. The casting has more power than the spinning. 

[MickD]

I agree with those who argue that the answer is "maybe."  With the specs being mostly subjective one cannot be sure that the power will be the same between two blanks offered by the same manufacturer, both spin.  Different series within the offerings of a maker may have different powers.

 

Interestingly a few years ago Point Blank introduced their line of blanks and they simply have the one line, no cast/no spin, just blanks of different lengths, powers, and actions.  AND they publish objective power and action numbers, CCS and their own RDA system.  After one gets used to either system he just builds with the blank that best matches his length/power/action requirements.

 

If one just has subjective descriptions I think the best indicator of power is the lure weight recommendation.  It indicates pretty well the weight range that will cast comfortably, loading the rod correctly without overpowering it.  But without the CCS or RDA, it's a crap shoot.

[WRB]

Z2As Mike said the industry uses very subjective rod rating methods, no real standard. 

When application specific rods came the rod builders stared making changes to how we think of power and action. 20 years of rod making competition has blurred the concept of bass rods power and action to the point the angler should go back to the basics and touch and feel the rod to determine if it feels right to you.

Spinning Rods are using cast differently then bait casting rod.

A quick snap cast is common with spinning rods just loading up the upper 1/3 of the rod. Try a snap cast with bait casting and it doesn’t well. Bait casting rod load up slower using more of the rod blank. This comes down to action more then power.

With a wide verity of application specific rods I am sure both spinning and casting rods utilize the same blank for different applications.

The guide trains are very different between spinning and casting and affect how a rod performs.

Tom

 

 

[MickD]

I respectively submit that a blank's optimum guide spacing will be no or little  different between cast and spin.  The location of all but possibly the first guide will optimally be determined by the reaction of the blank to a load, and that doesn't change cast vs spin.  Even the Fuji software which locates the reduction train on spin is so far down the blank that it's line control that governs location, but it isn't that different from a two line stress test.  For a 9 guide 7' 3" rod at least 6 of the guides will be in the same location regardless of spin or cast, and other three won't be that far different.