“Soft Tip” Rods

[LrgmouthShad]

hey y’all,
 

A phrase I hear thrown around a lot is “soft tip” referring to rods. I believe I understand what the term means. I think it means that it takes very little pressure for the tip of the rod to begin bending. What I’m not so sure about this is how exactly people determine what a “soft tip” rod is. Is this simply something you gain an appreciation for over time, having tried several different rods and getting a feel for how each of them bend? Additionally, I hear a lot that a “soft tip” is desirable. On the flip side, I have hardly heard instances where the reverse is preferred. Are there situations where you prefer a “hard tip” per se? 
 

Hope y’all are well

[PressuredFishing]

Imho soft tip can be confusing and I interpret it how you do, parabolic action, medium to slow action, fiberglass rods, that sort of thing. I'm sure guys will disagree with me, so that is why I don't say "soft tip" and instead just go buy fast medium and slow action.

[cyclops2]

I found out that a TRUE soft tip is only good fo not ripping apart live baits.

Now I only use the STIFFIST tips and bodies available.

 If your 7 footer bends so much that it is only 1/2 the length ?  You are casting with a 3.5 foot rod.

[LrgmouthShad]

8 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

Imho soft tip can be confusing and I interpret it how you do, parabolic action, medium to slow action, fiberglass rods, that sort of thing

Well hold on, if I am understanding you right, we are not saying the same thing. "Soft tip" as I understand it means that it takes little pressure for the tip of the rod to begin bending regardless of the rod's action. Action, then, determines how far down the rod bends under a load. 

 

Hope I'm making sense here

[garroyo130]

Yeah, to me a soft tip has nothing to do with action. It's tip despite action ... if that makes sense. A stinger tip is a good example of a soft tip.

 

 

[Mat_ski]

It probably means different thing to different people. For me it means nothing. There is already 3 ways to classify rods, action, power and loading weight range.  Are we going to add tip hardness to the mix? 

[Peddiesake]

This is what I use to deliver 1/2 oz way out there. Nice rod for $100

Lews TP1X Speed Stick HM40 Spin Rod 7' Medium
Taper	Line Wt.	Lure Wt.	Guides	Handle Type	Handle Length	Stock	Price	Qty
Moderate Fast	6-15lb	1/4-5/8oz	7+Tip	TP1X HM40 Spin A	14"	Feb. 23	$99.9

[newapti5]

From what I heard or observed, "soft tip" is usually associated with MH or H rods. You don't hear people talk about a ML rod with a soft tip. There's really no clear definition for what "soft tip" means, but I think people keep mentioning it and desiring it because you need a soft tip to 1. cast further; 2. cast more accurately; 3. properly set the hook; 4. keep the hooked fish pinned. 

 

For me, a broomstick with no soft tip is mostly for, like you said, flipping and pitching, when no casting is required and you're winching the fish back to the boat with force. 

[GReb]

A broomstick belongs in the trash, IMO

[PressuredFishing]

11 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

There's really no clear definition for what "soft tip" means,

Exactly, a word without a standard is not a word at all its just a disgruntled noise associated with something. 

[Mat_ski]

6 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

Exactly, a word without a standard is not a word at all its just a disgruntled noise associated with something. 

Lol, a buzzword from gear reviewers and social media influencers 

[jimanchower]

The best example of a "soft tip" that I have in my arsenal is a St Croix Bass-X 7'1" MF. It feels so whippy in the tip section but is still somewhat of a fast action. I use it for 1/2" poppers along with some other topwater and it is a ton of fun. Last spring I fished it on 12# mono and between that and the soft tip I felt like a hero landing 3 pounders.

[softwateronly]

Language is limited, this is the price we pay for not being mind readers.  Yes there is no clear definition of soft tip, but action, power, rating are inadequate at expressing the feeling.  Soft tip to me is how little force it takes to get the tip active, not how far down the rod bends before the backbone.

 

scott

[LrgmouthShad]

25 minutes ago, jimanchower said:

The best example of a "soft tip" that I have in my arsenal is a St Croix Bass-X 7'1" MF. It feels so whippy in the tip section but is still somewhat of a fast action.

In other words, you feel it has this "soft tip" based on experience you have with your rod and in comparing it with other rods you have used. Am I right here? 

 

That's kind of what I was getting at with asking how you determine whether a rod has a "soft tip." It's just a feeling you get? 

 

Would I also be right in saying that generally, most rods nowadays with say a fast action come with a soft tip because it is generally more desired?

 

Edit: Removed a comment about price to avoid a rabbit hole

[Deleted account]

9 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Language is limited

 

Yes, but I blame public schools for that. Who else has a 1/6 in Wordle?

[MickD]

11 hours ago, Mat_ski said:

3 ways to classify rods, action, power and loading weight range.  Are we going to add tip hardness to the mix?

I submit  that "loading weight range" is simply another measure of power, leaving action and power as at least the primary two classification parameters.  But rod length and weight have to get into it too.

 

"Soft tip" is actually a measure of power, in my opinion.  As stated, you can have the same "softness" of the tip in both fast and slow action rods.  It is interesting, but not universally understood that if you have two rods with the same power the faster the action the softer the tip.  

 

The capability of a rod to do specific things well depends on the proper mix of power, action, weight, and length.  Then there is material. . . which leads to true natural frequency. . . This could go on and on, well beyond intent of this string of posts. 

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

Soft tip" is actually a measure of power, in my opinion.  As stated, you can have the same "softness" of the tip in both fast and slow action rods.  It is interesting, but not universally understood that if you have two rods with the same power the faster the action the softer the tip.  

Thank you for your response. I have some more questions now if ya wouldn’t mind me asking. You say that “soft tip” is a measure of power, but later go on to say that with two rods with the same power, the faster action rod has a softer tip. So this tells me tip softness is a function of action, but how, then, is tip softness a function of power?

[new2BC4bass]

2 hours ago, Deleted account said:

 

Yes, but I blame public schools for that. Who else has a 1/6 in Wordle?

First time I've ever heard of 'Wordle'.  Not sure if I should thank you or cuss you. 

[Deleted account]

With out getting technical, the distribution of flex of any rod along it's length as a force is applied to it is a function of all it's physical characteristics (and a couple of other things), including both power and action.

 

[cyclops2]

Let me add in my fish conditions I TROLL a lot Clear water.   80 to 150 ' of 6# braid laid out. I do not want ANY SOFTNESS / GIVE  anywhere in the setup.The boats trolling speed is high. So most fish are partially hooked. I DO HOLD THE ROD. I just add a lot more hook dig in tension. I Reel them in while still trolling. Just like the big saltwater boats do.

[LrgmouthShad]

9 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

With out getting technical

Can you get technical? If it is a long subject, if you're willing to PM about it, that works too. Just looking to learn more about this subject and rods in general. 

[cyclops2]

Lrgmouth............ Too funny about being technical about the technics of a rod.    ?

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Can you get technical? If it is a long subject, if you're willing to PM about it, that works too. Just looking to learn more about this subject and rods in general. 

 

Yes, it's a lot, but one can make it as simple or as complicated as desired. I have to lube my reels, even for Daiwas they are making noises they aren't supposed to, and I want to get a couple of hours in today, I think some of the ice will melt in a couple of hours. 

[LrgmouthShad]

26 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

I want to get a couple of hours in today, I think some of the ice will melt in a couple of hours

Good luck man ?

[MickD]

4 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Thank you for your response. I have some more questions now if ya wouldn’t mind me asking. You say that “soft tip” is a measure of power, but later go on to say that with two rods with the same power, the faster action rod has a softer tip. So this tells me tip softness is a function of action, but how, then, is tip softness a function of power?

Since the two rods have the same power, (  same deflection at same load ) and the faster action one is bending less in the lower section it has to have a less powerful (softer) tip to have the same total deflection.  Give it some thinking time and it will make sense. Some extra fast action rods with considerable power have almost floppy tips.. Are you familiar with "hotshot" rods?

 

Action by definition is where the rod initially bends. Xfast near the tip, Fast a little farther down etc.  Too bad  aong time ago someone decided to describe a static characteristic in terms normally used to describe relative speed.  I'm told it came from describing cane rods, "fast" tapers vs slow tapers.  With the fast bending initially nearer the tip.