“Soft Tip” Rods

[kingmotorboat]

Dobyns champion 735c is the softest tip stoutest backbone rod I’ve ever used. It’s absolutely insane

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Action is where the rod INITIALLY bends as load is applied. Any rod will bend into the handle is enough force is applied. How easily the rod bends is Power.  Lure Weight Range is a function of power. One misconception is that a slower action equals a softer tip. A softer (less powerful) blank with a slower action often work well in conjunction but they are not mutually exclusive. Soft is another subjective term we use. Soft tip can be a mod fast popping/live bait rod or an extra fast drop shot rod that loads easily but rapidly gets into a powerful butt section. 

[cyclops2]

Mine is always stiff. No bending when a load is applied. It casts the farthest.

 

Benders were always referred to as " Live bait rods. "70 + years ago.

[ironbjorn]

My idea of a soft tip is the Dobyns rods tip. I prefer them in all things.

[LrgmouthShad]

13 hours ago, Deleted account said:

Who else has a 1/6 in Wordle

I just did the wordle. No way in heck that is a word, man. Got it on the last try

[Deleted account]

14 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I just did the wordle. No way in heck that is a word, man. Got it on the last try

Don't get to Home Depot much?...  

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, Deleted account said:

Don't get to Home Depot much?...  

No, I don't, lol. I can see it in my future, though.

 

Gosh dang wordle.

[Deleted account]

36 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

No, I don't, lol. I can see it in my future, though.

 

Gosh dang wordle.

It's actually helpful for fishing. I've always thought of fishing like a puzzle.

What you know is is a clue, what you know is'nt is a clue, together they are more than 2 clues...

[LrgmouthShad]

2 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

It's actually helpful for fishing. I've always thought of fishing like a puzzle.

What you know is is a clue, what you know is'nt is a clue, together they are more than 2 clues...

Yeah, you're right.

 

The common theme is I ain't got a clue

[cyclops2]

Fishing can be like a pleasant puzzle.

 

 

 

With missing parts.

[Deleted account]

8 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Yeah, you're right.

 

The common theme is I ain't got a clue

LOL. 

What I would suggest is to do the fishing equivalent of coming up with 3 words using each of the vowels once along with 10 of the most popular consonants, enter those and you will have a bite on your 4th cast 95%+ of the time...  

[islandbass]

I guess you can say that I too have had my idea of what a soft tip is but as already mentioned, without a having a consistent definition for these terms, clarity is not possible. There probably is not even an industry standard, lol on these terms. 
 

I sure hope some of our rod makers here could give us their 2 cents. 
 

As for me personally, I have perceived in my mind’s eye that a soft tip is in essence a “slower” (but not really by much) action independent of a rod’s power. 
 

Here is my reasoning. Let’s say we have two rods the same length and power, say MH for argument sake. 
 

Let’s designate rod #1 as an MH powered rod was a fast action — this will probably lend itself to be better at driving that single point hook of a jig or t-rig with no problem. That same rod might force an angler to make an adjustment to the hook set if he was setting the hook on a lure like a crank bait or hard jerkbait because that same hook set he used to drive the single hook home just might rip the lure away from the fish (speaking from experience on this case, lol). 
 

Things would be vice versa for the MH rod with the “softer” tip. That slightly slower action should help in lessening the probability of the angler ripping the lure away on a treble hook lure. 
 

I have observed this with fast action rods when using treble lures. Sometimes I had to “wait” a wee bit so that they really have it in their mouths or I rip it away from them. 
 

I have enjoyed reading all the post here on this topic. 

Edited February 17, 2022 by islandbass
Typos

[Bankc]

I've got a few rods that I would say have a "soft tip".  I think it really matters more for heavier and faster rods.  For lighter and slower rods, a soft tip can make setting the hook more difficult.  But on a heavy and fast rod, the soft tip can make casting easier.  But as with anything, it depends.  If you're fishing heavy lures for big, heavy fish, then you may not want such a soft tip, as you'll likely overpower it.  So things like trolling, catfishing, or trying to catch big bass on a ML rod, you'll likely not want a soft tip.  

[cyclops2]

I have no more use for soft tips except on the perch rods with 2 or 4# test leaders.    Almost all my bass fishing is from a boat stopped or fast trolling. Rarely do I do a sundown casting from the docks.

[EWREX]

with how well fishing line has been developed over the years, i truly don't think broomsticks are needed anymore.

[MickD]

19 hours ago, islandbass said:

slower”

What does slower mean?

On 2/15/2022 at 7:23 PM, LrgmouthShad said:

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.t

Exactly!  Which means that it is about power, not action.  And it is a subjective term, has no actual measurement, so it can mean anything to anybody, accurate to them in their terms.  It just so happens that X-fast action rods have tips that many describe as "soft" because the rest of the rod is anything but "soft."  Those really interested in describing rods accurately and objectively should read about and start measuring CCS.  https://www.common-cents.info/

[WRB]

The term extra fast is the close way to define soft tip but still subjective.

Think of a rigid 6’ broom stick with a foot long rod tip. The foot long rod tip is flexible whereas the broom stick isn’t.   

The rod tip is far more flexible compared to rest of the rod is considered “soft tip”. 

Tom

[islandbass]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

What does slower mean?

Exactly!  Which means that it is about power, not action.  And it is a subjective term, has no actual measurement, so it can mean anything to anybody, accurate to them in their terms.  It just so happens that X-fast action rods have tips that many describe as "soft" because the rest of the rod is anything but "soft."  Those really interested in describing rods accurately and objectively should read about and start measuring CCS.  https://www.common-cents.info/

@MickD-Thanks for asking. However, after reading the post you quoted in your post, it made what I thought of as slower moot. 
 

I did perceive slower action to mean that the point where the rod loads is farther from the tip than where it is on a rod with a faster action. But like I said, it be moot now! ?

[RDB]

Personally I don’t equate tip softness with action.  You often hear anglers say they want a rod with a little tip for certain things (I.e. skipping).  They are essentially saying they want a little softness in the tip.  Have you seen those anglers fighting a fish and 80% of the rod is barely flexing and the remaining 20% is bent at a 45 degree angle at the tip.  That rod likely has a softer tip than normal.  I have rods from different companies that have identical power/action and while they both deflect at the same point (action), the amount of flex above the deflection point is quite different.  To me, this is something that has to be felt because while there is a rough standard for power & action, I don’t see how you could have one for softness.  Not saying my interpretation is correct but that’s how I view tip softness.

 

TLDR:  Personally I view tip softness as what happens past the rods action.  Action is basically the deflection point.  Softness is how the rod responds beyond the deflection point.  Different lines of XF, F, MH rods have tips that can behave very differently.

[MickD]

42 minutes ago, RDB said:

Personally I don’t equate tip softness with action.  You often hear anglers say they want a rod with a little tip for certain things (I.e. skipping).  They are essentially saying they want a little softness in the tip.  Have you seen those anglers fighting a fish and 80% of the rod is barely flexing and the remaining 20% is bent at a 45 degree angle at the tip.  That rod likely has a softer tip than normal.  I have rods from different companies that have identical power/action and while they both deflect at the same point (action), the amount of flex above the deflection point is quite different.  To me, this is something that has to be felt because while there is a rough standard for power & action, I don’t see how you could have one for softness.  Not saying my interpretation is correct but that’s how I view tip softness.

 

TLDR:  Personally I view tip softness as what happens past the rods action.  Action is basically the deflection point.  Softness is how the rod responds beyond the deflection point.  Different lines of XF, F, MH rods have tips that can behave very differentl

How do you determine that they have identical power and action?

[WRB]

Each rod maker that offers several rod models the power to action rating differ. For this reason rods are marketed to specific applications in lieu of power and action.

Trail and error, one mfr model MHXF is another’s MF etc, etc.

It was noted that Dobyns Rods tend to be 1/2 power lower with softer tips compared to some other rods, yet the Kaden series is truer to power and action. Total subjective evaluations. If a standard CSS system was agreed to rod development could be handcuffed, something positive to say about individual touch and feel evaluations.

Tom

[RDB]

4 hours ago, MickD said:

How do you determine that they have identical power and action?

I should say they had the identical LISTED power and action which is provided by the manufacturer.  Action is basically where the rod bends when pressure is applied.  That doesn’t mean the degree of bend will be uniform for every rod. 
 

In the picture I have 2 H/F rods (1 Loomis NRX+ & 1 Steez Bottom Contact).  You can see the NRX+ hangs below the Steez when I balance above the deflection point.  If I move my finger up to the deflection point, they would hang almost identical.  The NRX has a softer tip (i.e. more tip) than the Steez.  Yet they are both H/F jig rods.

 

 

 

[Bdnoble84]

i absolutely love these threads and seeing the rabbit holes we go down. I am a notorious rabbit hole explorer nyself. ?
 

 

 

 

 

 

[MickD]

They are both called H/F, but that is simply how the manufacturer describes them in subjective terms.  If you really want to know how these rods compare do CCS numbers on them.  It is not difficult and when you do it you really gain insight into the rod characteristics.  

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, Bdnoble84 said:

i absolutely love these threads and seeing the rabbit holes we go down.

Then tune back in! By page 3 we'll be debating the nuances of gutter cleaning.