Rod action and power comparison

[Munkin]

So I see where people talk about action and power on here. I am wandering what you use as a standard? For me I use St. Croix as a standard.  They are consistent with their ratings. I do not even have to fish or handle one of their rods to know how it feels.  This is why overall they are my favorite rods in general. Kistler on the other hand are all over the place? 

 

Allen 

[Mike L]

Since there is no industry standard I look for and buy a rod that will fit my own criteria.

There maybe 3-4 different companies that I would consider and maybe 1 or 2 of thier model lines that may fit. 
 

I already know the length, action and power I’m considering before I start looking, then it’s just a matter of deciding on the reel seat, guides, warranty and finally price. 
 

With all the options available it can take time searching and sometimes not so much. 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

 

[Deleted account]

I just go by feel.

[jbrew73]

Falcon is my standard.    Their ratings are constant within the brand but considerately different than other brands.   

[casts_by_fly]

9 hours ago, jbrew73 said:

Falcon is my standard.    Their ratings are constant within the brand but considerately different than other brands.   

this is where I’ve settled also. I could pick out a falcon pretty well from their descriptions now. That said, I own a bunch of different ones so I’ve got most of it covered. 
 

there IS a standard but the major manufacturers don’t use it. Custom builders largely do though so if you want to compare two rods you can look up a lot of common cents data online. 

[dodgeguy]

I used bps top line rods for years . They were totally consistent and seemed right in the center of any other brands I tried. I am now switching to Dobyns and they are softer tipped with the power needing to go up one step.

[FishTank]

15 hours ago, Munkin said:

So I see where people talk about action and power on here. I am wandering what you use as a standard? For me I use St. Croix as a standard.  They are consistent with their ratings. I do not even have to fish or handle one of their rods to know how it feels.  This is why overall they are my favorite rods in general. Kistler on the other hand are all over the place? 

 

Allen 

 

I use to feel the same way about St. Croix. I would use the 7' MH Fast Avid as my bench mark for testing out a new reel. I knew exactly what to expect out of this rod and how it would fish with any given line or lure but as of late I think something at St. Croix has changed in their newer rods. 

 

I had a chance to fish a Victory 7'1'' MH fast and it seemed lighter (less powered) and a little softer than many of St. Croix's older versions. It felt more like something from G. Loomis's MBR line. After checking this one out, I turned around and purchased a 7'4'' Legend Tournament Power Cranker.  It too felt less powered and lighter. The old LT rods were stiff and heavy.  The new version feels totally different and not even close to the old version.  With that said, two things...... I really don't know what to think of St. Croix rods as a standard for power and feel anymore and what they have done to these two lines of rods isn't a bad thing, it's just different.  The LT Power Cranker I picked up is a pleasant surprise from the old. I can't put my finger on it but it just feels right for the task.  After they revamped this line of rods, I am curious as to what they will do the Legend Elite. 

[softwateronly]

Dobyns seems really consistent within all the price points in my experience.

 

scott

[dodgeguy]

16 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

Dobyns seems really consistent within all the price points in my experience.

 

scott

Totally but 1 power lighter.

[FishTank]

29 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Totally but 1 power lighter.

 

Just curious, what Dobyns rods have you purchased so far?  I have the 7' BFS Ultra Light and have been very pleased.  It's not the best made rod but it's just fun to fish and gets the job done.  For the money, I think it's a great value. Some of the Dobyns rods I have looked at have been OK but not exactly what I was looking for. I may have to look more closely.  The ones I have held in hand and I may have fished/tried a Champion some time ago, they seemed a little stiff and tips were either too soft or not soft enough (in terms of their jerkbait, crankbait, and jig/worm rods). 

 

I am surprised you didn't look at Ducket. They seem more closely related to the BPS line of rods you have mentioned.  

[dodgeguy]

48 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

Just curious, what Dobyns rods have you purchased so far?  I have the 7' BFS Ultra Light and have been very pleased.  It's not the best made rod but it's just fun to fish and gets the job done.  For the money, I think it's a great value. Some of the Dobyns rods I have looked at have been OK but not exactly what I was looking for. I may have to look more closely.  The ones I have held in hand and I may have fished/tried a Champion some time ago, they seemed a little stiff and tips were either too soft or not soft enough (in terms of their jerkbait, crankbait, and jig/worm rods). 

 

I am surprised you didn't look at Ducket. They seem more closely related to the BPS line of rods you have mentioned.  

I bought Dobyns because of the reputation and warranty. I also bought because of them being well balanced. They have cork handles which I like. I have 2 Sierra Series Micro guides one 7 ft and a 7-3. Both heavy action fast. They fish like mh from other brands I've owned.ive owned bps, gander mountain, 13 fishing, all star platinum,Shimano , Abu, Quantum tour series. The Dobyns are plenty sensitive with good hooksetting power even with the softer tips. They are light and well balanced at the same time. I hate Duckett rods. I hate white rods. 

[FishTank]

5 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

I bought Dobyns because of the reputation and warranty. I also bought because of them being well balanced. They have cork handles which I like. I have 2 Sierra Series Micro guides one 7 ft and a 7-3. Both heavy action fast. They fish like mh from other brands I've owned.ive owned bps, gander mountain, 13 fishing, all star platinum,Shimano , Abu, Quantum tour series. The Dobyns are plenty sensitive with good hooksetting power even with the softer tips. They are light and well balanced at the same time. I hate Duckett rods. I hate white rods. 

 

Same on the white rods. I have told this story here before but we believed when I was a kid that white rods summoned the bad luck lake omen.  I thought it was funny as a kid but I still till this day think they are bad luck. 

 

The Ultra Light BFS I have is a Sierra Series.  I don't know if my rod translates well to the regular bass Sierra line but I have hammered this rod and it's a tooth pick. In around 30 days and only a few trips I am over 120 fish with it. I haven't caught anything over 3lbs though but it has handled them all well.  The warranty was also a consideration when I bought this rod.  If I went JDM or even with a higher priced US rod that was BFS, the warranties were either nonexistent or they didn't seem to be as good as Dobyns. 

 

 

 

[T-Billy]

Used to be Abu. It's Ark these days. When I order one from any of their lines, I know exactly what to expect. Not that I'm brand loyal, I just found rods that I really like and think are a solid value with these companies. I look to Ark first and if I can't find what I want there, I look elsewhere. I just recieved a St Croix Avid X 6'8" M XF today. It's exactly what I was looking for. Perfect for shakeys, mojos etc. It's my first St Croix. Nice rod.

[Munkin]

23 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Used to be Abu. It's Ark these days. When I order one from any of their lines, I know exactly what to expect. Not that I'm brand loyal, I just found rods that I really like and think are a solid value with these companies. I look to Ark first and if I can't find what I want there, I look elsewhere. I just recieved a St Croix Avid X 6'8" M XF today. It's exactly what I was looking for. Perfect for shakeys, mojos etc. It's my first St Croix. Nice rod.

68MXF Avid is the best spinning rod I have ever owned.  I  have a blank in the basement to be built as a custom rod.

 

Allen 

[Boomstick]

St Croix is standard across most of their lines with a few exceptions. The Victory line deviates a bit from traditional St Croix power and action. I think there is another as well that runs on the slower side that is made for braid users as well.

 

Many other brands also employ a standard across their offerings. The downside is sometimes you order a rod and you might not be sure what you're getting, but on the plus side is if you want a rod with more or less tip and a certain power, it probably exists.

 

Dobyns is generally consistent across their lines with the Kaden being the odd line out (and to a lesser extent maybe the Sierra too) although they rate their rods a power above others. Daiwa is also pretty consistent. Newer Shimanos are pretty consistent as well, although older ones were all over the place.

 

If we are going to find a brand to be the standard though, perhaps it should be G Loomis. Their power and action has been copied by many.

[Boomstick]

On 6/25/2022 at 10:22 AM, FishTank said:

I had a chance to fish a Victory 7'1'' MH fast and it seemed lighter (less powered) and a little softer than many of St. Croix's older versions.

 The Victory 7'1" is medium heavy that runs on the lighter side, at least by St Croix standards. Even the heavier powered 7'3" MH/F isn't as stiff as the traditional St Croix MH.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 6/25/2022 at 10:22 AM, FishTank said:

 

I use to feel the same way about St. Croix. I would use the 7' MH Fast Avid as my bench mark for testing out a new reel. I knew exactly what to expect out of this rod and how it would fish with any given line or lure but as of late I think something at St. Croix has changed in their newer rods. 

 

I had a chance to fish a Victory 7'1'' MH fast and it seemed lighter (less powered) and a little softer than many of St. Croix's older versions. It felt more like something from G. Loomis's MBR line. After checking this one out, I turned around and purchased a 7'4'' Legend Tournament Power Cranker.  It too felt less powered and lighter. The old LT rods were stiff and heavy.  The new version feels totally different and not even close to the old version.  With that said, two things...... I really don't know what to think of St. Croix rods as a standard for power and feel anymore and what they have done to these two lines of rods isn't a bad thing, it's just different.  The LT Power Cranker I picked up is a pleasant surprise from the old. I can't put my finger on it but it just feels right for the task.  After they revamped this line of rods, I am curious as to what they will do the Legend Elite. 

Your right.  If you take a 7' M F premier made about 10 years ago its radically different then the premiers and avids of today.  The new rods have are rated to handle the same or slightly heavier weight they feel like they dropped nearly a whole power in some cases and become softer.  

Funny you say that about the Victorys feeling like older Loomis mag tapers.  That was my first impression of the 6'10 ML feeling like an old MagL, power wise anyway.

[Boomstick]

14 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Funny you say that about the Victorys feeling like older Loomis mag tapers.  That was my first impression of the 6'10 ML feeling like an old MagL, power wise anyway.

The Victory tapers and even many of the lengths were definitely inspired by GLoomis.

[dodgeguy]

Victory might be a good rod if it had quality guides instead of $90 rod aluminum oxide guides.It should have at least Fuji alconite.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

5 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

Victory might be a good rod if it had quality guides instead of $90 rod aluminum oxide guides.It should have at least Fuji alconite.

I dont think the Type Os are that bad at all.  They dont look great, but they're light and tough.  Labor in the US is more costly then China.  I'd rather have them save a few $ on the guides then the blank.

[dodgeguy]

IMHO there is no excuse at that price for aluminum oxide guides.