Do you go over.....?

[Friggs]

I did a search and did not find this topic. Sorry if I missed it.

 

Do you stick to the weight ratings on your rods? Or do you go over? If you do how much?

 

On my St Croix ML Triumph spinning rod rated at 1/2 oz. I would feel too comfortable going too far over.

 

On my Dobyns Fury and St Croix Mojo Bass rods rated at 1 oz, I have gone as far as 1 1/3 oz and the rods feel the same as casting 3/4 to 1 oz. Some rods you can feel it is stressing the rod. With these 2 it feels like it is within the rating.

 

I'd be interested to hear what you do or your thoughts on it.

 

Bill

[MN Fisher]

I'll go a bit over - but not much. My Fury 704C I'll go up to 1-1/4, but I won't go 'swinging for the fences' on a cast. If I'm casting something over the weight rating, it's an easy cast, not a hard swing.

[Jrob78]

Honestly I don't feel comfortable going to the weight limit on most rods. Not that the rods can't handle it or that they will break but it's usually above what fishes well. Once you get into heavier rods that isn't always the case but I try to stay in the middle of the weight range. I would never buy a rod rated to 1 oz to fish 1 oz baits or even 3/4 oz baits most likely. 

[Mbirdsley]

Usually I try to stay in the middle of the weight range.  Only 2 instances that I go at over the range.  1st being punching heavy jigs  in the 1 1/4-1 1/2.  I believe my Bass-x 7ft4 heavy rod is rated to 1 1/4 ( I’m not near the rod to check) I only throw 1 1/4-1 1/2 oz jigs on it punching heavy cover.  
 

2nd: cranks I don’t go over very often lot but, when in a pinch I’ll go a little heavier than what the rods rating is.  However, that’s more determined by a crank to crank basis between differnt mfg.  some cranks pull more than others 

[Bluebasser86]

3 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

Honestly I don't feel comfortable going to the weight limit on most rods. Not that the rods can't handle it or that they will break but it's usually above what fishes well. Once you get into heavier rods that isn't always the case but I try to stay in the middle of the weight range. I would never buy a rod rated to 1 oz to fish 1 oz baits or even 3/4 oz baits most likely. 

Agree with this. Most rods have a "sweet spot", somewhere in between what they're rated for, that they function best with. 

 

Not saying you can't, or that I never do, but I wouldn't buy a rod with the intention of fishing above what it's rated for regularly. 

[Columbia Craw]

If going over the mid range of the rating, you will labor the rod blank. I shy away from exerting

that much stress.  If you labor or tax the power of a rod with a snap cast, you risk blank failure.

[bulldog1935]

I buy my rods to fish in the bottom-third of their lure-weight rating.  

I have a couple of rods that are comfortable fishing in the top-third of their lure-weight range.  

I used this overlay rod load curves photo, identical lure-weight range in two rods, to show Eric the difference between progressive and para rod taper.  

The progressive rod is going to feel more comfortable pushing its max weight - the para rod will feel like the end of the world is coming at max weight.  

 

If your lure weight under-loads the rod, btw, you'll find your cast going off to the side in the direction of your rod swing - should be using a lighter rod.  

[Tatulatard]

Depends on the rod.  Some can't even handle their rated baits while others can easily exceed them.  

[Deleted account]

9 hours ago, Friggs said:

Do you go over.....?

 

I do. 

[Jig Man]

I have no idea.  I don’t even look at the ratings.  I just tie it on and throw it.  If the rod doesn’t handle it well, I use a different rod.

[Deleted account]

47 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I buy my rods to fish in the bottom-third of their lure-weight rating. 

The progressive rod is going to feel more comfortable pushing its max weight 

 

 

 

[Bankc]

I frequently go over.  In fact, I don't really even pay attention to the rod's ratings, as I don't often find them to be very accurate.  You can tell what a rod can handle by how it casts.  I'm not really worried about breaking a rod either.  I've only broken a rod once on a cast.  And that was with a lure that was well within its rating.  And it was a brand-new rod, so I chalked it up to a manufacturing defect, because an identical rod that I replaced it with has held up great for many years now, casting much heavier lures.  

 

Though I will point out that if I'm casting a lure that's far beyond my rod's weight rating, I'll switch from a snap-cast to more of a lob.  If you can feel that the rod isn't able to rebound on the cast due to the weight of the lure being too heavy, you'll get more distance with a lob than a snap-cast.  And that's how I fish 2oz. A-rigs and glide baits on my heavy rod that's only rated to 1.5oz.  And I've done snap-casts with those.  It can handle it, easily.  But it's more work on my end and about the same or even less distance.  

[bulldog1935]

Until I discovered new Japan glass for small water kayak rods, the very best glass bass rod I had ever fished was Falcon Classic (I come from Berkley TriSport and Fenglas Lunkerstik).

Narrow rated lure range of 1/4 to 1/2 oz gives away it's para taper.  Casting 1/8 to 3/8, it's a glory.  But at its rated 1/2 oz top end and, if you tried going beyond, it turns into a slinky.  @Bankc - no way to snap-cast this rod w/ heavy weight - you'll just be waving at yourself.  Otherwise, it loads deep, and casts a looong way.  Also good for snappy hook sets, because the flex isn't in the tip.  

[WIGuide]

Honestly I don't pay nearly as much attention to the ratings on my rods as what some people here do. I know what I can fish on each and you can feel it if you go over too much, just like you can feel if the bait is too light. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Lure weight ratings are just as subjective as power ratings. Nothing wrong with experimenting to decide for yourself what a rod will and won’t do well. A little common sense will keep you from any catastrophic failure. 

[TOXIC]

As has been said it totally depends on the rod.  Some will perform with the weight, others will not.  To me, there’s nothing worse than overpowering a rod.  It reminds me of a trip on St Clair where the wind was howling and even with drift socks we were moving at a pretty good pace.  In order to get tubes down on the bottom we had to go big with the tube weights.  If I remember correctly it was 1/2oz and up.  I am a finesse fisherman first and foremost so my rods were absolutely not cooperating and I couldn’t feel anything from bites to bottom.  I came up with a combo of a 5 inch Senko on a 1/4oz football head jig (hook exposed) that rocketed to the bottom and left me with plenty of rod to feel bites and set the hook. 

[Bankbeater]

I try to stay in the weight range.  If the rod feels like it can handle it I will go over a little, but usually not over 1/8 ounce or so.

[FishTank]

Every rod is different. I look at the ratings as just a guide line and try not to do anything stupid. 

[Tennessee Boy]

I don’t weigh a lure on a scale and check it against the rod rating before I tie it on so it’s possible that I have “gone over”.   After two or three cast I can tell if the rod does not feel right for a particular lure and I might change rods. I guess I’m a rebel because a don’t like to follow the commonly accepted rules of fishing.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

It depends on the power and action of the rod.  A light moderate rod isnt likely to be of any use when using baits over the suggested rating, as long as the ratings are accurate that is.  Just because a rod says it can handle a certain weight may not mean that its an ideal rod to use for that weight.  I have a couple older GL2s that are M MF, but really M+.  Their weight range is 3/8-1 3/8 or 1/2, which is far too heavy IMO.  The rod may be able to lob that weight without folding, but actually working walking bait or anything over 3/4 makes the rod feel 2 whole powers light.  

[casts_by_fly]

Falcon rate their rods pretty accurately for what feels good and I almost entirely fish falcons. I’m confident picking rods based on their lure ratings and what I plan to throw.  That’s said, I have no problem going over if the rod feels like it handles it. My amistad is rated to two ounces and I’ll throw a 3 oz a rig on it if I need to.  The 1/4-3/4 head turner get a 1 oz total bait weight vibrating jig all the time. Lure ratings are what the manufacturer thinks the rod is either best with, can work with!or will sell best as rated. 

[padlin]

Never gave it a thought till I started hanging out here. For the most part it’s just by feel and a little common sense.

[JediAmoeba]

For most techniques, yes. There are some exceptions to the rule though - I am known to fish swimbaits over the rods weight because I don't bomb them - for anything you are loading up to cast a mile, absolutely stay within the weight range.

[Darth-Baiter]

its a guideline for me.  it is so obvious when you are outside the range anyways.

 

i will push it, if i forgot a rod and the bass are hitting on a big swimbait.  all the time.  it hasnt broken a rod yet, but it does feel awkward as heck.  

[MickD]

The faster the action the wider the lure weight range, and I go over on my Xfast some.  Keep in mind that how you cast is important.  If you are overloading your rod, lob it, don't snap it.