Medium Heavy moderate vs Medium moderate rods, when to?

[PTasker15]

I use mostly squarebills and bladed jigs, so I would assume a medium? I know alot of people who also use squarebills with a medium heavy? When would I use one and when the other if both have weight ranges that fit bladed jigs and crankbaits?

[Pogues2300]

You will get many follow up questions…if those were my two choices I’d probably go mh.. that being said it won’t cast a 1.5 square bill very well. Also the medium would lean more towards the square bill because it will have more give. Some people like very parabolic action for chatterbaits though I’m just not one of them

[J Francho]

I use a fast rod for for square bills and an XF for chatterbaits. Depending on cover or bait size I pick M or MH. 

[PTasker15]

4 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I use a fast rod for for square bills and an XF for chatterbaits. Depending on cover or bait size I pick M or MH. 

assuming mono? I want to use fluoro and was told by a few people to get a moderate action rod so I can load up with the trebles and load up on the big jig hook.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

In your scenario, and assuming the blanks are made by the same company......you should focus your attention to the mid section of these rods when understanding your question.

 

You want a pure medium for any CB in theory because you want the mid section specifically to give when hooked up on a treble hooked fish.  

 

On the other hand, you want the added "medium heavy" in the mid section of a rod that is used for a single hooked bait with rather large diameter hook that most bladed jigs come with.......hints you need a little delay in the tip, but you need that mid section stiff horsepower pretty quickly to drive the single hook home.    

 

So you want the pure medium for Cranks

 

You want the medium heavy with stiffer mid section for single hooked moving baits like a bladed jig.

 

Rod jargon and terms are very nuanced....one man's medium, is another's medium heavy, but for the most part what I said above will hold true when comparing rods from the same mfg.  

[PTasker15]

56 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

In your scenario, and assuming the blanks are made by the same company......you should focus your attention to the mid section of these rods when understanding your question.

 

You want a pure medium for any CB in theory because you want the mid section specifically to give when hooked up on a treble hooked fish.  

 

On the other hand, you want the added "medium heavy" in the mid section of a rod that is used for a single hooked bait with rather large diameter hook that most bladed jigs come with.......hints you need a little delay in the tip, but you need that mid section stiff horsepower pretty quickly to drive the single hook home.    

 

So you want the pure medium for Cranks

 

You want the medium heavy with stiffer mid section for single hooked moving baits like a bladed jig.

 

Rod jargon and terms are very nuanced....one man's medium, is another's medium heavy, but for the most part what I said above will hold true when comparing rods from the same mfg.  

I'd love to be able to test but the only fishing shops in our town is Wal-Mart and Academy, both of which have no moderate action rods in stock, and the closest bass pro, dicks, or any other retailer of higher quality rods to me is about 2 hours away. I'm pretty much stuck with online orders.

1 minute ago, PTasker15 said:

I'd love to be able to test but the only fishing shops in our town is Wal-Mart and Academy, both of which have no moderate action rods in stock, and the closest bass pro, dicks, or any other retailer of higher quality rods to me is about 2 hours away. I'm pretty much stuck with online orders.

Might I find better luck by going in the middle by using a Medium/ Mod. Fast? My chatterbaits are 3/8oz and I can find Medium rods rated up to 5/8oz.

6 minutes ago, PTasker15 said:

I'd love to be able to test but the only fishing shops in our town is Wal-Mart and Academy, both of which have no moderate action rods in stock, and the closest bass pro, dicks, or any other retailer of higher quality rods to me is about 2 hours away. I'm pretty much stuck with online orders.

Might I find better luck by going in the middle by using a Medium/ Mod. Fast? My chatterbaits are 3/8oz and I can find Medium rods rated up to 5/8oz.

oh yeah, and lastly forgot to mention I throw alot of lipless, mostly 1/2oz. My squarebills are usually 3/8 but I spill into 1/2 and 5/8 sometimes. and as said, my chaterbaits are between either 3/8 and 1/2. At that rate, I'm still thinking a Medium Heavy Moderate rated for something like 1/4-5/8 might still be able to toss a squarebill a half decent distance and handle it well, but also handle a bladed jig and 1/2oz lipless?

[casts_by_fly]

All of what you’re talking are pure preference. For what you described, I’d be in the mh/mf range. It will do all of it. The specific rod/brand makes a difference so you’ll have to find your preference vs the brand you pick. 
 

if you have an academy, check out the falcon bucoo sr series. They usually have a few around. The 7’ medium is their lighter cranking rod. It’s called the Mansfield. It’s a little light for single hooks for me. It would be fine for smaller square bills and up to a dt6 or so. Bumping up to the 5 powers in the falcon lineup you get a lot more power in the blank. That’s a medium heavy. They normally have the 6’8” spinner bait rod and maybe the 7’ trap caster. I have the bucoo trap caster and it would be a good choice for what you’re saying.  

[AlabamaSpothunter]

30 minutes ago, PTasker15 said:

I'd love to be able to test but the only fishing shops in our town is Wal-Mart and Academy, both of which have no moderate action rods in stock, and the closest bass pro, dicks, or any other retailer of higher quality rods to me is about 2 hours away. I'm pretty much stuck with online orders.

Might I find better luck by going in the middle by using a Medium/ Mod. Fast? My chatterbaits are 3/8oz and I can find Medium rods rated up to 5/8oz.

oh yeah, and lastly forgot to mention I throw alot of lipless, mostly 1/2oz. My squarebills are usually 3/8 but I spill into 1/2 and 5/8 sometimes. and as said, my chaterbaits are between either 3/8 and 1/2. At that rate, I'm still thinking a Medium Heavy Moderate rated for something like 1/4-5/8 might still be able to toss a squarebill a half decent distance and handle it well, but also handle a bladed jig and 1/2oz lipless?

Check out the Alpha Angler Chatterbound.....best overall moving bait I've used.   Works great for all those things you listed sans really small CBs.   Most folks throw those on spinning or BFS anyways.  

[WRB]

It takes power to set a heavy wire jig hook, too much power and you tear out thinner wire treble hooks. Heavy lures cast better on higher power rods. Moderate action rods are more forgiving when casting. 

Make your decision on the lure weight and hook wire size.

Tom

[Jrob78]

What you describe is 2 different rods for me. I use a Med Mod glass rod for squarebills and Hvy Mod glass rod for chatterbaits. I wouldn't throw chatterbaits on the med and I wouldn't throw 1.5's on the heavy. The Heavy is also good for 1/2 oz+ lipless baits.

 

If I had to do all of that on one rod, I would go for a MH MF graphite rod. What I like in a square bill rod and what I like in a chatterbait rod are definitely 2 different things though.

 

All that said, it's personal preference and I'm sure you can find a rod that will work for both, it just might not be perfect for everything.

[Cbump]

I would never use a medium with a Chatterbait. 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Cbump said:

I would never use a medium with a Chatterbait. 

Unless it's a 1/4oz Mini

 

3/8oz and over...MH definitely...and a Mod-Fast, not a Mod

 

Gotta remember that the weight printed is JUST for the head...now add the weight of the hook, skirt and blade...and don't forget the trailer.

[GReb]

MH MF for squarebills. H MF for chatterbaits. 

[Ryanralston07]

Personally, I'd find a rod manufacturer you like and call them, tell them what you want, and see what they recommend, and get specific about what line you'll be using and how you like to set the hook. For instance, if you set the hook like you want to give the fish whiplash and you want to run braided line, then a softer power and slower action may be better so the rod can absorb some of that force. However, if you have more of a sweeping hookset motion like with cranking and you're running fluorocarbon, you could go with a medium heavy and faster action like a mod-fast or fast. 

 

For me, I plan on running fluorocarbon or braid to fluorocarbon leader, and I have a naturally quick and hard hookset, so I'm leaning towards a mh/m graphite rod, since I'm not a fan of glass rods.

 

Chatterbait rods are some of the most debated and unique rods per people's preferences, so even if the manufacturer tells you what they think will work, you may need to try it out yourself and decide what you like. 

[J Francho]

5 hours ago, PTasker15 said:

assuming mono? I want to use fluoro and was told by a few people to get a moderate action rod so I can load up with the trebles and load up on the big jig hook.

I use fluoro or braid. Load has nothing to do with it. A moderate taper has too much flex for those baits and you'll lose fish. Might feel better throwing them, but doesn't work when working them through the cover they're designed for. Moderate rods are great for diving cranks and rocks, where deflection off the bottom is key. That isn't what this post is about. They're also terrible at driving a jig hook home in anything less than a heavy power. An XF gets into the power section way quicker to set that big hook.  For square bills, a bit slower than that, but still fast allows you to react to the cover you should be fishing - stumps, docks, laydowns. You can kill the bait quicker with a fast rod when you make contact without sacrificing the wobble. Two baits, two techniques, two different rods. 

[ChrisD46]

10 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

You will get many follow up questions…if those were my two choices I’d probably go mh.. that being said it won’t cast a 1.5 square bill very well. Also the medium would lean more towards the square bill because it will have more give. Some people like very parabolic action for chatterbaits though I’m just not one of them

Medium / Moderate rod plus #30 lb. Braid main line and a mono leader should work for both .

[PTasker15]

11 hours ago, Ryanralston07 said:

Personally, I'd find a rod manufacturer you like and call them, tell them what you want, and see what they recommend, and get specific about what line you'll be using and how you like to set the hook. For instance, if you set the hook like you want to give the fish whiplash and you want to run braided line, then a softer power and slower action may be better so the rod can absorb some of that force. However, if you have more of a sweeping hookset motion like with cranking and you're running fluorocarbon, you could go with a medium heavy and faster action like a mod-fast or fast. 

 

For me, I plan on running fluorocarbon or braid to fluorocarbon leader, and I have a naturally quick and hard hookset, so I'm leaning towards a mh/m graphite rod, since I'm not a fan of glass rods.

 

Chatterbait rods are some of the most debated and unique rods per people's preferences, so even if the manufacturer tells you what they think will work, you may need to try it out yourself and decide what you like. 

well now that I have a clear mind and some sleep, I have no idea why I wanted to throw chatters on the same thing as cranks. I don't know what I was thinking lol. Maybe I should try not asking questions on here while sleep deprived.

 

Ill just move my question to just squarebills and lipless. My issue is that when I look at MH cranking rods, they are often rated for things like 1/2-1oz and 12-20lb or 15-30lb test. I wanted to use 10lb fluoro with again, 3/8-1/2 oz lures. I'm on tackle warehouse right now and the 2 closest rod s(in my budget) I have found is the Lew's Perfect Crankbait Series which has one that is 7 foot, Medium Power, Moderate action (closer to Mod. Fast when I've seen people use this rod) that is rated for 3/8oz to 1oz lures and 10-25lb test. There is also one that us 6 foot 8, "Medium Heavy", Moderate, but is rated for 1/4-3/4oz and asks for 15-30lb test. I'm thinking I ought to run with the 7' Medium/Mod.? Again I never throw over a 1/2oz as I have found ponds don't really leave me needing medium or deep divers.

[msgf91]

If you're looking for a good chatterbait and square bill rod from academy you could check out the dobyns colt 734. It's rated on the stick as fast but it's slower. I just watched a video by a pro staff guy talking about the different 734c rods. The colt has a little bit of fiberglass in it so it has a slower action. Not the crank bait model, but the regular 734c. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I experimented today with throwing a chatter bait on a Med mod fast cranking rod and it threw the bait as previously suggested it would. Hooksets were sluggish and it was difficult getting the traction needed to get the wobble started. I’d throw your chatter baits on a scale. A 3/8 plus blade, skirt and trailer you could be pushing 3/4. 

[ooga0341]

I use a 7'3" MH Kistler Feel N Reel for both of those.