Fast vs Extra Fast spinning rods

[padlin]

I had another thread about needing a new spinning rod, one of the suggestions is the Diawa Tatula XT. They make a 7’ ML fast with the same specs as their 7’1” ML extra fast. All my rods are F, mostly SC Premier’s, if I get the EF, which is available at Cabela’s and I can use gift certificates to get it, am I going to notice a difference? This is for small spinners and small T rigged plastics. A happy mix of distance and accuracy is the goal.

 

I do understand the differences, I’ve just never experienced an EF.

[TNBankFishing]

The power makes a significant difference as well. I have an extra fast g Loomis jwr and an extra fast st Croix drop shot rod. As you can imagine they are very different on the water. What are the weight ranges for the two sticks? 
 

 

[casts_by_fly]

For the same weight/power rating from the same maker you can expect that the extra fast is going to have a lighter tip but that transitions into the power quicker up the rod.  Think about it as where it flexes when you're casting and that a fast will flex 1 guide deeper down into the rod when casting compared to an extra fast (with the same lure, rod from the same maker, etc).  That's a rough guide.  Now its always possible that a maker will make a very different rod as their XF vs their F and that's when you need to ask about the specific rods themselves.

[padlin]

Both are 1/8-3/8 6-12 lb

 

Something is messed up here, American Legacy and Cabela’s shows a 7’ F and 7’1” EF as I mentioned. The 7’ bing out of stock.

Diawa shows both as F, as does Tackle Direct. They show a 7’3” as EF.

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I wouldn’t sweat the F/xF designation. For one, they’re subjective terms. Second, a 3” longer rod with matching lure range but faster action probably just has extra length on the butt. 

[softwateronly]

I saw this yesterday and tend to agree with his interpretation and don't think you need to sweat the ex fast action.  Maybe it will be useful...

 

scott

 

 

 

 

 

[Big Hands]

At one time I owned a Daiwa 7'2" M/XF spinning rod. I struggled to find a useful task for it to assume in my quiver. Looking back, it might have served as a larger jerkbait rod. . . . maybe. I ended up selling it. All the rest of my spinning rods are fast action (1 @ MH/F, 3 @ M/F, 1 @ ML/F, and 1 @ L/F).

 

Then, a few years back, I had been on a bit of a vision quest for an ultimate weightless Senko rod and had found a 7' Expride L/F rod that was better than the other half dozen rods (both spinning and casting) that had come round to audition for that role. But it only just a bit better than everything else I had tried. I decided to take one last shot with a 7'6" St. Croix ML/XF that was marketed as a "Hair Jig" rod and it was magic. The XF tip and ML power play very well together, and at 7'6" if I get a hook set, they're headed for the net.

 

In fact, it just occurred to me that I should name it "Lucille", after B.B. King's favorite guitar and Uncle Phil's favorite pool cue.