New Rod vs lure weights question

[Bosoxfan1598]

So I have been a filthy casual at fishing for the majority of my life. Picked up a pole at 4 and ran with it for nearly 30 years. Last year I got more into bass fishing in particular and picked up a Dobyns 7’ ML spinning rod with a tatula 2500 reel. Did a lot of finesse presentations like fluke, Ned’s, wacky rig and Texas rig senkos. Even threw some poop baits and picked up a micro buzz and some other top water lures. This year I wanted to step up my game and picked up an Orochi tour versatile7’ MH and a Curado dc 151 to by my introductory casting rig. I’m interested in picking up some 6” magdrafts. They are an ounce. My rod is rated up to an ounce. I’m not used to the medium heavy rod and I’m worried about throwing something at the top end of the rods rating out of fear I’ll snap the rod. Looking to throw a bunch of new presentations on the caster this year. Frogs like kaeras and gavachos, swim baits, creature baits etc. should I stay lighter than the one ounce? Sorry this is a beginner question. Bass fishing has become my favorite hobby. I just don’t want to break the shiny new toy. Any presentation ideas are welcome. Rod is supposed to be pretty well rounded so I’m trying a bunch of new things and if I fall in love with a technique I’ll probably buy a Rod that is technique specific.

[FrnkNsteen]

I personally try to keep my lure weights in the middle ground sweet spot for a rods rating and try not to push the edges.

 

I would definitely imagine rod manufacturers would have a safety factor in their rod ratings in an effort to avoid risk of breaking rods. 

 

My suggestion would be to work your way up to it and see how the rod likes it. Start with a 3/4oz jig and see how it does. Then add a soft plastic to that as you work up to that 1oz window and see how it goes. You should be able to get a feel for how the rod is liking it, or if it feels like it is loading up too much.

 

The big thing is to avoid fast, jerky, snappy kinds of casts that really load up the rod. Focus more on smooth roll casts or casts that lob the heavier baits out there. The load on the rod greatly increases with a specific weight bait as acceleration rates of the bait increases. In other words,... The harder you fling that lure, the more load you apply to the rod.

[Jar11591]

I just wanna know what a poop bait is.

Actually on second thought, maybe I don’t. 

[Choporoz]

3 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I just wanna know what a poop bait is.

Actually on second thought, maybe I don’t. 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/253093-deps-cover-scat-soft-stick-bait/

[softwateronly]

@Bosoxfan1598 I've found many rods can lob cast the top or even more than their stated weight range.  It's obviously not ideal, but I do it relatively frequently.  The standard 6" magdraft is a bait I push to the limit often.  On the other hand, the freestyle takes more rod to set the hook so I almost always find a way to work with more power.

 

scott

[bulldog1935]

I always pick rods to fish near their bottom end, but most every rod I own also fishes well-enough at its top end, and happy to have the range option on kayak.  

Only rod ever that seemed to cry uncle at its top-end rating was para-taper Falcon Glass, 1/4 to 1/2 oz.  But since it's glass, it's not going to break.  

[Bigbox99]

It really depends on the rod.  I have some that do very well at the top of their weight range or even happily exceed it and other that don't do well at all at the top of their weight range.  I find that stiffer slower loading tip rods do well at or above their top weight range and light tipped XF rods really don't like the top of their weight range.  In other cases rods can be simply over rated or under rated irregardless of the rod's action.  I want to say that the TV was a stiff rod and considered under rated in the past but this was probably the 1st gen Orochi xx rod or some other megabass line.  I don't know about the 2nd gen TV.  I'd say give it a shot.  I fish a Cull Shad with one tungsten nail weight that brings it to 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz total on a 1st gen Orochi xx EMTF rated 3/8 to 1 oz and it does great.  That rod was considered slightly under rated and stuggles a bit with a true 3/8 oz so maybe that's why it does so well at and above its top end.

 

[MediumMouthBass]

I have rods rated to an ounce ive thrown 1.5 on, rods rated 3/4 ive thrown 1-1.5 whopper ploppers on without a issue, they actually felt pretty good. However ive also had rods rated to 2oz that felt they might snap at 1.5-2oz. On the opposite end, i have a rod rated as low as 1/2. The rod casts poorly unless im fishing a lure 1oz or heavier. And i also have a bunch of rods rated down to 1/4oz, these are all MH casting rods, they wont do 1/4. Barely even 3/8oz.

 

Every rod brand and model is different, theres a general rule and guideline, but nothing is set in stone. Only way to know how a rod will act when given a certain ounce bait is to try it out.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

It should be fine casting a little over 1oz.  You can cast an overloaded rod without damaging it, so long as you don't lean into the cast too much.  When people overload a rod and really try to punch the bait out there, is when most rods fold.

As long as youre using a treble hook on it, you wont need too much extra power to set the hook.

[Tennessee Boy]

So has anyone on this forum ever broken a rod while casting?

[bulldog1935]

6 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

So has anyone on this forum ever broken a rod while casting?

Only dry-rotted prewar cane (probably stored in someone's attic) that a noted cane rod restorer had refinished and shouldn't have (I got a refund).  A shame, too, it was a rare beauty (8' 3-pc H-I  Queen w/ fish logo).  

and yes, for a rod to break in a cast, it must have some kind of pre-existing terminal damage.  

[Bigbox99]

8 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

So has anyone on this forum ever broken a rod while casting?

Breaking the rod casting a bait too heavy isn't really a concern.  The issue is that the casting distance and accuracy is so poor when you really exceed the top end of the rod by a lot that you are probably better off throwing it by hand.  Rod breakages come from tip breaks from high sticking or shattering the blank hoisting a fish into the boat with the rod.

[Fishing_Rod]

9 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

So has anyone on this forum ever broken a rod while casting?

Greetings All,

Yes, it happened just after catching and releasing a 3 ish pound LMB. I was not too 'busted up' over it as it was expected. This was one of those low cost name brand telescopic rods from a big box retailer. Due to the build quality I simply was not expecting much. I bought it to reminisce from the days in my youth where we would use those early generation fiberglass (also low cost, low quality) telescopic rods taunting catfish at the hometown river. Those also broke in dramatic form too! 

So true to form I re-lived the experience, once again. I didn't think the simple loading would weaken it but apparently it did! After releasing the LMB, I steadied up the kayak for another go at the nearby structure to do a kind of a higher angle roll cast when it snapped just post release. 

 

I'm an ultra lite angler so we are using a small 2 inch grub on a 1/16 oz jig. So no intense whipping action or exceedingly heavy bait package.

Oh well, so it goes, fun while that lasted.

BTW: Around the new year I happened to stumble on a better built version of a major name brand telescopic rod. This time they happened to have both casting and spinning configurations. OK, again due to the low cost and nostalgia, I bought one of each.

Here during the 'cooler' months we have trout stocking. I happy to report that so far both of those better built telescopic rods have performed rather well on 14 ~ 16 rainbows. I am looking forward to trying them out for a few LMBs soon enough.

Be well, Cheers!

[Bosoxfan1598]

Thanks for the input yall. I think I’ll start with the 5” MagDraft for now. My buddy and I are going to an outdoor recreation expo tomorrow and he’s bringing a 6” MagDraft and a 7” keitech swim bait on an owner beast weighted hook. We are gonna rig them on the new set up and see how it handles them.

[Tennessee Boy]

7 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

Breaking the rod casting a bait too heavy isn't really a concern. 

Apparently it is a concern for the OP.

 

On 2/25/2025 at 5:26 PM, Bosoxfan1598 said:

I’m worried about throwing something at the top end of the rods rating out of fear I’ll snap the rod.