Is rod sensitivity "over rated" for many techniques?

[vintagerod]

What are your thoughts on this?

It seems to me that for topwaters, spinnerbaits, buzz baits, crankbaits, and jerk baits, that it doesn't make sense to pay big money for ultra sensitive rod blanks, since the way you fish these baits (or more importantly, the way bass hit these baits), sensitivity isn't an issue.

I ask because I am in the market for a nice rod to use for a variety of these techniques.  As I was looking through G. Loomis' line, I noticed that super sensitive IMX or GLX isn't offered in the Spinnerbait or Crankbait line (and they are MUCH cheaper, too).

Now, for worms and jigs, sensitivity is a big concern.

Any thoughts on this?

[Grey Wolf]

I agree with your line of thought , you don't need an expensive rod to fish the techniques you mentioned. There are a lot of very good rods in the 75.00 to 150.00 range that suits the purpose.

[oxbowbass]

I am on your side on this one VR.  I love the extra sensitivity for finesse presentations, but the big bucks you pay for the upper tier rods doesn't make a lot of difference to me for ripping baits.

[Ballpark Frank]

I agree with you too. For jigs and worming, I use a GLX , an IMX, and a Mossyback. The Mossyback is kinda between a GL3 and IMX. But it seems as sensitive as my IMX. I have used several other techniques with these rods and it seems to be too much sensitivity. Try running a chatterbait, spinnerbait, or rattle trap on an IMX or GLX with flouro, it feels like my hand is going to vibrate off. Some will disagree but, I still like my regular old Lightning Rods and Cherrywoods for tops, spinners, and cranks.

[Micro]

I like sensitivity when crankbait fishing.  I know a lot of people like soft fiberglass rods.  Maybe they are best.   But I usually fish crankbaits on my graphite M/F spinning rods, and occassionally baitcasters.  I like the distinct feedback I get with a  sensitive graphite rod.  I can immediately tell if something has changed.  I can feel the normal vibration of the lure.  I've gotten to where I can tell I've picked up a piece of grass or something by the change in vibration.   I can tell easier when I've bumped into something, and can distinctly tell what sort of botton the lure is bopping over.  

I think sensitivity is important no matter the technique.  With a decent rod I can tell if a blade on an inline spinner is spinning.   All sorts of things.   I think sensitivity in any technique is something you learn to appreciate through practice, then it's tough to go back.  

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I agree.  IMO no need to spend big money on a crankbait rod

[=Matt 5.0=]

I fish cranks on a $29 Ugly Stick Lite....

Finesse worms go on the Carrot Stick tho.  

[.dsaavedra.]

I like sensitivity when crankbait fishing. I know a lot of people like soft fiberglass rods. Maybe they are best. But I usually fish crankbaits on my graphite M/F spinning rods, and occassionally baitcasters. I like the distinct feedback I get with a sensitive graphite rod. I can immediately tell if something has changed. I can feel the normal vibration of the lure. I've gotten to where I can tell I've picked up a piece of grass or something by the change in vibration. I can tell easier when I've bumped into something, and can distinctly tell what sort of botton the lure is bopping over.

I think sensitivity is important no matter the technique. With a decent rod I can tell if a blade on an inline spinner is spinning. All sorts of things. I think sensitivity in any technique is something you learn to appreciate through practice, then it's tough to go back.

i TOTALLY agree with micro on this one. with crankbait rods i need my sensativity so i can feel what the crank is doing down there. i can feel if i get some weeds stuck on it and the action stops, then i know that i can just burn the lure back in instead of continuing fishing it when i dont know its not working. with spinnerbaits i can feel the blades moving, and if some weeds get on em then they will stop and i can feel it. sensativity is great in all situations, but there is no reason to pay over 150 for a cranking/spinnerbait rod.

[The Next KVD]

I think your crazy if you can't feel your lure.  for crankbaits you need to feel the wooble, feel what kindaof cover ur bumping ect.  Spinnerbait, I need to feel the blades moving. Jerkbait, I don't use any so yea.  If you can't feel what your lure is doing you can't paint a mental picture of what is going on around the lure.

[Jake.]

The only technique I don't think you need sensitivity for is topwater fishing. JMHO

[LakeAnnaBasser]

I think your crazy if you can't feel your lure. for crankbaits you need to feel the wooble, feel what kindaof cover ur bumping ect. Spinnerbait, I need to feel the blades moving. Jerkbait, I don't use any so yea. If you can't feel what your lure is doing you can't paint a mental picture of what is going on around the lure.

x2 to that. I used to have an older fiberglass crankbait rod. It had no sensitivity at all. And because of that I couldnt feel the structure that my bait was hitting causing a snag. With a more sensitive rod you feel the crankbait hit the structure then you stop reeling and the bait floats free.

[cart7t]

The average $75-125 rod is perfectly acceptable for fishing crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzz baits, chatterbaits or jerkbaits.  The quality of rods in that category these days is more than good enough to feel anything your bait is doing.    I have one high sensitivity rod I use for jerkbaits in the late winter/very early spring.  At that time of the year,  fish will take the bait so lightly that you'll barely feel a hit and unless you're watching your line, you'll miss the fish.  That's when a very sensitive rod works for me.  

[sal669]

All of the above.

For the guys who think you need sensitivity, I'll say YES. But, you get plenty of it with a Shimano Clarus or Compre, Fenwick Eagle GT or HMX , All Star Classic, Berkley Series One, or a middle of the road BPS or Cabelas for that matter. All of them are under $100.

If you can't feel what your lure is doing in the water while using one of the above rods, you have to have a problem with your feeling/ nerv terminations in your hands. By using a certain rod/reel combo for the same task ALL THE TIME, you develop a feel for it, you start feeling your lure. You don't need to be hit with a 2x4 anytime your lure hits an obstacle in the water, you should learn how YOUR ROD feels when it hits an obstacle. Go out and spend a couple minutes knocking some wood,rock or weeds in shallow water so you can KNOW when you are gonna hit it, but close your eyes and concentrate on the FEEL.

Back to the original question: NO, you don't need to rob a bank to successfully fish those techniques: almost any modern graphite (or some good composite) rod has plenty of sensitivity for it.

[5bass]

I think that the more you fish the moving baits, especially crankbaits, the more you don't need a real sensitive rod. Once you've past a certain point, you just know whats what. I crank with fiberglass rods and have been doing so for a long time....I can feel baits just fine on my glass rods and I know exactly what my bait is doing at all times.

I'm about to pick up a Dobyns crankbait rod next week to see what the fuss is all about. Other than weight, I dont feel like it will improve my crankbaitin' that much, if at all.

I could be wrong....we'll see.  

[Guest muddy]

The only "High End" rod I own is a wonderful gift, a spiral wrapped rod

from Alpster, I use it all the time .WHaving stated that any of these rods all in med /fast work well on every application for bass;

Fenwicks' HMX,GT  AllStars Classics and Team IM 10's. BPS Extremes and the Cabelas Fish Eagle II, IM 6 and IM 7's used them all so I can speak from experience, I only use the Fenwicks and the All Stars now, not saying they are better or worse but my own taste in rods.

 I do not know why anyone would need a "sensitive" rods for anything moving with trebels, I have Neuropathy in all my fingers from diabetes and I have never yet missed a fish due to lack of sensivitiy

 I have no experience with high end rods, but I am expeienced in mid range and I think the special rod for special technique thing is a bit overplayed

 

[bass wrangler569]

The only application I don't think requires a sensitive rod is topwater fishing. When I'm fishing spinnerbaits and crankbaits, I want to feel what kind of cover I'm moving through. Sensitive doesn't always mean expensive, like others said, there are plenty of sensitive rods in the $75-150 range.

[surfer]

My vote is for $120 sensitive.  My hands are not as well trained as the more experienced on this board an i enjoy feeling the exact wobble of the lure.  I can tell what type of weed I bumped into and I can feel sand, mud, branch, stump, picked up weed while still vibrating correctly, picked up tiny leaf while still vibrating correctly, and of coarse a bite.

[ba7ss3in]

I have no experience with high end rods, but I am expeienced in mid range and I think the special rod for special technique thing is a bit overplayed

I have to agree here,except for maybe drop shotting but you still don't have to brake the bank

[Guest muddy]

I have no experience with high end rods, but I am expeienced in mid range and I think the special rod for special technique thing is a bit overplayed

I have to agree here,except for maybe drop shotting but you still don't have to brake the bank

Sorry I should have stated I never drop shot, si I am not qualified to say all techniques ,thanks for pointing that out 8-)

[Alpster]

I have a 7' moderate action Lamiglas fiberglass rod, just like the one I wrapped for Muddy. I also use it for slow rolling spinnerbaits in deep water. I can feel every turn of the blade. Just because it isn't 'super sensitive' doesn't mean you can't feel anything. It's all relative. I'm not very good at cranking. I use a glass rod for crank baits because I tend to miss a lot of fish with my graphite rods. If you fish a lot of soft plastics, you can appreciate a real sensitive rod. JMHO

Ronnie

[Mike-in-WV]

Muddy has the right attitude here and I agree with him 100 percent. You don't need to go crazy spending $100.00-$200.00 for a fishing rod to "feel" the lure. I want to feel the fish messing with it and I can do that with most rods costing way less than what some of you call a cheap rod! Feeling spinners and a weed can be done also on cheap rods. I have fished with high end rods and reels and much lower than most of you talk about in Flyrods, spinning rods , casting and ultralights and never had a problem feeling or landing a fish, big or small.

Yes, an expensive sensitive rod is great but not necessarie by any stretch of the imagination. To many other fishing gadgets I can spend that money on, like sesitive lures   Mike

[5bass]

Now on my rods I use for jigs, worms, trick sticks etc....sensitvity is a must. Thats where my Kistler and Loomis rods come in....if there's a bass breathing on my bait, I know it.  

[Guest muddy]

I can't say I " Have the right attitude" because I do not have experience with high end gear. What I am stating is I fish sucessfully with what I use. There are fellas here that have stuff that is beautiful, and some never sees the water, as I have discovered that some enjoy the collecting of tackle also. What each finds enjoyable is up to them, otherwise why would they do it? So wehat I am staying I have found equipment I like and just for today I see no need to jump brands or upgrade, what ever that means ;D

[roadwarrior]

Almost all your fishing can be done with one rod, spinning or baitcasting. I would suggest Medium Power/ Fast Action. This rod is especially suited for single hook lures.

Two rods are better. The second would be Medium or Medium Heavy Power with a soft tip. This is the rod for ALL treble hook lures.

After that, it's all about "want" and there is a lot to choose from. Application and your perception of sensitivity is VERY subjective. I fish high-end, technique specific rods because I enjoy collecting equipment that I consider "perfect" for a specific purpose. I do NOT "need" these rods to "catch" fish, but my "fishing" is more fun!

8-)

[dodgeguy]

Almost all your fishing can be done with one rod, spinning or baitcasting. I would suggest Medium Power/ Fast Action. This rod is especially suited for single hook lures.

Two rods are better. The second would be Medium or Medium Heavy Power with a soft tip. This is the rod for ALL treble hook lures.

After that, it's all about "want" and there is a lot to choose from. Application and your perception of sensitivity is VERY subjective. I fish high-end, technique specific rods because I enjoy collecting equipment that I consider "perfect" for a specific purpose. I do NOT "need" these rods to "catch" fish, but my "fishing" is more fun!

8-)

that's one of the smartest posts i've ever seen on any forum!!!i would add that imho sensitivity is of major importance at all times.i would add that what line you use has as much to do with it if not more than the rod.stretchy lines are not sensitive.i think feeling exactly what your spinnerbait blades are doing is important.you can feel when a bass is behind the bait by the change in the blades.you are better prepared for the strike.you can have a forgiving combo that is still sensitive so as not to rip out hooks.