A Question for Everyone re. Spinning Rod Applications

[A-Rob]

Say I have a choice b/w a MEDIUM weight FAST ACTION spinning rod and a MEDIUM weight MODERATE FAST ACTION.

How much of a practical difference would there be on the water? Any? And if so, what techniques would suit fast vs moderate fast action??

Thanks guys

[RandySBreth]

I think you mean medium POWER fast action versus medium POWER moderate/fast action. I think.

Anyway, most people like a faster action for soft plastics, jigs, in other words, lure you feel the bite, then set the hook. Some people like a more moderate action for moving baits like spinnerbaits, crankbaits and things that you are already reeling and the fish takes its as you are retrieving it, the theory being that the softer powered rod gives the fish an extra second to "get the bait in it's mouth".

I don't necessarily agree with that theory, but as far a spinning gear goes I think a faster actioned medium power rod is more versatile, but the difference between one brand's "Fast" action and another's "Moderate/Fast" can be hard to tell apart.

[Ol� Dirty Basstard]

Fast gives you a harder hook-set. Most folks say this is best for worms, jigs and T-Rigs - Single hook baits.

Mod has more of bend and absorbs a hit. Most folks use these for topwaters, cranks, traps and spinnerbaits - Treble hook & Reaction baits.

But that's just most people. Don't freak out too much about the labels. You need to feel things out for yourself. For instance, a Mod rod should get you longer casts and that might be something you're looking for. Go with a rod that suits your style. For instance, my worm rod is a Mod/Fast action because I like it like that.

[Paul Roberts]

Action and power varies with manufacturer, and rod line -there is no industry standard really. Too many possibilities for taper formulas and materials I guess.

Quick background:

Power is rated for line break strength (important when fighting fish) and lure weight (important when casting). Action is how that power is distributed.

Rods have three functions: Casting, strike detection, and fighting fish.

Softer actions tend to cast further, and often more accurately, loading more rod and being a bit slower on the response making aiming corrections somewhat less critical. Because they load more rod they can also absorb fishes fight more smoothly. I'm not a big proponent of this last as a useful advantage, however I wouldn't want to try to fight a fish on a non-bending oak dowel LOL.

Stiffer actions (faster) provide a faster response time in hook setting. All other factors being equal stiffer also tends to offer more potential sensitivity for detection.

You can really learn to adapt almost any rod, but some techniques/lure types work better with faster or slower actions. Jigs tend to require faster actions for sensitivity and quick response time, as fish may take jigs softly and don't tend to hold them very long before they spit them. This can be true for heavily weighted soft plastics too.

Soft plastics may be fished the same way as jigs but bass tend to hold them longer. You can use a fast rod just fine, but many people (myself included) like a softer tip to allow me to "weigh the line" -that is lift a bit to feel whether that extra weight is alive, or just a weed. This is most effective/important with lighter weighted plastics, like shaky and drop-shotting.

Again, there's no industry standard. There are fast rods with a rapid tapered tip that may be pretty "noodly" up front. I have a Shimano Clarus 66 M F that has some backbone, but a wimpy little tip LOL. It appears to have been designed to throw very light lures accurately with that tip, but is rated a medium and has the power for that. I think they tried to design too much lure weight latitude into that rod. When I hook a fish with it (I used mostly it for finesse plastics), the tip folds up instantly --outta the picture-- and I feel like I'm fighting the fish with a 5 foot broomstick. When I pop on a jerkbait, the tip folds! When I swim a jig I may detect a light take too slowly, and miss em. Don't like that. If I wanted to fish a 1/16 oz jig that tip is appropriate for, I'd be using a L power rod. I replaced it with another M F rod this spring, which I like much better.

Stuff to chew on.

[bigfruits]

IMO a fast action would make a better all around rod.

[A-Rob]

Thanks guys for all the input.

I did mean "power" not "weight"

I fish a lot of soft plastics with my spinning rig, I got a shimano medium/fast.

I was asking b/c the Abu Garcia Vandetta rod, which I think looks/feels pretty sharp, offer those 2 models, and I really wasn't sure if I'd even notice the difference. I would probably go with the FAST one just for what I use it mainly T-rig plastics, shaky heads, drop shot.

Thanks for everyones thoughts.

[ejtaylor822]

As far as action fast, mod, etc., think of fast action for "single hook" applications - worming, jigs, spinner, etc. where you need to drive that single thick wire hook through your lure and into the fish's mouth. 

Moderate action for treble lures - cranks, tight-line top-water, swim, etc. where you have multiple hooks/barbs to catch in the fish's mouth.  The moderate action aids in getting the lure deeper into the mouth and also during fighting/landing as most treble hook lures are bigger with more mass that makes them easier to throw.  The softer action is more forgiving.

Here's an article that might help as well:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/rod-actions-power.html

Eddie