Modulus vs. tonnage

[northern basser]

Is there any way to compare/ convert between these 2?   Like,  how does a 50 million mod. rod compare to a 30 ton?

[Whets Lines]

Hey,

I saw this post on the Tackle Tour forum. In my opinion, it just sorta muddies the waters even more on this subject. It might give you some of the answers you seek though.

I hate to direct you away from this fine forum, but it gives you the information you seek. http://www.tackletour.net/TTForums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=43345

Whets

8-)

[northern basser]

Thanks Whets. Apparently,  there is no exact calculation between the 2.  It kind of describes what I've read other places also.  The modulus # is not always the correct way to rate a rods weight and sensitivity.  The resins and other things that make up the construction of the blank play a big role.

The reading also states that Gary Loomis rods aren't over 45 million mod.  Like said above,  its the other things in the recipe.

I had to research this topic because I found myself obsessed with the ton or mod. # in rods I was interested in.  I've read enough about IM rating to know that it isn't accurate.  Winter finds me fishing less and thinking too much!

[The Rooster]

Thanks Whets. Apparently, there is no exact calculation between the 2. It kind of describes what I've read other places also. The modulus # is not always the correct way to rate a rods weight and sensitivity. The resins and other things that make up the construction of the blank play a big role.

The reading also states that Gary Loomis rods aren't over 45 million mod. Like said above, its the other things in the recipe.

I had to research this topic because I found myself obsessed with the ton or mod. # in rods I was interested in. I've read enough about IM rating to know that it isn't accurate. Winter finds me fishing less and thinking too much!

Oh man, did you ever hit the nail on MY head!!!!  That's exactly my whole problem!!!!  C'mon spring!!!.....I don't have near the trouble when I'm out on the water and not giving a thought to whether or not I'm using the right rod, reel, line, lure, or combination there of!!!

[Fish Chris]

I've never even heard of the tonnage rating. But IMPO, the whole high modulas thing (and probably tonnage, as well)means practically nothing.

A guy could use a freaking fiberglass rod with braid, and have more sensitivity transferred to his hand, than a guy using a super duper 100 million modulas rod, and stinking monofilament !

In fact, since I only use braid, I actually prefer a rod to be in the lower to medium modulas range. Those super thin walled, super-light, super-sensitive, high modulas rods just tend to be too brittle, and not a good / safe choice when using braid.

Peace,

Fish

[CWilliams]

I've never even heard of the tonnage rating. But IMPO, the whole high modulas thing (and probably tonnage, as well)means practically nothing.

A guy could use a freaking fiberglass rod with braid, and have more sensitivity transferred to his hand, than a guy using a super duper 100 million modulas rod, and stinking monofilament !

In fact, since I only use braid, I actually prefer a rod to be in the lower to medium modulas range. Those super thin walled, super-light, super-sensitive, high modulas rods just tend to be too brittle, and not a good / safe choice when using braid.

Peace,

Fish

What rods have you used that were too brittle to be paired with braid?

[dave]

And don't forget that there are NO industry standards amongst rod makers.

[northern basser]

I guess what it boils down to is this;  The only good way to form a opinion on any rod is to fish w/ it (what is mentioned on this site often)!  However,  A person can do a little deducting by store handling.  Weight,  balance,  stiffness........

[flechero]

A guy could use a freaking fiberglass rod with braid, and have more sensitivity transferred to his hand, than a guy using a super duper 100 million modulas rod, and stinking monofilament !

And yet, people win tournaments every day on mono... If braid were that much better, no one with mono would be able to keep up with braid users.     Nothing is universal.... braid only helps some people.

sorry for straying off topic.

[Fish Chris]

CW, I've only broke a couple rods.... and now I foget the first one. I rember it was REALLY lightweight, and Fenwick's latest, greatest super high modulas rod, about 15 years ago. I don't think they even make it any more. That, and I broke a Fenwick HMG once. Granted, both breaks were probably more my own fault, for running my drag too tight. I've since learned to run a quite a bit lighter drag, for protection on hook sets.

If braid were that much better, no one with mono would be able to keep up with braid users.

I disagree. Braid IS that much better, but the fact is, the line a person uses, is only a small part of the big picture. So IMPO, the ones that keep up, do so for other reasons.

I used funky, kinky, coily, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y @$$ mono for probably 25 years, before I tried braid. No telling how many fish I missed, due to not getting a hook set. I know I broke off a number of good ones on mono also.

Of course I still miss, and lose a few fish, but it's never due to line stretch, or break offs.

Peace,

Fish

PS, going back and reading your post again, I see you said

people win tournaments

I'm sorry. I thought we were talking about real fishermen LOL

Just ribbing. Don't mind me

[South FLA]

Just did a little surfing on the subject and found this:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_graphite_rating_on_a_fishing_rod

[Nibbles]

Some more food for the thought:

Why exactly do we need more sensitive rods?

To notice a bite? Why not just learn to watch your line? Granted, sometimes your line doesn't move much when you're fishing jigs and a bass swallows it, but there are ways to compensate for that as well. It's called keeping a finger on the fishing line. Pretty easy to sense differences in pressure that way.

I've also come across assertions that more sensitive rods can help you get a better feel for the bottom contour of the water you are fishing. Sure, that's probably true. But anyone that owns and knows how to use a decent fish finder can probably figure out what the bottom contour is like by reading the data on the screen. Granted, this isn't quite feasible if you're shore fishing.

[flechero]

Chris- I knew you'd grab the tourney comment! I just couldn't quantify it in a sentence or two, using us "real" fisherman as the example. ...lol

Hey nibbles, line watching is great, when the wind is down or when you are fishing close or shallow. If I only set hook on line watching, I'd miss about 3/4 of the fish I catch. Come worm fish the timber and cedars in the wind with me and you'll see how line watching only works sometimes.

[Fish Chris]

I dunno....

For all the years I used mono, I thought I had plenty of enough "feel" of what was going on at the other end of my line. But I can still remember how everything changed when I switched to braid ! Their was SOOO much sensitivity, it was almost unnerving ! I remember that every time a fish kicked, or the line popped over its tail, while fighting it, I thought I had lost it ! Freaked me out for a while, until I got used to it.

On the other hand, going way back, to the time I went to my first graphite rod, switching away from fiberglass, I don't remember anywhere close to such a difference.

Peace,

Fish

[Stasher1]

On the other hand, going way back, to the time I went to my first graphite rod, switching away from fiberglass, I don't remember anywhere close to such a difference.

Peace,

Fish

That's probably because you went from fiberglass/mono to graphite/mono. 

[OnthePotomac]

This may help.

WHAT IS MODULUS  IM RATING AND TON RATING? - Modulus refers to the modulus of elasticity, or you can think of it as the modulus of stiffness.  It is the relationship between stress (the applied force per square inch) and strain (the amount of deformation that the force causes per square inch).  The IM and or ton rating of a rod refer to the overall modulus of the material.

The IM rating may vary among rod manufacturers, but the following values are fairly standard in the industry:

IM6 = 30+ton material in the rod (this is considered a standard modulus)

IM7 = 35+ton material in the rod (this is considered intermediate modulus)

IM8 = 40+ton material in the rod (this is considered intermediate to high modulus)

IM10 = 54+ton material in the rod (this is considered high modulus)

Beyond this level manufacturers use various ways to describe their rod strengths.

You will find rods which do not use the IM ratings on their rods.  Instead they will use strength designations such as HMG 60 (High Modulus Graphite) which is used on my Bass Pro Shops Extreme rods, or HM 85 (High Modulus) which is used on the expensive Johnny Morris rods.  Carbonlites are 85 million modulus, but this is  not printed on the rod.  Loomis goes even further and uses designations such as NRX, GLX, IMX and NX and do tell you what the modulus rating is unless you ask them.  They will use the term very high modulus in their description of their rods.