Poll: Rod Sensitivity Casting vs. Spinning

[Josh Bassman]

I'm just wondering what your opinion is on rod sensitivity.

[BASSclary]

I don't think the type of rod affects sensitivity of the blank.

I think it boils down to more of personal preference.

[bwell]

I vote casting just because of how I hold it.  I put my pointer finger under the line to feel for bites just out of habit, I cant do that with a spinning outfit.

[Captain Obvious]

I real think that a rod does not have a lot to do with sensitivity. I believe that line plays the biggest role when it comes to feeling bites.

I voted spinning not because its more sensitive but because they tend to be faster then casting rods so I think your more likely to "feel"  the bite because the rod tip will bend easier.

In the end though its the line that counts

[WanderLust]

The rod blank certainly matters... Not really sure on casting versus spinning as I don't have any expensive spinning rods. I like being able to palm the reel on casting so I would take that.

I do have St. Croix Avid and G Loomis GLX casting rods though and of course these have spoiled me for life. 

Line is important as well but a really sensitive blank versus a versus lower quality blank isn't even a discussion.

[OHIO]

I voted casting, but line does play a huge role.

I never use braid on my spinning reels, so that could be a reason why I chose casting.

[Captain Obvious]

Line is important as well but a really sensitive blank versus a versus lower quality blank isn't even a discussion.

I disagree. I think the only difference in blanks is weight and crispness. Both of these have a secondary effect on sensitivity but nether of them tie in directly to making a rod sensitive.

Now it use to be that if you only fished with mono a blank made a big difference. But braid and fluocarbon have made that no longer the case.

I'm not saying that a cheap rod is just as sensitive as an expensive rod. There are other factors than just a blank and line that makes a more or less sensitive. What I am saying is that a blank doesn't make a rod more sensitive.

I'm not making this up. There are pros who think the same way

[OHIO]

Line is important as well but a really sensitive blank versus a versus lower quality blank isn't even a discussion.

I disagree. I think the only difference in blanks is weight and crispness. Both of these have a secondary effect on sensitivity but nether of them tie in directly to making a rod sensitive.

Now it use to be that if you only fished with mono a blank made a big difference. But braid and fluocarbon have made that no longer the case.

I'm not saying that a cheap rod is just as sensitive as an expensive rod. There are other factors than just a blank and line that makes a more or less sensitive. What I am saying is that a blank doesn't make a rod more sensitive.

I'm not making this up. There are pros who think the same way

So a fiberglass blank is just as sensitive as a graphite one? I think not.

[Captain Obvious]

Sorry I was talking about graphite rods.

[BASSclary]

Line is important as well but a really sensitive blank versus a versus lower quality blank isn't even a discussion.

I disagree. I think the only difference in blanks is weight and crispness. Both of these have a secondary effect on sensitivity but nether of them tie in directly to making a rod sensitive.

Now it use to be that if you only fished with mono a blank made a big difference. But braid and fluocarbon have made that no longer the case.

I'm not saying that a cheap rod is just as sensitive as an expensive rod. There are other factors than just a blank and line that makes a more or less sensitive. What I am saying is that a blank doesn't make a rod more sensitive.

I'm not making this up. There are pros who think the same way

So a Lightning rod blank is as good as a NFC blank? :-?

I think blanks do make a difference IMO.

[Captain Obvious]

Funny you should mention that Clary.

Fish Chris would tell you that he could out fish any rod with is lighting rods and braid.

Haven't seen him around lately but he was the guy who first got me thinking about line being the main factor in sensitivity.

[BASSclary]

Funny you should mention that Clary.

Fish Chris would tell you that he could out fish any rod with is lighting rods and braid.

Haven't seen him around lately but he was the guy who first got me thinking about line being the main factor in sensitivity.

I agree line is definitely a BIG factor in sensitivity, but your rod does play a big role in the sensitivity department.

My old lightning rods w/ braid vs. My Crucial w/ braid, im going to have more sensitivity with the Crucial every time.

[Captain Obvious]

I agree line is definitely a BIG factor in sensitivity, but your rod does play a big role in the sensitivity department.

My old lightning rods w/ braid vs. My Crucial w/ braid, im going to have more sensitivity with the Crucial every time.

I agree but heres why.

The Crucial is better balanced, the reel seat is tighter and better placed, the overall construction of the rod is much better.I'm guessing that the blank is lighter and has a crisper feel to it.

Out of all those reasons only one has to do with the blank. I think lighter rods "feel" more sensitive because the reduce weight makes us focus less on the rod and more on the 'feel".

So all in all its not about the blank but about the construction on the blank.

[BASSclary]

Hmmm, so if I took just the blanks of a lightning rod, and a crucial, and put the tip on my driveway for both, so the weight doesn't play a factor, and dragged them up my drive way they would feel the same?

I'd think i'd feel alot more with the Crucial blank.

[Captain Obvious]

The old put the rod tip on the ground and feel the vibrations is a myth.

Not to mention bad for the rod

You can never really tell how sensitive a rod is until you get it out on the water

[Redsyn]

A sensitive blank is a sensitive blank. What does it matter if its spinning or casting?

If you are one of those people you touch the line w/ your finger when using a casting rod then I dont think you really need a sensitive rod at all. Your feeling the line not rod. But if you are like me who have smaller hands and palm the reel then you might need a more sensitive rod.

My most sensitive rod is a glx 853c bcr but I can detect bites better w/ my st croix legend elite 70m spinning rod just because when I hold the spinning rod, my index finger is touching the blank to feel for bites.

All I can say is if you want to get the most out of your rod, USE BRAID!!!!

I feel and this is just my opinion, when I use braid w/ my imx rods. It feels as sensitive as my glx w/ mono line. So imagine if you use braid on glx.

I can never go back to straight mono on bottom contact baits anymore. There is no reason for using mono in this technique for me when you can use braid tied to a small spro quality power swivel rated 35lb test and tie flouro to the other end. I have no to need cut the braid. Every outing I use a 18" leader and retie one when it gets short from changing baits. Over time I can't even tell you how much money I save on line.

Dont think if you get backlash on braid, you will have to cut the crap out of it. In fact for me its easier to undo backlashes w/ braid. That and it wont damage the line like if you had a bad backlash with mono. By the time you fix the mono line, it will have weak points in it and you have to cut the line to get rid of it.

[Ern]

I think the sensitivity of the rod is more based on its construction rather than the type of rod.

Rod action rather than type is what you should be asking about. There are several articles on line that explain the graphite in a rod. Designation such as Modulus# and IM # do more to confuse than to specify how a rod will behave on water.

What we are seeing now in fishing is a weight race again. LIGHTER, LIGHTER, LIGHTER. Comparing two Balanced rigs the lighter of the two will be more sensitive. Weight reduction has the benefit of increasing sensitivity, but it also reduces strength in the rod. Higher end rods generally are a much better balanced blank in terms of weight vs strength. They can be both light and strong. Contact to the lure is a factor. It is effected by the line in its stretch and diameter as friction on the line its self is felt. (Don't believe the line friction. Tale out Half a spool and watch your rod tip bend.) Contact points on the rod (guides and reel seat) are also factors. Better components on the rod reduce more weight and help sensitivity.

Spinning rods are usually designed for lighter use. Not too many spinning swim bait rods or frog rods. Not saying a correctly set up spinning rod will not handle those. They will. Just the weight of the reel ,and until braid, the size of the reel would put the balance and comfort off. We now have bait cast reels in and under 7 oz that will cast 20 mono. I don't know of spinning reels that light that will handle 20 mono.

That said a spinning rod balances better for me in application where contact is critical. All my light tackle fishing is using spinning. I love fishing worms/jigs on a spinning rod. The rod balances better to me. Most often the reel weight keeps the rod tipped up somewhat. I can also keep a finger on the line as it come to the line roller. Personal taste is a factor.

The rod action has a lot to do with how sensitive it will be. A Moderate action rod will flex more than a fast action. The Flexing of the rod will absorb some of the vibration you are trying to feel. Here too there is no standard I have seen in Action in rods. Some fasts feel moderate, and visa versa.

Either way. Maximum Sensitivity. Lightest Rod in a given power with the fastest action with the lightest reel and thinnest diameter line will be what you want.

[J Francho]

Shouldn't make any difference, spinning, casting, fast action, slow action, or otherwise. It comes down to the total package. My buddy has a 15' Avid Trout Float Rig rod. This rod is as slow as they come, and is a three piece blank. You can feel the fish take the bait, even under a bobber with a 6' shot line and 3' leader. You can actually tell the difference between a spawn bag dancing across a rock, and a fish slithering by the bait. That is a sensitive stick! I've fished other rods that I simply could not feel the fish take, and I have what I call "soft hands."

I'd love to hear from a rodbuilder's point of view. Surprised none have shown up.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

There are several factors that affect the sensitivity of a rod, but spinning vs. casting isn't one of them.

Blank material and weight, especially at the tip are key factors. This where micro guides come in. You can increase sensitivity of the overall rig by choosing an exposed blank reel seat, braided line and tungsten weights.

The OP mentioned 1/4 oz weights specifically. My personal preference for baits in this range is med or Med. Lt. spinning tackle.

[Ern]

You are not comparing apples to apples. How would a fast action avid (same length and set up) compare? Or How would another float rod of a different manufacturer compare? You cant compare the bass rod to a float rod. Lots of difference in construction and content. The float rod is thinner wall graphite.  It has more graphite scrim vs resin.  It is built to finesse trout and salmon on light line. The bass rod is made for abuse. More resin. Cheaper grades of graphite and/or less of it. ( what I meant by the designation on "modulus" and IM-? not being consistent.)

You are right about the "total package".  I believe that 100 %.

If the float rod is better than the other sticks, why use the other sticks?

[J Francho]

What are you talking about?  I'm comparing an apple (bass rod) to a bowl of Jell-O (float rod).  The point is sensitivity has NOTHING to do with just the line, just the blank, just the weight, just the action, just whatever.  Sensitivity boils down to everything from the bait to your hands.  Not all hands were created equal, bye the way.

I see way too many generalizations being tossed out here, that have nothing to do with the original question, which I believe is built around quite a bit of misinformation.

[Ern]

The point is sensitivity has NOTHING to do with just the line, just the blank, just the weight, just the action, just whatever. Sensitivity boils down to everything from the bait to your hands. .

Exactly my point.

[J Francho]

Same point I made above.  For the record, my 13' Browning Six Rivers is about as sensitive as your hand in a bowl of ice water. 

Which brings up a totally different discussion involving what differences are in fishing style that overcome rods with a lack of sensitivity.  It was stated above that Fish Chris could catch fish with a $40 Lightning Rod, and I agree.  And I don't think its 100% about reading water, and fishing productively. 

I know when I used lesser rods, line watching was a big deal for me.  Still is.  Reading the graph to determine bottom composition, instead of feeling it through a jig would be another.

[Captain Obvious]

Chris could catch fish with a $40 Lightning Rod,

Not just catch fish but that it was just as sensitive as most rods.

Like I said the overall quality of a rod does effect sensitivity but the blank is just a small piece of that.

Line has a much more direct impact on how sensitive a rod is.

[Raul]

Amazing how threads can deviate from the original question, somebody asks if there 's difference in the sensitivity between a spinning rod and a casting rod and suddenly out of nowhere line gets involved, comparisons between brand X and brand y pop up and if a guy can fish with a broom stick, man I can fish without a rod for that matter.

The original question was: Is there difference between the rod sensitivity between a spinning rod and a casting rod ?

Being both built on the same blank I feel no difference between both versions. So my answer is no and if there 's is such a measurable difference between both I doubt you can feel it, that of course if both are built on the same blank. Built on different blanks ---> that 's a completely different animal.