Poll: Rod Sensitivity Casting vs. Spinning

[Josh Bassman]

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.

Come on!?

Keep it simple... Compare a casting and a spinning of the same model. For example: Cumara casting and Cumara Spinning. Jeez

You're out smarting yourself.

[dodgeguy]

i'd give the edge to spinning because your not palming the reel your holding the rod handle.i think it makes a very subtle difference.someone also else said a lesser rod was as sensitive with braid as a glx with mono.well almost any rod with braid will be more sensative as a glx or any other top end rod with mono.mon and flouro just have way to much give and stretch to even compare to braid in sensitivity.braid outshines all other lines by far in sensitivity department.

[Grey Wolf]

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.

Come on!?

Keep it simple... Compare a casting and a spinning of the same model. For example: Cumara casting and Cumara Spinning. Jeez

You're out smarting yourself.

Very well put !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ern]

Oh well.

Fish what you like.  :

But every component makes a difference.

[jdw174]

After fishing for Lake Erie smallies for years, I prefer spinning for "almost" all bottom bouncing lures.  Wouldn't use it for CB's or C-rigging or heavier jigs/worms, but for the light stuff I'll take spinning anytime.

[OkobojiEagle]

i'd give the edge to spinning because your not palming the reel your holding the rod handle.

BINGO... you're almost there. (how relaxed can you let your hand become with each reel style before the rod/reel falls out of your hand?)

steve

[scrutch]

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.

Come on!?

Keep it simple... Compare a casting and a spinning of the same model. For example: Cumara casting and Cumara Spinning. Jeez

You're out smarting yourself.

Best post in this thread.  Classic.

K.I.S.S.  :

[Grey Wolf]

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.

Come on!?

Keep it simple... Compare a casting and a spinning of the same model. For example: Cumara casting and Cumara Spinning. Jeez

You're out smarting yourself.

Best post in this thread. Classic.

K.I.S.S. :

X2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff H]

This is proof you CAN make a mountain out of a molehill....or something like that.

[J Francho]

This is proof you CAN make a mountain out of a molehill....or something like that.

Cold weather will do it every time. 

[bigfruits]

depends on how you hold it. spinning for me as my pointer finger and alot of my middle finger are on the blank.

if you had a naked spinning blank and a casting blank of the same model and tied the line to the tip like a bamboo pole and wanted to see which is more sensitive, it would probably vary depending on the manufacturer.

[Nine Miler]

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.

Come on!?

Keep it simple... Compare a casting and a spinning of the same model. For example: Cumara casting and Cumara Spinning. Jeez

You're out smarting yourself.

Best post in this thread. Classic.

K.I.S.S. :

X2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are killing me. Josh, you ask for an answer, then get an excellent one, then shoot this guy down. Ern, great answer. The blank doesn't know what it is destined to become.

Josh, Cumara casting vs. spinning? How can you compare, are the blanks the same weight? you could use the same blank and make a casting and a spinning. Sensitivity will depend on what you put on that blank. If you use the same kind and number of guides, same reel weight, same location of the reel seat, etc. they will be the same.

The more weight, the less sensitivity. Sensitivity is directly related to weight. Spinning reels are heavier, spinning guides are heavier, so unless you can find a way to combat this, the casting rod will most likely be lighter, and therefore, more sensitive.

[dodgeguy]

wrong.the lighter rod is more sensitive if all other issues are equal such as balance.a better blank will be more sensitive than a light garbage blank.balance and line have more to do with it than anything else.you could have a really light rod that balances 11 inches in fronyt of the reel seat and it won't be as sensitive as a rod with a balance weight attached that balances under the reel seat.also like i said before you palm a baitcaster so that makes it a little less sensitive than spinning where you hold the rod.

[Nine Miler]

Dodge, read for comprehension.  That's what I said.

[Josh Bassman]

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.

Come on!?

Keep it simple... Compare a casting and a spinning of the same model. For example: Cumara casting and Cumara Spinning. Jeez

You're out smarting yourself.

Best post in this thread. Classic.

K.I.S.S. :

X2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are killing me. Josh, you ask for an answer, then get an excellent one, then shoot this guy down. Ern, great answer. The blank doesn't know what it is destined to become.

Josh, Cumara casting vs. spinning? How can you compare, are the blanks the same weight? you could use the same blank and make a casting and a spinning. Sensitivity will depend on what you put on that blank. If you use the same kind and number of guides, same reel weight, same location of the reel seat, etc. they will be the same.

The more weight, the less sensitivity. Sensitivity is directly related to weight. Spinning reels are heavier, spinning guides are heavier, so unless you can find a way to combat this, the casting rod will most likely be lighter, and therefore, more sensitive.

Yeah... sometimes when typing a response the emotion doesn't come acrossed the way it was intended. Too much dry sarcasm.

Sorry ern.

All the responses have been either informative or entertaining. More then I expected. This response had both.

I like the way you answer your own questions:

YOU WROTE:

"Josh, Cumara casting vs. spinning? How can you compare, are the blanks the same weight?"

YOU ANSWERED:

"Spinning reels are heavier, spinning guides are heavier, so unless you can find a way to combat this, the casting rod will most likely be lighter, and therefore, more sensitive"

[Nine Miler]

I am just going to say what I should have said in the beginning.

CASTING! 

[Finnz922]

rod sensitivity is different for everybody. as the poll shows almost 50% each way. very hard thing to judge rod and line have as much to do with it as the guy/gal holding them.

[NBR]

IMO sensitivity has nothing to do with spinning or baitcasting but a l;ot to do with the construction.