Ended up buying a ark sniper Medium heavy Extra fast 7ft casting rod during the tackle warehouse 25 days of Christmas not realizing it was an extra fast. So what techniques require such a fast tip? This rod seems like a night and day difference  compared to all my fast tip rods. 

I use XF rods for everything except crankbaits and flipping.

I have a vertical jigging rod (St Croix Eyecon) that has an XF tip. It is great for detecting bites. Additionally, I found it works well for trolling crankbaits because you can tell the action is working properly. My tip bobs back and forth like it should, and if it catches weeds, or better yet, a fish, the tip stops its little dance and the rod bends a little more. The indicator though is the tip. Theoretically you might have some trouble keeping fish pinned with such a fast action but just keep the tip up, keep pressure on, so far I haven't had a problem. Still, I would go for F instead of XF for a bass-focused rod and will for my next rod.

Would make a nice bottom contact rod. Jigs, texas rigs, pitching, skipping.

That rod would be great for texas rigs, jigs, poppers, and spinnerbaits.

3 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

Would make a nice bottom contact rod. Jigs, texas rigs, pitching, skipping.

I was thinking jigs also. If only I could skip without a great big birds every other cast...

24 minutes ago, Bronzeback23 said:

I was thinking jigs also. If only I could skip without a great big birds every other cast...

Practice and a daiwa with an sv spool really helps lol

14 hours ago, CroakHunter said:

Practice and a daiwa with an sv spool really helps lol

X2

 

I was the master of baitcaster blow ups while skipping with a variety of otherwise decent reel manufacturers.  Started using the Daiwa SV spools about 3 years ago and with practice I’m getting pretty good skipping even weightless stuff now.

 

I always thought with all the practice skipping the last few years that I could go back to the other reels and be able to skip much better.  I have tried... Nope..

Prefer XF for all my soft plastic rods also finesse jigs.

23 hours ago, CroakHunter said:

Practice and a daiwa with an sv spool really helps lol

I’m definitely going to have to pick one up I’ve heard a lot of great stuff about them. The only thing that I heard isn’t good is that leader knots get stuck in the t wing system. Have you had problems with this?

I dont use leaders much, if I do I only make them as long as the distance between the first eye and tip top guide. So I cant comment on that. 

2 hours ago, CroakHunter said:

I dont use leaders much, if I do I only make them as long as the distance between the first eye and tip top guide. So I cant comment on that. 

X2 

 

Thats the key, knot should be in front of the T-Wing... even in front of the first guide as that is where you get most line slap (knot fatigue).

In addition to bottom contact, this could be an excellent frog rod. Not ideal for super nasty slop but for sparse cover, docks, etc I've found a MH rod to be perfect. 

On 2/15/2019 at 9:04 AM, evilcatfish said:

In addition to bottom contact, this could be an excellent frog rod. Not ideal for super nasty slop but for sparse cover, docks, etc I've found a MH rod to be perfect. 

I’ve used a MH for frogging before and I loved it. A lot easier than using a heavy rod for hours on end

On 2/13/2019 at 6:56 PM, CroakHunter said:

Practice and a daiwa with an sv spool really helps lol

Yup, got the SV103XS last year. It was Day and Night ! 

I can skip over 100 times with 2 to 3 backlash but not that bad. 

 

 

For the MH XF - Texas Rig ! You wanna kidnap those babies !