So, I have a Fox River Lure & Rod 7'6" heavy casting rod.  Lure rating is .25 - 1.5oz.  I have no experience with larger swimbaits.  Is a 2oz swimbait simply too heavy for this rod?  I'm not sure if there is a difference between manufacturer specs and practical use.  Thanks for any input you can offer.

I bet it's fine. When you cast, just don't whip it out there and overload the rod; give it more like a gentle lob.

 

It probably "can" handle it, but I wouldn't for an extended period of time. For one, it's a full half ounce over what the blank is rated. 2, I'm going to guess that's a flipping/punching rod that isn't going to be well suited for fishing swimbaits even if it can maybe cast one. 

It probably can, but it won't feel very good and you do have a higher chance of snapping your rod.

Lure at 33% more than the rod rating...maybe...for a while IF you take it easy. Lob and soft retrieve.

 

For something that heavy I'd go find an Extra-Heavy rod...maybe one that's rated up to 3oz. Using a rod at or (worse) above it's rating is asking for trouble. I personally like to have some 'fudge factor' so on a 3/4oz rated rod I'll usually toss nothing heavier than 5/8.

Looked up this rod as I am not familiar with this company and it looks good but the lure recommendation is a general use C-rig, spinner bait, jigs and small swimbaits.

This rod may not be a moderate action long handle swimbait rod, it doesn't list handle length or action?? Fast action rods don't usually work well for medium size 2 oz swimbaits and a standard length handle will tire you out quickly.

I would contact the rod company and ask by telling them exactly what swimbaits you plan to use.

Tom

 

Yup! 

And you can also tow a 5th wheel with a Sentra....downhill....once, anyway.

Do you lift weights? Casting 2 oz all day would probably wear you out.

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Yup! 

And you can also tow a 5th wheel with a Sentra....downhill....once, anyway.

I think at that point the 5th wheel might end up towing the sentra.

8 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Do you lift weights? Casting 2 oz all day would probably wear you out.

My average musky bait is 3 oz, and yes sometimes it does feel like I'm just lifting weights out there when I don't see a single fish all day ??

23 hours ago, WRB said:

Looked up this rod as I am not familiar with this company and it looks good but the lure recommendation is a general use C-rig, spinner bait, jigs and small swimbaits.

This rod may not be a moderate action long handle swimbait rod, it doesn't list handle length or action?? Fast action rods don't usually work well for medium size 2 oz swimbaits and a standard length handle will tire you out quickly.

I would contact the rod company and ask by telling them exactly what swimbaits you plan to use.

Tom

 

Thanks for taking the time to look it up.   It is, in fact, fast action.   Unfortunately I only fish from the shore so don’t have the luxury of taking a rod for every application.   Usually I only take 3 rods...  spinning, MH baitcaster and either a crankbait rod or my HF which I use for flipping/pitching.   So I try to make due with those combos.  

 

Sounds like a 2oz swimbaut could work but clearly not the ideal set up.  I don’t plan on fishing these a ton but just wanted the ability to occasionally do so.   Thanks to everyone who offered their thoughts.    

On 3/8/2019 at 7:43 AM, haggard said:

I bet it's fine. When you cast, just don't whip it out there and overload the rod; give it more like a gentle lob.

 

 

 

On 3/8/2019 at 10:55 AM, MN Fisher said:

Lure at 33% more than the rod rating...maybe...for a while IF you take it easy. Lob and soft retrieve.

 

For something that heavy I'd go find an Extra-Heavy rod...maybe one that's rated up to 3oz. Using a rod at or (worse) above it's rating is asking for trouble. I personally like to have some 'fudge factor' so on a 3/4oz rated rod I'll usually toss nothing heavier than 5/8.

 

On 3/8/2019 at 9:17 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

It probably "can" handle it, but I wouldn't for an extended period of time. For one, it's a full half ounce over what the blank is rated. 2, I'm going to guess that's a flipping/punching rod that isn't going to be well suited for fishing swimbaits even if it can maybe cast one. 

All this stuff about breaking a rod from throwing a bait that heavier than what the rod is rated for is a bunch of mumbo jumbo.  What kind of stress do you think a rod goes through when you catch a 10lb fish (thats 160oz mind you)?  It's a whole lot more than by throwing a bait that is 1/2oz more than the rod is rated for.  If it's going to break on a cast of a larger bait then it's going to break when you catch a big fish.

 

 The lure weight rating is more about how the bait loads the rod on the cast.  Use a bait that is lower than the rod's lure weight rating it isn't going to cast very well, if it casts it at all.  Same goes for if the lure is heavier than the rating it's not going to cast it as efficiently since it's going to overload the rod tip and it's not going to go as far as if you stay within the weight rating.  Most anglers that use big swimbaits or whatever typically lob the bait out there anyways.  

 

And a rod's power has nothing to do with how heavy of a bait a rod can throw either.  There are medium-heavy musky rods that can throw 2-10oz baits.

44 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

 

 

 

All this stuff about breaking a rod from throwing a bait that heavier than what the rod is rated for is a bunch of mumbo jumbo.  What kind of stress do you think a rod goes through when you catch a 10lb fish (thats 160oz mind you)?  It's a whole lot more than by throwing a bait that is 1/2oz more than the rod is rated for.  If it's going to break on a cast of a larger bait then it's going to break when you catch a big fish.

 

 The lure weight rating is more about how the bait loads the rod on the cast.  Use a bait that is lower than the rod's lure weight rating it isn't going to cast very well, if it casts it at all.  Same goes for if the lure is heavier than the rating it's not going to cast it as efficiently since it's going to overload the rod tip and it's not going to go as far as if you stay within the weight rating.  Most anglers that use big swimbaits or whatever typically lob the bait out there anyways.  

 

And a rod's power has nothing to do with how heavy of a bait a rod can throw either.  There are medium-heavy musky rods that can throw 2-10oz baits.

I think you've gone two sentences too far with your rebuttal.  A light power crappie rod wouldn't do well with that 10oz bait...

 

oe

41 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

I think you've gone two sentences too far with your rebuttal.  A light power crappie rod wouldn't do well with that 10oz bait...

 

oe

Right, but the OP is talking about a rod that is 1/2oz more than his rod is rated for.  The one post said to go with an extra-heavy rod to throw a 2oz swimbait.  That was what my statement was aimed at.  If the OP was saying "hey I got this ultralight trout rod that's rated at 1/4oz and can I throw a 2oz swimbait on it?" the answer would be pretty simple.

1 hour ago, moguy1973 said:

 

 

 

All this stuff about breaking a rod from throwing a bait that heavier than what the rod is rated for is a bunch of mumbo jumbo.  What kind of stress do you think a rod goes through when you catch a 10lb fish (thats 160oz mind you)?  It's a whole lot more than by throwing a bait that is 1/2oz more than the rod is rated for.  If it's going to break on a cast of a larger bait then it's going to break when you catch a big fish.

 

 The lure weight rating is more about how the bait loads the rod on the cast.  Use a bait that is lower than the rod's lure weight rating it isn't going to cast very well, if it casts it at all.  Same goes for if the lure is heavier than the rating it's not going to cast it as efficiently since it's going to overload the rod tip and it's not going to go as far as if you stay within the weight rating.  Most anglers that use big swimbaits or whatever typically lob the bait out there anyways.  

 

And a rod's power has nothing to do with how heavy of a bait a rod can throw either.  There are medium-heavy musky rods that can throw 2-10oz baits.

I never said it would break it, actually said it could be done, just not the best idea. I overloaded rods when I started out swimbaiting. It worked, but they weren't built for swimbaits so even though they would throw them, they didn't work well for it.

 

Different types of rods have different ratings. I've got saltwater rods that are only rated heavy, but up to 80lb test and 12oz.  Swimbait rods are rated differently also. My MH is rated 2-6 ounces.

Before anyone makes comments or suggestions they should have some experience using the rods and reels.

BlueBasser is trying to share his experiences so you all don't make mistakes based on knowing nothing about this topic 

Tom

More than chance of breakage, the rod may be overpowered by too heavy of a bait making the retrieve feel labored and/or mushy.