Do you find (say fishing a jerkbait or something) is easier to twitch and give subtle movements to a bait if you've got a rod with a softer or firmer tip? I hear a lot of guys say a softer tip but when I do with a noodle tip it just flops around so sloppily that it's hard to do anything subtle. What say you?

Are you using mono that stretches, or a braid that doesn’t? Makes a big difference.

I guess I was asking in general where line was not a part of the equation but for the specific example I'd be using FC I'm sure.

My Helium3s have soft tips and when using copolymer (Yo-Zuri Hybrid) I find it really hard to get a crisp snap required for jerkbaits. I feel like I have to really rip on the rod as fast as I can. I still don't feel like I'm getting the right action. With braid to leader, however, it's pretty easy to get a nice snap. You can feel it. For applications where you really need a good twitch or snap, I think a stiffer tip OR braid is the way to go. That's the conclusion at which I've arrived, anyway.

Soft tip but fast action. Not always easy to find but do exist. 

1 minute ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Soft tip but fast action. Not always easy to find but do exist. 

Ahh yes, that is a unicorn! Any come to mind for $100 or less?

Not right off the top of my head. Mostly familiar with bare blanks. I’ve handled some Steez and old all star rods that fit the description if not the price. 

7 hours ago, Scott F said:

Are you using mono that stretches, or a braid that doesn’t? Makes a big difference.

So now 1/2 oz lure stretches mono.......amazing!

Tom

 

4 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

Ahh yes, that is a unicorn! Any come to mind for $100 or less?

Major Craft Iovino Splash-It rod works good and meets the fast action with flexible tip.

Black Friday it's close to your budget.

Tom

7 minutes ago, WRB said:

So now 1/2 oz lure stretches mono.......amazing!

Tom

The drag of water alone will cause the line to stretch. If you’ve ever dragged mono line out behind your boat without a lure to let it untwist, you see how much it pulls on your rod. You’d swear there was a lure attached. Haven’t you ever had a lure stuck to a stick a few feet under water with mono? You twitch the rod a bit and you see the branch doesn’t move unless you make larger movements. Try same situation with with braid and you see how much better your action with the rod tip is transferred to the lure. You are making a big mistake if you don’t take line stretch into account when you are trying to impart action to a lure. Don’t believe it if you don’t want to. 

2 minutes ago, Scott F said:

The drag of water alone will cause the line to stretch. If you’ve ever dragged mono line out behind your boat without a lure to let it untwist, you see how much it pulls on your rod. You’d swear there was a lure attached. Haven’t you ever had a lure stuck to a stick a few feet under water with mono? You twitch the rod a bit and you see the branch doesn’t move unless you make larger movements. Try same situation with with braid and you see how much better your action with the rod tip is transferred to the lure. You are making a big mistake if you don’t take line stretch into account when you are trying to impart action to a lure. Don’t believe it if you don’t want to. 

 Anglers feel the coeffienct of line drag going through and believe it's stretch, the line isn't getting any longer.

Tom

 

 

For jerkbaits, soft tip stiff bottom.  My favorite is the G. Loomis GLX 783C but obviously not under a $100.  

 

I did just buy a Quantum KVD Tour 7'4'' Heavy and it has a softish tip.  I would guess that the M or MH in this rod line up would be just about right and they can be found for under $100. 

I have an old Team Daiwa S 6'3" topwater/twitchin rod . It has a fast action and very soft tip.  I think Daiwa still makes it, there is a 6'3" M/F in the Tatula line that has full cork handles. $150 MSRP.