A buddy of mine game me a 7'5" Heavy Fast Shimano SLX casting rod that has a lure rating of 1/2-1 1/2. What would be a good use for this rod?

Small swimbait or punching is about the only techniques I would use it for. It really wouldn't fit the bill for anything else I use.

Well, mine is only a 7' - but my H/F is used for flipping, pitching, punching, larger topwaters (WP-90 & 110, Super Spooks, etc.) and frogs.

26 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Small swimbait or punching is about the only techniques I would use it for. It really wouldn't fit the bill for anything else I use.

My first thought was a frog rod? Seems suited for that or am I wrong? But maybe bigger jigs? Bigger spinnerbaits? Whopper ploppers?

I'm not a big frog fisherman, but I throw them on a MH rod with braid. I use the MH rod so that I can get a little bit of give when they hit. I tried a H rod and I would always pull the frog away from them.

It would definitely work for frogs and big jigs/flipping. I throw both those baits a ton and have at 6 rods rigged for them. All are 7'3 to 7'6.

How nice, you've basically got a free football jig/Biffle Bug rod, that you can also throw smallish swim baits with.  Me, I'd pair it with a basic workhorse reel, like a Curado K and dedicate it as a Biffle Bug Rod.

Frog-frog-FROG

My 7'6H/F Expride (similar length/action) will be used for Frogs and jigs over 3/4oz

4 minutes ago, gilkeybr said:

My 7'6H/F Expride (similar length/action) will be used for Frogs and jigs over 3/4oz

I'd assume 99% of people fish a jig with a trailer on it. Would you say a trailer bumps a 3/8 up to 1/2oz and a 1/2 up to 3/4oz in essence?

6 minutes ago, michael1 said:

I'd assume 99% of people fish a jig with a trailer on it. Would you say a trailer bumps a 3/8 up to 1/2oz and a 1/2 up to 3/4oz in essence?

About that - have to remember that the weight of the jig printed is JUST for the lead/tungsten in the head. Now add hook, skirt and trailer to that.

I might guess that, I wouldn't assume that.  Walmart sells cheap digital postal scales that resolve issues like that.

Get a case to store it in & remove the battery between uses (avoiding corrosion) and it will last a long time.  I've had mine since 2009 or so and counting.

1 hour ago, michael1 said:

I'd assume 99% of people fish a jig with a trailer on it. Would you say a trailer bumps a 3/8 up to 1/2oz and a 1/2 up to 3/4oz in essence?

For me, when I read jig weight, its just the weight of the jig alone.  Not including trailer.  

 

In my case id be fishing a 3/4oz jig with trailer.  I have cast it with a 1/2oz jig with trailer and it does fine.  But I have other rods that are better suited to that weight range.

I have the same rod, I got it for frogs, but I only made about 10 cast with it, but did catch one fish on a big spinnerbait, but I'm now going to sell it because I replaced it with the Sierra 735c, which has a softer tip and better balanced. The SLX is a really light rod, I think it weighed 4.9 oz, but I couldn't get over the bad balance. I wouldn't want to do much tip up fishing with it. The same thing applies to the SLX 7'2 MH/XF, but it's not good for tip down fishing at all, so the bad balance is even more of an issue. If the were the only rods I had, I could deal with it and be fine, but I have too many other rods that are better.

Man, you guys are beating this rod up pretty good! If I wanted to determine for myself if I thought this rod was tip heavy how would I do that? I assume put the reel on and put my finger under it and balance it on there? How far up should be the balance point?

Self defense

It’ll work great for inshore fishing in saltwater.