Hey there everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. So I’m looking at getting another Texas rig rod for throwing in some moderate weed cover. I’m in Minnesota near Bemidji so large mats aren’t super common where I’m at. I currently have a 7’ MH Fast St. Croix Legend X and I love it. I want something that might be a big more sensitive but still good power and hook setting ability. I also want to try a longer rod, maybe a 7’4 or so. I can’t decide if a Fast tip would be better or if I should try a X-Fast tip. I’ve heard a lot of people only use fast but I’d love to hear what everyone thinks on the matter. Usually I’m throwing a 1/4 ounce Texas rig with a craw/creature bait. I am planning on Sticking with St. Croix but I would love to hear everyone thoughts. 

All of my Texas rigged plastics are fished on a 7' MH fast tip with 15lb IInvizx and a really fast reel.  Really thick grass mats.

6 hours ago, Thomas Olson said:

Hey there everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. So I’m looking at getting another Texas rig rod for throwing in some moderate weed cover. I’m in Minnesota near Bemidji so large mats aren’t super common where I’m at. I currently have a 7’ MH Fast St. Croix Legend X and I love it. I want something that might be a big more sensitive but still good power and hook setting ability. I also want to try a longer rod, maybe a 7’4 or so. I can’t decide if a Fast tip would be better or if I should try a X-Fast tip. I’ve heard a lot of people only use fast but I’d love to hear what everyone thinks on the matter. Usually I’m throwing a 1/4 ounce Texas rig with a craw/creature bait. I am planning on Sticking with St. Croix but I would love to hear everyone thoughts. 

*Have you considered using #30 lb. braid + leader ? That current MH/F  rod you have now might be prefect for that set up .

My T-rig rod is a Loomis IMX-PRO 853C JWR XF. It's my favorite worm rod. 

I am partial to xf action. All of my rods are xf. I like a short hook set which the xf action allows for. 

I use both for T-Rigged plastic but prefer an X-Fast rod for deeper water and/or long casts and a Fast rod for baits I like to use in shallower water (4-6 ft range).  This is a loose guide for me and not a strict rule.   

 

I also like X-fast rods for baits I like to pop off the bottom and fast rods for soft plastic that I either slow roll in (ribbon tail worms) or baits that I jerk and drop (senkos). 

7 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I use both for T-Rigged plastic but prefer an X-Fast rod for deeper water and/or long casts and a Fast rod for baits I like to use in shallower water (4-6 ft range).  This is loose guide for me and not a strict rule.   

 

I also like X-fast rods for baits I like to pop off the bottom and fast rods for soft plastic that I either slow roll in (ribbon tail worms) or baits that I jerk and drop (senkos). 

This. 

2 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Have you considered using #30 lb. braid + leader ? That current MH/F  rod you have now might be prefect for that set up .

Actually I never really thought about it much. I will say you do have a solid point. I may have to try that out first.

As for a response on the other comments, I usually work these baits in about 5-15 foot of water. I like the XF (all my finesse spinning rods are XF) but I worry that the XF tip won’t be able to handle my hooksets. Is this a legit worry or am I overthinking it? 

*If using a non - braid I believe there would be enough "give" in the line to absorb any hookset you could muster with a XF rod  (as long as you are not high sticking) . Since braid has no stretch - I suggested a F action rod with braid would be about equivalent to a XF action rod with FC , Co-Poly or Mono line .