Cabin Fever has really taken a toll on me. I'm hoping for lakes to be ice-free in a few weeks. We seem to be a little behind compared to last year.

 

Anyways, today I was bored, so I decided to clean some of my rods/check guides. I then weighed them all, just out of curiosity. There were a few surprises TBH. The Orochi being that heavy. The Dobyns' being so heavy, which is well-known. But you'd never know it because they balance sooo well. Especially the Sierra. Those Daiwa spinning rods are super light. The Kistler 7'3 Heavy coming in at an impressive 4.20. I also thought the 7'2 Expride's would've been lighter. But like with the Dobyns', they feel lighter in hand when paired with a reel. 

 

Casting

 

7'9 Dobyns Fury Swimbait MH/Fast- 7.97

7'9 Jenko Savant Swimbait MH/Fast- 6.13

7'11 Shimano Expride XH/Fast- 5.88

7'1 Dobyns Kaden MAG H/Fast- 5.36

7'4 Lew's TP-1 Black H/Fast- 5.29

7'2 Megabass Orochi Diablo M/Fast- 4.98

7'3 Dobyns Sierra 734 H/Fast- 4.91

7'6 ALX IKOS Thunder XH/Mod-Fast- 4.73

7'3 Cabela's Tournament ZX H/Fast- 4.68

7'2 Lew's TP-1 Black MH/Fast- 4.62

7'2 Shimano Expride (2) MH/Fast- 4.60

7'1 ALX Zolo Deputy MH/Fast- 4.41

7'2 Kistler Feel N Reel (Composite) MH/Moderate- 4.40

7'6 Lew's Custom Speed Stick MH/Mod-Fast- 4.38

6'11 Megabass Levante JB Special M/Fast- 4.26

6'8 Fenwick Techna PX M/Fast- 4.22

7'3 Kistler KLX H/Mod-Fast- 4.20

7'1 Kistler Helium MH/XFast- 4.11

6'11 Kistler Feel N Reel (Composite) MH/Moderate- 4.10

6'11 Shimano Poison Adrena Med+/Fast- 3.76

 

Spinning

 

7'1 Evergreen Int. Combat Stick MH/Fast- 4.71

6'10 Cabela's Tournament ZX M/XFast- 4.40

6'10 13 Fishing Omen Black 3 ML/XFast- 4.30

6'10 St. Croix Bass X ML/XFast- 3.82

6'9 Shimano Zodias ML/Fast- 3.62

7'1 Daiwa Tatula ML/Fast- 3.57

7'0 Daiwa Rebellion ML/Fast- 3.40

 

Just now, NorthernBasser said:

Cabin Fever has really taken a toll on me. I'm hoping for lakes to be ice-free in a few weeks. We seem to be a little behind compared to last year.

 

Anyways, today I was bored, so I decided to clean some of my rods/check guides. I then weighed them all, just out of curiosity. There were a few surprises TBH. The Orochi being that heavy. The Dobyns' being so heavy, which is well-known. But you'd never know it because they balance sooo well. Especially the Sierra. Those Daiwa spinning rods are super light. The Kistler 7'3 Heavy coming in at an impressive 4.20. I also thought the 7'2 Expride's would've been lighter. But like with the Dobyns', they feel lighter in hand when paired with a reel. 

 

Casting

 

7'9 Dobyns Fury Swimbait MH/Fast- 7.97

7'9 Jenko Savant Swimbait MH/Fast- 6.13

7'11 Shimano Expride XH/Fast- 5.88

7'1 Dobyns Kaden MAG H/Fast- 5.36

7'4 Lew's TP-1 Black H/Fast- 5.29

7'2 Megabass Orochi Diablo M/Fast- 4.98

7'3 Dobyns Sierra 734 H/Fast- 4.91

7'6 ALX IKOS Thunder XH/Mod-Fast- 4.73

7'3 Cabela's Tournament ZX H/Fast- 4.68

7'2 Lew's TP-1 Black MH/Fast- 4.62

7'2 Shimano Expride (2) MH/Fast- 4.60

7'1 ALX Zolo Deputy MH/Fast- 4.41

7'2 Kistler Feel N Reel (Composite) MH/Moderate- 4.40

7'6 Lew's Custom Speed Stick MH/Mod-Fast- 4.38

6'11 Megabass Levante JB Special M/Fast- 4.26

6'8 Fenwick Techna PX M/Fast- 4.22

7'3 Kistler KLX H/Mod-Fast- 4.20

7'1 Kistler Helium MH/XFast- 4.11

6'11 Kistler Feel N Reel (Composite) MH/Moderate- 4.10

6'11 Shimano Poison Adrena Med+/Fast- 3.76

 

Spinning

 

7'1 Evergreen Int. Combat Stick MH/Fast- 4.71

6'10 Cabela's Tournament ZX M/XFast- 4.40

6'10 13 Fishing Omen Black 3 ML/XFast- 4.30

6'10 St. Croix Bass X ML/XFast- 3.82

6'9 Shimano Zodias ML/Fast- 3.62

7'1 Daiwa Tatula ML/Fast- 3.57

7'0 Daiwa Rebellion ML/Fast- 3.40

 

The PA 6'11M+ is just incredible.  So light and still powerful.

 

scott

27 rods ???

That's taking bait specific to another level. Lol

 

deleted

I keep track of all stats on my gear - so ya, I've weighed my rods as well

55 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

The PA 6'11M+ is just incredible.  So light and still powerful.

 

scott

It really is. It's like holding a feather in your hand. The first time I got a bite on it I was afraid to set the hook. But like you said, it has power that you wouldn't think it'd have.

52 minutes ago, Bird said:

27 rods ???

That's taking bait specific to another level. Lol

 

I have a bit of an issue. I do like trying different stuff out too. So I'll buy/sell here and there. 

29 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I keep track of all stats on my gear - so ya, I've weighed my rods as well

Good. So I'm not the only weirdo.  

25 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

1 hour ago, softwateronly said:

The PA 6'11M+ is just incredible.  So light and still powerful.

 

scott

It really is. It's like holding a feather in your hand. The first time I got a bite on it I was afraid to set the hook. But like you said, it has power that you wouldn't think it'd have.

 

Early Feb, I hooked and landed my PB with that rod between 2 docks and a gnarly brushpile.  It was able to really lean into her the 2 times she went for the cover and lead her out to more open water for me to lip her.  I wasn't real sure how to utilize it, but now I know it can do almost anything.

 

scott

Curious, how do you weigh a 7ft rod accurately?

3 minutes ago, Brian14 said:

Curious, how do you weigh a 7ft rod accurately?

1 hour ago, softwateronly said:

 

Early Feb, I hooked and landed my PB with that rod between 2 docks and a gnarly brushpile.  It was able to really lean into her the 2 times she went for the cover and lead her out to more open water for me to lip her.  I wasn't real sure how to utilize it, but now I know it can do almost anything.

 

scott

Yeah, it can do so much. I'd say my 3 main uses are jerkbaits, finesse jigs and 'smaller' paddle tail swimbaits. 

28 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

 

Mine is different, but balancing the rod on the scale platform isn't as hard as you think.

Got a few more rods to try out.

 

7'2 H Shimano Zodias weighed in at an impressive 4.47 oz. That's lighter than my 7'2 MH Expride A's. I'm sure the monocoque handle has a lot to do with that. 

 

And then I was intrigued by the 6th Sense Team 6 casting rod. The 7'1 MH weighed in at a whopping 5.94 oz. That's more than my 7'11 XH Expride A. I could tell as soon as I pulled it out of the tube that the sucker weighed a lot. Curious how much of that has to do with the woven-style handle. I'll likely be selling this one. 

My Phenix K2 rods and Shimano PA rods are all pretty light at about 3.25 to 3.5 ounces.  But my Tennessee handled Fenwick HMG ultralight spinning rods all weigh in at under two ounces.  With a 22 Aldebaran BFS XG (casting) or a Shimano Vanford (spinning) reel, you can put together some crazy lightweight rigs.

On 3/11/2022 at 7:34 PM, Bird said:

27 rods ???

That's taking bait specific to another level. Lol

 

And that's just SOME of his rods.   Some guys carry more than that on their boat.  A-Jay, you one of them?  Fess up.

 

EDIT: I weighed a few of my rods a few years ago.  Believe I've even posted some of the weights elsewhere.  Need to get around and weigh some more.

 

CASTING RODS

 

Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Stick Mark Rose Ledge (Small Crankbait) 7’6” MF = 4.69 oz.

Kistler Helium 3 7’1” MH-XF = 4.05 oz.

Witch Doctor Shaman 7’1” H-XF  = 5.12 oz.

ALX Zolo Dream 7’ MF = 4.07 oz.

ALX Zolo Toadface 7’2” MH+F = 4.25 oz.

ALX Zolo Deputy 7’1” MHF  = 4.29 oz.

Ark Tharp B-Hittay 7’4” MH_Mod-Fast = 6.31 oz.

Ark Tharp Money Maker 7’3” MHF = 4.68 oz.

iRod Genesis II 703C 7’ MHF All Purpose = 4.02 oz.

iRod Genesis II 703CC 7’ MHF Gabe’s Rip Rap Special = 4.3 oz.

OG Falcon Expert 6’9” LF = 3.6 oz.

Falcon OG Expert 7’ MF = 4.36 oz.

Falcon Cara 7’ MF 1= 4.73 oz.

Daiwa OG Tatula 7’ MR = 3.91 oz.

Daiwa OG Tatula 6’10” M-XF = 3.74 oz.

Daiwa OG Tataula 7’ MLR = 3.97 oz.

Daiwa OG Tatula 6’10” MHF = 3.63 oz.

Fenwick Techna AV 7’ MHF with paper & plastic on handle = 5.38 oz.

Fenwick Techna AV 7’ MF  = 4.21 oz.

Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6’10” MF = 3.59 oz.

Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6’3” M-MF = 3.68 oz.

Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6’10” MH-MF = 4.04 oz.

OG Powell Endurance 723C 7’2” MH-EF = 5.52

OG Fenwick Aetos 7’ MHF 4.27 oz.

Custom RX8 7’ MHF = 4.24 oz.

Cabela’s Prodigy 704 = 4.12 oz.

Cabela’s Prodigy 706 = 4.87 oz.

Fishing 13 OG Omen Black 7’ MF (end cap off) = 4.78 oz.

Quantum Superlite 6’10” HF = 4.52 oz.

Quantum Smoke Inshore 7’ MF = 3.57 oz.

Abu Villain 2.0 7’ MHF = 4.66 oz.

Abu Villain 2.0 6’10” ML-EF = 4.31 oz.

Phenix Recon2 C713 7’1” MLF = 4.29 oz.

Berkley Lightning 6’ MHF = 4.82 oz.

Shimano Cumara (black) 7’2” MHF = 4.25 oz.

BPS Crankin’ Stick 7’ MLF = 5.25 oz.

Hammer Elite Micro Ladies 7’3” MHF = 3.87 oz.

Fishing 13 Envy Black 6’10” ML-EF = 3.81 oz.

St. Croix Mojo Bass 7’1” MF = 3.78 oz.

Okuma Helios 7’ M = 3.34 oz.

Custom Lamiglas Infinity 864 7’2” MHF = 4.57 oz.

Custom 7’ LF on HM-SJ841-MHX blank = 3.56 oz.

 

SPINNING RODS

Fenwick Aetos 7’ MF = 4.12 oz.

Abu Fantasist Regista 6’10” MLF = 3.72 oz.

Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6’9” M-EF = 4.02 oz.

Daiwa OG Fuego 6’10” MF = 4.17 oz.

 

Ace Hawk Double

with either Light or UL tip = 4.07 oz.

The missing data on all these weights are an objective power rating.  Not all "medium" power ratings are the same.  How about including CCS ERN/IP numbers and then you'll know if a rod's weight is special or not.  A recent blank I bought, called a drop shot blank rated medium power had an ERN of 12.  Another rated medium light power had an ERN of 19.  An exec of one of the biggest blank makers called an ERN of 19 "medium heavy."  See the problem?