I have two similar saltwater rods here, same length 7':

 

Rod A: Heavy, 12-50lb, 3/8 - 1 oz.

Rod B: Medium heavy, 12-20lb, 1-3 oz.

 

Why A, with a much higher line weight (50 vs. 20lb), is limited to 1 oz lure only while B is 3 oz?

Rod A might be graphite, so if you tried to throw a 3oz lure on it, the tip would  probably snap. Rod B may be have a lot of fiberglass in it, so the tip could bend a lot without snapping, like an UglyStik. Ignore the naming, i.e. Heavy vs Medium Heavy, and just look at the lure weight recommendation. 

Also some rods have lead only for their rating.  I have a couple different rods like that.  Two rods are MHF rated 3/16-3/8 oz.  Contacted their office and was assured the rods handled normal MH rod weights.  So total weight at least double the listing on the rod.  Two HF from another company rated 1/4-5/8 oz.  Casts 1/2 oz. jig with skirt and trailer beautifully.  Absolutely no doubt in my mind it will handle even heavier lures.

The line ratings might also reflect braid vs plastic usage.  I'd lean more into the rec'd lure weights as well.

 

scott

'rating' in the descriptive word sense can be a wide range depending on the manufacturer's whims.  It can depend on the intended use or any other thing the manufacturer thinks is right.

 

You said both are salt water.  Is one a surf rod and the other an inshore type rod?  A medium heavy surf rod could be 1-3 oz while an inshore type rod meant for redfish and specs would be rated more like a freshwater bass rod and a heavy would carry a 3/8-1 type of rating.

Especially in salt tackle, you see big variance in ratings vs. purpose

My surf 8' surf ML is rated 1/4 to 1 oz - this would be MH in a bass rod.  

My near-offshore 7' rods are even wider, e.g. MH rated 1 to 4 oz..  

Very similar for inshore rods, a couple rated ML that are closer closer to M or MH in bass rods.  

 

What you would expect in the OPs's example, two different makers are probably represented.  

It would be very unlikely for one maker the rate his two rods as marked.  

 

The lighter-line-rating + heavier lures is also probably a faster taper.  

 

5 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Especially in salt tackle, you see big variance in ratings vs. purpose

My surf 8' surf ML is rated 1/4 to 1 oz - this would be MH in a bass rod.  

My near-offshore 7' rods are even wider, e.g. MH rated 1 to 4 oz..  

Very similar for inshore rods, a couple rated ML that are closer closer to M or MH in bass rods.  

 

What you would expect in the OPs's example, two different makers are probably represented.  

It would be very unlikely for one maker the rate his two rods as marked.  

 

The lighter-line-rating + heavier lures is also probably a faster taper.  

 

My 7' ML Hurricane Redbone was rated 3/8-3/4 oz.

The range shows it's a para-taper rod - in bass rod, that wouldn't be MH.  

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The range shows it's a para-taper rod - in bass rod, that wouldn't be ML.  

MH for bass in my book.  It and a Primmus cast a 3/8 oz. crankbait the proverbial mile.

Rod ratings are 100% subjective with zero industry standards. They’re just recommendations of the manufacturers. Line wt ratings are virtually meaningless for a bass rod. 

36 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

MH for bass in my book.  It and a Primmus cast a 3/8 oz. crankbait the proverbial mile.

yeah, typo - I've been busy

Thank you all for the inputs.

Let me ask it this way: can I use a 3 oz lure with rod A that has a 50lb line rating?

10 hours ago, govallis said:

Thank you all for the inputs.

Let me ask it this way: can I use a 3 oz lure with rod A that has a 50lb line rating?

 

only you can know based on the rod itself.  Maybe is the short answer.  What is the rod (make and model)?  Saltwater rods for heavier applications like surf and boat are typically pretty flexible in what they can handle.  My heavy surf rod I think is a 1-4 but I've through 8 and bait on it before.

14 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Rod ratings are 100% subjective with zero industry standards. They’re just recommendations of the manufacturers. Line wt ratings are virtually meaningless for a bass rod. 

This 110% DVT!

As I gained more experience on the water (going on 38 years now at age 43 😎) I rarely even look at the print on the rods due to variances from builder to builder.

 

Weight, balance, and the tip test are all I use to determine which rods will be serving different techniques.