I’m very confused. Half of what I’ve read and heard say fast, half moderate. Fast makes way more sense to me, giving you more backbone to set that large, heavy gauge single hook. I’ve missed countless fish on my MHMF Victory.

 

The other part of the equation is line - I’ve been using 14 lb mono for this setup as it doubles as my topwater rod. I’m trying to find a balance that allows me to use this setup for both topwater (spooks/ploppers) and jigs/bladed jigs. Bonus if I can crank on it.

It’s a good question made more difficult due to one’s MF may be more akin to another’s MHMF. But I normally use a MF or a MHF for bladed jigs. 

I like a moderate action rod with some power.  "MH" is kind of all over the place.  The two MH rods I use I for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, buzzbaits, ploppers and L bill cranks also throw 6" Cullshads on and rarely go below a 1/2 oz bait.  They are both closer to the H than the M on the MH spectrum.  I think rod power might be an issue for you.

Nevermind.

 

Sure wish there was a DELETE button.

16 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Nevermind.

 

Sure wish there was a DELETE button.

Lol huh

So I went down this rabbit hole for a bladed jig and spinnerbait rod for years. It started with a G. Loomis Spinnerbait rod about 20 years ago prior to chatterbaits being a thing. I have tried multiple rods that were Fast, Moderate Fast and just Moderate.

 

I ended up with a NRX+ 883c BJR. Its overkill but it works great. The main thing I noticed that I liked about it is that it has a fast tip and then it softens up almost immediately. This multi taper action was the key. I have noticed this same action in the Megabass P5 Blade (don't own this one)  and the P5 Daemos which I do own. These rods stick the fish easily and keep them pinned.  

 

Line for me for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits will always be fluorocarbon.  It just works for me. 

I actually tried the rip n chatter St Croix Victory and found it to be too moderate. Their rods are a bit soft in general and while that one was a nice rod and worked well for me with a lipless crankbait I didn't like throwing a bladed jig on it so I can see why you might have had a similar experience with their MF model. Incidentally I really like their MH F and H F models for spinnerbaits and use those all the time.

 

Like a lot of things I think which rod is best for a bladed jig comes down to personal preference. There are probably a lot of other factors that go into why people like a certain action regardless of whether or not they are aware of those. The size and weight of the lure, type of line they are using, where they are usually throwing it, and how hard they set the hook are a few off the top of my head.

 

On the other hand I also tried a fast rod with a bladed jig and noticed I seemed to be losing more on the way back in. Based on that experience I suspect there is something to the notion that the nature of the design gives them more leverage to shake it off which is why a lot of arguments are made for the moderate rods. In my case I just kept trying different models out until I found one that felt right. For me that's a Champ XP 736 glass but just because that's what seems to work best for me doesn't mean everyone else is going to feel the same way.

 

I should probably point out that I also feel like Dobyns makes the best crankbait rods in general and at this point every crankbait / bladed jig rod I own is a Dobyns so my opinion is most likely biased.

I've always used a Fast action rod but I have a couple Med-Fast and Mod-Fast rods I want to give a try.  Problem is catching fish from public access spots now that I am limited to shore.  

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

I've always used a Fast action rod but I have a couple Med-Fast and Mod-Fast rods I want to give a try.  Problem is catching fish from public access spots now that I am limited to shore.  

Why are you suddenly limited to the bank?

1 hour ago, Brian11719 said:

I actually tried the rip n chatter St Croix Victory and found it to be too moderate. Their rods are a bit soft in general and while that one was a nice rod and worked well for me with a lipless crankbait I didn't like throwing a bladed jig on it so I can see why you might have had a similar experience with their MF model. Incidentally I really like their MH F and H F models for spinnerbaits and use those all the time.

 

Like a lot of things I think which rod is best for a bladed jig comes down to personal preference. There are probably a lot of other factors that go into why people like a certain action regardless of whether or not they are aware of those. The size and weight of the lure, type of line they are using, where they are usually throwing it, and how hard they set the hook are a few off the top of my head.

 

On the other hand I also tried a fast rod with a bladed jig and noticed I seemed to be losing more on the way back in. Based on that experience I suspect there is something to the notion that the nature of the design gives them more leverage to shake it off which is why a lot of arguments are made for the moderate rods. In my case I just kept trying different models out until I found one that felt right. For me that's a Champ XP 736 glass but just because that's what seems to work best for me doesn't mean everyone else is going to feel the same way.

 

I should probably point out that I also feel like Dobyns makes the best crankbait rods in general and at this point every crankbait / bladed jig rod I own is a Dobyns so my opinion is most likely biased.

So you throw crankbaits on the same set up as bladed jigs?

22 hours ago, ohioguy25 said:

Why are you suddenly limited to the bank?

Had to junk the car my roof rack was on.  Now drive a very weak 4-cylinder Camry.  Moved to Florida figuring I'd be fishing out of a boat with a brother-in-law.  He's about 4 years older than I am.

 

It's not safe for the both of us in his 14' Gheenoe.  Too narrow and neither of us have good balance anymore.  I used to hold it steady while he got in and out as he has bad knees.  Hips not all that great either.  My boat is much more stable.  It's a 12.5' Porta-Bote.

 

I no longer want to put it together before fishing and then take it apart at the end of the day.  Would require a new vehicle at the least and a vehicle plus a trailer at the most because I'd want to keep it assembled.  No money for either.

 

My balance isn't great because 1) I've become too much of a couch potato since retiring and 2) my left side is weak because of a brain tumor.  PT and OT after the 2 operations let me gain most of the strength back on my left side, but I've lost almost all of it since retiring.  

I like a (relatively) fast action using either mono or fluoro. If I were using braid, I’d probably opt for a moderate action. 
 

It’s all user preference. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer.

48 minutes ago, ohioguy25 said:

So you throw crankbaits on the same set up as bladed jigs?

I use the 736cb glass for 1/2oz bladed jigs and larger crankbaits like a 6xd.

For smaller bladed jigs like a mini max I use a champ 705cb (which I also use for jerkbaits).

 

For standard size crankbaits and lipless crankbaits I use a 735cb. I really like all three of these and have the 735 and the 736 paired with a Tatula 100 and the casting distance and balance on both are good. 

I would usually use a medium heavy fast rod for spinnerbaits. A medium heavy mod. fast or a fast that leans more moderate fast can work very well if you're on your game with hooksets as it helps not pull the bait out of the fish's mouth but it's also harder to drive that hook home.

 

Using braid with a moderate fast helps a little.

I always used my “bass” rod for spinnerbaits. The only lure specific rod I owned was my Crankbait rod made from a salt water popping rod back in the early 70’s.

Today a “bass” rod is defined as MHF, general use rod for bass lures. See no reason for application specific rod for standard size 3/8-1/2 oz spinnerbaits or Chatter/bladed baits. If you can effectively cast a spinnerbait or bladed jig it’s good, you need tip vibration to detect strikes like you do with a crankbait.

Tom
 

I use M and MH rods for both. On MH i prefer a Medium taper and on M rods a Medium Fast taper.

Fast or moderate, braid or mono.  It is all personal preference.  You have to find what works for you.  For ME, I like mono and a fast action with pretty good power.  I’m fishing medium cover, not huge fish.  Some hit it when it hits the water and the fast action accounts for my lack of attention.  Some hit it on the way home on a tight line and the lighter tip lets them get it before I set the hook. 

7 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

I use M and MH rods for both. On MH i prefer a Medium taper and on M rods a Medium Fast taper.

Moderate on the MH rod??

8 hours ago, WRB-2.0 said:

I always used my “bass” rod for spinnerbaits. The only lure specific rod I owned was my Crankbait rod made from a salt water popping rod back in the early 70’s.

Today a “bass” rod is defined as MHF, general use rod for bass lures. See no reason for application specific rod for standard size 3/8-1/2 oz spinnerbaits or Chatter/bladed baits. If you can effectively cast a spinnerbait or bladed jig it’s good, you need tip vibration to detect strikes likely do with a crankbait.

Tom
 

What gives you that tip vibration, fast or moderate?

I am using a 7'0 M/F for chatter baits,spinner baits,and buzz baits. Baitcaster with 40#braid

6 hours ago, ohioguy25 said:

Moderate on the MH rod??

What gives you that tip vibration, fast or moderate?

Moderate.

My Aird-X that I use for spinners and chatters is rated a Fast, but it's a bit slower than my Mojo or Victory fast rods....I'd actually rate it a MF-F - not slow enough to be a Mod-Fast, but not fast enough to be a true Fast.

Just now, MN Fisher said:

My Aird-X that I use for spinners and chatters is rated a Fast, but it's a bit slower than my Mojo or Victory fast rods....I'd actually rate it a MF-F - not slow enough to be a Mod-Fast, but not fast enough to be a true Fast.

That's the ideal spinnerbait rod. Some people call them 70/30 rods, 30% tip, 70% backbone

I confused.  There seems to be an idea out there that a slower action rod has a softer tip and less power then a fast action rod.  That you will lose some hook setting power with a moderate rod compared to a fast action rod.   Its not just this topic but I have seen it before. 

 

Power is power and action is action.  If you select a rod with the appropriate power for your use then there should be no reason to fear a slower action rod.  My XXH 76 punching rod has a moderate fast action.   It's designed to have a couple onces of tungsten dangling off it and the slower action is what gives it that stiffer tip.  

 

Generally speaking, a slower action rod is going to have a stiffer tip than a fast action rod.  The soft tip is part of what gives the rod a fast action.  Some XF even go as far as to have hyper flexible solid carbon tips.  

2 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

I confused.  There seems to be an idea out there that a slower action rod has a softer tip and less power then a fast action rod.  That you will lose some hook setting power with a moderate rod compared to a fast action rod.   Its not just this topic but I have seen it before. 

 

Power is power and action is action.  If you select a rod with the appropriate power for your use then there should be no reason to fear a slower action rod.  My XXH 76 punching rod has a moderate fast action.   It's designed to have a couple onces of tungsten dangling off it and the slower action is what gives it that stiffer tip.  

 

Generally speaking, a slower action rod is going to have a stiffer tip than a fast action rod.  The soft tip is part of what gives the rod a fast action.  Some XF even go as far as to have hyper flexible solid carbon tips.  

Ok now I’m really confused. The majority seem to recommend fast for this application. I thought “fast” meant faster to load up/stiffen allowing you to use the full “power” of the rod to set the hook?

My favorite rod I've been using for probably a decade is the original Daiwa Tatula 7'2" MHR (Medium Heavy Regular). It's basically a moderate fast and has always just felt perfect for spinnerbaits. Something about the tip just lets me sling them into wind with minimal effort or helicoptering. Now interestingly enough I don't love it for chatterbaits. For those I like my Dobyns 744 Champion. It's a jig rod but loads very nicely and just feels right when setting the hook or casting a bladed jig. 

On 9/19/2025 at 12:03 PM, ohioguy25 said:

The other part of the equation is line - I’ve been using 14 lb mono for this setup as it doubles as my topwater rod. I’m trying to find a balance that allows me to use this setup for both topwater (spooks/ploppers) and jigs/bladed jigs. Bonus if I can crank on it.

 

If you are fishing mono and want to do all of those things, I wouldn't get a moderate rod.

 

I'd get more like a moderate/fast action rod.

 

Mono and a moderate rod seems like a lot of stretch.

 

You can make most rods work just by switching the line.

 

If you were using braid I'd say go with moderate. But I wouldn't throw cranks on braid unless they were shallow runners.

 

Disclaimer: I'm no expert.