Hey

We all know that a heavy rod is typically used for what would be considered "heavy duty" situations like fishing in heavy cover or using particularly heavy lures. What im wondering is have you ever used a heavy rated rod for not so "heavy duty" situations?

 

Things like spinnerbaits or chatterbaits, even throwing a 6" worm with a little weight added to it. Im just curious if you only strictly use a heavy rated rod for the "heavy" scenarios. After all, some heavy rated rods turn out to feel a little under that, and may feel more like MH or "MH+"

Thanks 

To answer your question, yes of course!

 

None of us can trust rod manufacturers to all be on the same page with their rod ratings. And they surely are not.

 

One of the most irritating things a rod maker can do is put graphics on a rod that tells us what techniques this rod is for. If there is one thing that should come to an end it would be that.

 

I don't mind the attempt at rating the rod power and speed. But when a rod company puts graphics on a rod saying this rod is specifically for spinnerbaits or topwater is when it gets annoying real fast. Its my rod. I decide what techniques I want to use it for. Its very annoying to be holding a rod in my hands that says it is for topwater when I am standing there using it for a rat'l trap.

 

Getting past that, I judge rod power and speed by hand. What is printed on the rod is merely a guide more or less to give us an idea, but it is up to us to make the final determination and use.

 

Over the years I have noticed differences in how companies rate their rods. Dobyns tends to under rate them while the old made in USA Falcon rods tended to be overrated.

 

I have a made in USA Falcon model BMC-610H I am turning into a spiral wrapped rod right now. It is rated as a heavy, but feels more like a MH to me. I plan on using it for MH techniques and will not be using it for heavy techniques in part due to the blank construction design as it is known as a thin wall blank so I don't plan on treating it like a heavy at all.

 

I also have some MH rods that are more like heavies.

 

So sometimes we have to ignore what is printed on the rods. And I believe that the MH's and H's can be one of those situations where rods can be marked one way, but 'feel' more like the other way. And it is up to each of us to determine for ourselves which way to go. So yes, MH's can be used for H's and H's can be used for MH's if one determines to do so.

My H is for Arigs only.

All rod manufactures labeling on power is different. I use a Kastking Spirale H for froggin

In just the past two weeks, I have thrown spinnerbaits, soft swimbaits, spoons, jigs and Magdraft on H rods.

This short (5-1/2') 5-power IM6 old-school rod blade has a moderate taper and wider light-end than it's rated - 1/2 to 3 oz - it will fish 1/4 oz all day, and you feel it load deep at 1/2 oz. 

I target my rods in the lower-half of their rating.  

I don't have 3-oz swimbaits to cast, or fish water where they'd matter, but like it a lot for river-kayak frogger, heavy cover, light swimbaits, and heavier jigs and spinnerbaits than I want to throw on 3-power.  

 

plenty.  For a long time I resisted getting a 'heavy' (in the true sense of a 1/2- 2 oz type rod).  I was catching fish just fine so what did I need it for.  We don't have heavy laydowns to pitch or hydrilla and hyacinth mats.  But the monkey got me and I bought one and then it just happened to come with me on every trip.  And then another one appeared.

 

Specifically, I'm talking about falcon 7-power heavy rods (Amistad, eye crosser) so truly 1/2+ bottom end rods and a bunch of backbone.  The eye crosser is my primary frog/toad rod when the grass grows in but before then it is a great 3/4-1 oz spinnerbait and vibrating jig rod.  It is basically the big brother to the head turner.  The amistad generally has a 1/2 oz weight texas rig on it, but that's not for heavy cover all the time.  When it is windy and you're dragging a 15' rod patch the extra weight helps with bottom contact.

 

Closer to the original question, could I throw a 1/4 oz plus 6" trick worm on either of them?  It would be close but probably.  But I wouldn't do it unless I needed the power of the rod to pull fish back out of the cover.  I'd never grab my amistad with 20 lb big game to throw a light texas rig around the edges of stuff.  There are better tools for the job and I have them in the boat.  Now if you expand that to Heavy labelled rods that aren't truly 'heavy' power like the 6-power falcons (head turner, heavy cover jig) then yes all the time.  Those are the 'better tool for the job' rods that are in the boat.

 

@bulldog1935- which bladed swim jig is that?  I want to add a couple to the box for next season and I really like that one. MB Uoze?

14 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

MB Uoze?

Yes

With the rods I use, a heavy action rod for me is for cover or baits over 1oz.  For moving baits a H power mod action is ideal, for heavier bladed jigs, A rigs, or even heavy lipless baits or big spinner baits.

Power and action is relative to brand and even different lines within brands.  In the case of Dobyns, their H power is a super versatile action and power, which translates well to a MH.  It's really all dependent on what brand and what you want to do with it.

Until you start using the CCS method of objectively measuring rod power and action you will never know even close to what you have.  I have rods rated medium power that run from about 15 to 25 Effective Rod Number, which is a measure of rod power.  I have a Medium Light power rod that measures just over 20.  

 

FloridaFishingFool has it right when he disses technique labeling.  Rods are much more versatile than that, and each of us has our own preferences. 

 

The main characteristics of blanks/rods are length, weight, power, action, and speed of recovery from deflection.  All of these can be objectively measured without expensive lab equipment or scientific knowledge/skill. 

I think there’s three factors as to why you would want a heavy power rod.  The weight of the lure might require the power to cast that lure.  The hook size, I.e. a jig may require the power to get hook penetration. Finally, the cover being fished.  It may require a heavy power to yard the fish out.

 

As stated,  each manufacturer rates the power differently.  The same goes with actions.  Sometimes you just have feel the rod under load to know it meets your expectation.