ok. heres my delima. i have a big lure (1 5/8oz) and it exceeds my rod's max rating (5/8oz). i wanna try the lure cuz i think it will do good, but i dont wanna get a new rod JUST FOR ONE LURE. so, how bad is it to exceed the rating by an ounce? what harm can i do to the rod? its not a very high end rod, just a berkley lightning rod.

Worst case scenario is you get a broken rod.  You'll probably be OK if you use a lob cast.  Have you ever seen someone throw live big shiners?  Do it like that.  Bring the rod back slowly and sling it forward and release.  DO NOT whip it!

see thast what i was thinking. its such a heavy lure, that a lob will send it soaring 60+ feet with ease. no need for a snap cast.

That is probably the worst thing you could possibly do with a rod. You might get away with it for awhile, but eventually your tip is going to break.

Unless you don't really like that rod enough to care about it, I would advise against it. At 1 5/8 ox that is more than double the rod's maximum weight spec. I don't think coverage for that tyoe of breakage would be covered under warranty.

I think there is a cheap heavy action rod in berkely's lightning rod series that can handle that and it is probably about $30.00 at Walmart.

good luck!

As a rod builder. If you were to ask that of me, I would say No you are over loading the rod. If the tip or any other section of the rod were to snap on a cast or even a hook set then your SOL. Not only that but with that amount of weight you will not get a decent or accurate cast.

So if you were in doubt enough to have to ask here, don't do it. Buy a rod rated for the lure, and go fishing.

Tight Lines!!!!

how bad is it to exceed the rating by an ounce?

The better question is: why would you want to use a lure that is about 3 times as heavy as the rod is rated for? Just going "a little" over the rating is usually not a big deal but you are way beyond that...  that would be the equivalent of using a 1/2 ton Chevy to tow a 30,000 lb trailer - nothing good will come from it.   Think of it this way, even if you only slightly screw up you will end up replacing your good rod and still having to buy another.

Why not just buy 1 rod and it will be able to serve other purposes down the road... like a flipping/swimbait/matted grass/striper/musky rod/etc..

Agree with the others here.  Going a little above the rod rating is OK, but after that the handling of the heavier lure becomes cumbersome, and a concern for your rod.

Just get a MH or H cheapy from Walmart or somewhere.  Hit the clearance racks

ughhhh crap. well this thing has no warranty, cuz i'll let you in on a little secret...i found the rod. i found the rod along w/ a daiwa procaster at a pond. so i got it for free, and i dont have any kind of warranty on it. but i CANT get a new rod because i dont have enough money for one. i think i'll try fishing with the lure real gentle and if it just doesnt work out, i'll sell the lure.

ughhhh crap. well this thing has no warranty, cuz i'll let you in on a little secret...i found the rod. i found the rod along w/ a daiwa procaster at a pond. so i got it for free, and i dont have any kind of warranty on it. but i CANT get a new rod because i dont have enough money for one. i think i'll try fishing with the lure real gentle and if it just doesnt work out, i'll sell the lure.

Please don't take this the wrong way but sometimes you should really listen to the advice given by other fisherman. The strain that you put on that rod could cause damage in the future. Why take the chance? Just throw out what you usually throw out until you get enough money for a heavier rated rod. Don't be dumb.

And I agree with Daniel..........next time out try and find the owner of that thing.

The Good Lord will look favorably upon you. If not than you may just get skunked for a long time.  ;D

Next time you find a rod, the decent thing would be to try to locate the owner. Most local papers will put "Found" items for free. Then if no one claims it, it's yours to keep - guilt free. If you don't want to go through the trouble, leave it lay in case the rightful owner returns,

This spring I left a small tackle box with my favorite baits on the bank of a lake at a state park. I went back an hour later and it was gone. I figured it was lost forever, but a good samaritan had picked it up and returned it to the ranger's office. I am very grateful for that, and look forward to returning the favor.

Food for thought.

maybe i will just fish what i normally do till i can get a new rod. and i think whoever left that rod there didnt forget it by accident. it wasnt in the greatest shape. there was a HORRIBLE birdsnest on the reel, the reel was extremely dirty, it wasnt very smooth operating, the tip of the rod had a small piece split off it, the cork on the handles was in bad shape, and the butt of the rod was broken off. also, some guides were bent. so i think the left it there for some other person to have cuz they were thru with it, kinda like people leave stuff that isnt great, but still works at the dump, so other ppl can get it.

Gotcha. Sorry for jumping to conclusions.

Doesn't sound like a rod I would want to exceed the weight recomendation by an ounce.

haha.  ;D yea i think im gonna try fishing that lure tomorrow (I cant resist! i'll be at a farm pond w/ big bass!!!) and if its just too troublesome to use, i'll wait till i can get a new rod to fish w/ it.

I guess I was too hasty in encouraging you.  I was looking at it as a throwaway rod.  I would never had said what I did if you were asking about a high dollar rod.  Since you can't afford another rod, however, I would also advise against it.  Sorry.

Yup, looking at the young mans profile, nothing that was said here would make a differance. He's going to fish it anyway.

8-)

Yup, looking at the young mans profile, nothing that was said here would make a differance. He's going to fish it anyway.

8-)

what in my profile made you come to that [correct] conclusion?

I agree with Dave,

there is no doubt that your gonna fish that lure.

do not 'snap' cast it.

snug the lure as close to the tip as possible.  this will reduce the flex at the tip.

Keep a stiff armed motion, again to reduce rod flex.

And see what happens.    Chances are nothing will break, before you proove to yourself that the lure isn't magicical

If it is, then stop using it immediately and ship it to me immediately for further examination.

your pal.

avid.

I agree with Dave,

there is no doubt that your gonna fish that lure.

do not 'snap' cast it.

snug the lure as close to the tip as possible. this will reduce the flex at the tip.

Keep a stiff armed motion, again to reduce rod flex.

And see what happens. Chances are nothing will break, before you proove to yourself that the lure isn't magicical

If it is, then stop using it immediately and ship it to me immediately for further examination.

your pal.

avid.

HAHA!!!!!!!!!! NICE ONE AVID!

i think whoever left that rod there didnt forget it by accident. it wasnt in the greatest shape. there was a HORRIBLE birdsnest on the reel, the reel was extremely dirty, it wasnt very smooth operating, the tip of the rod had a small piece split off it, the cork on the handles was in bad shape, and the butt of the rod was broken off. also, some guides were bent.

I wouldn't throw that much weight on a NEW rod that wasn't rated for it, and definitely not on a rod that has been beat to death and left for dead...

But hey do what you have to do, to satisfy whatever it is that your trying to satisfy...   ;D

Yup, looking at the young mans profile, nothing that was said here would make a differance. He's going to fish it anyway.

8-)

what in my profile made you come to that [correct] conclusion?

All bets on the age.

When I was 15, I did what I wanted when I wanted. I never listened to any advice. Almost got me killed.  

hahaha i listen to advice, only if i think its good! actually, i think i am gonna get a new rod. its rated for 1/2 - 2oz.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_20662_100002006_100000000_100002000_100-2-6