I know there is info on the rod like line weights to use, what type of rod (med, med-heav, etc.) But I never notice the type of "action" a rod has ( fast, moderate, slow, etc). When looking to purchase a new rod, and it's not marked, how can you tell the action?

Luke, do a google search if possible and there will be gobs of info. The short of it is

X-Fast Action bend mostly just at the tip at a giving weight (enough to load the rod but not over power it)

Fast Action bends at the last 1/4 of the rod at a giving weight

Mod Fast Action bends at the last 1/3 or the rod

Mod bends at the last half

Slow starts bending just after the handle

Put any of your rods in a rod holder (PVC pipe works for me) at a 45 degree angle. For most bass rods I hang a 12 or 16oz bottle of water from the tip and mark where the rod first starts to bend. Measure that distance and divide by the length of the rod. Example. If a 7' rod that starts bending about 2 foot from the tip (2' / 7') = .28 or roughly the last quarter of the rod making it a Fast Action rod leaning a little towards Mod/Fast.

I hope this helps,

Scott

Unless you're familiar with a certain blank, you need to check it. Even when you do get a mfg. rating, there is no industry wide standard, one's Fast might equal another ModFast for example. Fury's examples are accurate.

what I meant was, if i'm in a store, and the action isn't written on the rod, how do I tell (at the store) the action?

what I meant was, if i'm in a store, and the action isn't written on the rod, how do I tell (at the store) the action?

Look at the model number, many manufacturers have the series, type, action, power and length ( either in inches like GLoomis or in ft & inches ) encrypted in there.

For example

Shimano Clarus CSSX68MHA

CS --Clarus series

S --- Spining

X --- Extra fast

66 --- 6 '6"

MHA --- medium heavy power

Fenwick Techna AV AVC60MM

AV --- AV series

C --- Casting

60 --- 6 ft

M --- Moderate action

M --- Medium power

here's a simple test you can do.  Tell one of the sell associates to help you.  Have him hold the tip end and you hold the rod like you're fighting a fish.  Then tell him to pull the tip end down and pretend that you're fighting a fish.  The way the rod bends it will tell you the action of the rod.  For example if it bends 1/5 of the way near the tip, it's extra fast action.  A fast action would be about 1/3 of the rod bending, medium would be half of the rod bending down, and finally slow action would be the 3/4 od the rod bending, and with slow action you don't really have any power to muscle in big fish, it's used in vertical jigging and other saltwater applications.

with slow action you don't really have any power to muscle in big fish

Not true

with slow action you don't really have any power to muscle in big fish, it's used in vertical jigging and other saltwater applications.

LMAO....we fish for steelhead and salmon with UL to L power, slow taper rods. They are a bit bigger, and fight a little harder than bass, LOL.

Last pic is great!

what I meant was, if i'm in a store, and the action isn't written on the rod, how do I tell (at the store) the action?

Just jam that baby's tip right into the carpet and give it a good bend to check it out!  After you help the shop owner back up from the floor, tell him you read how to do this on the web.

Nice fish Francho !

Seems to me that any rods that DON'T have the details imprinted as shown is Raul's example probably only come in one 'vanilla' action. Ugly Stick for example. The upper end rods come in a variety of power/action blanks.

If it does not say odds are it is a fast action.

Last pic is great!

I didn't take that one, but I fixed it up as well as I could in post.  My buddy broke that rod this past week on a teens fish, LOL.

Man, that looks like some awesome fishing J. Francho!  I try to make it up to the North Shore of Superior every year to flyfish for steelies but I never caught any like that.