I'd really like to see earthworm77 weigh in on this topic as I know you are a light tackle lover. I really prefer light to medium action rods over heavier action rods. Yes I'm one of those California fishermen I fish mostly lakes so this is not typically been a problem. I use the same rod for Soft Plastics and Jig fishing, unless I'm going with my spinning rod which I only use for soft light finesse techniques (Drop Shot, Split Shot, weightless worms, etc.) I just like the feeling of fighting a fish on light weight gear. Probably has something to do with the years I spent fly fishing for trout in streams and rivers. Now since my free time is limited I've been fishing for bass, because I don't have to travel far if I have only a couple hours free time.

The only places I find I really enjoy using Heavier action rods is when I'm Pitching & Flipping really heavy cover as I fish from a kickboat and I get right in the middle of the slop where you often can't take a bass boat. Even at 43 years old I guess when it comes to the slop I'm kind of like a little boy playing in the mud even though the rod I use remind me of a telephone pole I just love lifting fish out of that stuff;)

Here's where I find my dilemma I don't know if I just need to learn how to fish for big fish with light gear or what, but I seem to never catch anything over 4 lbs. but mostly smaller dinks through about 3 lbs. on light to medium gear. Now from what I read and talking to bass fisherman it seems this is the experience of most, but then there are guys like earthworm77 who say you can expect to consistently catch big fish with finesse gear. When I say big fish I mean fish 5lbs+.

Here is the second thing I have questions about when I fish the California Delta and most parts of Clearlake even though I don't really like heavier gear I always go to a medium-heavy or heavy action rod for soft plastics. Except for drop shoting then I use my Medium action rods that can handle fight fish in current and handle heavier fishing weights that are necessary. Since I prefer to use as light gear as possible is there a way of effectively fishing plastics and jigs with a medium action rod in a place like the California Delta or do I just need to get use to fishing with medium-heavy or heavy rods that feel to me like I'm dragging the fish in with a telephone pole. I just think that unless I have no choice a medium rod should have enough fish fighting power in most situations even for double digit bass. Or are there situations besides those that require a flipping stick that simply demand I use jigs or weights simply too heavy for a medium action rod on places like the California Delta and Clear Lake.

I hope this makes sense and isn't a stupid question.

crossfisher

There is a piece I wrote that we kept as a "sticky" in the "Fishing Rods, Reel, etc" section of the Forum that you might find interesting. You refer to "action" when you actually mean "power". The power of a rod has much more to do with the lures and techniques you fish, not the fish you might catch. I use medium power rods for the vast majority of my bass fishing. Catching larger bass has very little to do (like nothing) with the power of the rod.

I fish all soft plastics on a medium power/ fast action rod and #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft line (11.9 lb test). For all of my smallmouth fishing I generally fish #4 Ultra Soft and a rod with the same rating. I think lighter line allows the lure/ bait to have more action. I know for sure that medium power will handle any big bass you will catch and make fighting the smaller ones more fun.

Heavy tackle is still required for certain techniques, big swim baits come to mind. Fishing thick vegetation and timber are some other situations. If you are fishing deep crankbaits or for that matter, any lure you have a strong desire to recover, heavier tackle, especially heavier line is handy. For soft plastics that's not a consideration for me.

I don't "drag" fish in, the battle is everything to me. The key to catching big bass is getting the bite and lighter tackle helps in many cases. I fish predominately deeper structure not cover. This is another consideration in chosing light or heavy tackle. There are times when a cable and winch are required. I don't fish those situations often.

Heavy tackle is still required for certain techniques  add for certain places to that sentence.

When you are in place with little cover where you can fight a fish being sure it 's not going to wrap you around in the tree 2 inches away from it or get itself burried under vegetation there 's really no reason other than adequate drag setting and skill that can separate you from landing a big fish on light line.

roadwarrior:

Thank you for the instruction and I will check out that artical you wrote. Yes I did mean medium power/fast action.

Raul I may be foolish in this but since I've had good success in quickly getting fish out of away from trees and other under water cover or structure on a regular basis with my spinning finesse rod. There have been a few times that I can remember though where a little heavier rod would have kept me from getting wrapped and the medium power/fast action would have made the difference in those instances I believe.

Thank you both very much now I look forward to hopefully reading others replies.

crossman

Only a wild guess would indicate how many large bass I lost for years fishing heavy cover with a medium power rod, whether fast, medium or slow action. A medium power slow action rod here in Arkansas is practically useless for bass around wood or heavy vegetation. You won't steer a big bass away from the things that rescue them from a bait, wrapping around the nearest tree top, stump or clump of weeds.

But in those days I never dreamed of fishing open deep water where none of us believed large bass would be. That rod would work out there as it turns out, over a deep river channel with no submerged trees, as would an ultralight combo, as it would in deep clean western lakes with practically none of the resistance encountered here between the rivers and shoreline. Over time I slowly became aware I needed something much stiffer and less prone to breakage, but then we only had steel and fiberglass rods to chose from, and stiff glass rods were still devoted to fishing for 20-60 pound cats.

As heavier rods became available with enough senstivity potential, i.e. graphite rods few of us could afford in the beginning, the catch ratio escalated. Hydrilla invaded our larger lakes and as it thickened the heavier rods with medium and fast action both delivered jigs on heavy mono or braid and horsed bass out into open water where the drag system coud be effective. We learned to clamp down on the line to prevent drag slippage until it was safe to let it go.

But then came finesse fishing in open water along with the realization the big bass were out there. In those days the only way to get the whippy rod tip needed for tiny hooks and baits was to go to the ultralights, not having the power to control a big fish. Finding the heavy cover rods too stiff, not allowing me to have patience enough to let a bait get swallowed due to rod resistance, the old standby glass rods with full bend (soft action) and somewhat strong power in most for sale locally managed the large bass like needed with catfish, but contact with a light bait was limited to vertical fishing, and the bait was too easily ripped out.

From there we progressed to "drop shot" rods with enough backbone (medium to medium heavy power) to handle a large bass yet a decent give (medium action at first, then more recently light action with the power required) along with line stretch to allow a soft bite to happen long enough to let a bass hook itself. My drop shot rod started off from among the old glass rods I'd abandoned until modern graphite rods replaced them.

Meanwhile the worm & jig rods moved more toward the current medium heavy to extra heavy fast action graphite needed for the ever heavier cover in shallow water and throwing 1 oz+ jigs. So it is I have about 80 rods (collected since 1960) total, most in storage and most no longer the "right" rod for most of my fishing, a few of the longer high power heavy weight catfish rods in medium action fine for C-rigging, but most of the actively used rods bought in the last 6 years.

Using lighter equipment from the past leaves the user in shallow water having to somehow plow the boat to a bass locked in thick cover 30 feet from the nearest open water, which is a real job, that fixed with the more powerful broomsticks. So what does all that try to say? Find the right stick that will bring in the bass you seek without breaking or taking the bait out of its mouth the moment of the bite.

The drop shot bite is typically very subtle until the bass feels line resistance, so the rod needs to be forgiving enough to allow the bait to be swallowed and chomped on. It's nice to be holding the rod still and have the thing bend on it's own, indicating a fish is pulling slowly adding ounce by ounce until you "know" something's happening. As pressure mounts from the bass moving off with the bait, the bass resists and begins to fight. That's when that rod had better have some backbone, especially when that bass is boatside and takes that last dive under the boat. The drag needs to be right and consistent working well with the rod flex, not jerky, had better out-pull the limited length of the line on small spool reels handling light line well, and the rod had better hold up to the pressure. I wouldn't trust anything less than a medium power, and of course light to medium light action rod for that, fast tapering, less apt to over-work the smaller hooks used for drop-shotting, and better handling of the lightweight lures used.

Jim

Although our stlye of fishing is "finesse", that would apply to the size and weights of our offerings but they are always offered on rods that can take it. Lightest I use is a med power spidershaft and even that can be "iffy". The bulk of the line-up is MH.

Keep in mind that a 5 lbr is a hog up here,lol. I couldn't imagine going lighter if I lived in Fla., Tx or Cali.

I doubt anyone is going after the next world record in Dixon using an ultralight, but I know some guys fishing the Arkansas River that only use ultralights, going for line records. We know some double digit bass are caught on 4-6# line, but that would normally be done in very clean water with not much to break off on. The bass there run to 12# and there are plenty of them, probably some much larger. It's a very nutrient-rich river much of the time, so has the potential of growing some whoppers. I know they are catching some 7-8 pounders regularly on light gear, and they say its a real rush, but that isn't my life's desire. I want as heavy as I can get and still manage the bait, the hookset, and the fight.

Jim

jim how about some paragraphs? my eyes hurt now  

How's that for paragraphs? I admit it does read easier. Sorry for the sloppy. I'm surprised anyone is reading my stuff here, no way of knowing, so I haven't paid attention to how they look, after all, I don't bother reading mine ;D  Now this post might make better sense?

Jim

Jim,

Everyone reads your stuff. You are not only very knowledgeable, your posts are technically acute with fun facts that most of us have never heard about. I am sure your experience, background and advice has helped many and inspired others.

Punctuation, spelling and grammar are not requisites on this forum, but some of your fans might be able to follow your thoughts better if you break them up just a little. I for one enjoy your posts and the contributions you have made, regardless of how they are formatted.

Keep up the postings, some of us care.

Thanks. I just don't see much reply back on posts and have felt sometimes I've killed some discussions maybe with too many words  :-/ I love two way (& more) dialog even if its a hot debate.

Jim

ouachitabassangler:

I really liked your first reply and got a lot out of it. Your writing style is very similar to mine. However when I talk light rods and line I personally never go any lighter the 8 lbs. Yozuri Hybrid on my medium-light power fast action spinning finnesse rod and 15 lbs. Yozuri Hybrid on my medium power fast action spinning finesse rod that I use mostly in the California Delta and Clearlake for little bit heavier finesse type presentations. Otherwise I use 50 lbs. Power Pro for flipping and 40 lbs. Power Pro for everything else.

Crossfisher