What's the difference between a fast tip rod and an x-tra fast tip ? JJ

jj
Lets talk about rods for a moment:
First lets talk about power.
Rods have a couple of ratings. One of these is the power of the rod.
Rods are effectivly rated with respect to the power of the blank or the relative sized bait that can be properly used with the rod.
Power ratings typically run from ultra light, light, medium light, medium, medium heavy, heavy and extra heavy.

These ratings typically mean that the various sized rods are capable of, and work best with lure / bait weights that exhibit a certain weight. For example - an ultra light might run from 1/64th oz - to 1/16th oz.
A light might run from 1/32 - 1/8th.
A medium light might run from 3/116th - 1/4.
this power continues on up to the very heavy baits used for salt water fishing.

If you talk about rod action - you are talking about the bend of the rod. When you talk about the bend of the rod - you speak of how fast and in what portion of the rod - the bend first occurs.

These words are typically slow, moderate, fast, and extra fast.
A action will typically have the bend first occuring over the middle of the rod on out to the tip. This action is typically used when folks use a very light line to land very big fish. A common rod is the classic steel head rod where folks use 10 foot long slow action rods with 2 lb test line to land 10 lb salmon. The rod is long enough to absorb the shocks of the runs of the fish.

A moderate action will have a bit more of the bend - further forward in the rod, so that a bit less of the rod comes into play during the first part of rod bending. Rods like this are commonly used for float rod, so that the rod tips acceleartion is slow enough so that live bait is not flipped off the rod during casts.

The fast action rod will have the first bend occuring in the upper 1/3 of the rod. these rods are commonly used in heavy jigging applications which require a quick hook set with a sensitive tip.

An extra fast tipped rod will have the first bend occuring in the upper 1/4 of the rod, which are commonly used for ultra sensitive tip watching, lighter jig fishing and anywhere an extremely sensitive tip is rquired. A common new example of this rod type is the drop shot rod used for bass fishing. Also, many walleye fishhermen like to use this rod to detect the very light tics of a biting walleye with a 1/8th or 1/4 oz jig.

Take care
REW

p.s.
The following web site - with its pictures give you an even better understanding of how a rod works and its definition of construction.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/RodSelection.html

Take care
REW

So I would say I should buy the St. Croix Avid 7' MLF over the Avid 6'9" MLXF for running lindy-rigs. JJ

thats what i use

manitoba .... a 100,000 lakes
how many walleyes ????
i will never have enough time....

The only thing I would add to REW's great post is that there is no industry standard for rod action. One company's medium light might be another company's light or another's medium. I like to stay with one brand so there is consistancy.

Nimstug

Or you might even consider the use of the premier rod in that action - since the action of the premier rods tend to be slower than the avid rods.

My best choice for the lindy rigging rod from St. Croix is the wild river line of rods. These rods are designed for trout fishing with a moderate action to their overall blank length. I find that my success rate really goes up with the use of the Wild River type rod - when lindy rig fishing sine so much more of the rod gets into the bending action - when a walleye sucks in the bait. The overall softer action, and slower action, gives a fisherman more time to feed line to the fish - without the fish having first felt you at the other end of the line. The length, softness of the tip, and the slower action all contribute to allowing more fish to be boated - when using a lindy rig.

Take care
REW

You have a good point.
If you contrast the ratings on a European rod - you will find that the action of the rod is measures in lbs.

The way that europen manufacturers rate their rod - and actions is to use a preset forumula.

A rod is loaded with a weight of a particular amount as stated in the specifications. Depending on the blank - the tip of the rod will be deflected by a certain amount. Then, using the industry set of measurements - the rod will be marked ultra light, light, medium, or heavy -- except the rating is actually a statement of weight. On other the standared states that at a given weight - the tip of the rod should deflect a specific amount. When, this specific deflection is achieved - the rod will be marked with the weight that was required to bend the tip of the rod - a specific amount as defined in the specification.

Take care
REW

As above...Fast is the upper 1/3 and X-Fast is the upper 1/4. But remember, that is not a standard and more of a guideline. Also that is a proportion of the overall rod length. An Extra-Fast 7'6" rod has a longer tip than a Fast 6' rod.

The 76MLXF is also a great rigging rod. The 70MLF is a good option.


Matt Davis

Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Thanks guys for the help. I have narrowed it down to a St. Croix AS70MLF or a Rogue SJ702S. Opinions on these choices ? JJ

The 70MLF.

While I don't own one, I have built several.

I do own a Rogue SJ702. One that I built and it is tricked out.

If I could build a personal rod on either today, it would be the St. Croix.


Matt Davis

Better to have and not need than to need and not have!