If it weren’t for the absence of dialogue and plot, leading fiction writers might be tempted to turn their talents toward penning labels for fishing rods. Picture a pair of 6′ 6″ spinning rods that appear identical except that the tip of one is slightly stiffer. That tinge of extra resistance to deflection earns it the title of “Heavy Action,” while its mate has been assigned to the second team appropriately called “Medium Action.”
Good old “Medium Action” has been targeted for lines testing from 8 to 14 pounds, while “Heavy Action” starts at 14 pounds and tops out at a 30-pound test. Recommended lure weights range from 1/8 ounce to 3/8 ounce for “Medium” and 1/4 ounce to 1 ½ ounces for “Heavy.”
The two rods just described perform admirably when matched to the correct line size and lure weight. If they were my rods, I would use 6-pound or 8-pound test line on the “Medium” rod and 8-pound to 10-pound test on the slightly heavier one.
Choosing the right rod for your needs starts with the weight of the bait or artificial you intend to fish with it. Tie a snap or snap swivel to about 6 feet of monofilament and take it with you to the tackle shop along with an assortment of lures of various weights. Slip the mono through the tip-tops of the various rods you are considering and tie if off on a guide so that only a few inches extends beyond the tip. Hang various weight lures on the snap and you’ll know quickly what the rod will handle. Once you determine the weight range, it’s easy to choose the line size for that rod.
Many manufacturers incorrectly use the word “action” to describe the power in the rod blank. Action refers to the spot on the blank where it flexes. A fast-action rod, for example, flexes within the top quarter or third of the blank, while a moderate action develops halfway to two-thirds down the blank.
You can determine whether a rod has a fast, moderate, or slow action by holding the butt at your belt buckle with the length of the rod parallel to the floor. Swing it back and forth in a slow arc until you establish a rhythmic motion. Look down the blank and mentally select the spot that appears to be the fulcrum and you will know whether the action is fast, medium, or slow.
Any rod must be able to present the bait, set the hook, and brace itself to do battle. If you are targeting smaller fish or do a great deal of casting, look for a rod that fills those requirements. When you’re in a brawl with a heavyweight, casting ease doesn’t really count. Choose the rod carefully with its primary purpose uppermost in your mind. And, if you happen to run into a label writer, call me collect. I’d like to meet him.