As somone who was fishing with extra fast rod which is the only rod i had at the beigning(60$ range) which landed me really nice walleyes i needed that extra sensitivity and feel when the jig is onthe bottom and when the fish bites. I tried expeeriment with going completly the oposite way, which might be unorthodox by using feeder rods to jig, and maan, that tip of the rod which is bendy besides being so indicative of bite it allowed fish to really gulp it in their mouth. entire new world open to me at that point and i think extra fast rods might help you present bait better, but when it comes to actually catching the fish, slighty more bendy rod at the tip will do better job. Thanks for this video Matt, you just sold me xzoga black mamba venom which im picking up tomoorw, i was hestitant towardsit, but now i've bited.
100% agree. I've also found that moderate to fast action rods allow one's cast to be more accurate when chunking down the bank. We're living in good times in terms of quality fishing gear. Today's gear is way ahead of stuff from just 15 years ago. Thanks for the video, killing time on the trailer waiting for the lightning to pass......
That was the absolute best explanation of rod power and action that I have ever heard. Everything else you talked about is exactly why I stick with my old fiberglass !
Completely agree, I grew up on fast actions and fell out of fishing for years, coming back to it I grabbed an extra fast because thats what the tackle shop told me I needed and I was having trouble setting the hook to early on it unlike when I fished 15 years earlier. Switched to a fast action and now I can tell when the fish actually has the bait or if it was just a quick peck or nibble. It helps to have a greater range of motion in the rod tip to see how much load the fish is putting on the line
I can agree with you. The one area I do like the extra fast is when I am using a longer rod in that 7' 6" or longer rod. I think it really shines in having that length. I also tend to like longer rods than most.
YES. FINALLY someone who gets it! Rod, reel, and line all work together as one tool. The popularity of braid and fluoro, which have very low stretch, adds to the issue. I personally prefer moderation and versatility in all things, including my fishing rods. Thanks Matt, more solid advice!
I agree, that's why I use braid with a leader on all my rods. If I need straight braid, I cut the leader off. If the situation calls for a leader I add 8 ft of fluorocarbon or mono as needed
No matter what action your rod has, the best way to get distance is to have at least 2ft of line hanging from the rod tip when casting. This allows you to load your line and lure much better. This works very well with baitcasters because it also decreases your spools startup speed reducing backlashes as well. The shorter the line the quicker your lure will move on the cast.
Agreed. More details, with some variations... Rod Flexibility: A longer, more flexible rod can generate higher line speed during the cast, allowing for longer casts. However, these rods require *more* line to be fully loaded, which might influence how much line you have hanging out. Loading the Rod: When you cast a fishing rod, you load energy into the rod by bending it. This energy is released when the rod straightens during the cast, propelling the lure forward. Having an appropriate amount of line out allows the rod to load properly and efficiently transfer energy to the cast. Line Weight: The weight of the lure affects how much force is required to load the rod and how much energy is transferred to the cast. Heavier lures might require *more* line to be let out in order to load the rod optimally. Friction and Air Resistance: More line hanging out means more friction and air resistance during the cast. This can slow down the cast and reduce the distance achieved. Therefore, there's a balance between having enough line for proper loading and not having so much line that it negatively impacts the cast. Casting Technique: Different casting techniques, such as overhead casting, sidearm casting, or roll casting, can influence how much line is needed for an effective cast.
100% agree. I've always leaned to the slower side on rod actions and have had great luck not losing fish as well as the fish getting the bait better like you said.
I'm with you on this one to a point, I usually combine the rod action with the main line to use with,for example if i have a extra fast rod i use mono or copolymer that are more forgiving than braid if i have moderate action i use a slower reel and braid to compensate but for the most part you're right
I agree with you. I should have mentioned that the angler needs to be very aware of the line characteristics that they are using when paired with different types of rods. Great point!
Man, your words of wisdom, knowledge and experience are so much appreciated every time I hear you talking. I put your suggestions to work at a given time and never disappoints me. Nothing complicated, just plain and simple said so rookies like me can better understand the Sport. Thanks again for all you do and Keep the videos coming!!
I have both, for large mouth especially with texas style worm, give me fast/extra fast. If you're not getting good hook set due to early hook set, you need to adjust your timing. With fast action don't try to hoss your fish out of the water, don't support the butt of the rod against your body, and loosen up on you grip a bit, and take a quick breath/relax when you get a fish on. For smaller fish, slower action for sure, for exactly what you said. Now I use almost exclusively monofilament line too, so that adds some stretch over braid. Could be I'm making up the difference there...
Nice feed. You can always adjust the reel brakes to your rod's sensitivity though. If it's extra fast you can loosen the brakes, if It's moderate, you can tighten them.
Agree 💯% I lost a lot of bass just near the kayak while using extra fast rods while it didn't happen when I used a very old moderate trout rod instead. I thought that it was because the moderate action of the rod was more able to absorb the force of the fish jumping while the fast rod wasn't. Since then I don't use extra fast rods from the kayak anymore and I prefere moderate fast actions when I fish from the kayak. From the land the issue is not so much as from the kayak, I believe that the standing position vs the sitting near the water position played a big role as well
We as fishermen have a lot of rods and reels and I have some EF, F, M rods. I don’t have anything Slow. Usually what I tend to do is tighten the drag on my moderate rods and slightly loosen it on my EF and F actions. I do this also when I fish mono. I’ll tighten the drag and loosen it on flouro or braid. Just enough to offset the load or lack of there of on the rods
I didn’t realize this until I started building the Elite X rods. I started setting the hook before the fish could even close their mouth on the bait. Now I’ve trained myself after getting a bite to spend the extra split second to get in position for the hook set. Gives me that little extra time for the fish to close their mouth and turn. Good content, key info for everybody for sure.
Exactly! We just need to be aware of the rods we are using. the sensitivity in those blanks is unreal...But you've got to be aware of it like you are! Great comment thanks for sharing!
Yeah I’ve noticed if you have the ability to lower your rod when you know it’s a fish and giving that fish that second to eat your bait(which is much easier to feel with an extra fast) you can use a EF for techniques that would be used for a MF. Still would recommend a moderate or moderate fast for moving baits. Genuinely much easier to perform, just reel and set that hook when you feel some dinks. Most moving baits also don’t require the extra sensitivity of an extra fast as the fish are usually going to be moving at least as fast as your bait is moving when they eat it, leading to lots of feel through any line and rod
I think you're right on this point and this is particularly noticiable when using barbless hooks. I've been using a fast action rod and recently changed from a monofilament to a flurocarbon leader. Yes I got a massive load of hook ups from the change but also lost a ridiculous number of fish as well. My friend who was using a medium action rod on the same flurocarbon set up caught more fish. My conclusion was that as flurocarbon doesn't stretch and my rod doesn't bend as much there were moments when playing a fish that there was simply not enough tension on the line. I think if you want to use a fast action rod then make sure you have a monofiliament leader and may be drop to a medium action rod when using flurocarbon.
I've been saying this to many people but they don't believe me but I understand because I was on that side of the argument before too. I stopped losing fish and bending hooks.
I was using Ugly Stik GX2'S or other composite Ugly Stiks for everything and I realized I was missing bites and couldn't feel my jigs. I started using a 6" graphite rod my dad gave me and I felt a lot more bites, but I was missing a lot of fish and losing hooked fish when I used Texas Eye jigs and Snake locks. So I recently got a 7' all graphite Ugly Stik Inshore Carbon with a medium power and fast tip. What a difference. Huge. I feel my 10 lb braid sliding across grass now that I couldn't feel before. It's less tip heavy and lighter weight too, and I don't miss nearly as many bites. Those EWG hooks dig into flounder and redfish jaws better too. I definitely need more all graphite rods. The composite Ugly Stiks are fine for live bait and some lures but they suck for 1/8-3/8 oz jigs and that's what I use about 95% of the time. I'd rather have a GX2 for trolling too. Now I want a more sensitive spinning rod for 3/8 oz and up jigs and heavier. And a couple baitcasters too. I agree that extra fast action is too fast, but finally having a fast action graphite rod has been a game changer for me.
Fantastic video! I'm a novice. A weekend warrior kind of fisherman. I'm trying to get to the next level. I've watched numerous videos trying to understand rod speed and action. "Talk, talk, talk!" I don't get, nor do I retain, the information in these videos. Your video with the picture made my ah-ha light come on. Your further description of how the hook set action loses fish made it all come home to roost! Excellent job.
To make a rod that you don't feel the bottom or bite or what your bait is going over, Use tungsten. This makes your rod more sensitive and braid adds to this. Line and weights do make a difference. Go to lead weights for a quieter approach too. Lead is good for extra fast rods and monofilament fishing line, you get more stretch.
You didn't mention another point, and the one that made the most sense to me and influenced me to start going with slower actions. With the strong hooksets power-fishermen get with the fast and xtra fast rods while using braid, you rip big holes in a fish's mouth, and they can easily shake loose when fighting. With a slower action you can get better hooksets while maintaining the sensitivity with braid.
I learned with a few custom GLoomis cb’s I have...If I hook it.... it’s caught. They are so forgiving.Even with little size 8 trebles. The hard part is finding the right action rod for the specific task without spending years trial and error. I want the most sensitive, lightest, fastest parabolic rod you can get....Shouldn’t be hard. Thanks for your videos... subscribed.
I agree and with everything thrown at the public that learning or wanting to be the best. You can spend thousands with out trying because everything is so convincing that you need to have it. I also feel it’s all about your confidence too in when you’re fishing.
Matt, great video and topic. I have to agree whole heartedly with you. I am in the process of upgrading my rods this year and I find even my new crankbait / chatterbait glass rod is extremely sensitive. Fast or med-fast action for single hood baits/jigs, moderate/ med tip or glass for treble hook baits is my setup.
Excellent points...right on. With moving baits you need to be able to feed the fish the lure. Too fast of an action just pulls it away Rod manufacturers have done a terrible job on this. Everything is labeled fast action. They should adopt your pictogram to show how the rod bends Also the explosion of braid, which offers no stretch, exacerbates the problem
I couldnt agree more. I switched rod companies because the brand I was using, have faster actions. Add that to the fact I really like to jack em, and was loosing a bunch of fish. Couple years ago went with a brand that had mire moderate actions and couldnt be happier, my hook to land ratio has gone up significantly.
Very grate video, very informative talk. I think the same as you, my opinion that in many cases extra fast rods cal lead you to fish loose. Cause extra fast rod can't bend so much in U shaped curve to absorb moving fish power. And in opposite if rod is fast or moderate fast action in guarantees to you that you fishing line is always in tension and you wil not have any slack line when fish will change its moving speed or direction.
It’s crazy, because before this video. I’ve been thinking the same thing. Because I use a lot of swimbait and I like the mod-fast action because i feel like I catches more fish and I do realize that every time I remove the hook from the fish it’s more deep down inside rather than on the lip.
I use a extra fast Action works great for musky fishing and Northern pike fishing is my go to for 39" and bigger fish meed it to be stiffiy on my tip to set big lures. Bass fishing not so much moderate to fast Action only for Bass. Trout fishing slow to moderate Action works great. This is great show 👊🏼 respect. Doing it properly. Not a boat guy my kid's can keep that stuff is not for me bank where I'm safe 🤦 yes afraid of water.
True, but for jig worms and neds, the extra fast rod is more sensitive and you can impart more action on your lure. In addition, you can get by with a lighter rod by using an extra fast rod as it will have more backbone. As Gary Loomis says, "weight is deterrrent to performance."
I grew up fishing a true medium heavy rod. I got use to setting the hook with those rods. With fast action rods the amount of travel on the hook set is almost double of a true medium heavy to produce the same results. I could never get use to that and stayed with what works.
I am doing pike fishing. And the fast rods are not comfortable at all and as you said, it is quite easy to loose fish. Pike tends to jump out of water to shake off the hook, and when a fast rod, l loose them at lot when they do that. And for pike fishing, there is no need to set hooks anyway, their attacks are so aggressive that they set the hooks for you.
i think it depends on rod manufacters because there are really no standers .i also think that the lines we use today have a lot to do with the way your rod preforms and you can change a lot of those things by the way you set up your drag on the reel you have to find that sweet spot in all three parts of your setup to make things work the best . thanks for sharing
I use extra-fast action rods, because it helps me catch those panfish! Now when I'm doing drop-shot, I'll consider a fast-moderate action rod but otherwise, I'm sticking with the extra-fast and fast action rod because I have a delayed reaction to setting the hook.
One thing I routinely repeat in fishing is to do what makes you comfortable. A rod I may not prefer may be a rod that works best for you. Stick to what works! Thanks for the comment!
Yup they look good on TV and They can edit out a lot of the misses , I started using Ark Rods and it made a big difference in landing fish, Going video 💯
it depends on the fisherman , the way they set the hook and fight the fish , that being said there is still a use for extra fast action on some techniques , specifically spinning rods with finesse presentation , light line and a loose drag , thats just my opinion.
I'm fishing only top water lures (spinning) and rarely some sinking lures and my extra fast rod has never let me down. It hooks nicely and makes the fish tired way wayyy quicker than my other regular action spinning rod I have.
Extra Fast action is great for a Texas rig. Not much else. Also the line that you use makes a huge difference. Mono and Flouro stretch but braid doesn’t. So braid makes a rod act a lot faster than mono or flouro. I use an extra fast rod with braid only for Texas rigs.
I use extra fast and if you don't slack line hook set there's a chance you indicate the bite earlier and people don't feel the bite they just feel a little weight.
I think most people confuse sensitivity vs fast action. Extra fast plus braid or braid to a floro leader is just way to fast IMO....I started using Dobyns Sierra series and they are known not to be super fast....and they are perfect for chatterbaits, swim jigs and bottom contact baits.....not too slow and not too fast.
Great content. Wondering if you could do a video on early spring fishing in Upper Midwest. I seem to struggle locating bass, when the water temps are in the mid 40's and lower, especially on flowages. Would love to hear how you would approach flowages and river systems in the upper Midwest.
It all depends on what your fishin for,I like my shimano terama spinning 8' extra heavy extra fast for surf casting or poppin,walking the dog,can't do that with a moderate action rod.
I agree alot of rods thes days can be to fast I like a mod fast to mod depending on the what bait i throw but for a bottom bait a fast action Also rod load is key if fishing from the bank and even on the water for example say a crank bait rod has good flex well on the cast with a heavy crank bait you can load your rod on the cast
Hey Hello, I fish a lot with the drop shot at 20 to 30 meters city with 2.5 inc lures and with 3/8 drop shot lead. which spinning rod from st croix or any other good brand is the best? Must be a 2 piece fishing rod. I look forward to your reaction.
These are all both good rods www.tacklewarehouse.com/G_Loomis_IMX_Pro_Spinning_Rods/descpage-IMXS.html?from=MSFG and this 6'10 ML St Croix www.tacklewarehouse.com/St_Croix_Legend_X_Series_Spinning_Rods/descpage-SXSI.html?from=MSFG
Agree on chatterbaits, cranks,lipless. But on a jerkbait, I have missed and lost more fish on a slower, expensive, jerkbait rod than a fast cheap all purpose rod.
I've witnessed my brother catch top water bass on a frog 🐸 with a medium action Berkley Redwood $20 from Walmart...since that day I realized rods are only YOUR preference!!
Fast action rods are definitely the way to go for me. I just love how they cast and the sensitivity but after a lot of salmon fishing I've loosened my drag way the heck down bass fishing. It's fixed a lot of my lost bass. I definitely disagree on the casting distance with fast action rods over moderate action rods. The only casting downside I've really noticed with fast action rods I've noticed is the sweet spot in wieght for super long is quite small while the range of lure wieght for surf/moderate action rods is quite large where I'm still getting long casts. Though definitely not as long as with fast action rods. Also the fish feel bigger on faster action rods than rods that absorb quite a bit of the fight. I've switched most of my salmon casting rods over to inshore saltwater rods from noodle like rods and won't look back.
I use mostly fast and moderate, the oz rating makes a difference as well allot of medium heavy rods have different oz ratings, my medium heavy rods for flipping are 1 oz and I also have medium heavy rods rated up to 3/4 oz witch to me are fast. Allot of moderate rods are rated around 5/8 oz. max, just what I look at.
Great stuff. I've long suspected or theorized such pros/cons of rod actions as variables in overall rod ability; If you gain in an attribute here, you lose in an attribute there, but you just don't hear about these things being talked about like they should. Thank you for your insights pro.
Just going through the archives; I decided I need a dedicated Flip/Pitch rod for Ninja bank fishing, and seated kayak fishing. Assuming shorter MH is better (6'-6.5'), should I lean more towards the moderate side?...Should the more I get closer to moderate, also get closer to H action? This is hopefully for Tokyo/Gika, 3/8 and (hopefully) 1/2oz jigs, primarily sparse to moderate laydows Thanks for any advice you can offer,
I definitely prefer to have my single hook bait rods to have a 30-40% action on them. I find my hook sets are strong enough to bury that big hook good enough even on longer casts. But that more parabolic bend i find helps me cast better, fight better, and land more often. Plus i don't do many presentations that need a stiff rod, and i only carry 3-4 rods with me so i prefer setups that are versatile. I might change from a chatterbait to a T rig to a spinner bait to a jerkbait on one rod while beating the bank. So i need rods that can handle that
Dobyns makes a good rod for folks that are looking for this type action. A very balanced rod with a tiny bit slower action. Until you pay for an Extacy. Then all bets are off!! Ever try Dobyns Matt? Thoughts?
Okay, so for the extra fast rod that I already own, can putting mono on it help soften that extra fast, lip ripping hookset? Note, I'm not talking about one species specifically (bass). Lets use my small lake and river rods, say jigging, dropshot, sometimes live rigging, multispecies. Would mono with some stretch be better than braid with a leader?
I never use an extra fast rods most of mine are med/heavy fast action except for my 7’6” Heavy for frogs and things like that as far as spinning I use a 6’6” med power but I have different lengths in the med/heavy fast
what about those JDM ultralight extra fast rod (Bass rod, not panfish)? For example, Shimano Glorious 2510UL, this one is ultralight, so it bends ok and it has extra fast action which means the tip is not too whippy.
Yah I will stick with my extra fast rods. I hardly ever miss a bite. I hardly ever rip the lure out of a mouth. For my needs and the fish I go for extra fast works for me.
I dont own any xtra fast rods. For spinnerbaits, jerk baits and chatterbaits i use med. heavy fast action. For top water and crankin i prefer a med with a moderate action. The slower action is definitely a plus throwing frogs as i feel it allows the bass time to get the bait completely.
Makes sense great info In your opinion and I want to purchase a Tossing Jig Rod what action and length do you recommend for 1/8 Oz to 1/2 Oz jigs ? I want sensitivity to feel a bite Great work
I have 1 rod a mh very fast action spinning rod and I dont set the hook very hard so for me I dont think its too bad but the action itself can pull the hook out sometimes in the first few seconds of the fight
@@MattStefanFishing no, it is all about users comfort level...I always prefer to use extra heavy action rod, as I can confidently drag the fish to the shore
As somone who was fishing with extra fast rod which is the only rod i had at the beigning(60$ range) which landed me really nice walleyes i needed that extra sensitivity and feel when the jig is onthe bottom and when the fish bites. I tried expeeriment with going completly the oposite way, which might be unorthodox by using feeder rods to jig, and maan, that tip of the rod which is bendy besides being so indicative of bite it allowed fish to really gulp it in their mouth. entire new world open to me at that point and i think extra fast rods might help you present bait better, but when it comes to actually catching the fish, slighty more bendy rod at the tip will do better job. Thanks for this video Matt, you just sold me xzoga black mamba venom which im picking up tomoorw, i was hestitant towardsit, but now i've bited.
thanks for sharing with us!
100% agree. I've also found that moderate to fast action rods allow one's cast to be more accurate when chunking down the bank. We're living in good times in terms of quality fishing gear. Today's gear is way ahead of stuff from just 15 years ago. Thanks for the video, killing time on the trailer waiting for the lightning to pass......
Yeah the eqioment just keeps getting better and better....although prices seem to be going higher with it haha
That was the absolute best explanation of rod power and action that I have ever heard. Everything else you talked about is exactly why I stick with my old fiberglass !
Glad it was helpful!
Completely agree, I grew up on fast actions and fell out of fishing for years, coming back to it I grabbed an extra fast because thats what the tackle shop told me I needed and I was having trouble setting the hook to early on it unlike when I fished 15 years earlier. Switched to a fast action and now I can tell when the fish actually has the bait or if it was just a quick peck or nibble. It helps to have a greater range of motion in the rod tip to see how much load the fish is putting on the line
thanks!
I can agree with you. The one area I do like the extra fast is when I am using a longer rod in that 7' 6" or longer rod. I think it really shines in having that length. I also tend to like longer rods than most.
And I would add that the longer rods general are slightly slower since the rods naturally will be slightly more parabolic.
YES. FINALLY someone who gets it! Rod, reel, and line all work together as one tool. The popularity of braid and fluoro, which have very low stretch, adds to the issue. I personally prefer moderation and versatility in all things, including my fishing rods.
Thanks Matt, more solid advice!
Great comment! You are completely right!
I agree, that's why I use braid with a leader on all my rods. If I need straight braid, I cut the leader off. If the situation calls for a leader I add 8 ft of fluorocarbon or mono as needed
I stopped using the one rod I have that qualified as an extra fast rod about three years ago. I totally agree with you on this.
Thanks I definitely think a lot of anglers think extra fast is better because of the increased sensitivity but its hurting them more than they know
No matter what action your rod has, the best way to get distance is to have at least 2ft of line hanging from the rod tip when casting. This allows you to load your line and lure much better. This works very well with baitcasters because it also decreases your spools startup speed reducing backlashes as well. The shorter the line the quicker your lure will move on the cast.
thanks for sharing
Agreed. More details, with some variations...
Rod Flexibility: A longer, more flexible rod can generate higher line speed during the cast, allowing for longer casts. However, these rods require *more* line to be fully loaded, which might influence how much line you have hanging out.
Loading the Rod: When you cast a fishing rod, you load energy into the rod by bending it. This energy is released when the rod straightens during the cast, propelling the lure forward. Having an appropriate amount of line out allows the rod to load properly and efficiently transfer energy to the cast.
Line Weight: The weight of the lure affects how much force is required to load the rod and how much energy is transferred to the cast. Heavier lures might require *more* line to be let out in order to load the rod optimally.
Friction and Air Resistance: More line hanging out means more friction and air resistance during the cast. This can slow down the cast and reduce the distance achieved. Therefore, there's a balance between having enough line for proper loading and not having so much line that it negatively impacts the cast.
Casting Technique: Different casting techniques, such as overhead casting, sidearm casting, or roll casting, can influence how much line is needed for an effective cast.
Why they got a screw in place now so what's the problem? 😭
100% agree. I've always leaned to the slower side on rod actions and have had great luck not losing fish as well as the fish getting the bait better like you said.
Right on
Nailed it!
Fast action is good for quick hooksets and provides more feel of the bait overall.
BUT fish can, and wil get off more easely.
Thanks
I'm with you on this one to a point, I usually combine the rod action with the main line to use with,for example if i have a extra fast rod i use mono or copolymer that are more forgiving than braid if i have moderate action i use a slower reel and braid to compensate but for the most part you're right
I agree with you. I should have mentioned that the angler needs to be very aware of the line characteristics that they are using when paired with different types of rods. Great point!
Man, your words of wisdom, knowledge and experience are so much appreciated every time I hear you talking. I put your suggestions to work at a given time and never disappoints me. Nothing complicated, just plain and simple said so rookies like me can better understand the Sport. Thanks again for all you do and Keep the videos coming!!
Thanks for the kind words!
I have both, for large mouth especially with texas style worm, give me fast/extra fast. If you're not getting good hook set due to early hook set, you need to adjust your timing.
With fast action don't try to hoss your fish out of the water, don't support the butt of the rod against your body, and loosen up on you grip a bit, and take a quick breath/relax when you get a fish on.
For smaller fish, slower action for sure, for exactly what you said.
Now I use almost exclusively monofilament line too, so that adds some stretch over braid. Could be I'm making up the difference there...
Thanks for sharing!
Nice feed. You can always adjust the reel brakes to your rod's sensitivity though. If it's extra fast you can loosen the brakes, if It's moderate, you can tighten them.
yep but controlling drag is not as easy as it sounds but it will help adjust the rod performance
Agree 💯% I lost a lot of bass just near the kayak while using extra fast rods while it didn't happen when I used a very old moderate trout rod instead. I thought that it was because the moderate action of the rod was more able to absorb the force of the fish jumping while the fast rod wasn't. Since then I don't use extra fast rods from the kayak anymore and I prefere moderate fast actions when I fish from the kayak. From the land the issue is not so much as from the kayak, I believe that the standing position vs the sitting near the water position played a big role as well
Thanks for watching!
We as fishermen have a lot of rods and reels and I have some EF, F, M rods. I don’t have anything Slow. Usually what I tend to do is tighten the drag on my moderate rods and slightly loosen it on my EF and F actions. I do this also when I fish mono. I’ll tighten the drag and loosen it on flouro or braid. Just enough to offset the load or lack of there of on the rods
thanks for sharing!
I never understood rods, I've been fishing for years and never even heard these terms before. I am so glad I saw this video, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I didn’t realize this until I started building the Elite X rods. I started setting the hook before the fish could even close their mouth on the bait. Now I’ve trained myself after getting a bite to spend the extra split second to get in position for the hook set. Gives me that little extra time for the fish to close their mouth and turn. Good content, key info for everybody for sure.
Exactly! We just need to be aware of the rods we are using. the sensitivity in those blanks is unreal...But you've got to be aware of it like you are! Great comment thanks for sharing!
Matt Stefan Fishing keep making these good vids so I can keep commenting. Lol
Yeah I’ve noticed if you have the ability to lower your rod when you know it’s a fish and giving that fish that second to eat your bait(which is much easier to feel with an extra fast) you can use a EF for techniques that would be used for a MF. Still would recommend a moderate or moderate fast for moving baits. Genuinely much easier to perform, just reel and set that hook when you feel some dinks. Most moving baits also don’t require the extra sensitivity of an extra fast as the fish are usually going to be moving at least as fast as your bait is moving when they eat it, leading to lots of feel through any line and rod
I think you're right on this point and this is particularly noticiable when using barbless hooks. I've been using a fast action rod and recently changed from a monofilament to a flurocarbon leader. Yes I got a massive load of hook ups from the change but also lost a ridiculous number of fish as well. My friend who was using a medium action rod on the same flurocarbon set up caught more fish. My conclusion was that as flurocarbon doesn't stretch and my rod doesn't bend as much there were moments when playing a fish that there was simply not enough tension on the line. I think if you want to use a fast action rod then make sure you have a monofiliament leader and may be drop to a medium action rod when using flurocarbon.
thanks for sharing!
I've been saying this to many people but they don't believe me but I understand because I was on that side of the argument before too. I stopped losing fish and bending hooks.
THanks!
I was using Ugly Stik GX2'S or other composite Ugly Stiks for everything and I realized I was missing bites and couldn't feel my jigs. I started using a 6" graphite rod my dad gave me and I felt a lot more bites, but I was missing a lot of fish and losing hooked fish when I used Texas Eye jigs and Snake locks. So I recently got a 7' all graphite Ugly Stik Inshore Carbon with a medium power and fast tip. What a difference. Huge. I feel my 10 lb braid sliding across grass now that I couldn't feel before. It's less tip heavy and lighter weight too, and I don't miss nearly as many bites. Those EWG hooks dig into flounder and redfish jaws better too. I definitely need more all graphite rods. The composite Ugly Stiks are fine for live bait and some lures but they suck for 1/8-3/8 oz jigs and that's what I use about 95% of the time. I'd rather have a GX2 for trolling too. Now I want a more sensitive spinning rod for 3/8 oz and up jigs and heavier. And a couple baitcasters too. I agree that extra fast action is too fast, but finally having a fast action graphite rod has been a game changer for me.
Thanks for sharing
Fantastic video! I'm a novice. A weekend warrior kind of fisherman. I'm trying to get to the next level. I've watched numerous videos trying to understand rod speed and action. "Talk, talk, talk!" I don't get, nor do I retain, the information in these videos. Your video with the picture made my ah-ha light come on. Your further description of how the hook set action loses fish made it all come home to roost! Excellent job.
Glad to help
Best tutorial on rod power and action that I have heard.
Glad to help
To make a rod that you don't feel the bottom or bite or what your bait is going over, Use tungsten. This makes your rod more sensitive and braid adds to this.
Line and weights do make a difference. Go to lead weights for a quieter approach too. Lead is good for extra fast rods and monofilament fishing line, you get more stretch.
all very good points. You can definitely change tackle to increase or decrease sensitivity. Thanks for sharing
You didn't mention another point, and the one that made the most sense to me and influenced me to start going with slower actions. With the strong hooksets power-fishermen get with the fast and xtra fast rods while using braid, you rip big holes in a fish's mouth, and they can easily shake loose when fighting. With a slower action you can get better hooksets while maintaining the sensitivity with braid.
very true!
I learned with a few custom GLoomis cb’s I have...If I hook it.... it’s caught. They are so forgiving.Even with little size 8 trebles. The hard part is finding the right action rod for the specific task without spending years trial and error. I want the most sensitive, lightest, fastest parabolic rod you can get....Shouldn’t be hard.
Thanks for your videos... subscribed.
Great input! Thanks for sharing and subscribing!
I agree and with everything thrown at the public that learning or wanting to be the best. You can spend thousands with out trying because everything is so convincing that you need to have it. I also feel it’s all about your confidence too in when you’re fishing.
agreed
100% on the money. I wish I would of had this knowledge 3-4 years ago. It would have saved me much heartache.
I've definitely learned the hard way as well. haha
The St Croix Avid is the perfect blend of stunning sensitivity and moderate action - I rarely use my very fast Legend Elite rods,
thanks for sharing
Matt, great video and topic. I have to agree whole heartedly with you. I am in the process of upgrading my rods this year and I find even my new crankbait / chatterbait glass rod is extremely sensitive. Fast or med-fast action for single hood baits/jigs, moderate/ med tip or glass for treble hook baits is my setup.
Right on!
you are right in bass fishing，but in walleye fishing，especially jigging，extra fast is better
Stick with what you have confidence in
Walleye,steelhead, plke,musky.....I'll stick to fast
Excellent points...right on.
With moving baits you need to be able to feed the fish the lure. Too fast of an action just pulls it away
Rod manufacturers have done a terrible job on this. Everything is labeled fast action. They should adopt your pictogram to show how the rod bends
Also the explosion of braid, which offers no stretch, exacerbates the problem
You are 100% right! Line choice affects the rods action dramatically!
I couldnt agree more. I switched rod companies because the brand I was using, have faster actions. Add that to the fact I really like to jack em, and was loosing a bunch of fish. Couple years ago went with a brand that had mire moderate actions and couldnt be happier, my hook to land ratio has gone up significantly.
Very grate video, very informative talk. I think the same as you, my opinion that in many cases extra fast rods cal lead you to fish loose. Cause extra fast rod can't bend so much in U shaped curve to absorb moving fish power. And in opposite if rod is fast or moderate fast action in guarantees to you that you fishing line is always in tension and you wil not have any slack line when fish will change its moving speed or direction.
Well said!
I think you nailed it, Matt! I totally agree.
Thanks!
Dry informative and something I needed to hear. Thanks,
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent info and explanation. Been looking for this. I have a much better understanding now. 👍
awesome!
Thank you. Sort of new to batecaster reels and can't get any distance. I'm going to a medium to a slow action rod. Thanks
batecaster
best of luck!
I fish primarily braid to leader and I've long since went to moderate action rods for any moving baits with exposed hooks
sounds good!
This is a great breakdown on rods. I appreciate the advice.
You bet
It’s crazy, because before this video. I’ve been thinking the same thing. Because I use a lot of swimbait and I like the mod-fast action because i feel like I catches more fish and I do realize that every time I remove the hook from the fish it’s more deep down inside rather than on the lip.
Right on
I use a extra fast Action works great for musky fishing and Northern pike fishing is my go to for 39" and bigger fish meed it to be stiffiy on my tip to set big lures. Bass fishing not so much moderate to fast Action only for Bass. Trout fishing slow to moderate Action works great. This is great show 👊🏼 respect. Doing it properly. Not a boat guy my kid's can keep that stuff is not for me bank where I'm safe 🤦 yes afraid of water.
Good stuff
Have to agree especially baits with treble hooks, Spot on...
yep!
True, but for jig worms and neds, the extra fast rod is more sensitive and you can impart more action on your lure. In addition, you can get by with a lighter rod by using an extra fast rod as it will have more backbone. As Gary Loomis says, "weight is deterrrent to performance."
To each their own
Thanks Matt took your sugestión to build my own rods and taking beginner course from mud hole. Thanks again for explaining a complicated topic.
Glad to help!
I grew up fishing a true medium heavy rod. I got use to setting the hook with those rods. With fast action rods the amount of travel on the hook set is almost double of a true medium heavy to produce the same results. I could never get use to that and stayed with what works.
Thats all that matters. Stick to what you like best!
I am doing pike fishing. And the fast rods are not comfortable at all and as you said, it is quite easy to loose fish. Pike tends to jump out of water to shake off the hook, and when a fast rod, l loose them at lot when they do that. And for pike fishing, there is no need to set hooks anyway, their attacks are so aggressive that they set the hooks for you.
agreed!
Fight pike with rod tip near the water and not upp
i think it depends on rod manufacters because there are really no standers .i also think that the lines we use today have a lot to do with the way your rod preforms and you can change a lot of those things by the way you set up your drag on the reel you have to find that sweet spot in all three parts of your setup to make things work the best . thanks for sharing
I agree completely. You have to be aware of your rods limitations when matched with different lines and reels.
100%. I couldn't get a hook to stick on stocked trout with mono and a ultralight rod so I switched to braid and stopped losing fish.
I use extra-fast action rods, because it helps me catch those panfish! Now when I'm doing drop-shot, I'll consider a fast-moderate action rod but otherwise, I'm sticking with the extra-fast and fast action rod because I have a delayed reaction to setting the hook.
One thing I routinely repeat in fishing is to do what makes you comfortable. A rod I may not prefer may be a rod that works best for you. Stick to what works! Thanks for the comment!
@@MattStefanFishing
I agree 100% with your comment! Comfortability and the way someone is wired is what determines how a person should fish.
I build rods and feel fast and medium fast are good all around actions, while extra fast, moderate and slow are very technique specific actions.
Agreed
Yup they look good on TV and They can edit out a lot of the misses , I started using Ark Rods and it made a big difference in landing fish, Going video 💯
I think you made a good choice!
I agree with everything you’ve said. Most of my rods are a moderate fast a few fast no extra fast.
Thanks for watching!
I love my MH 7'1 moderate fast
Thanks for explaining the actions of rods for this old timer
You bet
@@MattStefanFishing thanks for your reply
it depends on the fisherman , the way they set the hook and fight the fish , that being said there is still a use for extra fast action on some techniques , specifically spinning rods with finesse presentation , light line and a loose drag , thats just my opinion.
agree there is a place but an angler needs to be fully aware of the rods performance
I'm fishing only top water lures (spinning) and rarely some sinking lures and my extra fast rod has never let me down. It hooks nicely and makes the fish tired way wayyy quicker than my other regular action spinning rod I have.
stick with what you have confidence in
@@MattStefanFishing yeah I guess you're right about that!
Extra Fast action is great for a Texas rig. Not much else.
Also the line that you use makes a huge difference. Mono and Flouro stretch but braid doesn’t. So braid makes a rod act a lot faster than mono or flouro.
I use an extra fast rod with braid only for Texas rigs.
Stick with what works for you
Omg!!! Exactly same scenatio. I always lose 5 out of 7 strikes… thanks guide guide
You're welcome!
I use extra fast and if you don't slack line hook set there's a chance you indicate the bite earlier and people don't feel the bite they just feel a little weight.
You definitely have to be more aware of your rods capabilities when using extra fast action.
Thanks for explaining this in a way I never have heard
No problem! Thanks for watching!
Wow Matt what a lesson I learned. Thanks
Glad to help
I think most people confuse sensitivity vs fast action. Extra fast plus braid or braid to a floro leader is just way to fast IMO....I started using Dobyns Sierra series and they are known not to be super fast....and they are perfect for chatterbaits, swim jigs and bottom contact baits.....not too slow and not too fast.
Great Point! Line choice makes a huge impact on rod performance!
@@MattStefanFishing Exactly. I prefer to use a mono leader on braid, especially for Chatterbaits, Swim Jigs and Spinnerbaits.
Great content. Wondering if you could do a video on early spring fishing in Upper Midwest. I seem to struggle locating bass, when the water temps are in the mid 40's and lower, especially on flowages. Would love to hear how you would approach flowages and river systems in the upper Midwest.
Ill put it on the list! Thanks for the idea!
Check out Fish the Moment, he's into bass fishing.
It all depends on what your fishin for,I like my shimano terama spinning 8' extra heavy extra fast for surf casting or poppin,walking the dog,can't do that with a moderate action rod.
stick with what works for you
I use moderate action glass rods works Great with treble hooks and chatterbaits
Thanks for sharing
I agree alot of rods thes days can be to fast I like a mod fast to mod depending on the what bait i throw but for a bottom bait a fast action
Also rod load is key if fishing from the bank and even on the water for example say a crank bait rod has good flex well on the cast with a heavy crank bait you can load your rod on the cast
good points! thanks for sharing!
love my extra fast jwr so crispy but i use a long fc leader to absorb some of the shock
Amazing just amazing detail you’ve been in the water longer than most I highly appreciate you thanks brother
I appreciate that!
Hey Hello, I fish a lot with the drop shot at 20 to 30 meters city with 2.5 inc lures and with 3/8 drop shot lead. which spinning rod from st croix or any other good brand is the best? Must be a 2 piece fishing rod. I look forward to your reaction.
These are all both good rods
www.tacklewarehouse.com/G_Loomis_IMX_Pro_Spinning_Rods/descpage-IMXS.html?from=MSFG and
this 6'10 ML St Croix www.tacklewarehouse.com/St_Croix_Legend_X_Series_Spinning_Rods/descpage-SXSI.html?from=MSFG
Great stuff Matt....always had a question about this exact topic!! Answered my questions!! Thank you!!
Glad to help!
Agree on chatterbaits, cranks,lipless. But on a jerkbait, I have missed and lost more fish on a slower, expensive, jerkbait rod than a fast cheap all purpose rod.
Ill always fall back on do what you feel most comfortable and confident in!
I've witnessed my brother catch top water bass on a frog 🐸 with a medium action Berkley Redwood $20 from Walmart...since that day I realized rods are only YOUR preference!!
stick with what you have confidence in
Fast action rods are definitely the way to go for me. I just love how they cast and the sensitivity but after a lot of salmon fishing I've loosened my drag way the heck down bass fishing. It's fixed a lot of my lost bass. I definitely disagree on the casting distance with fast action rods over moderate action rods. The only casting downside I've really noticed with fast action rods I've noticed is the sweet spot in wieght for super long is quite small while the range of lure wieght for surf/moderate action rods is quite large where I'm still getting long casts. Though definitely not as long as with fast action rods. Also the fish feel bigger on faster action rods than rods that absorb quite a bit of the fight. I've switched most of my salmon casting rods over to inshore saltwater rods from noodle like rods and won't look back.
Stick with what works for you
I use mostly fast and moderate, the oz rating makes a difference as well allot of medium heavy rods have different oz ratings, my medium heavy rods for flipping are 1 oz and I also have medium heavy rods rated up to 3/4 oz witch to me are fast. Allot of moderate rods are rated around 5/8 oz. max, just what I look at.
yep you definitely need to pay attention to that as well. You don't want to overload a rod with to heavy of a bait. Thanks for sharing!
Another great topic. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great stuff. I've long suspected or theorized such pros/cons of rod actions as variables in overall rod ability; If you gain in an attribute here, you lose in an attribute there, but you just don't hear about these things being talked about like they should. Thank you for your insights pro.
Thanks for watching!
I've missed almost every hookset on a chatterbait and swim jig and I think this finally taught me why
glad to help!
@@MattStefanFishingwhich one do you recommend for squid fishing ? I want the longest distance possible
Just going through the archives; I decided I need a dedicated Flip/Pitch rod for Ninja bank fishing, and seated kayak fishing. Assuming shorter MH is better (6'-6.5'), should I lean more towards the moderate side?...Should the more I get closer to moderate, also get closer to H action? This is hopefully for Tokyo/Gika, 3/8 and (hopefully) 1/2oz jigs, primarily sparse to moderate laydows Thanks for any advice you can offer,
a shorter rod is good but id go with a fast action MH
Is there a case for a moderate spinning rod vs fast action for an all purpose medium power rod or are those more for crankbaits or top waters?
Jerkbaits
just bought a med heavy mod fast rod. best all around rod in my opinion
Cant argue with that!
I agree! MH Mod Fast for the win!! Very versatile. my current favorite is the 6th Sense ESP rods, awesome!
Agree, I don’t have anything over fast personally
thanks!
Makes sense, 100% agree with you. Thanks Matt
Thanks for watching!
I definitely prefer to have my single hook bait rods to have a 30-40% action on them. I find my hook sets are strong enough to bury that big hook good enough even on longer casts. But that more parabolic bend i find helps me cast better, fight better, and land more often. Plus i don't do many presentations that need a stiff rod, and i only carry 3-4 rods with me so i prefer setups that are versatile. I might change from a chatterbait to a T rig to a spinner bait to a jerkbait on one rod while beating the bank. So i need rods that can handle that
great points! thanks for sharing!
Dobyns makes a good rod for folks that are looking for this type action. A very balanced rod with a tiny bit slower action. Until you pay for an Extacy. Then all bets are off!! Ever try Dobyns Matt? Thoughts?
I used one dobyns rod years ago and I thought it was a good rod, but I cant really say I have much experience with them.
Great information Matt! Really loving the content you put out ! Keep it coming sir!
Much appreciated! Thank you!
Mono helps take up the shock on fast action rods compared to florocarbon line.
line choice dramatically alters rod action. its an important component to consider.
Okay, so for the extra fast rod that I already own, can putting mono on it help soften that extra fast, lip ripping hookset? Note, I'm not talking about one species specifically (bass). Lets use my small lake and river rods, say jigging, dropshot, sometimes live rigging, multispecies. Would mono with some stretch be better than braid with a leader?
Yes
I never use an extra fast rods most of mine are med/heavy fast action except for my 7’6” Heavy for frogs and things like that as far as spinning I use a 6’6” med power but I have different lengths in the med/heavy fast
thanks for sharing!
what about those JDM ultralight extra fast rod (Bass rod, not panfish)? For example, Shimano Glorious 2510UL, this one is ultralight, so it bends ok and it has extra fast action which means the tip is not too whippy.
That’s a whole different catagory
Yah I will stick with my extra fast rods. I hardly ever miss a bite. I hardly ever rip the lure out of a mouth. For my needs and the fish I go for extra fast works for me.
Stick with what you have confidence in
I dont own any xtra fast rods. For spinnerbaits, jerk baits and chatterbaits i use med. heavy fast action. For top water and crankin i prefer a med with a moderate action. The slower action is definitely a plus throwing frogs as i feel it allows the bass time to get the bait completely.
Thanks for sharing
Excellent information 👌
thanks!
If you want to fish an Ex Fast taper, use hybrid or mono line so there is some give
agreed
im stuck between a 8ft max cast weight 60gr and a 10ft max cast weight 45gr, which one will be suit for a shore jigging rod and cast farther?
Makes a lot of sense. Good video. 👍🏼
Glad it was helpful!
Makes sense great info
In your opinion and I want to purchase a Tossing Jig Rod what action and length do you recommend for 1/8 Oz to 1/2 Oz jigs ? I want sensitivity to feel a bite Great work
I’d use a 7’3” MH 3 power rod
there's always a different scene for rod's actions , u just can't eliminate any particular rod's action as long as u know which is for which.
Agreed
X fast is throwing a bait far out, moderate and slow is hooking fish up until in the net!
thanks for watching
What do you recommend for wacky?
Medium fast action
I have 1 rod a mh very fast action spinning rod and I dont set the hook very hard so for me I dont think its too bad but the action itself can pull the hook out sometimes in the first few seconds of the fight
stick with what works for you
What’s your take on a medium light extra fast spinning rod for drop shotting? Would it still have that rubber band effect?
its should be OK since it a ML. the extra fast action rods are a bigger issue the stronger they are
@@MattStefanFishing no, it is all about users comfort level...I always prefer to use extra heavy action rod, as I can confidently drag the fish to the shore