Posted by Woody on 2003 AM:

Question on Parabolic Qualities of a Rod ???

I was wondering if anyone could break down the specific Powers(Light, Med Light, Medium ,Medium Heavy and Heavy) or Quickness of a Rod (Fast,XtraFast).
I think with all of the choices....Folks looking to buy rods can get confused.
I think it might help to mention what techniques work best with different rods...Example: Medium X-Fast tip might be a good Spinnerbait Rod.
Let's see what we come up with...
Tight Lines,
Woody

Posted by bink on 2003 AM:

Woody, One of the the problems with this question,and I'm no expert is different Brand/companies use different systems to judge those things. What might be Med Heavy in a Falcon Cara might only be Medium in the BPS Bionic Blade Series and some brands use a number system. Samething with quickness.

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Posted by HookUp on 2003 AM:

I am by far NOT an expert on this, but have purchased my share of custom built rods for SALT water.

A parabolic rod has action just like a parabola, or for you math geeks

y=ax**2 + bx + c

In other works, have a buddie grab the tip, you hold the handle and when bending the rod you have a perfect arc.

I bought parabolic rod designs to cast metal. Now we're talking SALT here. The parabolic action worked good on a big chuck of metal bait and really flung that bait far.

I forgot the correct name of the other type of rods I bought, but they all had a stiff back bone going about 3/4 of the way up the rod from the handle to the tip, with the last 1/4 being very flexible. I would used these rods for live bait like sardines. The light tip would flip a light bait out and the backbone of the rod was great on fighting fish.

I discovered I liked the later type of rods better with big fish, since they were easier to work fish in excess of 30 lbs.

The parabolic action rods required more work for the big fish.

Now, comming back to the fresh water bass world, all my rods have a soft tip and stiff backbone. Although I haven't gone the custom rod route yet (married now w/ kid, single them, it's all about $$$) for my river SM bass fishing, all St. Croixs, Shimanos, Ugly Stixs, and Quantums I've bought have a stiff back bone and soft tip. Works great for casting light-weight baits.

I'm sure the experts will chime in here and offer more insight closer to bass fishing, but this is what I learned while fishing salt water for 20 years in Southern Calfornia and Mexico.

Posted by Woody on 2003 AM:

Bink

I told you it was confusing !!!!!!
Maybe we can break it down to what rods people own.
I totally agree with different stiffness in different rods...(EASY BASSRAT)
I was hoping to talk about technique specific applications for different Manufacturers Products.
The example I gave was for St.Croix.
Thanks Bink,
Woody

Posted by Lpbassman on 2003 AM:

Now guys--this is going much too far.

Buy a rod that feels good in your hand and has the right action for the bait you are going to use on it.

I agree that different manufacturers actions do vary considerably. I therefore think it is time that "WE" at NYBass initiate legislation to "standardize" the actions of all rod manufacturers with stringent guidlines that would determine the boundries of such actions. While we are at it...we should also standardize all lure manufacturers to have unity in the colors they use in producing hard baits and plastics. These manufacturers are given much to much leeway as to the level that their colorsVARIATE.

Thought we forgot about that word didn't you BASSRAT!

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Posted by Paul_M on 2003 AM:

Action- describes the bend in the rod under load. Slow, mod, mod-fast, fast, ex fast.

Power- describes the "stoutness" either in terms of light, med , hvy or bait size 1/4- 1/2 oz, for instance.

Fast action good for jigs, worms, tubes, senkos.

Mod-fast action is good for spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater, and flipping stick.

Of course it gets confusing when you have an ex. fast light action rod with a light power might act like a mod fast action in a heavier power.

Braid calls for mod-fast action and slower. Slower action rods are easier to cast and learn baitcasting on cause the timing does not have to be quite as precise.

Posted by Broadbill on 2003 PM:

In the Salt/Surf World...

alot of my customers are looking for a parabolic rod. Part of the reason for the popularity of custom Lamiglas rods. A high fiberglass content makes the rod much more durable for work on rocks and jetties. Graphite, while light and strong is extremely brittle and a small nick or chip will soon result in disaster. The parabolic movement of the rod makes working a topwater plug much easier. Once you get the rhythm of the rod started it pops the plug with much less effort. Also when going for maximum distance, the whole rod loads, not just the top 1/3.

These are just my observations.

Broadbill

Posted by Woody on 2003 AM:

Thanks Folks

Paul....That is the EXACT information I was trying to circulate...
Thanks Again to all who responded especially Leigh.
Tight Lines,
Woody

Posted by JOHN G on 2003 PM:

Nice thread: Hookup, your post fascinated me, I was very impressed!

Paul, you summed it up as perfectly as anyone could ever do.

Leigh, you gave me a good chuckle!

hope we get some more input...

JOHN G

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Posted by phil schafer on 2003 AM:

One of your concerns should be the type of line you are going to use on a parabolic rod. I have an old Berkley that when used with mono will drive you nuts trying to set the hook. Not bad with braid and down right great to troll with for BIG fish. Hook size and type should also a consideration when using mono and a parabolic rod. Light wire only. Phil

Posted by fishEguy on 2003 PM:

"Action- describes the bend in the rod under load. Slow, mod, mod-fast, fast, ex fast."

Well done Paul,
If I may take this one step further, the action is an indication of "where" the rod bends.

"Generally" as follows:

Ex fast- begins to bend closest to the tip

Fast- a little further away from the tip

Mod-fast (most popular)- a little further forward than the middle of the blank

Mod- near the middle of the blank

Mod slow- between the butt and the middle of the blank

Michael

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