Fast vs. extra fast

[Nick Kuhn]

I'm trying to decide what sort of action to get on my rod. Due to fishing 4 out of a 16 ft boat I usually only pack 3 rods (my muskie rod, a 6'6" MHF baitcast outfit, and a cheap M spinning outfit). I'd like to replace the spinning rod with something nicer, but it still needs to be versatile. It's application will be pretty much anything I consider to light to throw with the baitcaster, so mostly weightless senko's, small jigs/tubes, the occasional small crankbait, and maybe a small spinner/spinnerbait.

The question I have is what action should I be looking at? I probably will use braided line, and I don't have an exaggerated hookset with spinning rods (more of a short quick snap).Looking at a Compre, possibly a Crucial, or maybe a Mojo, in the 7' M range (I want something at least 7' long, as I've become quite fond of having a longer rod (in before Cecil)).

[Deitz Dittrich]

Fast... in my opinion.. Reason= you said braided line.. extra fast and braided line is overkill. Fast in my opinion is more versatile too. And I will edit any "thats what she said" posts from cecil in this post.. 8-)

[Larson15]

I would go with fast action.

[CaptZ21]

Thats exactly what she said.

[matthothand]

Tough to throw cranks and spinnerbaits along with jigs on the same rod and have it feel right. If you're using braid I'd stick with fast. Ex-fast + braid will not serve you well throwing cranks.

[slipperybob]

I have no problem with an medium power X-fast tip and braid on. The rod fishes like a half power up just due to the backbone on the load, yet requires a finnesse of a half power down due to the smaller tip section of the rod. The difference in feel just takes a little usage to become accustomed to it, almost like going from fiberglass rods to graphite rods. As for casting, it may require one to ease off on the cast load. It's loads very quickly and it can take a while to adjust just to prevent backlashing on your reel.

For most typical bass fishing, the X-fast tip is not versatile. It primarily performs bests for those lost distance casts and long distance hook sets. As you get closer, you have to change hook sets into crank and pulls.

[Irish]

Would a X-fast tip be good for primarily drop-shots, shaky heads and weightless Senkos with flouro?

[slipperybob]

I don't see any problem with drop shot technique. In fact the St.Croix LTB dropshot is x-fast. It's a rod on my list. My primary use is topwater and micro cranks. That's what the St.Crois LTB topwater rod is for and it suits me. Personally never tried shaky heads or weightless Senkos so I can't attest to how much change in those techniques would be beneficial.