Podcast 52 understanding the right open water rod for you.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Choosing the right open water rod for you can be tough at times. This podcast could help you understand all the numbers and symbols on a rod, and help you pick the one that will work best for you.

http://hotspotoutdoors.com/podcast/hsopodcast031608.mp3

[Schloogs]

Great podcast, I liked your explanation of the difference between IM6, IM7, etc. I have wondered and never got a explanation before and now I know.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Thanks Schloogs!... Glad to hear I was able to help!

[Nick Kuhn]

That would answer why I was having trouble telling the difference between an IM-6 H and an IM-8 MH, other than the IM-8 was lighter. And with the weight it should be noted that as dead weight it is very tough to tell the difference, but once you put them in motion you'll start to notice a difference.

[bassNspear]

great podcast deitz!!!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Very well said Vahn...

Thanks BNS

[TrophyEyes]

Dietz, Great information. I have a specific question about a slip bobber rod that maybe you can give your opinion. I just bought a Shimano Crucial 7'2" Medium, extra fast. I am having second thoughts about this rod and may return it for the medium light, fast model of the same rod. What are your thoughts? The rod will also double as a back up lindy rod and a drop shot rod for smallies.

[Deitz Dittrich]

My opinion.. and take it as that.. I would stick with the M.. not the ML... If it was meant as a shallow water slip bobber rod, then you can get away with ML... but keep in mind when casting your not only casting the lure, but the bobber as well. A Med action rod is much more suited for casting the bobber than the ML. Not only that but it gives you the back bone to get the hook home on the sweeping hook set as well.

The rod you mentioned is what I use for both Lindy Rigging and Drop shot rod.. exactly!(I dont do a ton of slip bobber fishing. If I did, I would have no problems at all using this rod.

[harvey lee]

I have almost completed taking a rod building class from Midwest Rod & Reel and learn alot about rod actions. I ended up building a totally different action that I had planned on building after handling and going through many different actions and lengths.

Great info Dietz.

[upnorth]

Man that is such a hard question to answer for someone else. I build rods and spend some time looking at the specs on the blanks and thinking of how they will be used. Most Medium lite blanks handle the line and lure weight that people are using most of the time in bobber fishing. But you really need to look at how you fish and your preferences for weight of lures you use to chose the proper rod.

For a bobber rod I like a light action rod, but that is my preference and it suits my way of fishing. You may have a different set of preferences in line and lure weight etc in how you fish.

Look at the action, line and weight specs on on the rod and think of how ti matches what you normally use and you will get a good idea of how well a rod will suit your style of fishing.

The action of the rod(moderate, fast, extra fast) is really a description of where the blank is going to flex along the length of the blank. The faster the action the more flex is going to be towards the tip of the rod. A moderate action will flex pretty much in the upper 2/3s of the rod and the extra fast is going to flex upper 3rd of the rod or maybe less. Again personal preference is going to dictate, but a less fast action rod is probably going to handle live bait better than an extra fast rod. Extra fast is going to want to cast off the bait more readily than a moderate to moderate fast action rod.

But all this still hinges on personal preferences.