Central Pennsylvania Fishing

Go to any fishing forum on the internet and you’ll find the topic of rod selection somewhere in the top 20 threads. Invariably, you’ll read folks posts about their opinions on the best jig and pig rod, spinner bait rod, or finesse bait rod. Many times you’ll find some great pearls of wisdom. However, mixed with those pearls of wisdom you’ll also find the word “action” misused many times over. That’s what this article is all about. Setting the record strait on “action” vs “power”.

Without further a due, let’s start with some simple definitions.

Action
Action is the extent to which the rod bends. For example, is the rod capable of bending along its entire length like the rod pictured to the left? Action typically falls into four categories as seen below.

Power
This descriptor is most accurately defined as the amount of “force” that it takes to make the rod bend. This has a direct relationship to the weight of lures that a rod can best be used to cast. Some common descriptors rod manufactures use to describe power are:

• Ultralight
• Light
• Medium Light
• Medium
• Medium Heavy
• Heavy

Remember that there will be differences from one manufacturer to another. I will typically used the recommended bait wait ranges on the rod blank to clarify what a company means by light, medium, etc.

Putting it all together
I’m not going to go into great detail here discussing the finer points of selecting the right fishing rod for specific applications. I will, however give you an example of how you can apply the information above to make your own decision about the best tool for your favorite fishing techniques.

scenario one
I like fishing large plastic worms and jigs in submerged treetops, weeds, and in thick lily pads at a local lake.

choosing the action - I use a fast action rod for this application for two reasons. First, I want a quick, solid hook set even when the hook has to penetrate a lot of plastic and the fishes mouth. The fast action rod bends very little overall. This means solid hook sets. Second, I want to apply maximum pressure so that I can get the fish headed out of the “junk” right away. A fast action rod with little “give” helps me accomplish this goal.

choosing the power - Since most of the baits I will present in these situations are around a 1/2 oz. or larger, I would opt for a “medium heavy” to “heavy” power rod.

scenario two
I enjoy fishing crank baits in open flats or just over the top of weed beds.

Choosing the action - When fishing crank baits you want a rod with some “give” so that when a fish strikes it will be able to suck the crank bait deeper into its mouth before feeling the pull of the rod. Also, because crank baits can be thrown by the fish easier, you want a rod that can bend enough to keep a consistent pressure on the fish during leaps and sudden changes of directions. For these reasons, you might consider a “moderate” action rod.

Choosing the power - Power will really depend on the weight and type of crank bait being used. In most cases a “medium” power rod will do the trick.

Closing thoughts
The information I’ve presented here is focused on the difference between action and power. I’ve expanded these concepts a little to show how you might use this information to select the right rod for a given fishing situation. Please remember that there are more factors involved in choosing a rod such as blank material, rod length, and handle design, just to mention a few. I hope you find this information helpful. Please feel free to leave comments below if you have questions or comments about this article.

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