Common Fishing Rod Confusions Explained | Rod Action and Power Made Simple

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Rod Power Definition: How much weight a rod can handle when
under load from a fishing lure.
Rod Action Definition: Where the rod loads when put under force.
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Football Jig Rod: bit.ly/3yQz9ia
- KOVERT Lite Series Casting Rod 7'2" Heavy
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- KOVERT Lite Series Cranking Rod 7'6" Med Hvy
Squarebill Crankbait / Jerkbait Rod: bit.ly/3sOReZP
- KOVERT Lite Series Cranking Rod 6'10" Medium
Flipping / Big Worm / Magnum Shaky Head: bit.ly/3LzjkPv
- KOVERT Lite Casting Rod 7'6" Med Hvy
Swim Jig / Hollow Belly Swimbait Rod: bit.ly/3yQdSEX
- KOVERT Lite Casting Rod 7'6" Hvy Mod Fast
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[@elonmust7470]

Having 75 rods is great, but I seem to be able to catch them just as well with a wacky rig on a flipping pole as I can a deep diving crankbait on that same pole. I've started buying $49.99 allstar rods & have to say that they do the job just as well as all of the $250.00 xpride rods that I've tried. The only rod I've ever had snap in 2 was an xpride... Getting the correct setup is important, but exaggerating the concept like some other youtube bass fishing personalities do, bugs me.. "For the 5xd you need THIS $499.00 rod, but for the 6xd you need THIS OTHER $499.00 rod, & for the 8xd you need YET ANOTHER $499.00 ROD!!" Madness....

[@joshuagibson2520]

Amen brother.

[@raytubach8988]

Baloney

[@elonmust7470]

@@raytubach8988 Imagine typing one word & thinking that it would be a good idea to publish it....

[@danham3344]

@@elonmust7470 🤣😂🤣😆. I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there!

[@MLCAgaming]

I just had the opposite experience. Used to buy rods between 25-60 bucks and would catch fish still but now i started to buy rods around the 100 dollars range and the difference is night and day. The rods are lighter and better quality that you can feel when fishing. I can only imagine when you get into the 250-300 range how good they must feel.

[@michaelburke5907]

I have a 6' 6"" medium/medium Sigma by Shakespeare. Great all around spinning rod and reel combo. I can fish jigs, spinnerbaits, hard baits, soft baits, spinners and spoons. I've had it for about twenty years and have caught pike, walleye, small mouth and largemouth and have been very happy with it. Cost was about $35.00 originally. Just can't justify an expensive rod.

[@wilmerpruitt6324]

Absolutely the best tutorial I've seen on this subject in my 50 plus years of fishing. Thanks Jonny

[@maxcole3930]

Definitely good vid, seeing the rods loaded up next to each other really clears up mod-fast or fast action.

[@markesquivel1458]

Your videos are always a wealth of inspiration and knowledge, thank you.

[@ricksalling6198]

As always John. Great information and presentation.

[@funkymojo111]

Saved for future reference. Thanks for explaining this. I work at a sporting goods store and this can be a challenging concepts for new anglers.

[@erk678]

I love rods that are bait specific with a decal of the bait on the rod. Great content I loved this video.👍😎❤️🎣

[@gregstabryla9945]

Wow Jonny, great job of explaining this topic. Clears up some questions.

[@williamfedor8706]

Thanks for clearing this up. I had it completely backwards. Finally someone explained it!

[@ifishcatfish]

you didn't have it backwards. Its this video that is wrong. Have some self confidence.

[@jamenmartin9939]

One of the best videos ever made in regards to fishing! So much misinformation out there, that I fell for lol

[@guyb5333]

Very nice video thanks. Hard to put all my old rods out to pasture to buy new ones. But I will look at what I have and compare techniques.

[@johnsidebottom1885]

Great video, very informative. Thanks for doing this. I have one these rods and love it.

[@mohamednabilhamza8699]

Excellent vid on this subject , very informative

[@sowabunga]

Great and useful information as always.....explantations that make sense.

[@serenityartspace-lougomes844]

You earned a subscription with this video. Thanks for the great info. I'm in the process of dialing in my gear for different techniques, and this helps a lot. I'm at the stage where I'm less concerned with catching lots of bass, and focusing on targeting the biggest. So, lots of big swimbaits and specific tackle and lines. Knowing what rods to set up will be a huge help. Thanks!

[@kennethwilliams6405]

one of the best description on this topic yet

[@johnhanley8708]

thanks for the tutorial it cleared some thing up Jonny

[@Davvid1]

Thank you so much it makes it so simple once they they said what each action was for now I won't have a problem with that. Thank you very much

[@shanescott3168]

Great explanation for a confusing topic. Thank you.

[@chrisboyd1408]

That really helps. Thanks for sharing

[@randy4805]

Excellent content! Thank you!

[@sherwood652]

Awesome video. Will definitely check out Denali.

[@jfj126]

Very helpful and informative.

[@marcuspierantozzi]

Excellent content.. thank you. One day please do a video on winter bass where the water temp doesn't drop that much. Where I live winter water temps seldom drop below 60°F

[@stevekeen7035]

Informative video Jonny

[@mitchwann4223]

just saw you Johnny on I-49 in Fayetteville pulling your boat good luck on your trip

[@iluvfpgas]

excellent explanation, thanks!

[@aroc4085]

Thank you. Very helpful

[@lamontewyche2071]

Tremendous video that breaks down how to choose the perfect rod for the job! Thank you so much!!

[@Mrambo26]

Perfect. Thank You!! 😊

[@redcat111111]

Thank You Very well said

[@davidchaffin6980]

Great job! Thanks

[@rhinusbreedt9772]

Awesome video thank you

[@hoovy6579]

THANKS !!!!! VERY HELPFULL!!!!!

[@youdonthavetoreadthispost.5850]

Finesse requires precision and the right tool for the job. Try to stay near the middle of the range for most applications for best overall performance. Slow for trolling. Fast for sensitivity. Heavy rod weight doesn't matter in a rod holder. You want a rod that bends to the butt section and pumps 'below' the tip section with a 'tremble' at the tip so you can 'read' the plug. This is spot on. I've built a few. Spine the blank before you build one!

[@RCSTILE]

I have watched what seems like a million of these how to and what to use videos. You two gentlemen are the only people I have seen that intelligently explain the actual " when and why" of rod selection. Your explanation applies to all type of fresh water rods, crank, spin or fly. The same situation applies to all of them.

[@jonahlawrence6204]

Great video

[@fishncoach8699]

If you look at the example from your video, the MH fast does the same thing that the Moderate Heavy would. The difference between the 2 with the heavy weight was the same thing that you would describe as action.

[@buckreynolds1779]

great video thanks

[@craigholland2274]

Awesome video

[@JohnK-dv7pb]

Good video, thanks

[@whiteouthamstra]

I have one rod. I’ve had it for probably 15 years.. I have no issue catching fish with it.. everything from lake trout, to bass to pike to little brook trout in a creek.

[@mzahra1]

SAME! Have been using my Shimano rod/reel for easily 20+ years and abused the heck out of both. No issues. I would like to cast smaller lures further, but I don't want 7 different rods lol

[@christopherfrench7052]

That's good information Johnny I've always wondered about that myself another thing I wonder about is wire rods different lengths what's the reason behind that

[@scottvaughn9565]

Scott has a strong trustworthy name

[@ryansullivan9260]

Oh no! Even the rep says action instead of power! Great video on your part though.

[@vicpetersen3800]

You’re a gifted teacher! This video has given a lot of clarity on the subject. Now I need to sort through my rods and caul the lot.

[@BaconNEggzGaming]

Excellent and informative video. It's a bit simplified in terms of lure weight, but the weighted demonstration and comparison was just splendid. Thank you!

[@jamesh7469]

I think choosing the power of your rod is more complicated then you made it sound. For example, a frog might only weigh 3/8 or 1/2oz but it requires a heavy or XH rod almost always. Strength of hook set and amount of cover you plan to throw into need to be considered with power as well

[@elonmust7470]

You're over thinking it...........

[@jamesh7469]

@@elonmust7470 ok lol. Have fun throwing a frog on a M power rod then 😂 cause it fits the weight requirement

[@elonmust7470]

@@jamesh7469 I don't own any m power rods......

[@kenneth9874]

The gauge or wire size of the hook is an important factor as well

[@johnsonc8]

1:03 Took Scott 20 seconds into his talk to mix up power and action.

[@jonwhalen643]

So true. Immediately calls power action 💀

[@kenneth9874]

So many do

[@derylminnich2489]

Very informative, thank you. This video was very helpful learning about power and action... But what about rod lengths?

[@mzahra1]

Also a big factor. A some types of rods are more fragile than others. You hear lots of stories of rods snapping from wrong type (esp St Croix). You need to buy 47 different rods if you follow their science lol

[@jesseo355]

Let’s see a video on how to be a better fisherman when your an average weekend fisherman. I’ve noticed that a lot of these videos are great for people that have nice boats loaded with professional grade gear. I’m not a part of that crowd yet and it would be nice to see some vids that help out the guy with 3 rods and a John boat beating the banks.

[@crashdsnowman1]

Good explanation but the photo of the guy holding two rods with weights suspended is pretty funny. He's holding the heavy power rod higher to make it look like more of a difference. That one photo is worth a thousand words, maybe not the thousand you want.

[@Nature-Is-My-Home]

Awesome video. This is exactly the clarification I needed for better rod selections!

[@terrytresemer2864]

I like that you made this one. I have been trying to convince some of those around me of this very topic. Heavy action with fast tip is what they see on TV, great if you're flipping. When they go to cast square bills not so good. Hopefully they'll catch this.

[@christophershelton1735]

Thanks.

[@scottvaughn9565]

Who wears short shorts? Johnny wears short shorts lol.. glad to be back to this channel.

[@glensims7959]

Certainly not knocking any particular rod company, as bass fishing truly doesn't require a ultra-high quality rod. But, there's only one reason to paint a rod blank.....and that is to hide the consistency of the wraps of graphite fibers that make up the rod blank. Sorry to say that y'all are paying a premium price for rods that are built on substandard rod blanks. Do your cute little weight/flex test on several of the SAME rods, and you'll see what I mean. No two will be the same.

[@jerryweiser1145]

Fished a trika rod yesterday, bought 2😊

[@drumbassandbass]

Most of the video makes great sense, but at 1:03 when you guys are talking about power...he refers to the different powers as actions!!! Mistakes like that definitely increase the level of confusion.

[@KD-kf4zm]

Yep, even the manufacturers can't keep it straight all of the time. Good catch!

[@DanGriffin10]

What Denali spinning rod would you recommend for jerkbait fishing?

[@RUreddynow]

Ahhh...it finally makes sense lol thanks

[@techtiger38]

Great video...I really dislike Winn Grips.

[@ifishcatfish]

You know, the guy kind of explained it correctly, but when you did your drawings you got it upside down again.

[@forrhs8430]

Then what to use for topwater baits?

[@mikeantes9597]

Med heavy fast action can do just about anything you want to except crank baits med moderate for that

[@jonathanadamgordon1]

How does rod length come into play?

[@MattLaClear]

Morale of the video? I need more rods in my collection! 😀

[@saultpancetta366]

As usual, you break the info down to where anyone can understand it. Another great video

[@jego2755]

What about line size? When it says 10-20 lb for example, is that just for fluorocarbon, just for braid, just for mono or it applies for all types?

[@mzahra1]

NOT braid

[@johnnieanderson9378]

What about using mono,braid or floro line?

[@mzahra1]

Line ratings typically not for braid.

[@dmack1962]

Great explanation on the rods, easy to follow and understand. Thank you

[@blacksnips3164]

so i can use a UL rod to catch a big pike ?

[@makcatchem9614]

What is their bladed jig rod model?

[@purplefurture6960]

can you please recommend me rod for saltwater - gulf sea , we dont have ocean like you i have daiwa primarine 2.7 meter i feel its hard doesnt bend easily and it doesnt cast so far, but it can handle shark i think :D i will use cut fish or calamari , no lure no jigging only real cut fish and others i feel i want rod less than 4m but im scared to buy something that bend so much on 10 cm fish :) but if i take hard one doesnt bend then it will not cast far

[@scottvaughn9565]

Don't forget that action helps while bringing the fish in. The short shanks in a crank pop easier so a more moderate rod will be more forgiving when the fish is changing direction.

[@ozmedico]

You only mention the weight of the bait when discussing power. Doesn't the sinkers weight come into it as well ? Look forward to your answer.

[@joshuagibson2520]

This is insane. A guy only needs a few rods at most. The industry is all about the money though. It's time to get back to basics. I catch scads of bass and don't need $200,000 worth of boat, baits, rods, and reels. Not even close to 1/10 of that actually.

[@normanham6142]

Agree 100%. Keep it simple and have fun being outdoors in nature. I’ve always caught bass in any state I’ve lived by using same techniques that worked for me as a kid. 🎣

[@elonmust7470]

I here agree fully. I can throw everything in my tackle box on 3 rods. From 1/64 oz ned rigs to 8oz slideswimmer 250s...

[@normanham6142]

@@elonmust7470 That’s exactly what I roll with; three rods. Sometimes that seems like one too many on my kayak. One doesn’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy fishing🎣👍🏼😎

[@joshuagibson2520]

I understand that fishing professionally, or even local tournaments, is a whole nother ball game compared to the fishing most of us do. In that case I can see having 8 or 10 rods rigged up and on deck of the boat. Idk, I could be completely wrong, but I think the average viewer of this channel wasn't the right demographic for this type of advertisement. That was more of what my original comment was about. I'm with yall above me though. I typically take 2 rods with me most times. Unless I'm river wading on a day I leave the yak at home. Then it's one rod and a fanny pack style tackle box and that's it.

[@jeffbrenaman9118]

Well done, even if you knew the the science behind rods and the applications, its nice to get refreshed and have it broken down in a way that everyone can understand 👍✅

[@dgreen6987]

Are any part of these rods including materials made in China ?

[@nicoibzschalin-hr4bj]

Just another bass fisherman vid. Do they only make bass rods?

[@racilgranada714]

How to know is my rod is moderate

[@mzahra1]

I fish from pan fish, to small trout, to bass to carp to pike, with the obvious wide range of lure types/sizes, with short precise casts and long casts. So I need 47 different rods. Got it lol.

[@rhinusbreedt9772]

FOR ME i need to own 4 rods and reels. 1 super sensitive all round BFS rod and proper BFS reel.. need 1 proper expensive sensitive 7' MH reel for soft plastics worming neds and texas rigs. A 7ft4 heavy proper expensive and sensitive for flippin big jigs and topwater baits and maybe big swimbaits. And one 6ft9 medium moderate fast rod any good rod for cranks and im set lol

[@learningtofish7036]

This is the juice. I'm here for the juice.

[@BrettFox]

Lol, within the first 90 seconds that dude was using power and action interchangeably....this is why people get confused!

[@FlyFishingChronicles]

You miss the term "taper".

[@johngullotta3987]

Did Denali pay for this promo?

[@patrickdolan.]

Eh. I use a medium rod for everything. No need to cast more than 40 yards normally. Never had a problem and i catch just as many fish as my buddy who brings 5 rods to my 2

[@descalf]

Loads up? Football???

[@academicmailbox7798]

I think where things got confused. Was in using the language to describe 'speed' to categorize 'the action'.

[@academicmailbox7798]

To deal with 'power' of a rod (a lot of anglers walk into stores that sell 'as much' to saltwater fishermen as to freshwater). Especially in places like British Isles. Small, island countries. In saltwater conventional tackle angling. They get around things. By loosely categorizing all rods, for shoreline use (in close, as opposed to beach casters). Into various rock fishing weight or power categories. And you'll find these specifications printed on a lot of rods. Which anglers who buy them to use in saltwater or freshwater. Will buy. LRF, or light rock fishing goes from zero to eight grams or 'quarter ounce'. MRF or medium rock fishing. Goes from that up to one ounce. Or 28 grams. And the HRF, or heavy rock fishing (equivalent to throwing a heavy metal spoon the longest distance from saltwater shoreline). Ends at around three ounces or 90 to 100 grams. And then in the 'spinning reel' rod category. Typically in stuff like salmon fishing (in freshwater). We'll regularly see the rods that show up. With larger diameter spinning reels. That are able to play Atlantic salmon fairly well. In around that three ounce or 90 to 100 gram category. My own spinning tackle rod, which I never really used. Was purchased at the height of the 'swim bait' throwing saltwater craze. That Matt Pangrac was speaking to Chris Zaldain about in May 2022. I noticed lately, as I never used the rod. It was down around two ounce weight category. Or 60 grams. I knew it was less powerful than the other salmon spinning rods I come across. And it has a really nice action to it. Useful for working swimbaits (and throwing those baits really far). On saltwater shorelines.

[@academicmailbox7798]

To an extent I would argue. That for species such as salmon in freshwater (I just use the example as one of the most explosive and powerful fish, that one has to play). I would argue that many of those anglers don't have different rods. They tend to remain up around 90 to 100 grams (around three ounce throwing weight). And some could benefit. From experimenting with rods much lower down. In the power ratings. Two ounces seems to be a nice rod to own too. Unfortunately though, I've seen anglers who had hardly any clue. Take gear that was expressly designed for 'Light Rock Fishing' for small species. Down to the quarter ounce and less. And I've seen anglers try to throw one and two ounce weights. And end up breaking those rods. That is with saltwater. There is nothing more fun. Than taking out an LRF rod with some light braid (on a small spinning reel). And just throwing some micro swimbaits or the like. Along a shoreline for an hour. When it comes to throwing capability or power of the rod. The broader way to think about it. Is outside of one species of fish completely. You have species like salmon at one extreme. Fish such as goby and croppy at another (LRF rod fishing, is like a distant cousin of 'ice fishing' rods in America and Canada). It's understood. That you're doing this to have some fun. Dangling some light jigs or lures. At close distance. And in between the 'HRF' or 'LRF'. There is a huge area of rods with enough power. They can handle all of those one ounce category of baits and lures. That are weighted around that amount. Of one ounce or 28 grams. The thing is, the angler going to a store. May find rods at both ends of that spectrum (yeah, I've a feeling that the 'salmon' rods that many of us purchased, were actually pike and musky rods). That just happened to fit to our needs. And in saltwater, the same three ounce rod. Might be used by someone fishing for saltwater bass (striped bass in America), or Red Fish.

[@academicmailbox7798]

The thing with fishing for Red Fish, or fishing for Salmon. Or Striped Bass. Is you don't know what you're going to meet. You tend to size your tackle up. For the biggest fish you catch. When the reality is. In a lot of cases, you might prefer to be fishing something with less power. That was like that 'two ounce' rod I came across, and ended up buying. Never looking at it's specification. Which was for throwing saltwater swimbait lures a long distance. And it would be more like a Pike or Musky rod too. I think. Used to throw a large glide bait or similar. In freshwater fishing. On the fly fishing side of it. We ended up with 'numbers' (like a 'three weight' Czech nymph rod). Will get used with two millimeter diameter tungsten beads. To bump those along the bottom in rivers. For trout. And three weight is about the most sensitive that most fly fishing anglers would be willing to use. It's used to throw around six to seven grams of 'line' weight. So the three weight, beloved of many small river fly anglers. Is the equivalent really of the 'LRF' on the conventional tackle side.

[@academicmailbox7798]

Five or six weight fly rods, still only gets you to around ten grams. Or less than half an ounce weight capacity. You actually have to get up to eight weight fly rods (considered by lots of anglers to be the cause of two much tennis elbow and wrist fatigue). To get anywhere near a half ounce line weight throwing capacity. The 'twelve' weight fly rods (used for Pike and Musky), but mainly for saltwater fly casting. Where heavy winds can be a problem. Where the rod needs to be strong enough. You have to 'top out' on the single handed fly rod weight category system, at number 12 rods. Before you get to something like a 'one ounce' fly rod (anything you want become one ounce, you have to go double-handed fly rod casting). And that is exactly what fly fishing anglers in saltwater are doing more and more. Working with fly rods that can throw above 380 grains of line weight (that is around 25 grams of weight, or less than one ounce). Double handed fly rods top out at around six to seven hundred grains of line weight. Which is still not even two ounces of weight.

[@academicmailbox7798]

Meaning that your 'middle of the road' conventional tackle angling rods. In the two ounce weight throwing category. Are actually gigantic strength, in the fly fishing world. That's the big difference between fly fishing rod rating systems. And those on the conventioal tackle side. Heavy rock fishing, or HRF. Was a category intended to cater. For the saltwater angler. Who wanted a way, as the tide was turning. To reach out as far as possible. To start to explore the first part of the tidal inflow, as the bite was starting. As the tide comes in. Anglers in saltwater will try to use a variety. Of things that look like Carolina rigs often. That are designed to reach out far. When there is still a lot of tide left to come in. It enables those saltwater anglers to extend their fishing time. At the front end of a tide. A little bit earlier. Using baits that get as heavy to throw. As three ounces. Whereas on the beach casting 'long distance' scale. Three ounce weights is considered fairlly light. It won't get you that 'mile' of distance. That some anglers from shorelines in saltwater. Are looking to achieve. Meaning that 'HRF' as a rod designation in saltwater. Is actually a lightweight designation. Compared to what it can go up to.

[@bommert3816]

Fished Denali rods for 10 years on their pro staff and their quality has gone to crap. Got a deal with Powell now and couldn’t be happier. The guides on Denali rods are crap.

[@inspectorclips9618]

At this pace they will soon try to convince you that you can only use one specfic rod for every lure.

[@fredzimmerman723]

Notice when he was talking about weight of lure he kept saying action when he was talking about power.

[@MaxxHDROM]

And then after u figure this out .. u gotta worry about open water vs cover vs finesse and if the moon is out or the water is stained or zeus is asleep or posiedon had a son or if ur wife packed u tuna or nothin

[@Basssmaster]

I love all the feMales whining saying they don't need 30 rods.... I don't need them but I want them ok

[@joshuagibson2520]

Hey, whatever makes you feel adequate I guess. To each their own.

[@elonmust7470]

You tried to make a joke by saying that the men who don't act like women in the shopping mall, are actually women. How stupid.

[@jasonfinn5380]

Pretty funny considering that in all your videos you confuse action and power. You always say something like I used a medium action rod not a medium power rod.

[@FishtheMoment]

Haha yeah I know better now!

[@_dreko]

Arrrr yes, video to explain and reduce confusion about power and action... Instructor immediately starts referring to power as the action and using "action" interchangeably to explain both categories. See, the trick to defining anything, is to not use the word your defining as it's definition.

[@Chris-ei7iz]

If You need different fishing rod by what you are fishing for then your not a good fisherman. It only take one rod to fish for all fish

[@GreatKeny]

You labelled the action wrong 😅

[@FishtheMoment]

Haha I still mess it up!

[@Robert-lm2mo]

Look…All due respect to both of these guys. They obviously mean well, but the Denali Rep was using the wrong terminology a couple different times during the video. The entire point of this video was to help clear up confusion, not add to it. At least twice in the video, the Rep uses the word “action” when referring to power. Fortunately, I know the differences now, but a few years ago I didn’t and would’ve watched that and been left scratching my head. I watch a lot and read a lot now, as I have fully engrossed myself into the world of Bass fishing since retirement. The majority of Pros out there don’t even know the correct terminology or they know it in their heads, but it comes out wrong when talking. Please guys stop the madness, lol…