Glass -VS- Graphite Cranking

[Tavery5]

We have had allot of good conversations around why each of us prefer glass or graphite. I come across this well written article and thought I would share it.

The controversy continues between fiberglass versus graphite. Some professional bass fishermen recommend fiberglass rods for cranking, others stand hard and fast on the platform that graphite is the way to go. So which is it, what is really going on here? For the first time, we'll explain the differences and advantages of each so that you can make an informed decision on your next cranking rod purchase.
Let's cut through the confusion and get to the heart of the matter. Part of it comes down to sensitivity. What makes one rod more sensitive than another? First, we have to define sensitivity. Most people think it is a stronger vibration, but that's only part of the equation. Sensitivity is the velocity of vibration propagation.

Rods of different modulus ratings have different velocities of vibration. The higher the modulus of the rod (also depends on the way the rod is manufactured), the faster the vibrations from a bite travel from the line to the rod and finally, to your hand where you feel it. The faster the signal, the stronger it feels. This is why high modulus rods are said to be more sensitive.


Modulus of rods

Graphite

High-modulus --------------- 51 million modulus and up (HM)

Mid-modulus ---------------- 38 - 47 million modulus (IM6, IM7, IM8, IM9)

Low/standard-modulus -- 33 million modulus

Fiberglass

S-Glass -----------------------13 million modulus

E-Glass ---------------------- 6 million modulus



With a high modulus rod, you feel the signal the fastest, and it's also a stronger signal. This enables you to set the hook faster. The problem is, it's possible to set the hook too fast, before the fish fully engulfs the bait. The result can be a lost fish because you pulled the lure away from him. When that happens, one thing is for sure, it's not going to be a Hallmark moment. This is one of the main reasons some professional bass fishermen love fiberglass rods... by the time you feel the hit and react, he has it, and you have him. Also, the slower reaction and recovery (damping) of a fiberglass rod can be more gentle and forgiving on fish; the harder recovery of higher modulus graphite rods can result in opening up a larger hole where a fighting fish is hooked, allowing the hook to come out. Moderate action rods can be more forgiving, but not to the extent of a low modulus rod.

On the other side of the coin, higher modulus rods have the potential to cast farther due to their more efficient nature. Yet, oftentimes even a fiberglass rod can heave a crankbait farther than you can get a good hookset, so this might be a moot point. With graphite, you can feel more of what is going on as you retrieve your lure, such as when the plug is hitting the tops of weed beds or the bottom. Proponents of graphite cranking rods claim this as a major advantage over the seemingly "dead" feel of a fiberglass rod in comparison. Finally, some advocates of graphite cranking rods point out that they are lighter than their fiberglass cousins. However, if you are dragging a big-lipped crankbait around the lake, you may not be able to feel the difference between an only slightly lighter graphite rod over glass.

It should be pointed out that highly sensitive rods are especially recommended for slack-line techniques such as worm and jig fishing for a couple of reasons. For one, a quick hookset is sometimes needed for worm fishing in order to prevent the fish from having enough time to swallow the bait, to prevent gut-hooking. Also, when there is slack or a bow in the line there will be less sensitivity than with other tight-line moving techniques. Think of the simple play telephone kids make, a couple of cans or cups connected by string. You have to pull the string tight to hear anything. The same concept applies here. A rod with higher sensitivity can help overcome these problems.

Other things besides the modulus of the rod can influence the sensitivity of a finished rod. The type of line used, and the way the rod is constructed, including different grip materials, line guide configuration, even the thickness of the grips, can all contribute to or detract from sensitivity. For example, thicker or softer grips will impede vibration. Handles designed where there is less or thinner grip material and places where you can touch the blank can make a rod more sensitive. Generally, rods constructed with light components tend to enhance sensitivity of the finished product, or, to be more accurate, detract less from sensitivity (the rod will never be as sensitive as the naked rod blank, before it's built. Everything that is added to the rod, such as grips and guides, add weight and damping which reduce sensitivity.) However, as more and more rods are built similarly, such as the overwhelming trend of split-grip handles found on rods today, the rod blank is often the main determining factor in sensitivity.

Now you know the real differences in no-uncertain terms. To summarize the main advantages, fiberglass transmits vibrations slower so that you don't set the hook too fast, and have more damping to resist ripping hooks out of the bass's mouth. In contrast, a graphite rod will help give you a mental picture of where your lure is in relation to the underwater bottom and cover, allowing you to more readily adjust your retrieve speed and depth to keep your lure in the strike zone, and allow you to get more bites (hopefully!). Life is full of compromises, you have to pick one or the other, or a mid-modulus rod, a balance between the two. You can't have it all, there is no free lunch.

For recreational, fun fishing, I prefer high-modulus graphite for sensitivity. It's fun when a one-pound bass hits so hard it feels bigger than it really is! The hit can be half the fun. For tournament fishing, I would go with a lower modulus rod, one just sensitive enough for me to feel the hit every time, so I can set the hook at the right moment, every time. In a tournament, catching one more fish can mean the difference between winning and loosing.

What's your pleasure - just fun fishing, or landing more fish? Now you have the knowledge to pick the best tool for the task at hand.