Plastics Rod Strength/Action?

[Old Hooker]

My monkey is acting up, so here's a quick question. I'm looking at a dedicated worm/craw/lizard rod, Texas rigged 90% of the time. Lite sinkers are 1/8 oz and heavy is 3/8 oz, with 1/4 oz being used the most often. I'm looking at a BPS Carbonlite trigger in the 7 foot range. Here's the options:
6'9" mh/xfast
7' m/fast (tied for first place)
7' m/mod (may have possibilities)
7' mh/fast (top contender)
7' h/xfast

I already have a Carbonlite 7'2" med/fast spinning rod for small flukes and floating worms, and I love it. The sensitivity for the price is great, and I decided my next BC rod would be a Carbonlite about ten minutes after I tried it for the first time. So, which action/strength would you go with?

[BigBassin144]

6'9" M F/XF - This is not a bad choice, and makes a great all purpose rod.

7' M F - I'd use a rod like this for light t-rigs, shaky heads, etc.

7' M M - I'd definitely give this one a thumbs down for a t-rig/soft plastic rod.

7' MH F - Of the ones you listed, this would be my choice. Makes a great t-rig rod, and can handle a lot of other baits as well.

7' H XF - This one would also get a thumbs down from me for a general purpose t-rig rod. This rod is more a jig, heavy t-rig, pitching rod.

I have to say that recently, one of my favorite rods to fish is a 7'3" MH F rod. I mostly use it for t-rig, and more specifically, t-rigged senkos. I know this rod isn't available in the Carbonlite rods, but I thought I'd mention it.

BB

[walkeraviator]

I throw all t-rigs on a 6'6" MH Fast rod and love it... I have a 7' MH and it is great for that too, but I usually use it for carolina rigs instead...

[bassboogieman]

T-rig and other plastics I want a MH/fast casting rod, length of 6'6" to 7'0". Those plastics are thick and I use a 4/0 or larger hook. The MH rod will get the heavier hook through the plastic and in the fish. Only time I use a medium power rod for plastic is finesse presentations with small plastics and thinner wire hooks and I use spinning gear.

[rrw4258]

My first choice would be the 7' MH Fast. I have the same rod (power and action) but it is a Quantum Superlite. That rod is the best light flipping rod I have ever owned. It has just enough tip to detect and pick up on a fish without them feeling it, but has alot of backbone for setting the steel.

Ryan

[IowaBasser]

Chaulk up one vote for the 7' 0" M/F!

Maybe it's because I grew up fishing smallmouth or maybe it's because our largemouth are smaller up here in Iowa than you grow them in the south; but I'm a fan of light tackle.

In my lifeteime I've only caught 2 largemouth in the 5 lb range - and those were estimates based on a 20" length and fairly hefty girth. (Both were released) 20" is also my personal best for smallmouth, and it only weighed 3-1/2 lbs, but I guarentee the smallmouth I caught in a shallow river with fast current fought harder than most 5 lb largemouth from a lake! I have caught some pretty big toothy critters close to 30" on a 6'-6" ML/F set-up (and a medium/small spinning reel) - that's a lot of fun!

[nofearengineer]

For a T-Rig, I almost always use a 7' MH Fast. It gives you quick, hard hookset capability, as well as better control of your worm/lizard.

For a C-Rig, I prefer a 7' M Fast, unless I'm in really heavy weeds. I think the extra flex prevents the fish from detecting pressure for just a split second longer before spitting it out, which is good because your strike detection is often a bit more delayed on a C-rig. It also helps add a bit of casting distance to an awkward leader setup.

[Embrey]

If i had to use a medium rod for that, I'd stay home...

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Another vote for the 7' MH-F. I have no problem throwing 1/16 and up weights with this rig.

[IowaBasser]

Originally Posted by Embrey

If i had to use a medium rod for that, I'd stay home...

Stay home? That's non-sense! I'd still go fishing if my only choice for a rod&reel combination was a 2 ft. Bugs-bunny/Tasmanian Devil pole from Wally World... come to think about it, I my 8 year old nephew caught a 4 lb largemouth with that pole 2 summers ago!

[Old Hooker]

Well, I went today and picked up a Carbonlite 7' MH/fast and put my newest PQ 6.4:1 reel on it. All I can say is WOW! If the initial feel is any indication I am really going to like this combo. Too bad I waited so late in the year to put it together. I'll give it a hard work out in the spring. Thanks guys!