how stiff do rods really need to be ?

[cod magnet]

well its a funny thing, but i have been shying away from stiff rods for a couple of years now, however i tried a zeteque xl yesterday first cast pendulum it had me a bit , so i slowed the cast down and hit the rod a little later , than i would my hst evo and m4 evo, and it went really well , however trying a high inertia style with 5 foot drop tucked under the rod i went straight in full speed the rod ripped the rubber of my thumb , where as with the other rods i can use for both high inertia style and pendulum and hit the rod with all i have otg without them tearing my thumb of , but i still would not shy away from the zeteque as a pendulum rod as it would lift a bigger fish than my other rods with out a doubt ,so i would have a stiffer rod in my collection if i could afford it , but an average caster casting OTG would be hindered by the stiffer rod just my opinion

[Limpet]

Without doubt but I can't help think that in quite a few case's people buy rods that they can't use but do so because the rods in question do it on the fields with people that can use them. If I were to wear usans bolts running shoes there is no doubt in my mind that I could not run as fast as him so why is that people think that owning the rods tournament casters use make them top casters and anglers. Back on topic, me personally, I don't think you need rods with as much power as they have now. Where does it stop ? For me these rods take away the enjoyment of fishing. As the post states, people done just as well with softer rods back in the day as they do with the ego boosting barge poles of the casting field.

Some casting rods make damn good fishing rods regardless if your a tourney caster or not your entitled to your opinion which is fair comment but it seems like you have a chip on your shoulder about who uses what rod.. Stop looking down your nose and carry on using whatever you rod you like its personal preference at the end of the day

[finding nemo]

i asked our lass and she says the stiffer the better and that floppy rods are useless!!

[topbanana]

Some casting rods make damn good fishing rods regardless if your a tourney caster or not your entitled to your opinion which is fair comment but it seems like you have a chip on your shoulder about who uses what rod.. Stop looking down your nose and carry on using whatever you rod you like its personal preference at the end of the day

Hang on, I'm entitled to my opinion yet your getting a bit flighty over it. You must be well balanced with a chip on each shoulder. Wind your neck in.

[Rocker]

I'm interested to know which rods you regard as "stiff"
The reasoning being a rod one angler might regard as stiff, may not be to another.

[marco1967]

I'm interested to know which rods you regard as "stiff"
The reasoning being a rod one angler might regard as stiff, may not be to another.

this is a good point, i own 4 rods myself and am a big believer in having a rod that firstly suits the end user and secondly the venue . A person struggling with a stiff rod, another might really enjoy the same rod. In my 30 years of fishing i have used alot of rods , the one that suited me most was a greys shadow and i wished id never sold it . rods i hated were conoflex nemesis plus, conoflex highlander far too stiff for me and would pull me over. i think i have found the balance now in what i need in the rods i now own .

[topbanana]

Its not about me. The post originally came from the Whitby site and was put forward by a renowned angler from them parts and I happen to agree with his reasoning. I've used all sorts of pokers from the old raptors to the e1000 and zziplex hst evos, su's, txl's etc

[Stewart 1971]

Its not about me. The post originally came from the Whitby site and was put forward by a renowned angler from them parts and I happen to agree with his reasoning. I've used all sorts of pokers from the old raptors to the e1000 and zziplex hst evos, su's, txl's etc

I think it's a really interesting debate. Like I said I've fished the south coast for 20 years so have a bit of a different perspective - down there it is all about bite detection and the "feel" a rod gives. I can absolutely see the point the Deans is making; on the other hand seeing the Dymic HST (a rod that has repeatedly been cast well over 280 yards and is still used regularly by Gary Dickerson) described as a "stick of liquorice" kind of makes the OP's point for him.

I wouldn't disagree that for specific ground a hyper stiff rod can do a job and those who like to fish this way then fair play to them; what I'd challenge is the idea that the stiffer a rod is then the better the rod is - both on the casting field and the beach this is not necessarily true indeed the oppositte may be so.

[cod magnet]

Its not about me. The post originally came from the Whitby site and was put forward by a renowned angler from them parts and I happen to agree with his reasoning. I've used all sorts of pokers from the old raptors to the e1000 and zziplex hst evos, su's, txl's etc

i would not consider a hst evo a very stiff rod i would say powerfull through forgiving action but it will not bite like a zeteque xl ,

[Rocker]

A less strong or talented angler can easily get more from a so called "stiff" rod merely by upping sinker weight,
In other words, if your having trouble compressing a rod try a heavier sinker!
And Stuart, the HST is a good rod, not stiff at all though, I was a little harsh to lable it a stick of licorice, but needs a full pendulum to wind it up Imo, which I can do, but not on all of the marks I fish. So I would class it a feild rod.

[topbanana]

Hst evo I had was a very stiff rod, completely different to the standard hst. And I wish I knew before hand that all you had to do was simply stick a heavier sinker on ! I thought there was a lot more to it than that but what do I know. I think we are digressing away from the original question somewhat though. That being do rods really need to be as stiff as they are becoming for fishing ? In a word, no, I don't think they do.

[cod magnet]

Hst evo I had was a very stiff rod, completely different to the standard hst. And I wish I knew before hand that all you had to do was simply stick a heavier sinker on ! I thought there was a lot more to it than that but what do I know. I think we are digressing away from the original question somewhat though. That being do rods really need to be as stiff as they are becoming for fishing ? In a word, no, I don't think they do.

well you have just hit the nail on the head , your thoughts of a stiff rod is not another mans thoughts of a stiff rod , just, like one mans cup of tea is another mans cup of poison , learn how to compress the hst evo with say 150 gram sinker , and you will not need the heavy weight sinker, making it feel as though its bending, its all in the technique of your casting style

[topbanana]

well you have just hit the nail on the head , your thoughts of a stiff rod is not another mans thoughts of a stiff rod , just, like one mans cup of tea is another mans cup of poison , learn how to compress the hst evo with say 150 gram sinker , and you will not need the heavy weight sinker, making it feel as though its bending, its all in the technique of your casting style

Fair comment but I stand by the fact that rods don't need be as stiff as some are. To put it into perspective, I've had Pollock, coalies and codling to 5lb on a 10 to 45g spinning rod from some real heavy marks with no problems

[Limpet]

Fair comment but I stand by the fact that rods don't need be as stiff as some are. To put it into perspective, I've had Pollock, coalies and codling to 5lb on a 10 to 45g spinning rod from some real heavy marks with no problems

Its one thing pleasure/sport fishing with lighter outfits on rough ground but totally different fishing matches or opens when every fish counts when a stiffer rod might save you from losing a fish or two

[topbanana]

Its one thing pleasure/sport fishing with lighter outfits on rough ground but totally different fishing matches or opens when every fish counts when a stiffer rod might save you from losing a fish or two

I agree. I have won club matches spinning though. Clearly rods and reels are a personal thing. I just thought I would put this post out there and most peoples input has been good.