Power Vs. Action Casting Rod

Casting rods are available in a wide variety of sizes and strengths for fishermen. Anglers pair these rods with bait-casting reels to target bass, muskies, northern pike and walleyes. Fishermen generally use casting rods to fish with heavier line and lures than they could use with other types of rods. Action and power are two of the aspects anglers must consider before deciding on a rod.

  1. Action

    • Casting rods are available in four actions: extra fast, fast, medium and slow. A rod with extra-fast action flexes little from tip to butt, while the entire length of a slow-action rod flexes. Fast-action rods flex about two-thirds of the way up the fishing rod, while medium-action rods flex at about the halfway point.

    Power

    • The power of a casting rod refers to the weight required to cause the rod to flex. Casting rods come in one of five powers: heavy, medium-heavy, medium, light and ultralight. Anglers use heavy power rods when targeting large fish with both heavy line and lures. Not only can heavy power rods handle the weight of that equipment, but the fact it takes more weight to cause the rod to flex allows anglers to set the hook firmly. Fishermen use light and ultralight rods for targeting small species, such as crappies and sunfish.

    Casting Distance

    • The action of a fishing rod has a lot to do with an angler's ability to cast for distance and accuracy. Because extra-fast rods flex little, they cannot cast lures as far as rods with more flex. Rods with fast, medium or slow actions also tend to cast more accurately at greater distances. On the other hand, extra-fast action rods are best for close-in work in heavy cover. Anglers use these rods in combination with short-cast techniques like flipping and pitching to present baits at precise spots in heavy cover.

    Fishing Line

    • The power of a rod and the size of fishing line it can accommodate are closely related. Heavy power rods can handle heavy lines -- 20-pound test or heavier -- while ultralight rods are best used in conjunction with 4-pound test line or lighter. Four- to 8-pound line is best on light power rods; 4- to 12-pound is best on medium power rods; and 8- to 14-pound test is best on medium-heavy power rods. If anglers spool too small of a line on a rod, they risk snapping the line when they set the hook.