Matching rod stiffness to line

[Runway1]

I was wondering how to split this hair. most of us have braid spooled up with zero stretch. Some of us, such as myself, use a simple 6' or so of fluoro/mono as a leader (I know mono stretches but at 6' it's essentially zero when the whole length is considered). So in this case, would you pair that with a slower, more parabolic rod to provide some give?

I do have one setup with ~100' mono topshot that I attach a 6' fluoro to. Here I'm not worried. Is a stiff rod with a no stretch line too risky? What 40lb jig rod would you pair with a braided line and fluoro leader?

 

[surfgoose]

It all depends upon what your primary use for the outfit is. Are you casting surface lures? If so, you want a longer rod, eight feet at a minimum but a lot of good tossers use nine feet and even longer. And the rod should have a top section that lets you load up to spring the lure out, so neither a soft noodle or a stiff pole but something in the middle.

You are in Orange County, so you are within an hour of a half-dozen fine fishing tackle stores. Take your reel with you and drive to at least three of them and put the reel on the rods that each store will recommend and get a feel for how they balance and feel in your hands (and you cast with both of them, as you know.) Then sleep on the experience overnight and you will know what you want to do.

Everybody is physically different. Some models work for one person and not another. So the recommendations of others has about as much validity as letting others tell you which vehicle you should buy.

 

[Runway1]

Good point. Thanks!

 

[DannyNoonan]

Surfgoose gives great advice…

My personal approach to dealing with straight braid to short topshot bait rods is to look for soft tip, relatively fast shutoff, and longer length. My preference is 8 footers for everything under 80# test. I probably use a touch softer rod than most, but I’m not afraid to put a pretty good bend in it. That extra bit of compliance helps prevent pulled hooks & broken knots, IMO…

Nothing wrong with adding a short section of mono before the fluoro to achieve the same behavior - but 1 less connection is arguably “better”…

 

[surfgoose]

If you are fighting a fish like a tough tuna with a reel loaded with braid and a very short topshot of mono or fluoro, so you have little to no stretch in the line, and your rod is being strained as much as it can take, then the only thing left to save the situation is to NOT have the drag tightened down too much. Another run and another tough retrieve is not what your tired body wants to go through, but if you can feel the headshakes during those last circles then your hook has a very dangerous place in the fish's mouth and you should be wary of giving in to the temptation to lock things down and force him up to the gaffs. I've learned (the hard way) to tell the waiting deck hand with the gaff "He's not quite ready yet. You can go help someone else for a few minutes."

 

[Runway1]

This is great info. Thanks all.