Hi:
I’ve got some questions concerning rod action (fast, moderate, slow). I’m pretty new to all of this, and am hoping that someone will help me out. As long as I’ve been fishing you’d think that I’d already know this basic stuff, but what can I say, I must have slept through that part. Anyway my questions are something like this:

(1) I’ve read that fast action means that the rod flexes mostly in the third of the rod closest to the tip. I took this to mean that the rod has some pretty good backbone to help in fighting a fish (say a red fish), but was still kind of soft in the tip to aid in casting, and to keep you from yanking the fishes face off when setting the hook (say a speckled trout). Anyway if I’m wrong would somebody correct me? If I’m right could someone maybe expand a little on the subject?

(2) What rod action is best for long distance surf casting. I’m currently using a Breakaway 11’ 9” rod with a Penn 535GS reel. I can chuck this one a pretty good distance. But I’ve been entertaining the thought of trying to build my own, on one of the Breakaway 12’ 6” 2pc/1pc blanks. Does anyone know anything about this blank, and what type of action it has.

I’ve asked questions on this board before so I know you guys are great, and I want you all to know that I appreciate everything. So if everyone will bear with me and keep helping me with my newbie questions maybe I to will someday have something to contribute.

My best to all
Dave

Action really only means where the rod flexes and not so much how much power it has in any given place. You could have a fast action ultralight rod that would be pretty soft from butt to tip but still bend mostlly in the upper third. Or a rod that was pretty stiff all over but still bent mostly in the top third. I guess I'm trying to say that action is action and power is power and you can have any combination of the two but one doesn't necessarily mean the other. Get it?

I don't do many surf rods but it seems that the guys who do the long distance casting all use rods that are fast action. Maybe that's a clue.

Most Long distance casters use a moderate action blanks, look at the lami's they are all moderate actions. I built a 2/1pc lite {1508} for myself it was a little heavy but would cast great, it had a moderate action in my opinion, if you a looking for distance the Lami 1502MH, 1442MH, or one of the new Outcasts are the way to go in my opinion.