Absolutly agree with you on this one.
But to answer the OPs question, fast is not better. The best action is the one that is right for the job in hand.

Frank

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its interesting that there are informed views in both camps, my personal preference is not for particularly stiff rods, but i tend toward faster recovery, or at least crisp recovery because i can't bear the conterflex that comes with lower modulus carbon and through action rods, the winston 2t as an example, strikes a balance in my opinion,
its also interesting that on the 'what makes fast' thread, there is a greater clarity between action and recovery speed, perhaps these things become more holistic in a fishing context.

One or two posters are querying the value of throwing tight loops, and of course there are many situations in which a tight loop if not desirable. But don't forget, anyone who can throw a tight loop can throw an open one, no matter how "fast" the rod used. The opposite is certainly not true.

Certainly not my experience ..A softer mid tip rod protects light tippets much better..

An explanation to that would be welcome...


Exactly

I agree

You have that In a nutshell

Also I have found that the ability to swap between a slow / full action and a mid/ tip action is something that is usefull. Sometimes I will have two rods set up with me. Both very different... I can cast equally badly with either...


Andy


Becks and Brown Trout

First we have to assume everything else is the same and this case carbon modulus and matrix are the same.

Then softer, flexier tip has less material so it is lighter and therefore "reacts" faster, easier against fish "wiggle". This is just my theory. I don't have enough experience to be sure that in real fishing conditions it is otherwise but current lighter rods are more efficient fish fighters that older and heavier. Often "faster" rods are stiffer which breaks tippet easier but then it is not rod ACTION issue anymore.

Following link lower picture show bend curves of the same power rods which have different actions: fast, medium fast and slow, which bend as much with same load. The tip action rod lever becomes shorter therefore with it is is easier to lift more weight. Again grip distance in rod handle (other side of the lever) has to be the same.

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Actually their power is not exactly the same because rod butts have an upward angle so slow rod has stored more potential energy because with same weight it has bent slightly more. But the bending mechanics is easy to see.

i agree with everything that's been said on this thread

burhan

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This view gets my vote

The reason being is that the stiffer rods have a higher harmonic frequency, they get to full amplitude (load) quicker than a softer rod. The trade off though is that because frequency has an inverse relationship to time, you have less of a window to release the line when the rod is moving at its peak velocity.

So I think you use a rod that suits your fishing style and casting ability, mine is laid back and rubbish respectively

im not big on measuring things that i rely on feel to evaluate, so ccs or harmonic frequency etc is interesting but of little practical use for me, comparing with what i now that is,

of more interest i think is what advantage, in practical terms 'fast' or 'slow' gives,

I'm still worried about the confusion between a rods action and the speed it reacts, is the term 'fast action' the misnomer in that it lumps together 2 things that often don't go together?

Ciao honanzee, the action often hasn't relation with the speed rod, you can have two rods, same action but with different speed. In this case the materials are fundamental. You can cast very fast with a bamboo rod or very slow with a high modulus rod or very fast with a parabolic rod and very slow with the tip action rod.
Everything depends your arm if you use it well or no, if you make a large path or no. In other words if you use your rod like a spring or like a lever. Like a lever is absolutly better than spring.
The power of rod is not developed by your energy but of the cast space that you can utilize.

The cast is based on the movements synchronization. Just if you have a good synchronization you can have a nice cast.
Often the best rod to fish are the medium fast rod, nor fast and nor slow.

Massimo

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Elegantly put Massimo. Perfect answer.