I'm trying to get
a feel of what folks like here on BBB.
I have 5 specific "plastics rods" (And besides plastics I likewise throw C-rigs and jigs on some of them) When I started bassin 35+ years ago as a kid I quickly fell in love with the Texas rig and because back then the vast majority of rods were still 5'6" pistol grips, I looked for a virtual pool cue! The casting accuracy of such short rods weren't really hampered by such stiff actions because the rods were so short and I do alot of underhand and "roll casts" when target casting anyway. But as we progressed to longer rods and more specific actions and powers, suddenly a "pool cue" tip wasn't as desirable because they weren't accurate and a softer tip was needed. Thus most of my plastics rods are faster actions with Med/Hvy being the usual power that "feels right".
My main/preferred rod is my G-Loomis "TopWater Special" that is 7'2" Hvy, Fast action. (Reel is a Curado 300E) I guess because this rod was actually built for frogs and what not, it has a much softer tip than the description would lead you to believe. This rod feels very much like a "med/hvy" out on the last 2ft of tip, casts very well and handles like a dream, especially for a 7+ftr. (Handle wise it's a typical exposed blank under the reel seat, twin cork handle.) I actually like some cork on the front of the handle/seat because I palm the reel while working bottom bumpers. Split grips and no front grip rods have taken some getting used to for me. With this rod I can throw everything from 1/4" weights with 4/0 hooks on Brush Hogs and 6" worms (as well as jigs that weight) up to a 11/0 hook with a 12" Manns Jelly worm with a 1/2"+ weight on the ledges of Pickwick/KY Lake in the summer. But I typically just throw the 1/4-1/2oz "med. size plastics" and rig jigs & the BIG plastics on other rods.
My 2nd plastics is as "universal" to me as the above Loomis, it's a St. Croix Avid (SCiii) 7' Med/Hvy, Fast Action. (Pflueger Summit reel) I actually used this rod as my main plastics rig for a couple of years before I bought the Loomis. Like I said, casting and feel wise it'll do whatever the Loomis will do so alot of times I have it rigged up identical to the Loomis except I just have a different style or color plastic on and swap back and forth between the two. Tapered but again "standard" dual cork handle setup.
3rd plastics rig is my "downsize" rig, it's a Falcon Lowrider XG 6'10" Eakins Jig Special, Med/Hvy. (Shimano Castaic SuperFree reel) This rig has a split grip and no cork on the front. I REALLY like this rod for 1/4" or less, under 5" plastics on a 3/0 or smaller hook. Baby Brush Hogs and 1/4oz jigs, especially casting around tight cover are REALLY where I like this rig!
4th is for "HOSS" rigs, it's an ol Challenger IM-8 Doug Hannon 7' Hvy rod. (Pflueger Summit reel) This rig is pretty much only used in the summertime for ledge fishing with 1/2oz+ weights, 7/0+ hooks and 10" or longer worms. (I use Zoom Ol Monsters alot on the TN River ledges in the summer) Again, another traditional 2pc handle.
5th, All-Star T-Series, 6'10" ExFast, Hvy. (Shimano Castaic reel) This hoe handle is a pool cue that I don't even really like it (Bought it for a steal many years ago thinkin I might use it for a backup rod) the tip is so stiff I don't like the way it feels casting so I just use it to "lob" C-rigs with. Some summers this one never even leaves the rod locker. Yep, standard dual cork grip.
So Jimmy, I guess you could say I like a 7ish ft, fast action, med/hvy power rod with some tip for easier/more accurate casting. ALL of the above rods are spooled with 15# fluoro line. The older I get the more I like lighter (physical weight) rods BUT the newer reels keep getin smaller and smaller and actually tiny. I HATE those! I aint the smallest fellow and my hands are rather large so I guess I feel like a bear pawin a golf ball when I try to use the newer reels. Plus it just doesn't make sense to me, rods gettin longer and longer yet the reels gettin smaller and smaller seems like!