Best 12 Medium Heavy Casting Rods For 2020
Looking to buy a Medium Heavy fishing rod? Good thing you clicked on this article! We know it’s an investment every time you get a new rod. The fact that you know that you want a Medium Heavy Rod means that you already know what you want and what you are going to use it for. Nevertheless, we still want to go over a few things before jumping into our top picks. Our goal with this article is to make it as helpful as possible.
Typically, Medium Heavy is the best power for all-around casting rods (and the most common one). It’s hard enough for jigs and wide gap hooks, but soft enough for soft plastics and to skip docks. Medium Heavy Moderate rods are best for crankbaits, spinnerbaits and large squarebills, among other things. Medium Heavy Fast or Extra Fast rods work best for rigs, small swimbaits and large crankbaits, among other things.
Out of so many rod brands, it can be overwhelming to pick a rod. For that reason, we decided to share our top picks with you. Enough said! Let's get into this.
Make sure to stick until the end...
After reviewing our list of the best medium-heavy casting rods, we will go over all of the basics that you should know about medium heavy rods. This will be very helpful for you if you are not familiar with this information.
How are we going to present you these best 12 Medium Heavy Casting rods?
Talking about Medium Heavy rods is very broad. The length, lure weight, line size, action and other factors will determine the use of the rod. Presenting individual rods by themselves would not make sense, because it’s not a “single size fits all”. This is why we will present you our top picks for rod series. Each rod series will have Medium Heavy rods with different lengths, actions, line and lure ratings. This way, you will be able to choose the rod that has the features that you need. 12 Medium Heavy Casting Rods from 4 rod series.
But enough talking, let’s jump into it! These are currently the best Medium Heavy Casting Rods on the market:
BEST 12 MEDIUM HEAVY CASTING RODS
ENOX SERIES BY ALX RODS- MEDIUM HEAVY CASTING RODS
The ENOX Series by ALX Rods has feel technique rods. Each rod has a primary technique with a secondary talent. There are 3 Medium Heavy rods you can choose from:
- ENOX Decoy
- ENOX BMJ
- ENOX LSB
We will go into each one of these further ahead.
All ENOX rods have high modulus blanks that will give you a very good strength to weight ratio. Their low resin, compound material design will provide you with maximum responsiveness. All ENOX rods will fit perfectly any serious tournament angler.
The perfect sized Micro Guides
All ENOX Casting Rods use MidMicro Guides. There are 3 Guide sizes that manufacturers tend to use:
- Micro Guide: Between 3 and 4 mm. in diameter.
- MidMicro Guide: 5 mm. in diameter (This is the one all ENOX rods use).
- Standard Guide: 6 mm. in diameter.
So, why are MidMicro Guides the perfect sized Guides?
- You will have longer casts because they will give you very good line control, since the diameter of the guides is not so big.
- Smaller diameter guides translate into adding less weight to the overall rod, thus making it lighter. This is important, because the lighter a casting rod is, the more sensitive it will be. So, smaller guides equal more sensitivity.
- They are big enough to pass leader knots. Therefore, a MidMicro Guide is better than a Micro Guide.
- They are made of stainless steel. Stainless steel performs great in all environments.
Superior Grip Materials
All ENOX Casting Rods use cork grips. Although each manufacturer may have specific features on their grip, which will make them better or worse, cork grips are usually superior when talking specifically about grip materials. EVA Grips do have their place and they can also be very good options if they have certain features. With that being said, let’s go over some of the advantages of cork grips:
Cork grips are lighter, regulate better when in cold temperature, and have a lower damping capacity, which gives more sensitivity to the rod (they are 3 times more sensitive than EVA grips). Cork grips do have more advantages over EVA grips, but they do require more care and caution. ENOX Decoy’s cork grip also has these features:
- They will absorb much less water than an EVA grip.
- They are lighter. By adding this feature with the fact that it uses MidMicro Guides, we can conclude that all ENOX Medium Heavy Rods are very light.
- They don’t compress under load. You will have a solid grip when casting.
- They are highly resistant to abrasion. If prperly taken care of, it will last long.
Reamed Grip
The grip is reamed so the inside is tapered. It fits the rod blank perfectly. This ensures that the entire piece is glued to the rod blank. This will prevent any problems in the future.
Some other important features:
- Specifically designed to increase the number of fish you land.
- It has the unique and patented Kigan Hookkeepers, which don't snag on the line (among other advantages).
- Kigan 3D Zero Tangle guides in sleek Gunmetal finish.
- It has exposed blank reel seats with premium hood nut assembly.
- It has a 5 year warranty, and a Lifetime SureSet Replacement program (this replacement program gives you the ability to replace your rod if something happens to it, no questions asked).
- Proudly made in the U.S.
Why did the ENOX Series make it to this list?
The ENOX Series are premium rods. ALX Rods, in our opinion, does the best job when creating rods for a specific purpose. This is the best option for a tournament angler. Besides that, the quality of these rods is superior in many ways. And in comparison to other premium rods, the cost is much more reasonable.
Available models in Medium Heavy Power:
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ENOX Decoy
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ENOX BMJ
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ENOX LSB
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Bonus- Ikos Promise 7 by ALX Rods (Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting Rod)
This is the best option if you are looking for an all-around casting rod. It’s also much more affordable. Check it out!
This is what we have to say about the ENOX Series. Lets move on to out next top pick:
KODIAK MACRO BY BIG BEAR RODS- MEDIUM HEAVY CASTING ROD
The Kodiak Macro Medium Heavy Rod features carbon fiber blanks and ceramic lines. Just like the ENOX Series, it offers the ideal guide size, which is bigger than the micro guides but smaller than the standard guides, giving you line control, but at the same time, wide enough to pass leader knots.
The combination of the 3 different types of high modulus carbon fiber used for the blanks give a very sensitive and light casting rod.
The ceramic rings that it uses provide ultimate hardness and last very long.
The Kodiak Macro Casting Rod is available in Fast and Extra Fast Action.
The Kodiak Macro is available in different Power options. Specifically, the Medium Heavy version is perfect for:
- Buzzbaits
- Carolina Jig
- Chatterbaits
- Deep Diving Crankbaits
- Fluke
- Flipping
- Frogging
- Jigs
- Senko
- Spoons
- Swim Jigs
- Texas Rig
- Weightless Worms
The Big Bear Grip- Something very unique
One of the most unique aspects of the Kodiak Macro (and any Big Bear rod) is the grip. The grip is made in such a way that it increases your overall rod control. It lets you make long casts without sacrificing accuracy, and more powerful hook sets while maintaining its sensitivity and lightness.
The Big Bear grip is made to reduce hand and arm fatigue. You don’t have to hold the grip as tight. This will let you have longer fishing days because your arm will not be as tired.
The Big Bear grip is simply superior. It regulates itself when in cold weather by using the heat of your hand.
Here is something really cool. To explain, first see the structure of the grip:
It’s made up of big “bumps” and smaller “bumps”. Your hand will be in touch with the bigger bumps. The smaller bumps are made so that any water on the rod will slip through the structure of the small bumps (it forms a type of “channel”) all the way down, and it ends up dripping at the end of the rod. Your hand will not get wet because the support is on the bigger circles. As a result, your casts won’t be affected in any way and the rod will not slip.
The butt is comfortable enough for two handed casts, yet cushioned and rounded for hard hook sets.
The Big Bear Grip is by far superior than any other grip.
The Kodiak Blanks
The Kodiak Macro has blanks that are made of high modulus carbon fiber, resulting in superior sensitivity and lightness, with an amazing power to weight ratio. Three words describe Kodiak’s blanks: lightness, sensitivity and durability.
Zirconium Nanolite Ceramic Rings
The guides will last long and they add very little weight to the rod, making it lighter and providing better line control. They are wide enough to pass leader knots. Larger than micro guides but smaller than standard guides. They have the perfect size.
New Power added to the list...
Big Bear are the first ones to include a new Power: 3/4 Heavy.
This Power is between Medium Heavy and Heavy. If Medium Heavy doesn't quite do it for you but Heavy is too much, 3/4 Heavy will match your needs. We know you came here for Medium Heavy casting rods, but we just wanted to lay this out here. It's something worth exploring. They also added a 3/4 Medium Power, but it's probably not in your interest at this time.
In a nutshell, the Powers available will be like this: Medium Light, 3/4 Medium, Medium, Medium Heavy, 3/4 Heavy, Heavy, Extra Heavy.
Why did the Kodiak Macro Casting Rod Make it to this list?
The grip is the biggest factor. It’s the most superior we have seen. The materials it uses and specially in relation to the cost of the rod make it a great option. One other big factor of why we selected it for this list is because of the integration of the new “Power” options (3/4 Heavy and ¾ Medium). This will let you be more specific for picking the rod that best fits your needs. The last feature are the ceramic rings. They are very resistant, and they have the perfect size.
Specifications
- Line and Lure (for Medium Heavy Power): 12-20 lb and ¼ - 1 oz.
- Power: Medium Heavy
- Available Actions: Fast, Extra Fast
- Available Sizes: 6’9”, 7’, 7’3”, 7’6”, 7’9”
- Color: Red/Black
And with that, we conclude our review of this baitcasting rod. Here is our next pick:
BASS & BASS PRO SERIES BY VEXAN- MEDIUM HEAVY CASTING RODS
Vexan is a brand created by Tackle Industries, one of the best rod brands for Big Game Fishing (particularly known for their Musky and Pike rods).
If you are looking for a rod that is very strong, and at the same time, sensitive and accurate, the Vexan Bass and Bass Pro Series are something you should look into. Something worth noticing is that it has a very good backbone without sacrificing sensitivity. The backbone these rods have is indestructible and the tips are flexible and sensitive.
What’s the difference between a premium rod and a more affordable, less quality casting rod?
The graphite blank, other components and the finish are the difference of higher quality (and usually more expensive) casting rods. The geo-location of where the rod is made can also influence the final cost of a rod. This plays part of why Vexan rods are so unique:
What’s so unique about Vexan?
Considering a casting rod is not a “one size fits all” type of item (AKA you need several rods for different applications). Getting premium rods can get quite expensive and can either drain your bank account, or it will be a slow process while you build your arsenal, because you have to wait a longer period of time while you get the money for your next rod. On the other hand, the cheaper you go down the line, the quality of the rods will equally descend. And this is where Vexan comes in.
All Vexan rods are made for the purpose of delivering the same quality of a $400, but at a much more affordable price. That’s the uniqueness of these rods. They give you the quality of a premium rod at the price of a cheaper one. Vexan rods are between twenty and forty percent cheaper than most premium rods.
Why are Vexan Bass Series and Bass Pro Series so outstanding with the power, strength and sensitivity they have?
The answer to this is their titanium technology. Their blanks are made with IM8 titan. This material offers incredible durability, flexibility and sensitivity. It will be hard to snap one of these. See it for yourself:
Something worth noting as well is the aesthetics. The looks of these rods are equal to their quality materials.
Durable Guides
One big problem with many rods is that the guides don’t last. They will eventually break with a powerful cast or when you try to pass a line knot (all rods presented in this article solve this problem really well). The guide system that Vexan uses gives you a long lasting rod and smoother casts and cause less abrasion to the line. Their guide system is also a factor in these rods being very lightweight.
About the reel seats
Vexan uses Fuji reel seats. They are light and they provide maximum comfortability to the angler.
About the Vexan Grip
EVA grip for the Bass Series
If you read through the ENOX Series review by ALX Rods, you are probably thinking that the fact that Vexan uses EVA grips reduces the quality of the rod. Remember one thing: Vexan’s goal is to bring you the quality of a premium rod at the price of a cheaper rod. If they used cork handles, this would not be possible. While a cork grip does have several advantages over EVA, it also has its disadvantages.
The cork grip requires extra care from you. Otherwise, it will rott. On the other hand, you can give less mantainance to an EVA grip. It will require much less effort from you. If less maintenance is a decision factor for you when buying a rod, EVA grips are a better choice for you.
Some models have a full grip, and some models have a split grip. Make sure you pay attention to this when choosing a model. Consider a full grip, it's worth looking into it.
WINN Grip for the Bass Pro Series
Winn technology provides tackiness to the angler when holding the grip, even in cold weather and with water involved. Winn uses polymer for their grips. Polymer has big advantages. Polymer reduces fatigue when holding your rod, and it also enhances your overall rod control. It’s firm, has great sensitivity and it's light. A lot of anglers would agree that Winn grip is even more superior than cork.
Why did the Bass and Bass Pro casting rods make it to our list?
The purpose of these rods is to deliver the quality of a premium rod at the price of a cheaper rod. And they do fulfill their purpose. These rods have premium quality guides. The rod blanks, the power, strength and sensitivity these rods deliver is outstanding. One thing we did not mention is that they donate from 40% to 60% of their profit to children’s charities and veterans every year .
Vexan Bass and Bass Pro Series Medium Heavy Casting Rods Available
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Vexan Bass Pro- Crankin Chatterbait VP74MH-C
Note: This rod has a split grip.
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Vexan Bass- V7MHX-C
Note: This rod has a split grip.
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Vexan Bass- V76MH-C
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Let’s move on to our next pick:
XTREME SERIES (ANGLER & TITANIUM) BY FX CUSTOM RODS- MEDIUM HEAVY CASTING RODS
Quality, precision and performance are the qualifying words that describe FX Custom Rods. It’s a brand that genuinely cares about their customers. Their rods are light, sensitive and strong.
About their rod blanks (Something very unique)
One of the most remarkable things of these rods is that their rod blanks are made by the owner of FX Rods. Typically, most manufacturers bulk buy a bunch of rod blanks and then re-brand them. But in the case of FX rods, they planned and created their own blanks. With 20 years of experience in building rods, they must know something, right? All this time has been dedicated to how to enhance the performance of their rods and rod blanks. Their rod blanks are unique and patented. The material that they are made with (Japanese Toray Fabric) provides you with a very lightweight, sensitive and durable rod.
About their reel seats
The reel seats of the Xtreme Series (Angler and Titanium) are made of only graphite. It has a pass through design that allows your finger to be in direct contact with the blank, so you can have greater control and it will also allow you to feel more bites.
About their line guides
For their guides, they use Fuji K-Frame Corrosion Control, which are one of the best on the market (and they are exclusive to FX Rods). Corrosion Control is a new finish. There has been extensive testing on this finish. It’s the result of an eco-friendly chemical process. It’s 7 times more resistant to corrosion than regular stainless steel. This is something very exciting.
About their grip (Winn)
FX Rods uses Winn grips. Winn technology provides tackiness to the angler when holding the grip, even in cold weather and with water involved. Winn uses polymer for their grips. Polymer has big advantages. Polymer reduces fatigue when holding your rod, and it also enhances your overall rod control. It’s firm, has great sensitivity and it's light. A lot of anglers would agree that Winn grip is even more superior than cork.
Why did the Xtreme Series make it to our list?
Their proprietary rod blank is something huge and unique that makes these rods stand out. Another factor why we think these are one of the best rods on the market is because of the guides. These rods are just top quality.
Available Medium Heavy rod models
Xtreme Titanium Rods
- Made with High Modulus 46-Ton Japanese Toray Fabrics
- Nano Tube Design 30% Stronger 100% Graphite Rods
- Quick Release Nano Resins for Xtreme Cast-Ability
- K-Frame Titanium Tangle Free Guides
- Silicon Nitride Ring Insert (hardest ring material available)
- Signature Series FX Winn Grip Handles
- Low Profile Palming Casting Reel Seats
- Impeccably Balanced
Xtreme Titanium WTI71MHF: 7’1” Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting Rod
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Xtreme Angler Rods
- Built with 40-ton Japanese Toray Fabrics
- Nano Tube Design - 30% Stronger - 100% Graphite Rods
- Fuji Tangle Free K-Frame Corrosion Control Guides w/ Fazlite® Rings
- FX Signature Winn Grip Handle
- 100% Graphite Casting Reel Seat
- Impeccably Balanced
- No Extra Paint Adding Unnecessary Weight
- No Vibration Robbing Parts Like Rubber and Tape
Xtreme Angler WMB63MHF: 6’3” Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting Rod
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Xtreme Angler WSB69MHXF: 6’9” Medium Heavy Power, Extra Fast Action Casting Rod
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Xtreme Angler WMB71MHF: 7’1” Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action Casting Rod (Cork and Winn Grip Available)
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Xtreme Angler WCB76MHMF: 7’6” Medium Heavy Power, ModFast Action Casting Rod
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Quick recap- Everything You Need To Know About Medium Heavy Rods
Power and Action of a rod
Power of the rod
Let’s go over this quickly. The power of the rod is the amount of force (that’s why it’s called “power”) required for it to bend. How much power does it need for it to bend? It’s basically how stiff or flexible a rod is. You usually find these variables: light, medium light, medium, medium heavy, heavy, extra heavy and for deep sea, you will find heavier power rods (XXHeavy, XXXHeavy, etc.).
There are 3 things you need to know about the power of a rod:
- Heavier lures require heavier power.
- The lighter the line, the lighter the power of the rod will need to be.
- The denser the vegetation is, the heavier the power of the rod needs to be. Heavier cover requires heavier power.
Action of the rod
It’s simple. It refers to how close to the tip of the rod the bend will be. The faster the action, the closer to the tip the bend will be.
Action also refers to the speed that the rod returns from bent to straight when it’s released from the load that is bending it. This affects the cast. Think of it this way; when you cast the rod, how much of a “sling” is it going to have with the lure? Is the lure going to be too heavy or too light for the bend that rod has?
Features of a Medium Heavy Power Rod
Medium Heavy Rods are typically the best all around rods for bass fishing. A Medium Heavy rod is more on the stiffer side. It’s stiff enough to use efficiently with a jig and widegap hooks, and at the same time, it bends enough for you to be able to skip docks or fish soft plastics.
Medium Heavy Power, Moderate Action Casting Rods
A Moderate Action rod (also known as a Parabolic Bend) is less sensitive than a Fast Action Rod. The stiffer the rod is, the more vibrations it transmits. Moderate Action is less stiff than Fast Action, thus, it´s less sensitive. So, if you need sensitivity, go for a Fast or Extra Fast rod. A Moderate rod is great for a lighter lure.
Use Medium Heavy, Moderate rods for crankbaits, spinnerbaits, large squarebills, among others.
Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action Rods
A Fast Action rod bends close to the tip (in the upper 1/3 part of the rod). Fast rods are often ideal for very heavy cover, very dense vegetation. It’s a pretty stiff rod. Although visually, there might be a huge difference between a Fast Action and an Extra Fast Action rod, or between a Fast action and a Moderate Action rod, there is a huge difference when it comes to hooksets, ability to fight the fish, sensitivity and more.
You can use Medium Heavy, Fast Action rods for worms, jigs and frogs among others. It’s great for skipping docks.
What reels should you use for a Medium Heavy Baitcasting rod?
- For the Medium Heavy Moderate rod, use a reel that has a slower gear ratio, in the 5.X:1 area.
- For the Medium Heavy Fast or Extra Fast rod, use a faster gear ratio. A 7.X:1 will work perfectly well.
*X= Any Number from 1 to 9.
What line size should you use with a Medium Heavy Casting rod?
12-25 lb. test for lure weight, and 1-4 oz. for line size.
What lures should you use on a Medium Heavy Baitcasting rod?
Here are a few lures you can use with a Medium Heavy Casting rod:
Lures for Medium Heavy Fast and Extra Fast Action Rods
- Jig
- Texas Rig
- Carolina Rig
- Small Swimbaits
- Large Crankbaits
Lures for Medium Heavy Moderate Rods
- Heavy Lipless
- Large Squarebill
- Spinnerbaits
- Buzzbaits
- Chaterbaits
- Paddle Tail On A Jighead
- Livewire Jigs
These are only a few to mention. It’s not limited to only these.
How many Medium Heavy Casting rods should you have?
You should be covered with 2 Medium Heavy rods. One Medium Heavy Moderate and one Medium Heavy Fast will have you covered for most situations. Although if you already have a rod system that works for you (we recommend having at least these rods), then it’s a good idea to start moving into specialty rods (ALX Rods does a great job on this). When you move into specialty rods, you will find out that there are several rods that are Medium Heavy Moderate/Fast/Extra Fast that serve different and very specific purposes, and they vary in length, line size and lure weight.
And there you go! This is our selection for our top picks. Of course, it’s not a science. So tell us what you think! Do you agree with our picks? Which rods would you remove from this list, and which rods would you include? Let us know on the comments below! Also, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let us know (feel free to drop a comment or write to us by email, through the live chat or call us!).