Does Anyone Use A M/f Casting Rod Much Anymore??

[The Rooster]

Does anyone use a M/F casting rod much anymore?? It just seems to me that for what I'd want a M/F casting rod for, that any MH would do it better instead. If I was using it for crankbaits or some other treble lure, then I'd want a cranking model instead. Maybe, I might want it for light plastics, or possibly topwater?? I use spinning gear for topwaters though. I used to buy M/F rods because they were lightweight and felt good in hand to fish with all day. Back then, MH were normally too heavy or too stiff, but that was before I tried more expensive rods. I was paying around $30 or $50 for a rod then. They're a whole new ball game when you go passed the $100 mark. So now, MH rods feel like M rods used to, but seem better suited for most of my fishing. I still bought a M/F rod in the $100 pricerange, and it's the lightest rod I've ever owned, but I find myself using it for nearly nothing anymore. It has a jerkbait tied on most of the time, but even that is limited since I'm starting to use larger jerkbaits that are heavier and the MH does better with those, too.

[smr913]

I use one for lighter versions of t-rigs, jigs, and spinnerbaits.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I like a M/F for weightless plastics and wacky worms. I also use a M/XF for jerkbaits.

Everything else is used on a MH or H besides trebles.

[OkobojiEagle]

Rooster... on paper; uhh... memory chip... you've got it figured out, now you need to put it into practice.

oe

[clayton86]

Iv been using one lately its a 6' MF convergence I cant tell if i like it or not iv had it for years but never used it till recently. Its a big difference from my 7'6" MHF Veritas. Iv been using the MF for cranking but casting distance is blah due to being 6' I might make it a zara spook rod with a older reel.

[EvanT123]

Its funny you asked that. I bought a mf last night and actually found I prefer my mh for weighted plastics, senkos and flukes.

[tholmes]

I use one for lipless cranks and jerkbaits.

Tom

[Goose52]

I have 6 BC rods rated as medium power, not counting cranking rods. A couple of these rods are my standard "go to" for most of my BC applications. One is used for lighter soft plastics, one is used mostly for light jigs, a couple are for lipless cranks; all of these can be used for topwater or lighter spinnerbaits. I have one MF that has a tip soft enough that it can double-up and can be used for single and treble hook applications - I mostly use this one in the canoe to save space.

I'm probably atypical of most bass anglers. I fish open water nearly exclusively, I have to look hard to find any slop, I don't "frog" or pitch into heavy cover. As a result, while I have 5 BC rods rated as medium-heavy (and 1 heavy power) I rarely use them. In fact, during the summer months, when the bite slows down and the fish caught tend to be smaller, I go down to medium-light power (even light-power) BC rods - these act as "fish magnifiers" and gives a bit more fun catching the smaller fish. I got a nice 5-pounder last week that was a lot more fun on the ML rod than it would have been on a MH rod.

A quick sort of the data base, deleting spinning rod fish and cranking BC rod fish, shows the following catch numbers so far this year by casting rod power:

Fish / Rod Power Rating

8 - light-power

88 - medium-light power

317 - medium power

2 - medium-heavy power

0 - heavy power

I normally have more fish on MH rods but haven't been fishing heavier jigs or soft-plastics, or heavy spinnerbaits much this year...

[roadwarrior]

Like Goose52, most of my fishing other than heavy jigs, weighted soft plastics

and treble hooks is on medium power/ fast action rods. This includes both casting

and spinning gear.

[LgMouthGambler]

I use a MF for my 50E with 12# YoZuri for my light plastics.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I have only 2 MH/F rods one spin(premier) one casting(clarus) rarely use them. I think its the lightness factor My 7'MF Smoke rod with JM Carbonlite reel is at 9.2oz and balances nicely so when going heavier its quite noticeable and to go any lighter will cost big money. I put a 50E on the Clarus and it is a bit tip heavy along with being heavier. I think mostly though I just dont catch big fish never feel underpowered or fish much where the extra power is needed. I just bought a ML/XF casting rod so going lower not higher.

[J Francho]

I have a lot of both medium and medium heavy. Many baits are simply too light to be thrown on medium heavy gear.

[K_Mac]

As others have said, M-F or M-XF is what I use for most of my fishing. My 7' PQ M-XF is my favorite rod. If I could only bring one rod, this would be it.

[new2BC4bass]

My Curado 51E/Fenwick ET Smallmouth 6'10" MF has gone with me every time I've gotten out this year since receiving the rod. However, I always take several other rods in both medium and MH. I've also enjoyed using my 6'9" V.I.P. MF/1600C combo. I've thrown crankbaits, flukes. topwater and even a worm and toad with the Daiwa rod. The Fenwick has mostly been used with small spinnerbaits, topwater, flukes and the occasional small crankbait.

[Michael DiNardo]

Most of my fishing is done with a medium fast action be it my Avid or any number of other rods. I usually fish from shore and use one rod. This power/action combo handles the largest diversity of baits.

Mike

[Hi Salenity]

My FAVORITE rod was built on a 7'mef popping blank by MHX HM it is a great blank that has a TON of sensitivity! it's paired with a tuned Core 50 and 12# shooter "invisible?"

It's an incredible blank that should have broken a long time ago. I had a 4.5# bass slam a fluke with only about 2' of line out. I instantly saw my rod tip under the Right side of the Kayak and I was holding the rod on the left side!

[BASSclary]

Yep, most if not all of my fishing is done on a M/XF rod. It just suits what I use better, being I hardly EVER throw baits over 3/8 ounce, most are 1/4. Most of my plastics are weightless too. They're just more comfortable, and better to fish with at the end of the day. However, if I was using 1/2 oz jigs, and bigger baits like that, obviously the MH would get the nod.

It's all about matching lure weight to rod power. and application to action.