For 2Nd Rod Get A Ml Or Mh?

[mayer74]

Hello! Being new to fishing I am needing some advise. I have a medium power rod and want to get a second rod so I can have one rigged for casting lures or ready for drop shot without having to stop and change out the rig. Do I need a ML rod? Most of my lures are 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz. I have a 5/8 jerk bait. My lures are mostly rapala size 3-6. Should I be looking at a heavier MH pole instead? Which is my medium one best for. Thx!

[Yeti]

I would start here. There is a listing called "Best of Bass Resource" that has been extraordinarily helpful for me.

 

As far as a second rod, assuming you are on a budget or don't want half a dozen rods to start with, I would get a MH F or XF rod just for versatility's sake. Also, I have no idea if you are looking for a casting or a spinning setup. 

If your current setup is a spinning setup, I would get a casting setup. If you already have a casting setup, I would look into a spinning setup. Spinning gear is useful for dropshot and other worm techniques as well as those lightweight crankbaits. The casting setup would be more useful for just about everything else with a MH rod. Again, refer to the starting point at the top of this post and the "Best of."

Hope this helps!

[mayer74]

Thanks Yeti! I will check out that link. I searched through pages of posts and couldn't find an answer. It must be buried in there somewhere. I have only used spinning and wasn't sure if a casting setup would be more advanced. It looks intimidating. But you guys here would know. I only have one good tackle store locally and they give me opposite information every time I go in there. I was told a ML rod with 8lb test for lures and when I went back to purchase the next week another sales guy told me a MH 10lb test for them and for the drop shot. I fish trout, bluegill, Kaneohe (?), bass and such...what we have near Sacramento. Maybe that 'best of bass will clear it up for me'. Have a great day.

[Droppingshot]

I'd say you could drop shot with your medium rod if you wanted to, but a medium light is preferred for that technique. You could also drop shot with a mh rod, you would just have to use heavier line and hooks, which is what you want to do if you are going to be fishing heavy cover where a fish is going to break you off. A medium light rod for your finesse techniques like dropshot, split shot, small weightless plastics. A medium heavy for your spinner baits, bigger crank baits, texas rigs and everything else. Getting a bait caster does have a learning curve. So be prepared for that if you go that way. Much better casting accuracy though.

[new2BC4bass]

I don't think a baitcast reel is more complex in use than a spinning reel, but it does take more practice to be good with one.  For 1/8-1/4 oz. lures I'd definitely consider a ML spinning rod.  Light lures on a baitcast rod require a lot more casting ability than lures from 3/8 oz. up.  Not just any reel will do either.

 

However, if you plan on using that 5/8 oz. lure a lot, and plan on adding more to it, then a MH casting rod makes sense.  Or even a HF if you weren't going to use less than 1/2 oz. on the rod.  Many HF rods start at 3/8 oz., but I've never tried that low on one of mine because I have so many MHF rods.

 

Another consideration is where you fish from.  If you are a shore fisherman, then a spinning rod will let you fish surrounded by trees and bushes.  A baitcast rod requires more room for casting unless pitching will give you the distance you need.  Pitching also requires a bit of practice to get good at.

 

I cast a #5 Rapala Shad Rap on 3 of my casting rods with what I consider good distance, but 3/16 oz. is as low as my casting ability will currently let me go.  Took some practice to get that low.  Will take a lot more to get to 1/8 oz.

 

The Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'9" MXF is rated 1/8-3/4 oz.  It is a rod I recently picked up due to how much smalljaw enjoys his.  You may want to send him a PM about the rod.  He has used his much more than I, and can give you the skinny on this rod.

[Yeti]

No problem! As someone that came from trout fishing the tiny creeks in Arizona with ultra-lights, the casting setup was foreign to me as well. Don't be intimidated by it. When you're learning, be very conservative with you brake adjustments. Also, when you do inevitably backlash use this video. I really wish I had known about that technique earlier as it would have saved me loads of frustration early on.

 

As far as M vs ML for drop shot, I would refer to the opinion of others as I am not an expert. My Medium rod for drop shot works great for me, but may not be so great for you.

Good luck!

[EvanT123]

How do you like to fish?

If most of your fishing is weeds and grass filled lakes get a medium heavy. If you fish rocky rivers with grass patches in the summer get a medium light.

[mayer74]

Thanks to all. I have a much better idea and feel now. You've been great!

[tomustang]

Somewhere in the 6'9-7' MLF or MLXF rod will work, use 1/4oz sinkers for the weight with many finesse soft plastics and you'll be fine.