Ml Or M Spinner

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Can't decide between ML power or M power on a new spinning rig. It will mostly be used for drop shotting (1/4-3/8 oz weight) and some shakey heads (1/4> jig heads). Will use 10 lb PP braid, with an 8-12 ft 8 lb fluoro leader.

I am specifically looking at the fenwick smallmouth elite tech series. Can't decide between the 6'8 m XF or the 6'9 ml F.

I fear that the ml will be "whippy" and more moderate than advertised. I also fear that the M will be too powerful and I'll be skiing the fish in.

The other rod I'm looking at is the avid 6'9 ml XF. I held another st. Croix in this same exact model in store and I loved it, but us rather pay less and it's always fun to try something new, so the fenwick ETS is really my first choice. Does a st. Croix ml have about the same amount of power as a fenwick (generally)?

[Raul]

Your gears of the ML being whippy are founded while your fears of the M being too powerful are completely unfounded. If it were my dollars I would go for the M.

[OkobojiEagle]

My experience: St. Croix powers are heavier (more powerful) than the same rated Fenwicks.  The lure weight range you intend to fish is not especially light.  I would suggest (as Raul) you go the M direction. 

 

 

oe

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Alright I'll take your advice. I've never used a ml spinning rod so I don't really know. also, now that I think about it, i think the St. Croix spinning rod I held in store was actually at 6'8 m XF. I am not a huge fan of XF action, but from what I've heard, fenwick's XF isn't quite as fast as st. Croix's XF.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

If it makes a difference, the heaviest ill ever go would be just over 3/8, and I'll be using 10 lb braid..

[Hogsticker]

The ml would be better served for light trout fishing. I flung one around along with a new ml Hmg spinning rod at Cabelas the other day. It would make a good stick for soaking some power bait, but those days are far behind me.

[EvanT123]

If you have never used a ml give it a try. I prefer a ml st.croix for many applications.

This guy like a ml rod too and I think he knows a thing or two about catching fish.

http://www.insideline.net/weeklynews/2008/08-0529.html

[5fishlimit]

I use a ML/F St. Croix Premier for dropshot fishing in 20'+ water on Lake Erie, and this rod performs flawlessly for me. It is far from being whippy.

[BiteFiend]

I was in your shoes about 2 years ago. You might also consider the Shimano Compre DS rods unless you have your mind made up on the Fenwick. They make 2 models, both M. I have the 7'2" that I use for DS and light shakey head.

One thing I found when shopping for this rod is that "IM" graphite is able to handle lighter weights in their power rating. So since it is IM9 graphite, it's weight rating is more on par with a ML. That said, IM graphite is a little more whip like than carbon graphite is. However I feel like it's just whippy enough to not pull those tiny DS hooks out of fish. I have caught hundreds of fish on this rod, using close to your line set-up and I love it. Super sensitive too. More so than my St. Croix Premiers.

[Raul]

If it makes a difference, the heaviest ill ever go would be just over 3/8, and I'll be using 10 lb braid..

 

10 lb braid seems awfully too thin to me, the thinnest braid I use is 30 lb ( around 6 lb test monofilament dia ). I do have an ML rod, a GraphiteLeader Bosco and it´s absolutely fantastic as long as you use thin wire razor sharp hooks preferably cutting edge ( Owner ). It´s a lot of fun to use it but not for every place I fish, my GLoomis SJR782 performs much better than the Bosco for most of the places I fish and I don´t have to use thin wire hooks to set the hook nicely and is more versatile in the final run.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I was in your shoes about 2 years ago. You might also consider the Shimano Compre DS rods unless you have your mind made up on the Fenwick. They make 2 models, both M. I have the 7'2" that I use for DS and light shakey head.

One thing I found when shopping for this rod is that "IM" graphite is able to handle lighter weights in their power rating. So since it is IM9 graphite, it's weight rating is more on par with a ML. That said, IM graphite is a little more whip like than carbon graphite is. However I feel like it's just whippy enough to not pull those tiny DS hooks out of fish. I have caught hundreds of fish on this rod, using close to your line set-up and I love it. Super sensitive too. More so than my St. Croix Premiers.

Carbon graphite is like saying "aluminum aluminum". Carbon IS graphite.

I had a shimano Compre 7' or so that I sold a while back because I didn't like how heavy it was. I had a medium power fast action. It was just about perfect for most techniques, but it's lure rating was closer to that of other manufacturers ML. I always thought that shimano's M was other brands ML, and shimano's MH was other brands M, etc. is that how it is or no?

[Raul]

Carbon graphite is like saying "aluminum aluminum". Carbon IS graphite.

I had a shimano Compre 7' or so that I sold a while back because I didn't like how heavy it was. I had a medium power fast action. It was just about perfect for most techniques, but it's lure rating was closer to that of other manufacturers ML. I always thought that shimano's M was other brands ML, and shimano's MH was other brands M, etc. is that how it is or no?

 

 Not really, this why there´s no "rules" about rod ratings and one of the reasons why I stick to practically one brand ( GLoomis ) even though I have from other brands, I have a Shimano Clarus MH spinning rod that man, it´s pretty close to my GLoomis CR and MBR 784 rods in power, and the truth is that you can´t really compare X brand to W when it comes to the ratings because it´s not a 1 to 1 comparison.

 

For example talking about that Clarus I have, it´s rated MH, theoretically speaking and comparing it to my GLoomis rods it should be a 3 power but it´s not, it´s  stiffer than my 3 power rods but not as stiff as a 4 power. If I asign numerical numbers to that parameter ( stiffness ) 3 power would be 3 ( to follow the scale ) and 4 would be 4, that Clarus rod is not a 3 nor a 4 it´s about 3.5. 

[BiteFiend]

Carbon graphite is like saying "aluminum aluminum". Carbon IS graphite.

I had a shimano Compre 7' or so that I sold a while back because I didn't like how heavy it was. I had a medium power fast action. It was just about perfect for most techniques, but it's lure rating was closer to that of other manufacturers ML. I always thought that shimano's M was other brands ML, and shimano's MH was other brands M, etc. is that how it is or no?

It is my understanding that carbon graphite, or "high modulous" graphite is different than IM or "intermediate modulous". While true graphite is made entirely of carbon (carbon isn't graphite however graphite IS carbon ), what is marketed as "high modulous carbon graphite" in a rod seemed to be much stiffer than what is marketed as "IM" graphite when I was comparing rods, which is I think is why the "carbon" rods had higher weight ratings than "IM".

As as the shimano line being underpowered, I can't speak to that. The Compre is the only shimano rod I have. However, IM graphite seemed to have lower weight ratings in other lines as well. I do agree that it does feel on the heavy side though. I just thought I would throw it out as an option in case you hadn't considered it. Good luck with your search.

[new2BC4bass]

Based on your weight range and communications with smalljaw, I would go with the 6'9" MXF.  I doubt you will be disappointed.  I haven't used mine enough to post an opinion based on personal experiences.  I do know that smalljaw has never steered me wrong yet. 

[Smallmouth Hunter]

10 lb braid seems awfully too thin to me, the thinnest braid I use is 30 lb ( around 6 lb test monofilament dia ). I do have an ML rod, a GraphiteLeader Bosco and it´s absolutely fantastic as long as you use thin wire razor sharp hooks preferably cutting edge ( Owner ). It´s a lot of fun to use it but not for every place I fish, my GLoomis SJR782 performs much better than the Bosco for most of the places I fish and I don´t have to use thin wire hooks to set the hook nicely and is more versatile in the final run.

I might go up to 15 lb if I have any issues, but the 10 lb looked thick enough in store. Dunno if it will cause issues though.

I am going to be fishing some clear water so I would prefer to use the most thin braid possible to eliminate any line shyness. In the past, 30 lb braid with no leader was outfished by up to 5:1 compared to mono on any given day. It could just be a confidence thing though.,

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Based on your weight range and communications with smalljaw, I would go with the 6'9" MXF. I doubt you will be disappointed. I haven't used mine enough to post an opinion based on personal experiences. I do know that smalljaw has never steered me wrong yet.

i am waiting on some $$ right now, so I can't pull the trigger yet, but I'd probably choose that based on what I've heard so far. I am a little hesitant about the XF action since I am going to be using braid. I had a 7'1 tatula casting that has an XF action and I lost a lot of fish on that rod when using braid. Probably lost 50% of fish.. As soon as I started using a rod with a slower action, I started getting in 75-90% of fish. The tip on the tatula was very stiff though. From what I have read, XF only refers to the where the bend is on the rod, not how stiff the rod's tip is. Croix rods with XF action seem to still have the soft tip that their fast action rods do.

[Hogsticker]

10 lb braid us fine, and I thought the original question was specific to the elite tech ml and medium....

[Smallmouth Hunter]

10 lb braid us fine, and I thought the original question was specific to the elite tech ml and medium....

it was, and medium sounds like the way to.