Suggestions For Medium-Light Baitcasting Rod

[FryDog62]

I fish a lot of lighter plastics for smallmouth and typically use Medium-Light spinning gear. However, I'm recovering from surgery on my right wrist and need to switch hands and use a Baitcaster. Any suggestions on an ML baitcasting Rod? And/or other suggestions on reel/line etc for this lighter application? Thx, -Fry

[Ozark_Basser]

Interesting profile picture. What's your budget?

[rippin-lips]

I only own 1 ml casting rod so my experience is very limited in that department. However it's a great rod. Bought it on some recommendations from the BR community. Phenix Recon 713

[Cgrinder]

6'10" ML *** Black A casting rod. They're made for the Australian domestic market but you can get them direct from *** for ~$115 shipped. It handles light baits well and is not outmatched by big Smallmouth or Trout in current. 

[FryDog62]

Interesting profile picture. What's your budget?

Budget is approx $100. I have a $50 BPS gift card so it would help to order there. My son is a design major in college and created my profile picture, glad he got that talent from his mom - mine would have been a stick man drawing ... er, um, stick "dog?"

[thehooligan]

6'10" ML *** Black A casting rod. They're made for the Australian domestic market but you can get them direct from *** for ~$115 shipped. It handles light baits well and is not outmatched by big Smallmouth or Trout in current. 

 

Completely agree with Mike. Would be my choice for your budget.

[masterbass]

BPS Carbonlite 6'6" ml if you want to use the gift card.

[chelboed]

I have a BPS micro lite. Used it more than anything last fall.

[OkobojiEagle]

I fish a lot of lighter plastics for smallmouth and typically use Medium-Light spinning gear. However, I'm recovering from surgery on my right wrist and need to switch hands and use a Baitcaster.

 

I understand needing to switch hands, but why do you need to move from spinning gear to bait casting gear?

 

 

oe

[Boogey Man]

BPS Carbonlite 6'6" ml if you want to use the gift card.

 

I have this rod. It's a fun little rod to fish.

[FryDog62]

I understand needing to switch hands, but why do you need to move from spinning gear to bait casting gear?

oe

I am starting to experiment with a left-handed spinning set up too. But honestly, my left hand/wrist isn't nearly as strong as my right... and I'm experimenting, but so far I'm a bit more comfortable using a Baitcaster with my left hand. I'm a "reel gripper" with a Baitcaster and for whatever reason, that seems to give my hand a slightly higher center of gravity and ability to finesse lures and set the hook a little better. Not sure that makes sense and the difference is subtle but thought I'd try this route. New territory for me with the bad right wrist. Surgery was November and not sure it's going to come around by this Spring. Staying optimistic though

[OkobojiEagle]

understood...

 

 

oe

[Turtle135]

I have a Temple Fork Outfitters GTS DSC733-1 (7'3" medium light). It loads well with a light weight and launches a small jerkbait or a ned rig into the next county.

[Darren.]

BPS Carbonlite 6'6" ml if you want to use the gift card.

Agreed. Love my 6'6" ML Carbonlite. I have the black,

no problem getting the white, tho.

[jbrew73]

i have a lews custom speed stick and new white bps carbonlite both in ML. the lews is more of a Med action to me but the bps cl is what i would call a true Med Light. with the bps cl i can cast 1/8 oz. crappie jigs. the lews is much better suited for 1/4 oz. and up.

both are great rods but they are very differant in action even though they are both rated Med Light.

[RBK]

I just received a Lamiglas Infinity Bass casting rod from FedEX this morning. It's the 723C Model, 7'2" 3 power. It's rated for 10-20 # line, 1/4-3/4

lure weight. First Impression "Outstanding Craftsmanship, Excellent Guides and Handle Assembly, and Super Light" I have a Shimano Chronarch CI4  High Speed 7.6:1 gear ratio Casting Reel spooled with 10# Mono on it and the Balance is excellent. I plan on using it for Small / Large Mouth Bass with 1/4 oz twister tail jigs, Yum Mony Minnows and other swim baits,weightless Senko's, and Topwater Stick Baits. Due to Global Warming it's just to Dam Cold Out to try casting with it right now. ( NorthEast PA ) hopefully this coming week I'll go out in the back yard and try to

hook a few Snow Bass. I'll let you know how it performs with 1/8 - 3/4 0z baits. It's an expensive set up but You Only Live Once, I just hope if I pass-on before the Wife she dosen't sell it for what I told her I Paid for it

 

Rick

[FryDog62]

". Due to Global Warming it's just to Dam Cold Out to try casting with it right now. ( NorthEast PA ) hopefully this coming week I'll go out in the back yard and try to

hook a few Snow Bass. "

Now that's funny. I live in Minnesota so I hear what you're saying. I'm trying to figure out the left/right hand spinning/casting thing out in light of my surgically repaired wrist. So, I'm on my deck casting and flipping at "snow bass" and look up and see my neighbors staring out at me. I don't think they understand ...

[RBK]

YEA !!!! I know what you mean about getting stared at. You should see the looks I use to get when I'm on the Front Lawn Double Hauling my 10wt Fly Rod with a 8 inch Pike Fly ( pointy part cut-off ). Wife forbid me on the front lawn, almost caused a head on. People just don't understand.

 

Rick

[dwong]

I was in a similar situation and I narrowed it down to the Phenix Recon 2 and the ***. I went with the recon and love it, but I bet the *** would also be a great choice and its in your budget.

[DogBone_384]

I bought a Tatula ML/R last year and so far it's been great, light as a feather and beautiful build quality. It retails higher than your budget, but that's what the monkey coerced me to buy the instant I picked it up.

Diawa calls it a reaction rod and by the 'seat of my wrists' I'd say it's close to a moderate. If a more experienced member can explain a reaction rod better, please do.

[new2BC4bass]

Can't help much.  I have an older 7' Fenwick HMG ML that I like.  I am a Fenwick fan.  Feel they offer a lot for your money.  Have a 7' MLF Crankin' Stick that is a pretty nice rod.  Picked up a Tatula 6'10" MXF that is rated 3/32- 1 oz.  Weight range intrigued me.  Only able to get it out once last fall.  Thin tip that worries me.  Should handle light weights, but I am a little leery about the heavier stuff.  So far I like it the least of the 3 Tatula rods I bought last fall.  I like the other 2 a lot so far.  Time will tell how versatile the MXF might be.

 

I am right handed and grew up cranking spinning reels with the left.  What I found out sitting in front of the TV after getting my first baitcast rod/reel, was that I can feather the spool with more finesse using my left hand.  The right wants to either be "on" or "off".  It has taken a fair amount of time to get the right thumb to work gently.  Took some practice, but I cast nearly as well with the left as the right now.  Actually if I am having trouble backlashing with a particular reel, I switch to the left to minimize backlashing.  Thankfully that kind of problem only happened with one reel, and once I went to heavier line, heavier lures and a Heavy rod, that baby doesn't backlash at all now.

 

Hopefully you won't have any problems switching hands.  I am assuming you want to cast left handed now and reel with the right.

[FryDog62]

Correct. I do have some medium and medium-heavy baitcasters but am finding I need to develop better touch with finesse applications when using my left hand to hold the rod..

[Tyler.]

I

On 3/7/2015 at 8:00 AM, Boogey Man said:

 

I have this rod. It's a fun little rod to fish.

I see it is rated for 1/16 oz to 1/2 oz. How well does it cast 1/16 oz without getting backlashes?

On 3/7/2015 at 10:11 AM, Darren. said:

Agreed. Love my 6'6" ML Carbonlite. I have the black,

no problem getting the white, tho.

I see it is rated for 1/16 oz to 1/2 oz. How well does it cast 1/16 oz without getting backlashes?

[Alex from GA]

For years I used a Basspro 85 million modulus med rod with an old Shimano Bantam 100 reel and caught 1000s of bass.  I fish at least 200 days a year and catch a minimum of 10 fish/day.  I use a 1/8 oz weight, 8 lb fluorocarbon line and a finesse worm.  I bought 2 and broke one and lost the other a couple of years ago.  I replaced them with a Rainshadow walleye blank IMMWS62MXF I built and it's even better.  It's a spinning blank but I built a casting rod.  Good casting and very very sensitive.  I've been using the same reel for the past 20 years.

[Fishes in trees]

Switching from right handed casting to left handed casting, I'd stick with spinning gear for a while