Did I screw up buying a Medium Light rod?

[Bassachussetts]

I live in Northern Central Massachussetts. There aren't a lot of large lakes nearby for me to fish, so I primarily only fish small ponds off the shore since I have no kayak/boat.

 

I've noticed that most of the water bodies I've been scouting have heavy vegetation and cover. A lot of lily pad fields and heavy moss/mucky bottoms.

 

I'm a beginner angler and read a few articles for a versatile "beginners" fishing outfit. So I ended up buying a Berkley Lightning Rod, 6'6" Medium Light and a Pfleuger Triton TI35 reel. Finesse fishing appeals to me, as I can't afford a bunch of expensive lures, let alone losing them. So I aim to fish mainly soft plastics with inexpensive rig setups.

 

This all being said, I feel like I made a mistake getting a ML rod, and should have gone M or even MH, due to the heavier cover, vegetation and mucky mossy weedy bottoms of my local fishing ponds.

 

Should I return my rod for M or MH?

[Bucky205]

1 hour ago, Bassachussetts said:

I live in Northern Central Massachussetts. There aren't a lot of large lakes nearby for me to fish, so I primarily only fish small ponds off the shore since I have no kayak/boat.

 

I've noticed that most of the water bodies I've been scouting have heavy vegetation and cover. A lot of lily pad fields and heavy moss/mucky bottoms.

 

I'm a beginner angler and read a few articles for a versatile "beginners" fishing outfit. So I ended up buying a Berkley Lightning Rod, 6'6" Medium Light and a Pfleuger Triton TI35 reel. Finesse fishing appeals to me, as I can't afford a bunch of expensive lures, let alone losing them. So I aim to fish mainly soft plastics with inexpensive rig setups.

 

This all being said, I feel like I made a mistake getting a ML rod, and should have gone M or even MH, due to the heavier cover, vegetation and mucky mossy weedy bottoms of my local fishing ponds.

 

Should I return my rod for M or MH?

I have the same rod and I like it for finesse and less than 1/8 oz lures, it has an IM6 blank and is very sensitive. Your issue comes from what you’re fishing. If this was going to be a do everything rod I would probably choose a 6'6" M/F (LR661MS), and a reel that would hold around 120 yards of 12# mono.  Your issue is coming from wanting to finesse, fish vegetables, and other things with the same rod.  Given what you’ve described the 6'6" M/F will give you the most versatility and probably be a better all around rod for you.

[Bassachussetts]

Thanks for your reply.

 

I think I will continue to try to be effective with a straight up texas rig w/ 1/8 oz tungsten bullet.

 

I'm also considering trying out a ned rig as I've been reading that it is a very effective rig for light tackle.

[kickerfish1]

You bought a solid spinning setup to use for finesse things. The outfit will allow you to do a lot but it won't be of much help around and sort of cover as it is more of an open water or sparse cover setup. Traditionally in fishing a MH is considered the most versatile for casting gear and a medium is for spinning gear. Unless you plan on adding a casting combo like a MH or fishing out a bit from the heavy vegetation/pads I would see about getting a Medium powered spinning rod.

[Bassachussetts]

I guess I will just try to stay out of the vegetation. Learn to fish the edges of them I suppose.

 

I don't get much open water fishing because I don't have a boat, and obviously there is usually a lot of vegetation by the shore

[BuzzHudson19c]

5 hours ago, Bassachussetts said:

I guess I will just try to stay out of the vegetation. Learn to fish the edges of them I suppose.

 

I don't get much open water fishing because I don't have a boat, and obviously there is usually a lot of vegetation by the shore

 

My pb was on a med spinning setup with 8lb stren. The fish came up with about 3lb of grass on it so it can be done but it's not ideal. It is nice to have a little extra horsepower to get them out before they get buried. Maybe just stick with what you have and when you have a few extra bucks get a heavier setup to complement the arsenal.

[PatrickKnight]

I have caught 25 inch redfish in grass on a ML rod and those things can tow a bass around like a tug boat. A ML rod can handle and pull really large and powerful fish if you fight them aggressively. I personally select the power of the rod I am going to use based on the hook I am going to use.

 

That being said I also only fish braid which makes a whole of difference.

[snake95]

18 hours ago, Bassachussetts said:

This all being said, I feel like I made a mistake getting a ML rod, and should have gone M or even MH, due to the heavier cover, vegetation and mucky mossy weedy bottoms of my local fishing ponds.

 

Should I return my rod for M or MH?

Interesting you'd post this because I've been thinking about the value of a ML spinning rod over the past few days.  I have a reasonably large selection of rods (I'm a few more years into it) and I just pulled out an ML two-piece from my collection.  I fish a lot of ponds too and find that the ML is ideal for casting weightless senkos and trickworms, and can do lighter jigs maybe 1/8 oz with paddletails.  One of the things I enjoy in pond fishing is "hunting" bass - watching for signs of them feeding and then tossing T-rigged senkos or craws in the area of disturbance.  ML is good for getting distance with such light baits.

 

In short, I really like having an ML as one of my options for pond fishing.  Its also versatile for use fishing spinners and small cranks for trout.  It is ideal for the Ned rig which I use a lot in spots in ponds where there aren't as many weeds.

 

While the M is generally speaking more versatile, the ML is great for some very basic yet very effective pond baits of the type you mentioned.

 

 

 

[Sam]

Next time consider a medium heavy.

[CTBassin860]

As a Mass resident and fellow pond fisherman,the vegetation gets out of control up here in the summer.Lots of muck,pads,chestnuts and milfoil fo deal with. I would suggest at least 7' MHF setup while playing in this junk.