Smallmouth Gear

[Turkey sandwich]

The above posts about drag and lighter powered rods are good.  I tend to keep my drag on the tighter side anytime I'm fishing more than 8lb leaders. 4-7lb leaders require a lot more TLC. Line rarely gives on it's own, though.  This is another reason to use abrasion resistant leaders, retire often, and make sure to check knots.  As for size, a 3lb fish in the Susquehanna or Delaware is going to fight harder and do more damage to line than most 5lb fish in lakes. 

[Spankey]

Next summer I'm going to find out what some of that Great Lake Smallie fishing is about up there. I was just up there on Lake Ontario doing some Chinook fishing for two days and we killed them. 17-25 lb. fish. 

 

I scoped out and did some homework to return to do that Smallie fishing next summer. Probably will have to go solo on that one. A lot of rock on that eastern shore that I saw. They have to be there. By what I had seen the mouths of  some of the feeder rivers looked great. I only scoped out Oswego County shoreline but feeders into the lake Oswego, Sage, Salmon, Lil Salmon, and Grindstone rivers looked like good spots. 

 

Going to be a winter time project for me. 

[NathanDLTH]

Thanks everyone, the information here has been great and it's defiantly helped in the past weeks with landing more fish lol! Still thinking going to a medium is better for me and my style of fishing. 

[NathanDLTH]

Broke down and sold the medium light and bought a medium. Only catch is the medium is 2inches longer than the ML. 

[MickD]

IMHO it is not about the fight, it's about the hook set.  With tubes and other big hook (single) lures, my ML rods just don't cut it.  Need more power for the hook set.  I think sometimes smallies grab on and don't let loose for a while, and if you don't really whack them on the set, the hook may not be in their jaw when they let loose.  I can't be absolutely sure of the reason, but last year I lost 3 in a row after what I thought was a good set, using ML.  Changed to M and no more problems.  I use the ML's for small cranks now.  My best tube rod is a St Croix Legend (5 series) 7 foot, M fast.  St Croix's are a little more powerful than most others, so I'm a little higher than a normal M for power.

[NathanDLTH]

Exactly why I went to a medium. 

[Turkey sandwich]

4 hours ago, MickD said:

IMHO it is not about the fight, it's about the hook set.  With tubes and other big hook (single) lures, my ML rods just don't cut it.  Need more power for the hook set.  I think sometimes smallies grab on and don't let loose for a while, and if you don't really whack them on the set, the hook may not be in their jaw when they let loose.  I can't be absolutely sure of the reason, but last year I lost 3 in a row after what I thought was a good set, using ML.  Changed to M and no more problems.  I use the ML's for small cranks now.  My best tube rod is a St Croix Legend (5 series) 7 foot, M fast.  St Croix's are a little more powerful than most others, so I'm a little higher than a normal M for power.

Yep.  A ML is great for light wire hooks or something like a dropshot with octopus/circle hooks that are a simple reel down set, but for anything fished on a jig head or worm hook, I much, much prefer at least a medium power, especially if there's any stretch in the line. Missing/losing fish on a bad set sucks and is super easy to prevent with the right tackle. 

[NathanDLTH]

Thanks everyone!

[PatrickKnight]

I was having the same issues last season on a ML with fairly sturdy hooks while fishing tubes, grubs, and swim baits. Went to a medium power and it helped a good bit, however I cant make the same casts as I could with the ML on those 1/16th oz jigs. I am going to be adding a ML back over the winter and will pour jigs with wide gap but lighter wire hooks. 

 

This whole process has taught me to really pay attention to wire diameter of the hooks when trying to figure out the power of the rod to use. I tend to favor a heavier wire on tubes so I will use my M for tubes and lighter wire for grubs and swim baits so my ML will handle those.

 

You really don't see the hook size or wire diameter mentioned to often when people talk spinning rods but from my experience it has been one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing the correct power rod for what you are fishing.