what rod power for finesse fishing?

[E-DOG]

So I want to get into finesse fishing but can't afford a medium and a medium light spinning rod to best cover all finesse techniques. so what Power rod should I get for all around finesse fishing. would I be able to effectively throw a smaller dropshot on a medium power spinning rod? or will it be to heavy of a rod for that technique. I just want to know what would be a good all around power of rod for finesse fishing like nedrigs, dropshots, wackyrigs, shakyheads, etc. any input of what power rod to get would be greatly appreciated.

[LionHeart]

IMO a medium spinning rod should be able to cast a knot tied at the end of your line.  I think it'd be a great choice.

[Mikeltee]

I throw all those baits from a BC medium. Tatula Elite AGS Finesse 7'.

[Beetlebz]

I throw most of what you mentioned on a ML favorite balance 7'3". A heavier wacky worm like a senko is alot for it, but I can manage. My medium fuego rod is really fast, it's a bit much for alot of things but that's not the norm. A more moderate medium or a faster medium light would strike a great balance between the two. 

[E-DOG]

3 hours ago, Beetlebz said:

I throw most of what you mentioned on a ML favorite balance 7'3". A heavier wacky worm like a senko is alot for it, but I can manage. My medium fuego rod is really fast, it's a bit much for alot of things but that's not the norm. A more moderate medium or a faster medium light would strike a great balance between the two. 

I really dont know what to get. I think I will be fine on either end of the spectrum I for sure will be buying a daiwa aird x for the rod. do diawas spinning rods tend to run on the faster side? or are they all different?

[MickD]

Medium power for sure, ML is not a good choice for finnesse, IMHO.  

[E-DOG]

1 minute ago, MickD said:

Medium power for sure, ML is not a good choice for finnesse, IMHO.  

why is that? too flimsy?

[Finnz922]

This 

IRG712S Fred's Power Finesse
 

This is the perfect finesse rod.It has a soft tip to allow for casting light baits and detection of subtle

 

Length: 7’1″

Lure weight:1/8 – 3/8

Line weight: 6-12lb

Power:Med.

Action: Fast

[OkobojiEagle]

7 hours ago, E-DOG said:

So I want to get into finesse fishing but can't afford a medium and a medium light spinning rod to best cover all finesse techniques. 

You don't write whether you have any other rods or not... If you don't already have a medium power spinning rod buy one.  If you do own a medium power spinning rod, a medium light power spinning rod will be a nice compliment to it. 

 

 

oe

[E-DOG]

1 minute ago, OkobojiEagle said:

You don't write whether you have any other rods or not... If you don't already have a medium power spinning rod buy one.  If you do own a medium power spinning rod, a medium light power spinning rod will be a nice compliment to it. 

 

 

oe

I own no finesse tackle yet.

3 hours ago, Beetlebz said:

I throw most of what you mentioned on a ML favorite balance 7'3". A heavier wacky worm like a senko is alot for it, but I can manage. My medium fuego rod is really fast, it's a bit much for alot of things but that's not the norm. A more moderate medium or a faster medium light would strike a great balance between the two. 

people say that the aird x runs a little lighter than advertised so I'm going with the medium to fit my needs. thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it.

[tander]

Think you are making a good choice in getting the med. I tried M/L but just wasn't satisfied with it. Got a Lews 6'6" med/f and love it.

 

[Boomstick]

For ned rigs and dropshots, I use a ML/XF rod. For a shaky head, I would ideally use a M/F rod.

 

Some people use M/F for everything, but to me M/F seems a little bit stiff unless you're catching daily 10 pounders or whatever.

 

Of course, a ML that runs on the light side is going to be too light as well. My St. Croix Avid X 6'9" ML/XF, which may be slightly on the heavier side is just about perfect, so if you get your hands on one, you can use that as a basepoint.

[Beetlebz]

 

4 hours ago, E-DOG said:

I really dont know what to get. I think I will be fine on either end of the spectrum I for sure will be buying a daiwa aird x for the rod. do diawas spinning rods tend to run on the faster side? or are they all different?

My fuego spinning rod is quite a bit heavier than I would expect for its rating but I too have heard the opposite about the aird.

4 hours ago, E-DOG said:

I own no finesse tackle yet.

people say that the aird x runs a little lighter than advertised so I'm going with the medium to fit my needs. thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it.

I would agree. I think the range of finesse fishing really does cover Light for some weightless presentations right up through medium for weighted wacky presentations and everything in between. I personally think that going with a medium that's on the lighter end will be as close as you're going to get to a best balance. You may feel under powered for heavier stuff and a little over powered for some stuff, but that means for the majority you'll be spot on.

 

You can always upsize too... instead of wacky rigging a trick worm on a 1/16 jig head you can go up to say, a 3/16 jig head to cast it easier. If you're doing a neko rig you can get a beefier worm and go up a size in nail weight. Things like that to make it easier to handle on a heavier rod for what I would normally use a medium light. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It's not so cut and dried. All these term are subjective for starters. In very general terms a mh/f casting, mh/mod casting and Med/f spinning setup will cover all the most popular and effective bass techniques. Personally I find myself moving more toward ML spinning setups. We're talking Ned's, small hair jigs, 3-4" worms...

[PatrickKnight]

I find most ML power rods to not be good for much other than extremely light wire open hook type presentations. My go to for just about everything spinning related is a 7'3" medium power with a moderate fast action. This has the power to set the hook on just about all spinning rod techniques (I do go to a MH for some) and with the mod fast tip will allow me to work just about any bait I need to.

[Chris at Tech]

You can still be fishing a finesse technique while using 1/2 oz of lead so as DVT says above it's not so cut and dried.

 

How much weight are you using?  What bait are you putting on the end?  Generally, a M-power spinning rod should be absolutely fine

[Darren.]

In terms of light line fishing, you can use a M or ML. Since you've

already made your decision, this is just my .02 on the matter.

 

More often than used to, I grab my ML rods and have zero issues

bringing in large bass on drop shot, Ned, smaller wacky worms, 

etc.

 

I do agree that light wire hooks are best here.

 

If you have $120 to spend, you can opt for a St. Croix Premiere

ML spinning rod (length is your choice, I like shorter rods). Their

rods are actually a bit stiffer than other brands, so I'd put their

ML as partway between ML and M. Mine is *plenty* powerful.

 

Going with M and say using 4-6# test on a drop shot, you may

want to back your drag down a tad. Remember it's the whole

package: rod, reel, line, terminal tackle. You can use a broom

stick for finessing with light line, but if you set the hook with

a tight drag, that line'll be more likely to snap.

[MickD]

The reason I recommend Med over Med Light is that I believe feel and hook set is more reliable on a Med power rod for all but the Neds and similar really small stuff.  I agree that the best Ned rod is Med Light. 

 

If you fish tubes and skirted jigs, I believe Med is a much better rod than Med Light.  I prefer Med for drop shot, too.

[LxVE Bassin]

On 8/11/2018 at 8:05 AM, MickD said:

Medium power for sure, ML is not a good choice for finnesse, IMHO.  

I am with you 100%. ML doesn’t have enough power in my opinion. Plus I barely go lighter than 1/4 ounce when drop shotting.

[roadwarrior]

I recommend a 7' MF spinning rod

 

[Mobasser]

Many guys use both. I use medium mostly, both will work, but I like medium for almost all finesse rigs

[Brad in Texas]

On 8/11/2018 at 3:37 AM, Beetlebz said:

I throw most of what you mentioned on a ML favorite balance 7'3". A heavier wacky worm like a senko is alot for it, but I can manage. My medium fuego rod is really fast, it's a bit much for alot of things but that's not the norm. A more moderate medium or a faster medium light would strike a great balance between the two. 

Beetlebz makes a good observation that he can "manage" on a 7'3" ML rod. Part of what none of us know is how far another angler plans to toss these various finesse presentations. From my kayak or canoe, I rarely make long casts with drop shots, Ned Rigs, wacky rigged worms, etc. so a lighter rod can manage a greater range of finesse tactics including some of the heavier ones.

 

If you are tossing bombs out there seeking distance, a ML rod might feel sluggish and soft . . . like a 300 pound man bouncing on a trampoline. To me, that is one of the worst feelings in angling: casting an over-weighted lure. However, a ML rod is more than adequate to fight a very large fish successfully.

 

Well, I'd say M or ML depending on which weighty "end" of the finesse spectrum you plan to spend the most time. That, and, again, how far you plan to cast or pitch them. Both are great choices!

 

Brad

[fishnkamp]

Now I use a 6 foot G Loomis SJR 721 (MLXF) which is a 1/16 to 5/16 and that rod handles light drop shots and neds great. My 722 (mxf) does all my grubs, tubes, shakey heads etc. So if you do not have a decent 6' to 7 foot medium that is the rod I would start out with. If you have one then I would add a mlf or mlxf.

[EGbassing]

On 8/11/2018 at 12:12 AM, E-DOG said:

So I want to get into finesse fishing but can't afford a medium and a medium light spinning rod to best cover all finesse techniques. so what Power rod should I get for all around finesse fishing. would I be able to effectively throw a smaller dropshot on a medium power spinning rod? or will it be to heavy of a rod for that technique. I just want to know what would be a good all around power of rod for finesse fishing like nedrigs, dropshots, wackyrigs, shakyheads, etc. any input of what power rod to get would be greatly appreciated.

Just buy a ML

[TBAG]

I'm in the same predicament right now but have decided to go with a dedicated ned rig rod and going to buy the Dobyns 702. I'll be using this rod 90% for a Ned rig and fishing from a kayak.