Med Lt spinning rod

[Joe_w1234]

Do I need one?

 

I fish mostly lakes and ponds as well as a lot of rivers for smallmouth. I have a medium spinning rod that I think should be able to do most of the stuff a medium light would do. Should I spend money otherwise put into lures and baits towards a new md Lt. Spinning combo?

[browne762]

What one person "needs" might not be relative to what another person "needs." I use a medium light spinning rod more then I use a medium spinning rod so to me, I need a ML rod. Ned rig, drop shot, small Keitechs, and small beetle-spin-like spinner baits are what I would use my ML for. Catch mostly bass and crappie with a few walleye, perch and sunfish too.

 

What lures or techniques do you plan to use?

[Joe_w1234]

 

26 minutes ago, browne762 said:

What one person "needs" might not be relative to what another person "needs." I use a medium light spinning rod more then I use a medium spinning rod so to me, I need a ML rod. Ned rig, drop shot, small Keitechs, and small beetle-spin-like spinner baits are what I would use my ML for. Catch mostly bass and crappie with a few walleye, perch and sunfish too.

 

What lures or techniques do you plan to use?

 

I would mostly use it for wacky worms, drop shots, and ned rigs in the small rivers by me. I’m thinking I am doing just fine using wacky worms and Ned rigs with my medium, drop shot seems to be the only technique that wouldn’t really work on it. 

[Scarborough817]

i agree i use my ml much more than my medium i throw a lot of drop shots and tubes on it my medium is reserved for senkos, shakey heads and underspins

[papajoe222]

This is a personal preference question that only you can answer. I'll offer my opinion. If you can afford another combo, I'd go for it. If you can get by with switching your existing reel on both rods and you can only afford to do that, you can always add another reel in the future.  On the other hand, if you're looking to add different presentations (lures), ask yourself if your current combo will handle those.  I have way too much gear, but each piece was added for a specific fish species and presentation. 90% of it is left at home every time I go fishing. 

[MIbassyaker]

There is a lot of overlap between what you can do with a Medium vs. Medium-light. but the differences should be obvious -- an ML makes it easier to use lighter baits, while a M makes it easier to use heavier baits.

 

Any small (4" or less) plastic I fish on a weighted hook with a 1/8oz or less head (ned rigs, keitechs, grubs, tubes, sliders) goes on a ML spinning rod, especially if it has an open hook. Drop shots in that weight as well. An ML just casts that weight better than a Medium, and I can feel what the bait is doing much better.

 

I step up to medium for 3/16oz weights, bigger plastic bodies, and most most weedless presentations where the hook is buried and I need more power to set it through the plastic (unless the weight is really light).

[Fried Lemons]

For freshwater fishing I think a medium light is all you need. I find they cast finesse lures much better than a stiffer medium power. I have a medium light that I will throw anything from 1/10 to 1/2oz and it handles those presentations well. I have hauled in catfish up to 40lbs and stripers in heavy current on that setup so I am confident it will handle any bass I encounter.

[the reel ess]

I have ML I don't use. I use the M and MH only. I don't use a lot of finesse though. Many days I don't even use the spinning combos.

[JediAmoeba]

I cast all my finesse stuff for bass on Medium rods.  I have a few ml rods but they are reserved for trout fishing.  

[MN Fisher]

I guess I live dangerously. Most of my finesse work is done on the ML rig...but I have put a Ned-rig on my UL. 2# LMB on 4# test on a UL is FUN.

[Steveo-1969]

As expected the wide variety of answers given solidifies the fact that this is a personal preference thing.

 

For me, I own two ML-powered spinning rods and ZERO M-powered spinning rods. For where and how I fish, I don't need a medium power spinning rod.

[Joe_w1234]

1 minute ago, Steveo-1969 said:

As expected the wide variety of answers given solidifies the fact that this is a personal preference thing.

Thank you everyone for the tips. I think I will go ahead and get one because lots of techniques I use would be very well suited for a medium light rod. 

 

Joe

[deadadrift89]

  I think you'll enjoy the ML. I bought one a couple years ago for Smallmouth and now I own several for drop shot, ned rigs and hair jigs. I use my medium power rods for tubes, senkos and jerkbaits.  

[LCG]

As many will tell you there is a big difference from one manufacturer to another. I have had medium light rods that fished more like medium and vice versa. 

 

I find it easier to look at line and Lure ratings to compare accurately. My current favorite spinning rod is 6'8" rated for 1/8-1/2oz lures and line 4-10lbs. It is labeled a medium, extra fast action. And even the action is subjective. I believe this rod would be equivalent to a st croix medium light. 

 

It works very well for Ned rigs, drop shot, Wacky, and Texas rigged senkos. 

[haggard]

I still call the M/F baitcaster my all time favorite but this season I added a ML/XF spinning setup (AVS69MLXF), and without a doubt it's been my most used, most productive combo in 2019. I find a noticeable difference between M and ML in terms of the lure weights they can throw and the fun of the fight. Granted, I'm comparing a baitcaster (M) to a spinning (ML). But for light wire hooks, lighter lures & light techniques, the ML with 6 lb line has earned a completely unexpected yet definite spot in my top 2 or 3. It's just proven to be too productive to ignore. Not so thin that it's noodly like the ultralight, but so thick that it's stiffer like the M. "Just right" for light techniques. It's also shown me that a ML with 6 lb line has no problem wrangling bigger fish.

 

Funny thing is I also bought a M/F spinning setup (Avid AVC66MF) as a general purpose "if you had to have only one rod" at about the same time and have yet to even use it. The ML/XF has been that good. 

 

[Drew03cmc]

Honestly, I have a 6'3" M XF St. Croix, a 6'6" ML F Lew's and a 6'6" M Deep South. Of these 3 spinning setups, the two I use most are the 6'3" and the ML. The ML is setup with a Sahara 1000 and 10/2 S8S. It tosses Ned rigs, flick shakes, weightless Trick Worms and 4" Easy Shiners very, very well. The 6'3" M is my favorite smallmouth rod I've ever used for wading. I use it with 15/4 S8S and it throws everything I use on a smallie creek from an 1/8oz standup head and craw to a 1/2oz walking bait. Again, it's really your call. I like my Eyecon enough that I'm considering grabbing the MLXF model too.

[Bird]

The only time I ever use my MH is flipping in heavy vegetation. 

 

I much prefer M-ML for everything. 

A bent rod will hold a dancing bass.

[Manly Studson]

I caught this LMB today, throwing a 3/16 oz jig (craw trailer) on a 6’ ML. The Fenwick HMG ML is stout enough to throw light jigs and soft enough for a drop shot. Good rod.

[tander]

I thought I needed a ML but it did not work out for me. I ended up with 3 medium power rods. i can throw 1/16oz Ned heads farther than I really need to with 10# braid and 7# leader. Like most said, it is up to you really.

[Bluebasser86]

I carry at least 2 ML combos in the boat at all times.

[Fishes in trees]

Let me offer my opinion.   You can buy fishing gear.   You can't buy fishing time.   If more/better/technique appropriate gear gets you more fishing time, that's the way to go.  Your only limitations really are how much gear can you carry successfully and how much do you mind tying knots when you switch gears, so to speak.

 

So, for me, I "need" a Ned rig set-up and a wacky rig setup and a drop shot set-up.  In addition I always have a Brewer Slider rig ready to go  and more often than not another shakey head rig.  You never know.   I'm just doing my part to keep the tackle industry going, at least that is one of the ways I justify it to myself.

[Scrapiron]

I’ve gone through I don’t know how many M and ML spinning rods to figure out what works best for me. Right now I’ve cheated and use a Steez AGS 76MML. ?

 

But I’m in the ML camp- just find that action suits the presentations I fish in the waters I visit.

 

and this is so true from Fishes in Trees:

”You can buy fishing gear. You can't buy fishing time.”