Do you think a light or medium light spinning rod is better for small river smallies?

[Ohioguy25]

I fish the Little Miami River in southwest Ohio, a small narrow river about 3-5 ft deep on average with some pretty average sized smallmouth. I’ve hooked into some big ones for sure, but on average they are pretty midsized.  I have been using a medium light 6’ st croix premier fast action spinning rod and my dummy just shut my trunk with it leaning inside it, snapped right in two. Thinking of switching to a light version of the same rod, what do you think is better? Should I stick w st croix? I have a shimano real that is amazing, incredibly smooth love it. I just wonder if I wouldn’t feel the fight more with a light rod vs med light, I guess my only concern would be getting snagged. Thanks!

[scaleface]

River smallies fight hard . I use casting gear .If I had to choose between a light or ml I'd go with the ml .

[fishindad]

Depends on what weight lures you typically throw and how much cover is in the river. I agree with scaleface to go with ML since generally, river fish fight harder, especially river smallies, than lake dwellers. A L power rod would be more fun to fight them but you should try upsizing the lures you use to entice, and land, the bigger ones. That said, St Croix rods run a bit more powerful than others for their rating.

[Wildbillb]

I run ML.  Same rod for river smallies.  

[FishTank]

ML for sure.  Smallies pack punch and fight harder than most fish.  

[OkobojiEagle]

1/4 - 3/8 oz spinnerbaits will throw better on a Medium power rod, just saying...

 

oe

[WRB]

Contact St Croix they maybe can save you some $ on a rod replacement.

Bass fishing the ML is a low power as you want to go in River fishing IMO.

Tom

[fishwizzard]

Depends on how small the fish are and how strong the current.  In some of the rivers I fish a 15” smallie is a once every few years treat and most days I catch 6-12” smallies and big red breast sunfish, so even UL tackle is on the table. 

[DitchPanda]

I agree with what fishwizzard said...depends on what your average size fish are. One small river I fish average smallies are 6 to 10 inches...biggest I've caught there is 14. I'd feel fine with a light especially a st Croix or abu Garcia since they run heavy...if I wanted say a falcon or dobyns id go at least medlight since they run light. If your fish average 12inches and up is go at least medlight maybe even medium.

[plawren53202]

Count me as another vote for ML. Earlier this year I got my first ML spinning rod (had always used only UL or M spinning gear). To me an ML hits exactly the sweet spot for creek smallies, ponds with dink largemouths, those types of places. I know even in the small creeks I fish for smallmouths, I would not want less than a ML for when I get a decent size one on. Yet to me a ML is plenty light to keep it sporting; in fact my ML Daiwa Aird doubles as my crappie fishing rod because it is so sensitive--yet it has enough backbone that my last crappie trip I landed a 34" gar on it!

[RoLo]

 

I'd go with ML spinning, with a bias toward medium before light.

 

Roger

[WRB]

What pound test line do you normally use?

Tom

[Ohioguy25]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

What pound test line do you normally use?

Tom

Been using 8, do you recommend lighter?

10 hours ago, plawren53202 said:

Count me as another vote for ML. Earlier this year I got my first ML spinning rod (had always used only UL or M spinning gear). To me an ML hits exactly the sweet spot for creek smallies, ponds with dink largemouths, those types of places. I know even in the small creeks I fish for smallmouths, I would not want less than a ML for when I get a decent size one on. Yet to me a ML is plenty light to keep it sporting; in fact my ML Daiwa Aird doubles as my crappie fishing rod because it is so sensitive--yet it has enough backbone that my last crappie trip I landed a 34" gar on it!

Cool, you think 8 lb clear triline is good? 

 

Thanks for the replies everyone! Ended up going with another medium light, it really did feel like the sweet spot. Gonna get it replaced through saint croix’s awesome warranty, I think it’s like a $20-$40 deductible and they replace the rod outright. 

[plawren53202]

17 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Been using 8, do you recommend lighter?

Cool, you think 8 lb clear triline is good? 

 

6# or 8# are my usual choices on this rod. Honestly there's probably not a significant difference between them and either is good. 

 

Standard mono has so much stretch that you might want to consider going with something else. The ML rods are pretty springy to begin with, and you do need a little backbone to set the hook on bigger smallies. I use braid mainline/copolymer leader on mine (Sufix 832 10# mainline/Sufix Advance copolymer 6# leader), but if you're not familiar with braid you could go straight copolymer with the Sufix Advance. Sufix Advance to me is the best of both worlds between fluoro and mono, soft and castable like mono but much less stretch and more sensitivity than mono, more like fluoro.

[WRB]

Glad you looked into the warranty. 

Line; I use Maxima 5 lb Ultra Green Copolymer mono for my finesse spinning or Sunline 7 lb FC Sniper. Prefer the mono stronger knot strength, high abrasion resistance, both are small diameter suited for spinning finesse presentation. 

Tom

[Spankey]

Try to get yourself a nice 6’8” to 7’ setup. Get a nice Fast or X-fast sensitive rod and 6:0 ratio reel. 

[Ohioguy25]

Just now, Spankey said:

Try to get yourself a nice 6’8” to 7’ setup. Get a nice Fast or X-fast sensitive rod and 6:0 ratio reel. 

Way too long for the river I fish. It’s very narrow as I said and tons of low-hanging vegetation. 6’ is the perfect size for ease of casting as well as storage on my kayak.

[Spankey]

1 minute ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Way too long for the river I fish. It’s very narrow as I said and tons of low-hanging vegetation. 6’ is the perfect size for ease of casting as well as storage on my kayak.

Ok. Yes I can see that. I’m sort of in that same situation also on the river here in SE Penna. For all but drop shot fishing, I fish many soft plastics including grubs, tubes, craws and creatures under overhangs, docks with a Med. X-fast 5’9 Avid Spinning rod. Shimano Stradic 2500. St Croix put out a nice product for soft plastics. 7 foot rod might be a bit to get use to but only a feet longer than you are use to. 

[Cgolf]

For river smallies, I wouldn't go below a medium stick. That said I generally use an ugly stick 6'6" medium spinning rod so it does have a slower tip. I go with the ugly because it is bullet proof and the rod stays in my truck at work in the sun during the summer and hasn't failed yet.

 

The river I fish averages 11-14" smallies, but I tangle with 16 to 20 inch fish often enough to be glad I have the medium stick. I go with 10 lb fireline and and 10 lb red label leader.

[Ohioguy25]

3 minutes ago, cgolf said:

For river smallies, I wouldn't go below a medium stick. That said I generally use an ugly stick 6'6" medium spinning rod so it does have a slower tip. I go with the ugly because it is bullet proof and the rod stays in my truck at work in the sun during the summer and hasn't failed yet.

 

The river I fish averages 11-14" smallies, but I tangle with 16 to 20 inch fish often enough to be glad I have the medium stick. I go with 10 lb fireline and and 10 lb red label leader.

Not even medium light? Medium seems stiff, you think ML could snap?

[Cgolf]

38 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Not even medium light? Medium seems stiff, you think ML could snap?

A medium light would work, but a medium gives you more control over the fish. The stretch of river I fish is very rocky and this keeps the line in one piece most of the time. I can also tangle with 20+ lb carp or big pike. To be honest river fish just fight harder than lake fish. I did use a medium light St Croix premier for awhile but it just didn't seem to be enough. Did it catch fish, yeh but a medium just seemed better suited. I also throw both cranks and plastics on this rod and the medium works a lot better for cranks than a medium light. I guess I don't see a medium rod as stiff at all, in fact it usually is rated for the lure weight range I like to throw often.

 

I did try a light action uncle bucks crappie rod for a while during a time period when smallies come unglued easily and while it would throw and retrieve a bandit 100 without issue it was severely over matched bringing in a smallie.

[gall]

Like others said go ml I fish a similar system with some more shallow water and lowest I'll go is ml especially since river smallies even a 12" can fight you like one double it's size.

[PaulVE64]

I've used a St Croix Triumph light fast for a few years now and it will handle most river smallies under 3 lbs but a 4 pounder will go where ever she wants.

 

I normally just break off the carp

[Manly Studson]

I’ve been pleased with my 6’ ML Fenwick HMG. It is closer to a medium than a light, and you can throw 1/8 oz poppers and even small jigs with it. The rod is as sensitive as an Avid.

[PaulVE64]

I've held the  Fenwick HMG in medium and ML, both seemed stiffer than the rating. The ML fast is a beauty.