Is a 7’1” MF too light for a 1/2 spinnerbait with a 3.25” paddle tail trailer?

[Ohioguy25]

Just got a 7’1” MF LTB rod from St Croix, was throwing a 1/2 War Eagle earlier and it felt like a bit too much stress on the blank.  Should I be throwing that on a MH?

[LrgmouthShad]

Uh you can throw it on a medium, sure, but you might have to lob it just a little and why throw it on a medium if you have a medium heavy available? You'd get more casting distance too and I like a medium heavy for spinnerbaits anyway unless they're really little with fine hooks.

[Finessegenics]

The rod is fine but it’s probably not ideal. I know there’s folks on here who throw up to 3/4 spinnerbaits on M/F but every rod is different. I prefer a MH/F or MH/MF for spinnerbaits 3/8-3/4. That is a nice rod you got though and you can definitely find some use for it for river smallies. 

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Just got a 7’1” MF LTB rod from St Croix, was throwing a 1/2 War Eagle earlier and it felt like a bit too much stress on the blank.  Should I be throwing that on a MH?

Ya - 1/2oz spinner actually weighs more than 1/2oz. That rating is just for the head-weight. Now add the hook, skirt, blades and you're closing in on 3/4oz - the top end of the suggested lure-weight for that rod. Add a trailer and you're really over-loading it.

 

Just now, Finessegenics said:

I prefer a MH/F or MH/MF for spinnerbaits 3/8-3/4.

Yep - only time I drop to a Medium power for spinners is tossing my 1/4oz finesse spinnerbaits.

[Deleted account]

You could do it, but it will be less than ideal. I fish a lighter (power not weight) rod than most, and I find 3/8 is where I switch from a Med to a MH, all rods are different of course, so you have to go with how the rod fishes, and not the label on the rod.

[Ohioguy25]

46 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Uh you can throw it on a medium, sure, but you might have to lob it just a little and why throw it on a medium if you have a medium heavy available? You'd get more casting distance too and I like a medium heavy for spinnerbaits anyway unless they're really little with fine hooks.

I don’t currently own a MH rod, I probably should pick one up for versatility, I’m thinking 7’1” MH casting?

14 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

You could do it, but it will be less than ideal. I fish a lighter (power not weight) rod than most, and I find 3/8 is where I switch from a Med to a MH, all rods are different of course, so you have to go with how the rod fishes, and not the label on the rod.

Yeah and I’m wondering if the trailer doesn’t put it over the top

 

35 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - 1/2oz spinner actually weighs more than 1/2oz. That rating is just for the head-weight. Now add the hook, skirt, blades and you're closing in on 3/4oz - the top end of the suggested lure-weight for that rod. Add a trailer and you're really over-loading it.

 

Yep - only time I drop to a Medium power for spinners is tossing my 1/4oz finesse spinnerbaits.

When you say overloading it do you mean potentially damaging the blank? I only threw 5-6 casts, d**n it I hope I didn’t put any hairlines in it.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Ohioguy25 said:

I don’t currently own a MH rod, I probably should pick one up for versatility, I’m thinking 7’1” MH casting?

Versatility is the name of the game with a MH - I call it the 'Swiss Army Knife' of rods. A MH/F will do quite a number of things...probably the most versatile rod in any arsenal. I have two of them in my lineup for that reason.

3 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

When you say overloading it do you mean potentially damaging the blank? I only threw 5-6 casts, d**n it I hope I didn’t put any hairlines in it.

Probably not damage if you weren't trying to toss it into orbit - but you're not getting the distance you can get using a more suitable rod.

[Ohioguy25]

35 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Versatility is the name of the game with a MH - I call it the 'Swiss Army Knife' of rods. A MH/F will do quite a number of things...probably the most versatile rod in any arsenal. I have two of them in my lineup for that reason.

Probably not damage if you weren't trying to toss it into orbit - but you're not getting the distance you can get using a more suitable rod.

My only issue w MH is I primarily throw a small soft plastic paddle tail, 2.75” on a 1/8 oz jig. This is barely heavy enough for a medium but I like that extra backbone for muscling 18” smallies, ML is simply not enough.

[Deephaven]

Overloading as in puts too much bend in the rod for the rod to recover during the cast.  You aren't going to stress fracture the rod unless you take it too far, but that is even easier to do with a fish on.  No way I'd fish a 1/2 oz spinnerbait on a medium rod...or even a 3/8 oz for that matter.  One "could" but it isn't the right tool for the job.

[Ohioguy25]

13 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Overloading as in puts too much bend in the rod for the rod to recover during the cast.  You aren't going to stress fracture the rod unless you take it too far, but that is even easier to do with a fish on.  No way I'd fish a 1/2 oz spinnerbait on a medium rod...or even a 3/8 oz for that matter.  One "could" but it isn't the right tool for the job.

What do you recommend, 7’1” MH casting?

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Versatility is the name of the game with a MH - I call it the 'Swiss Army Knife' of rods. A MH/F will do quite a number of things...probably the most versatile rod in any arsenal. I have two of them in my lineup for that reason.

Probably not damage if you weren't trying to toss it into orbit - but you're not getting the distance you can get using a more suitable rod.

How about for a whopper plopper 90? That is a 1/2 oz bait, I’ve been throwing on a 6’8” MF Mojo casting rod.  I did this because I was told a MH may be too heavy and risk pulling the trebles out, you think as long as it had a fast tip a MH would be ok?

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Ohioguy25 said:

How about for a whopper plopper 90? That is a 1/2 oz bait, I’ve been throwing on a 6’8” MF Mojo casting rod.  I did this because I was told a MH may be too heavy and risk pulling the trebles out, you think as long as it had a fast tip a MH would be ok?

I toss my WP-90s on a Fury 704 (MH even though they call it a Heavy) - but the Fury has a softer tip than a true Fast action.

[Ohioguy25]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

I toss my WP-90s on a Fury 704 (MH even though they call it a Heavy) - but the Fury has a softer tip than a true Fast action.

So you recommend at least a MH, and think I will be ok as far as not ripping trebles out? Think I might upgrade my current Mojo to a 7’1” MH fast, unless Premier is better.

[MN Fisher]

18 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

So you recommend at least a MH, and think I will be ok as far as not ripping trebles out? Think I might upgrade my current Mojo to a 7’1” MH fast, unless Premier is better.

Just don't try to 'swing for the fence' when setting the hook and you should be fine.

[Deephaven]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What do you recommend, 7’1” MH casting?

I use a 7'10" MHF for spinnerbaits.  Anything up to 8' ought to be fine, but at least over 7'.

 

[MyKeyBe]

I'd be taking a long hard look at the 7'2" heavy rod for those baits and this price.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1024716717 

Never used a TFO rod but for that price it certainly has me interested. 

[Ohioguy25]

41 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

I use a 7'10" MHF for spinnerbaits.  Anything up to 8' ought to be fine, but at least over 7'.

 

What about moderate-fast?

[MN Fisher]

Mod-Fast would work fine for spinners and chatters - also is great for crankbaits.

[Ohioguy25]

36 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Mod-Fast would work fine for spinners and chatters - also is great for crankbaits.

Sweet, and MH MF for a whopper plopper 90 should be good too or is that too heavy and risks ripping the trebles out?

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Ohioguy25 said:

Sweet, and MH MF for a whopper plopper 90 should be good too or is that too heavy and risks ripping the trebles out?

Nope - MH/MF would be good for WP-75 and 90 - maybe a little heavy for the 60 and a little light for the 110 and 130

[Ohioguy25]

51 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Nope - MH/MF would be good for WP-75 and 90 - maybe a little heavy for the 60 and a little light for the 110 and 130

I wonder why everyone talks about ripping the trebles out with more than a M?

[MN Fisher]

55 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I wonder why everyone talks about ripping the trebles out with more than a M?

1: They're using a Fast action

2: They're swinging for the fences

[Deephaven]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I wonder why everyone talks about ripping the trebles out with more than a M?

I don't think they do.  They talk about keeping the fish pinned which is different.  A floppy rod will flex more as the fish shakes its head or does other antics, but I have zero issue with the MHF in that domain.

[Ohioguy25]

29 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

I don't think they do.  They talk about keeping the fish pinned which is different.  A floppy rod will flex more as the fish shakes its head or does other antics, but I have zero issue with the MHF in that domain.

Yeah, sounds like a MHMF would be even better for keeping it pinned

[Bankbeater]

I like a 7'0" MHF for 1/2 spinnerbaits, but in a pinch I have cast them on a MF.  Not ideal and I didn't like doing it, but making shorter casts and slowing the retrieve way down will put less stress on the rod.