Best ML Spinning Rod

[Robert K Manning]

I am looking for a sensitive Medium Light Spinning Rod for bass. I throw light texas rig and looking for something to feel the bottom. $130 to $200 max is my budget. I have MH Daiwa Tatula elite, med Dobyns champion Xp rod and looking to upgrade ML Rods. I have a Phenix Maxim med light rod, but feels lighter than a ML. Looking for some expert opinions. Thanks 

[PaulVE64]

Whipsnake

Edit - I also liked the Curado

[thunderblack]

Daiwa tatula 7-1 ML or 7-6 ML/M

[DogBone_384]

10 hours ago, Robert K Manning said:

I am looking for a sensitive Medium Light Spinning Rod for bass.

What kind of action are you looking for?  I have a few ML rods:

 

Abu Garcia Veracity 6'10" ML/F (Veritas Tourney is today's version @ $179). Runs a little heavy compared to my other ML rods.  It's stiffer than my Kistler, Diawa, and Fenwick.  It's very sensitive and it's stiffness makes a great Ned/finesse soft bait rod.  I throw small jerkbaits with it too.

 

Kistler KLX (7' ML/MF) & Helium (7' ML/F):  Both are very light and have excellent sensitivity.  I use the KLX for dropshot and Helium for Ned/small finesse.  Their actions are very similar, with the KLX bending a little further down the blank, and are a softer at the tip than my Abu. They're made in Texas.  Overall my favorite ML rods.  You get better pricing when you sign up for Kistler's emails.

 

Fenwick Elite Bass 6'10" ML/XF:  It's very light but doesn't feel like my other XF rods.  It doesn't feel very strong by the handle.  I've used it for dropshot, but not often.  It's not my favorite.

 

All these rods should be in your price range.  I'd suggest the Abu then Helium based on what you're looking for. 

 

Best of luck picking out a ML rod.

[MN Fisher]

Low end - Dobyns Fury 702SF

High End - St Croix Victory 6'10" or 7'3" MLXF

 

I have a Fury 702SF that I used for finesse - replaced by a Mojo Bass (prior edition) 6'10" MLXF that I like...the Victory would be a little more sensitive and not much more that the current Mojo Trigon version.

[casts_by_fly]

I just bought a Zodias ML (see end of thread for my initial impressions) and I think I'm going to love it.  I had to send this one back because of the guides/reel seat alignment but I just asked for a new one (haven't received it yet).  Its just over your $200 mark, but the Curado is right there.  The difference in the two is the guide set.  Same handle and grips, same blank.  I heavily considered the 7' ML Curado but decided I wanted the shorter rod.  Separately my dad (long time shimano rod user) picked up a curado casting rod and said its one of the lightest he's seen.  

 

 

 

[Robert K Manning]

4 hours ago, thunderblack said:

Daiwa tatula 7-1 ML or 7-6 ML/M

I am looking at the following rods: Shimano Zodias, ALX Rods, Kitsler , 6th sense or Irod ML Spinning. Anyone seem better sensitivity and balance wise?

[Robert K Manning]

20 minutes ago, Robert K Manning said:

I am looking at the following rods: Shimano Zodias, ALX Rods, Kitsler , 6th sense, Falcon Cara or Irod ML Spinning. Anyone seem better sensitivity and balance wise?

 

[thunderblack]

I owned one Alx but wasn't a fan of the locking nut. Shimano or Kistler out of those would be my choice. 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Robert K Manning said:

I am looking at the following rods: Shimano Zodias, ALX Rods, Kitsler , 6th sense or Irod ML Spinning. Anyone seem better sensitivity and balance wise?

 

I can't comment on the others, but for the Zodias just make sure you're not going too light on the reel.  The carbon rear grip lightens up the back end a bit more than cork.  I found on the 6'9" that I needed about 8 oz.  You can read in the other thread, but my old stradic was 7.9 and balanced well.  The new small one was too light.  Something like a 3000 size vanford would be too light but the 3k sized stradic is just right.  You can of course go heavier if that's what you're planning to use.  I put a 10 oz reel on it and it still balanced.

[badfish79]

If you dont mind used and can be patient, look out for the used sections of ALF and TW. I picked up a Expride 7'2 ML spinning rod for 190ish from TW after Black Friday discount of the clearance section (used items are included in there).

[LonnieP]

Cashion Icon 7’ ML

[WRB]

17 hours ago, Robert K Manning said:

I am looking for a sensitive Medium Light Spinning Rod for bass. I throw light texas rig and looking for something to feel the bottom. $130 to $200 max is my budget. I have MH Daiwa Tatula elite, med Dobyns champion Xp rod and looking to upgrade ML Rods. I have a Phenix Maxim med light rod, but feels lighter than a ML. Looking for some expert opinions. Thanks 

Define your light Texas rig? Finesse weedless hook w/ sliding bullet weight?

Most ML spinning rods lake the tip strength to perform a solid hook set with T-rig worm hooks. MXF may be a better choice depending on MFR.

Tom

PS, the Victory MLXF has a weak noddle tip imo and exchanged it for MXF Victory..

[JackstrawIII]

St Croix Premier. 

[Robert K Manning]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Define your light Texas rig? Finesse weedless hook w/ sliding bullet weight?

Most ML spinning rods lake the tip strength to perform a solid hook set with T-rig worm hooks. MXF may be a better choice depending on MFR.

Tom

PS, the Victory MLXF has a weak noddle tip imo and exchanged it for MXF Victory..

Yes, 1/4 weight sliding bullet weight. Victory MXF is that St Croix

[WRB]

1/4 oz bullet weight is bait casting for me, in fact 3/16 is my average with 12# FC line.

Yes, Victory is St Croix and they offer 10% discount for 1st time buyers through American Legacy Fishing.

Victory has a very comfortable spinning rod handle👍

Tom

[Drawdown]

Man, I’d definitely be going up to a Medium action if I was throwing 1/4oz bullet weights.

 

I once held a Daiwa Tatula XT in ML. The tip was pretty stiff compared to my other ML rod. Might be just what you’re looking for—I sent mine back simply because I had actually ordered a medium. They’d sent a ML by mistake.

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

1/4 oz bullet weight is bait casting for me,

^^^^This.

32 minutes ago, Drawdown said:

Man, I’d definitely be going up to a Medium action if I was throwing 1/4oz bullet weights.

And a stout MF at that.

[PaulVE64]

If only every manufacturer used the same criteria to label their rods.

I've heard people say theyll throw senkos on a MH baitcaster.

[MN Fisher]

37 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

I've heard people say theyll throw senkos on a MH baitcaster.

Problem with this is?

I've tossed weightless 5" Yama-Senkos on my Aird-X MH/F - rod is rated down to 1/4oz and the 5" Senko is almost 3/8oz...so it's 'in the range'.

Heck, my Mojo MH/F would handle 6" Senkos - rod rated to 3/8oz, 6" Senko is over 1/2oz.

[Fishin Dad]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Problem with this is?

I've tossed weightless 5" Yama-Senkos on my Aird-X MH/F - rod is rated down to 1/4oz and the 5" Senko is almost 3/8oz...so it's 'in the range'.

Heck, my Mojo MH/F would handle 6" Senkos - rod rated to 3/8oz, 6" Senko is over 1/2oz.

I throw weightless Senkos on my MH bait cast rod  all the time.  Skip it under docks and wrench em out.  

[Reel]

I've got a Shimano Zodias + 7 foot 2 ML that I really like.  A very light versatile rod that is ideal for what you want to use.

[PaulVE64]

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Problem with this is?

I've tossed weightless 5" Yama-Senkos on my Aird-X MH/F - rod is rated down to 1/4oz and the 5" Senko is almost 3/8oz...so it's 'in the range'.

Heck, my Mojo MH/F would handle 6" Senkos - rod rated to 3/8oz, 6" Senko is over 1/2oz.

Problem?

None, but you probably wouldn't throw a senko on a MH spinning rod.

Just goes to prove my point.

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

but you probably wouldn't throw a senko on a MH spinning rod.

Done that too - Supreme 30 on an Okuma Reflexions A 7'0" MH/F, 20# 832 to 8# YZH leader...rod is rated 3/8oz to 1-1/4oz. Being spinning it casts the lighter 5" Senkos just fine. That rig is my primary skipping outfit as I'm still working on skipping with casting gear without ending up with a bird's nest.

[gim]

1 hour ago, Fishin Dad said:

I throw weightless Senkos on my MH bait cast rod  all the time.  Skip it under docks and wrench em out.  

I use a MH for skipping too, but mine is a spinning reel. I’ve been doing quite a bit on one specific lake for a few years now and I’ve gotten to be pretty good at it. Need some back bone on the rod to horse em out.