Medium light action

[snowplow]

Hey guys, there are a fuel rod weights and actions that I'm not sure what to do with. 

 

1. MH/MF I've been eyeballing one of these and actually in my hand. I really like it. It's a victory if that matters. I think they call it a crankbait rod. I can see it working well for that or a spinnerbait but I guess where my question is is I've been reading about people liking a more moderate jig rod. Would this be what they're talking about? It seems to me like this would be a good rod for worms to allow them to suck them in all the way without having too quick of a hook set. Seems like it would be a pretty versatile rod to me.

 

2. ML/F or XF just never really used them. Are they generally too light for bass fishing or do you guys like them? I've noticed a lot of shaky head rods have surprisingly light weight ratings to them. Would this be the application? Can they drive a stout worm hook?

[FryDog62]

I have 2 BFS rods that are ML-F. I use one for Ned rigs and the other for Strolling. Both with 7 lb Sniper fluorocarbon. 

[Eric 26]

I have a 6’-3” light powered extra fast spinning rod and a 7’-1” med light fast spinning rod. I’ve fished with 6pound test and currently with 4 pound test on the 6’-3” with 1/16 th ounce road runners and my 7’-1” has 8 pound braid and it’s primary use is Ned rigs. Mind you I fish retention ponds that don’t produce many large fish but I don’t feel I would be underpowered with either on a decent sized bass. 

[gim]

ML action is too weak for this guy.  That's what I use when I target walleyes.  They fight like wet socks.

 

Medium action is the minimum I'll go when specifically targeting bass.

[scaleface]

I bought a ml baitcasting rod and lost a lot of fish with it. I no longer use it. 

[Junk Fisherman]

Medium light is the most versatile action for spinning rods.  If you're going to go heavier, use a casting outfit.  Sure, there are a couple applications I could use a medium action spinning rod for but they are the exception.  For my fishing, I use a light action spinning rod significantly more than a medium action.  Actually, I sold the only medium action spinning rod I owned (Dobyns 763) since I own two Daiwa Steez 761 rods which have a lure range of 1/16 to 3/4.  If I want a heavier rod for cracking a tube or skipping docks, I'll use one of those.  

 

Light action:  1/16th oz Ned jig, ultra-finesse swimbait

Medium light:  dropshot, heavier Neds, shakey, wacky, swimbait on a ballhead jig, tubes, blade baits

Medium:  1/2-3/4 oz tubes, skipping docks

 

I do use longer rods (7'4"+) which gives me more leverage for hooksets and fighting a fish when needed.  

[MediumMouthBass]

I have 1 ML spinning rod, i use it for crappie and creek trout, some guys swear by ML rods for bass fishing but i really cant imagine fishing for them with it.

For me they are just too light, i can understand some wanting to use them for ned rigs.

But even for those i still dont get it, 1/16oz for me casts already great enough with a M rod, and can handle any sized bass.

When im fishing a ned rig or something like it im going after smallmouth 80% of the time, but those largemouths for some reason will still bite it and i want to give myself as much of a chance of getting it back to the boat or bank as possible, especially for river smallies, wow can those bass fight.

A 2lb smallie fights about as much as a 4lb largemouth in my area of the country, taking 10 minutes to reel something in just isnt it for me. Plus have you ever had a bass decided it wants to turn around and run for the sunken wood or rocks? With a ned or something like it the drags usually loose, good luck keeping that bass from diving under some sort of cover and wrapping the line around it.

 

And for the ML for shakey heads it depends on how thin/sharp the hook is, but still id rather give myself the extra strength and backbone of a stronger rod, i really dont get what advantage using lighter rods for bass fishing does unless using really small or extremely light lures.

Shakey head hooks on the jigs are usually really thick and strong, and the soft plastic is usually buried in the hook point.

[MN Fisher]

I have a ML/XF spinning rig that I use for Neds, Neko, Dropshot and weightless plastics. It handles the bass quite well...key is making sure the drag is set properly for the line you're using.

[bp_fowler]

I have a Medium Light  powered Fast action rod that I use for bass.  
 

Originally it was my crappie/pan fish rod but after my M/F spinning rod broke I pressed it into service for Rapala Floating Originals, Zoom Flukes and Floating worms.  
 

It worked fine for me.  Granted it’s not like I was catching giants and I was staying away from the thicker vegetation.  I think if you keep the limitations in mind, and pay attention to your drag as was mentioned, you’ll be okay.

 

[Team9nine]

6 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

Medium light is the most versatile action for spinning rods.  If you're going to go heavier, use a casting outfit.  Sure, there are a couple applications I could use a medium action spinning rod for but they are the exception. 

This ^^
 

Not a fan of ML in a baitcast, but have half a dozen or more ML spinning outfits that always go with me and get used every trip. I would probably shy away a bit with shakeys, but everything else is fair game (DS, Ned, sliders, small swimbaits, wacky, hair jigs, etc.).

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

8 hours ago, snowplow said:

Hey guys, there are a fuel rod weights and actions that I'm not sure what to do with. 

 

1. MH/MF I've been eyeballing one of these and actually in my hand. I really like it. It's a victory if that matters. I think they call it a crankbait rod. I can see it working well for that or a spinnerbait but I guess where my question is is I've been reading about people liking a more moderate jig rod. Would this be what they're talking about? It seems to me like this would be a good rod for worms to allow them to suck them in all the way without having too quick of a hook set. Seems like it would be a pretty versatile rod to me.

 

2. ML/F or XF just never really used them. Are they generally too light for bass fishing or do you guys like them? I've noticed a lot of shaky head rods have surprisingly light weight ratings to them. Would this be the application? Can they drive a stout worm hook?

Too quick of a hookset is a myth. If they want it you couldn’t be quick enough to pull it away.  It yes a mod fast rod can double as a jig/worm and crank rod. It depends on the specific rod as there’s no industry standard for power or action ratings 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

MLs are somewhat subjective in power and action depending on the brand.  The majority are good for anything with lighter wire open hooks or treble hooked baits.  There are some companies that make a ML that is has enough power with PE line that have enough power in the mid section to set a the hook on a t rigged bait, but that seems to be an exception to the rule nowadays.  The older SC ML F/XF were incredibly versatile, but they went with softer tip and mid section blanks recently. 

[new2BC4bass]

Power, not Action.  Two different things.  Yes, we all understand what was meant.  Guess I'm a little OCD about some things.  However, I'm not adverse to rod/reel colors not matching. 

 

[LCG]

A medium light spinning rod can be very versatile. I have a 6'8" ML-F spinning rod that has the cross wrap reenforcement that adds a bit of strength to the blank. The light tip is great for finesse techniques and generally 10lb braid to 6-8lb leader, with light drag. Ned rigs, drop shot, wacky rigged senkos, texposed weightless trickworms, inline spinners, small crank baits.

 

This is not a set up I use when fishing cover / vegetation, if the hook is thicker and/or buried in the plastic. That's a different tool. Sometimes a screwdriver is needed, other times a hammer is needed.

 

That's when I like my 6'10" MH-R (moderate fast) with 50lb braid and sometimes a leader, sometimes straight braid. The action loads into the rod more, which does help with shock absorption and keeping the fish pinned when using braid. Plenty of power for most situations. Texas rigs, jigs, chatterbaits around grass, swimbait, weightless senkos, etc.

 

I have another similar set up with a slower speed reel and copolymer line for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc in less cover areas. The rod is labeled as a fast, but it's really moderate fast. Some stretch in the line combined with the rod action, makes for a great moving bait reaction set up, but can also work for plastics.

 

I the end though, it's all opinion based, which changes over time and everyone is different. YMMV

[T-Billy]

18 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I have 2 BFS rods that are ML-F. I use one for Ned rigs and the other for Strolling. Both with 7 lb Sniper fluorocarbon. 

I have 1 ML and 1 L Phenix Feather that I bought for neds based on your recommendation. I've been very happy with both. Plenty of rod for bass in open water. Heck, I've landed big carp, cats, and muskie up to 38" on 'em.

 I use a #2 hook on my ned heads and even the L sticks fish with ease, and due to the fact that they load deep into the blank with light line they do a great job of keeping fish pinned. Especially important for those acrobatic brown bass. 

OP your MH/MF is indeed a versatile rod. It'll work for jigs, Trigs and such, but it's better suited to moving baits. Cranks, swim jigs, chatterbaits and such.

[bulldog1935]

I fish BFS from limestone creek to surf.  

If I'm fishing from a boat, I may be acting captain or guide, but it's someone else's boat. 

I fish kayaks, some limited reservoir fishing, where I go to wide-range MM baitfinesse in a flexible-use rod.  

In river kayak and coast kayak, I have limited MH niches, but progressive ML is bread-and butter.  

The math for me goes back to weightless Ambassadeur in the early 80s.  

If you get past spinning tackle for light-long cast, and can make the useful cast distance on BFS, the latter is always superior.  (set-up right, BFS will outdistance spinning) 

The math - with baitcast tackle, you're in constant tension-contact with your falling bait, while spinning tackle requires line coils to straighten before you can get to where you start with baitcast.  

I do have 2 spinning tackle preferences - tandem jigs and complex float rigs.  

[PaulVE64]

23 hours ago, snowplow said:

Hey guys, there are a fuel rod weights and actions that I'm not sure what to do with. 

 

....ML/F or XF just never really used them. Are they generally too light for bass fishing or do you guys like them?

Not sure if serious.

Google 'Smallmouth' and report back

 

[MN Fisher]

36 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

Not sure if serious.

Google 'Smallmouth' and report back

 

Or finesse in general - rare is the Smallie in Tonka...so my ML gets used on largemouth almost exclusively.

[PaulVE64]

I have a few ponds that have  produced 4# largemouth but its rage and the ownership of the property has change at most.

[MickD]

Unless you have objective measurements of power and action, all this talk is mostly conjecture based on flawed descriptions.  CCS numbers give actual, objective , power and action numbers.  ERN is what is used for power, Effective Rod Number.  It's sort of like the line weight numbers for fly rods.  I have a rod which was described by one of the most popular blank makers in the US, marketed by a legendary rod designer, that is called "medium" power , and its ERN is less than 15.  I have a rod which is described by another highly respected blank maker, who by the way gives CCS numbers, described as "medium light" power, and its ERN is 20.  I have another rod described by one of the most respected rod companies in the US as "medium" power, and its ERN is 16.9.  

 

IMHO the less than 15 is a little underpowered for bass, the 16.9 is just fine, as is the 20.

[FrnkNsteen]

1. MH-MF... I don't use mine for bottom contact like the worm rig you described. I use Medium Fast or Medium Heavy Fast for those, depending on the cover. I use my MH-MF mostly for single hook moving baits like Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, or Swimjigs. Occasionally for the bigger 110 and 130 whopper ploppers.

 

People can say what they want about whether they work well, or if it's possible to set the hook too quick. All I know is I have lost less fish and got better hook-ups since switching to a slower, more moderate rod for those techniques.

 

2. ML rods,... I like lighter spinning rigs, so everything I have for spinning rigs is ML or M. I don't own a single MH. If I need a MH for something, I use my baitcasters. I will say most of my fishing is either canadian glacial lakes with mostly rock, or Indiana flood control reservoirs, so not a lot of heavy vegetation in either.

 

I've caught some awful nice smallies ranging up to 5-6lbs with a wacky rigged senko on a ML spinning rigs, and haven't ever lost enough to see a need to switch.