Finesse Spinning Rod: ML or Medium?

[gotarheelz14]

Hey all,

I've really been looking into getting a Daiwa Fuego Spinning rod for my Drop Shot, Shakey head, wacky senko, senko, Splitshot rig, etc.

They have:

1.) 6'9 Med Lt that handles 1/16 up to 3/8

2.) 6'10 Med that handles 3/16 up to 1/2

For those things that I described, finesse techniques, what would be the best bet?

I am leaning towards the med lt because I think that since I will be throwing mostly finesse stuff, I won't ever really need to go much above 1/2. The closest I would come to 1/2 would be with a 3/8 drop shot weight with the bait and hook making up the rest of that 1/8.

Am I right in my thinking or am I just going to be underwhelmed as far as power goes?

Thanks guys,

Carlos

[Stasher1]

It depends on which presentation you plan on using the most. Imho, the typical drop shot rod is less than ideal for wacky-rigged Senkos or shaky heads.

[J. M. Richardson]

I throw soft plastics the majority of the time and use a medium action rod for senkos and just about every other kind of "finesse" technique you can think of. I don't drop shot much, but a good quality medium rod has always been plenty sensitive enough for me. Pair it with some 8 or 10 lb flourocarbon line and you will be set. I have pulled bass out of thick lilypads on medium action rods, but I think a medium light rod would not quite be stiff enough for fighting larger bass (and the occasional nasty northern pike if you are in my part of the country).

Just my 2 cents though, it really is up to you.

[SeanW]

Im not familiar with Diawa's ratings. I use 2 rods for all those techniques and both are 702 spinning rods. One is a Dobyns, the other is a Powell. The new rod I ordered and Im waiting on is the Abu Garcia Veritas in the 6'9ML. But its very close to the other 2 rods action wise. I always throw my senko's on bait casting rods in a MH rating.

[ww2farmer]

I will have to repeat what another poster said. I wouldn't drop shot with the same rod as I fish wacky rigs with either.

I have never owned or handled any Daiwa spinning rods so I can't comment on those rods beyond that.

[Jig Man]

I think if you get the ML you will find that it is not a versatile as a M would be.  I have tried from ML to MH for those applications and have gotten rid of all but the M rods. 

And like stated the drop shot is where I think you would use the ML most.  I drop shot with the same rod that I use for small grubs.

[bigfruits]

It depends on which presentation you plan on using the most. Imho, the typical drop shot rod is less than ideal for wacky-rigged Senkos or shaky heads.

x2

i use a 6'9" ml/xf (soft tip) for drop shot, 6'8" m/xf for wacky/shakey head rigs. if i had to choose one rod to do all the above, id go with the Med/extra fast.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'd consider the rest of my arsenal and decide which new rig would best compliment what I have. A Med spinning rig is sufficient for lures<1/2 oz. If you want to be more technique specific, the ML will handle the lighter stuff better. 

[Raul]

It really depends a lot on lure size/weight that you plan to fish, you mention senkos, I 'll ask, how big senkos ? 3 inch, well definately a ML will not only handle 3 inch senkos better but the bait will have a nicer action with a lighter rod, 4/5" senkos, man you can fish those with practically any rod.

You say shakey head, here we go again, how heavy shakey head ? and so on.

One thing is for certain, lighter baits do better with a ML rod, however a ML rod has more limitations than a M rod.

[SoCalRob]

The Med. action rod will be the most versatile for all the techniques you mentioned.

But it certainly wouldn't be the ideal rod for each technique. I certainly would not throw a senko on a ML action rod...It comes down to if you can afford to buy both rods or one. If only one, I'd go with the M.

[Bluebasser86]

It depends on which presentation you plan on using the most. Imho, the typical drop shot rod is less than ideal for wacky-rigged Senkos or shaky heads.

X3

My dropshot rod does not have the backbone that I'm looking for when fishing a shakeyhead because of the hookset you need to penetrate the fishes lip. Most of my wacky rigging is around docks/grass and I wouldn't be able to pull a big fish away from the dock very well with my dropshot rod.

[Stasher1]

i use a 6'9" ml/xf (soft tip) for drop shot, 6'8" m/xf for wacky/shakey head rigs. if i had to choose one rod to do all the above, id go with the Med/extra fast.

This ^

I'd be comfortable using my 6'8" M/XF spinning rig for everything except cranks. It's not ideal for drop-shot, but it would handle it way better than my 6'9" ML/XF handles wacky-rigged Senkos.

[steezy]

Daiwa Steez ComplieX Spinning Rod

6'8" ML

Best you will EVER use.

Even Sweeter with a Steez Spinning Reel

[RandySBreth]

It also depends on what line you will spool on that rig. If you use superline or the superline/leader set up, ML might be just fine as far as power goes, but if you're using fluoro or mono you'll find the M better suited for all around use.

I'll echo what has been said by several people already - drop shot and shaky head are techniques that I use two different rods for. I use a lot of small (1/8th - 3/16th) finesse jigs and shaky heads, and I use a fast action M rod for that, and drop shot I use a softer tipped ML.

[I.rar]

i use a 6'6 light/fast clarus with 20/6 braid for most of my finesse fishing (well most of my fishing in general , this rig is a blast to catch fish on). i throw 1/16-3/16 shakey heads , weightless trigged plastics like 4" cut tails , finesse worms , 3" and 4" senkos etc and have no problem setting hooks at the end of a long cast. i also have little issues pulling 3+# peacocks from under sunken docks. while im sure a little more back bone would help , i dont have any issue with what ive been doing. anything above 1/4oz moves to the medium power rods.

[plymouthrockbass]

im getting a new combo for weightless texas rigs and senkos, I was planning on getting a new stradic 2500 with a St Croix Avid 6-8mxf rod. But for a little more money i could get a 2500ci4 with a 6-8mf Cumara. the only reason im leaning towards the st. croix and regular stradic is because i like the look of the older school rod and real as opposed to the new sleek black look. but the weight difference is a lot and if it might make that much of a difference in the number of fish i catch than i could get used to the "newer" look rod and reel. This isnt my money either its insurance money because all my gear got blown up from lightning last summer so as long as its no more than 220 for each im good.

[Quarry Man]

ml for dropshots and open hook / light wire lures

 

m for setting the hook harder like bigger hooks and wacky shaky stuff

 

m for overall or if you could only get one rod 

 

 

[ib_of_the_damned]

Not a Daiwa, but I would suggest the Dobyn's Fury 703SF. It's a 7 foot Medium/Fast rod that would cover all your bases. For Drop Shot, I use an Abu Garcia Villain 2.0 7' MLXF.