Is Medium Light (Ml) Too Light To Throw Spinnerbaits And Senkos?

[GOOCHY]

What's your opinion? Just getting back into bass fishing this year and accidentally bought a ML rod that is being shipped right now. Wondering if I'm going to have to return it for a MH.

[ww2farmer]

Depends on who made the rod, a St Croix ML is little over powered, while a Kistler or BPS ML are pretty whimpy, and Fenwicks and Berkleys are some where inbetween. Those are the brands I have owned ML powered rods in, so thats my .02

All of mine have been spinning rods, never owned a ML casting rod, I have tossed plenty of 3" and 4" weightless or wacky jig senkos on them. As well as small 1/8oz spinner baits and in line spinners, small cranks, etc.....I wouldn't use one for burning a 3/8 oz bait over grass, or anything like that.

[Packard]

What size spinnerbaits and are you adding weight to your senkos? Is it a spinning rod? If it is a spinning rod and you are throwing small 1/4 - 3/8 oz. spinners and weightless t-rigged or wacky rigged senkos then it will be perfect.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

What is your rod's lure rating? My ML Avid St Croix works great with wacky rigged senkos and I fling 3/8 SK Rocket Shads and 3/8 Secret Wepon SB, mine rated to 5/16 but the 3/8 works fine. Wouldnt go heavier.

[BASSclary]

I would just return it for the MH. in my opinion. Just because you accidently bought it doesn't mean you have to make it work.

[smalljaw67]

A lot depends on the size spinnerbaits and senkos you're throwing, if you find the you are using 3" and 4" Senos most of the time and 1/4oz spinnerbaits and the occasional 3/8oz you may be ok but if you are throwing 5" and 38 and 1/2oz spinnerbaits I'd say return it. Another thing to consider is the fish you're after, I remember watching guys fishing in current using some type of light rod and catching big smallies and one guy was fighting his fish for 20 minutes, an hour later I see theis beautiful 4lb smallies floating down the river, and right away I thought about making sure you have the right tackle for what you are going after. In warm water fighting a fish more than a few minutes is fatal for the fish most of the time. I like to fight the fish too but I also want to get him to the boat before the fish is totally spent.

[Georgia Jeff]

ML makes a good crankbait rod. I prefer medium for weightless senkos and MH for spinnerbaits.

[Phranchise1213]

Its hard to say, I throw my spinnerbaits that are a 1/4 ounce and up on a mh casting rod with a moderate action. I find that the moderate action helps delay my reaction just a bit so the fish can take the spinnerbait a little deeper...same concept as with crankbaits. The medium heavy action though lets me fish timber and grass with confidence. This is where a spinnerbait was meant to be thrown, and a ml rod will not fit the bill no matter what manufacturer. For weightless senkos though, medium light should work just fine!

[Red]

X2 on the cranking rod, I use lamiglas ML for all my cranking and jerkbaits.

[GOOCHY]

http://www.histackle...-phx-c683ml.htm

It's the Phenix Recon 6'8" ML baitcasting rod and I'd be throwing probably 4" Senkos weightless wacky and, say, 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits - mostly. I'm starting to wonder if I should've just gotten the 7'1" MH.

[smalljaw67]

http://www.histackle...-phx-c683ml.htm

It's the Phenix Recon 6'8" ML baitcasting rod and I'd be throwing probably 4" Senkos weightless wacky and, say, 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits - mostly. I'm starting to wonder if I should've just gotten the 7'1" MH.

If you're using 1/2oz spinnerbaits you need a MH, The Recons are very nice rods but the ML is more of a finesse baitcaster, I would say they are close to a medium power spinning rod. I think they are rated to 1/2oz so that is the upper limit, you would be putting a pounding on that rod for whay you are wanting to do.

[Goose52]

http://www.histackle...-phx-c683ml.htm

It's the Phenix Recon 6'8" ML baitcasting rod and I'd be throwing probably 4" Senkos weightless wacky and, say, 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits - mostly. I'm starting to wonder if I should've just gotten the 7'1" MH.

I have the Phenix Recon PHX-C682 6'8" light-power BC rod (one power under yours) and it fishes a little bit stiffer than I was expecting for a light-power. If your Recon ML fishes as a true ML or a bit stiffer, you are probably OK for the 4" stickworms...but it's not going to work well for 1/2oz spinnerbaits (most of which actually weigh closer to 3/4oz). 1/8, 3/16, and maybe 1/4oz spinnerbaits go better with an ML IMO.

An ML is a good tool to have in the arsenal but if you were looking for a more general purpose rod, an M or MH might be better.