New Medium Heavy Slam Stick Overview (Power Without The Weight)
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Tackle & Gear, Rods
Finding the right inshore rod for bigger fish usually means making a tradeoff.
You either get a rod with enough backbone… but it feels heavy after a long day of casting.
Or you get something lightweight… but without the power needed for bigger fish around structure.
That’s exactly why the new Medium Heavy Slam Stick was built.
In this video, I’ll break down what makes this rod different, who it’s designed for, and why it’s a great option for anglers targeting bigger inshore fish around docks, passes, inlets, and heavy structure.
Watch the full breakdown below.
Featured Gear
- Rod: Medium Heavy Slam Stick
- Reel: Daiwa BG MQ 3000
- Lure: Skinny Lipper XL
What Makes The Medium Heavy Slam Stick Different?
The biggest difference with this rod is the balance between power and weight.
Most medium heavy rods start feeling bulky after hours of casting heavier lures around structure.
But this Slam Stick was designed to stay lightweight while still having the backbone needed to stop strong fish quickly.
Rod Specs:
- Length: 7’6” length
- Weight: Only 5.6 ounces
- Line Rating: 15 lbs – 25 lbs
- Lure Rating: 0.5 oz – 1.25 oz
- Action: Fast
That combination makes it ideal for anglers who need extra lifting power without sacrificing comfort or casting performance.
What Fish Is The Medium Heavy Slam Stick Designed For?
This rod was specifically built for:
- Overslot snook
- Big redfish
- Medium-sized tarpon
It’s also designed for:
- Dock fishing
- Pass fishing
- Inlet fishing
- Heavier jig fishing
- Larger plugs like the Skinny Lipper XL
The fast action tip helps with casting accuracy, lure control and feeling strikes. While the sturdy backbone gives the power needed to handle big redfish and snook in high current or structure zones.
Why Does The Medium Heavy Slam Stick Cast So Well?
One major detail is the guide placement.
The guides are positioned so the line naturally shoots straight through the rod during a cast, helping improve casting distance and efficiency.
Combined with the lightweight build, it gives the rod a very responsive feel while still maintaining plenty of power.
The end result feels much closer to a premium custom rod setup than most anglers expect.
What Reels Pair Best With The Medium Heavy Slam Stick?
This rod was designed for 3000-size spinning reels, and it pairs nicely with 4000-size reels too.
Our Favorite Pairings:
- Great: Daiwa BG MQ 3000/4000
- Premium: Saltist MQ 3000/4000
That setup gives anglers a balanced combination of:
- Lightweight feel
- Casting distance
- Power around structure
- Versatility for bigger inshore species
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been looking for a rod that can handle bigger fish around structure without feeling heavy and oversized all day… this new Medium Heavy Slam Stick fills that role extremely well.
It keeps the lightweight feel the Slam Stick series is known for while adding the extra power needed for larger fish, heavier lures, and stronger current situations.
And for Insider Club members, there’s additional savings available when logged into Fish Strong!
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
great
I am excited to expand my rod options now!
Made a comment on the slam stick you need to have some baitcasting rods this spinning rod is great but I don’t use spinning rods Help us out guys
For baitcasting rods, we offer the TFO Pro which is a very good rod at a great price. And as a member, you get 20% discount making it an even better deal. Have you tried it out yet? https://fishstrong.com/collections/rods-1/products/tfo-pro-c-professional-casting-rods
Note: As for being a baitcasting only angler, I highly suggest having at least 1 good spinning setup. I made the mistake of being baitcast only for over 10 years because I thought that spinning gear was only for people who didn’t know how to throw baitcasters. That all ended quickly once I went fishing with a friend who was a good angler and had spinning gear… he completely embarrassed me by catching both more fish and bigger fish since he was able to throw lighter lures much farther than I could, and the fish were dialed into the smaller offerings. Once I finally gave a good spinning setup a shot, I was shocked at how well it performed… to the point where I was quickky using it more than any of my baitcasters.
For your first spinning setup, I recommend going with the medium powered Slot Machine (which is made in TX) paired with a lightweight 2500 reel and 8 lb braid. It’ll be able to deliver smaller soft plastics farther than any baitcaster, and it’s powerful enough to handle any sized trout while also being able to handle overslot reds when fishing in open flats.
Why don’t you have bait caster rods just why
Thanks for the upgrade, can’t wait to put this rod to work.
We look forward to seeing what you catch with it.
Would this work for casting in the surf? Looking for a heavier rod that can handle those larger spoons and get out past the second troughs.
Yes, this rod will be good at launching spoons out into the surf.
I’ll be getting a few
The medium slam stick is my favorite rod. Can’t wait to try a medium heavy!
We look forward to seeing what you catch with it.
What line weight are you using on it if you don’t mind me asking.
I am most often using 20 lb braid with this rod. But I’ll be bumping up to 30 for an upcoming trip where I may bump into some nice sized tarpon.
Great addition!
Thanks Larry!