When to Use a Medium-Light Rod (And When NOT To!)
- By: Pat Ogletree
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Tackle & Gear
Most medium-light rods are great for casting smaller lures, but they often lack the backbone you need when it comes time to set the hook or fight a bigger fish.
But not all medium-light rods are created equal!
In this video, I’ll break down when a medium-light rod gives you an advantage, which lures you should (and shouldn’t) throw on one, and why I’ll actually use our Medium-Light Slam Stick for certain weedless setups that I wouldn’t dare throw on my other medium-light rods.
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Featured Gear
- Rod: Slam Stick Medium Light
- Lure 1: Flea Flicker
- Lure 2: 2.0 Paddletail
- Lure 3: Prawn Jr.
When SHOULD You Use a Medium-Light Rod?
If you’re targeting speckled trout, throwing smaller artificial lures, or doing a lot of finesse fishing, a medium-light rod can be a great choice.
The biggest advantage is the softer tip.
When you’re throwing lightweight lures, that softer tip helps load the rod during your cast, giving you better casting distance and accuracy.
Some of my favorite applications include:
- Speckled trout: Especially when using smaller paddletails and other lightweight artificials.
- Finesse fishing: Ned rigs, Flea Flickers, and other smaller presentations.
- Small shrimp imitations: Lightweight shrimp lures like the Prawn XT Jr.
- Sight casting: Making accurate casts to slot-sized redfish with smaller artificial lures.
You can certainly catch fish with these presentations on a medium-power rod, but you might sacrifice some casting distance.
And when you’re trying to reach spooky fish with a small lure, that extra distance can make a difference!
Why Backbone Matters (Even With a Medium-Light Rod)
Here’s the biggest issue I’ve had with medium-light rods over the years.
They’re usually great at casting small lures, but many lack the backbone needed for bigger fish and solid hooksets.
That was something we wanted to address when designing the Medium-Light Slam Stick.
We wanted the softer tip for those lightweight presentations, but enough backbone to handle fish like upper-slot redfish.
And there’s another benefit to having that extra power.
You can get away with some smaller weedless presentations!
I typically avoid weedless lures with medium-light rods because they don’t have enough backbone to drive the hook home.
But with our Medium-Light Slam Stick, I’ll throw smaller weedless lures like the 3.5-inch Slam Shady 2.0 and Prawn XT Jr.
It’s one of the few medium-light rods I’ll personally use for those applications.
We also paid close attention to the guide system, including guide spacing, height, and how the line comes off the reel.
All of that helps improve casting distance without sacrificing accuracy.
And when you’re fishing small lures, those little details matter.
When Should You NOT Use a Medium-Light Rod?
As much as I like fishing with a medium-light, there are definitely times when I’ll pick up something with more power.
Larger Weedless Lures
If you’re throwing bigger 4-inch or 5-inch weedless paddletails, I’d recommend stepping up to a medium or medium-heavy rod.
You need enough backbone to drive that hook through the lure and into the fish.
A medium-light generally isn’t going to be my first choice for those applications.
Live Bait Fishing with BIG baits
I also wouldn’t recommend a medium-light as your primary live bait rod.
With bigger live baits, you never really know what size fish might eat.
And if something big grabs your bait, you’ll appreciate having a rod with more backbone.
For these situations, I’d stick with a medium or medium-heavy.
Bottom line: Medium-light rods are excellent for smaller artificial lures and finesse presentations. But once you start throwing bigger weedless lures or fishing bigger live baits, stepping up in power usually makes more sense.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a trout angler, enjoy finesse fishing, or regularly sight cast to redfish with smaller lures, a medium-light rod is worth having in your lineup.
The key is finding one that has the right balance of a softer tip and enough backbone for the fish you’re targeting.
That’s exactly what we were going for with the Medium-Light Slam Stick.
And if you’ve been thinking about trying one, our Black Friday sale is currently offering Insiders 50% off and nonmembers 30% off their first or next eligible Slam Stick rod.
CHECK OUT THE SLAM STICK DEALS →
Now I’d love to hear from you!
Do you use a medium-light rod for inshore fishing? And when do you prefer it over a medium-power rod?
Let me know in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a medium-light fishing rod best for?
Medium-light rods are great for smaller artificial lures, finesse presentations, and targeting species like speckled trout. Their softer tips help cast lightweight lures farther and more accurately.
Can you catch redfish with a medium-light rod?
Absolutely! A medium-light rod with sufficient backbone can handle slot-sized redfish and even upper-slot fish. Just make sure your rod matches the lure you’re using and the conditions you’re fishing.
Can you use weedless lures on a medium-light rod?
Yes, but it depends on the rod and the lure. Some medium-light rods, like our Slam Stick, have enough backbone for smaller weedless presentations. For larger 4-inch and 5-inch weedless lures, a medium or medium-heavy rod is usually the better choice.
Is a medium-light or medium rod better for trout fishing?
For smaller lures and finesse presentations, I’d lean toward a medium-light. If you’re throwing larger or heavier lures, a medium rod may be the better option.
Should you use a medium-light rod for live bait?
I’d generally recommend a medium or medium-heavy rod for live bait fishing. The added backbone helps when you hook into a larger fish.
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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).
Own many slotmachine rods and one slam stick. 90% of my fishing is in mangroves. Live bait and lures. What power would you suggest for the slam stick in this situation?
I have the medium light with the Otis 2500. It’s my favorite rod for trout and slot reds, and have caught bull reds without an issue. I just ordered another one with the Otis and will be moving a couple Waterloo rods to spare backup rods if ever needed.
Make a baitcaster in the slam stick been asking for a year or more please
Enjoyed it. I’m not a ML rod user. The minimum I use will forever be a medium. I have moved up from ML’s because I HAVE had to bring in MUCH BIGGER fish and it wasn’t fun. But once the Slam Stick came out, I was all over it AND I’ve purchased 2-3 more Slam Sticks MH’s simply because the rod can handle it and if I snag a smaller fish, I don’t have to worry about it not getting to the boat. I’ve retired ALL my ML’s 3 years ago with Slam Sticks and a couple Slot Machines, they’re all I’ll ever need for the type fishing that do.
Thank you again Pat for the insight
When the Slam Stick first came out I’m in MD and was looking for a 7’6″ ML rod.Perfect timing, I got the combo. This rod is perfect for throwing a perch spinner and a 1/4 oz bucktail with a Zman2.5 pearl curlytail for schooly rockfish. With fishing from shore I switched to a 10lb Diamond micro-braid and gained 20-40 ft casting distance.
Well Pat i remember back about a year or 2 when after you did a post about the different rod actions and what they were used for i told you that I bought a Cajun brand medium action rod with a fast tip and a Shimano nasci 1000 series spinning reel for ultra light fishing well after this past summer because I discovered just how much more effective downsizing my lures for night time dock fishing can be i found that this setup is perfect for throwing those very small lures under docks and that this particular rod action still has the power i need to handle getting big fish away from the pilings so because of the discovery of how well this setup is for dock fishing I bought a second outfit just like it now I have 2 and considering I usually only use 2 lures in my night fishing trips I use 1 for very small paddletails to match the small minnows I see being chased and one for very small shrimp to match the hatch on them both rigged with 10lb power pro braid with a 20lb flourocarbon leader tied with a loop knot very deady combo that has more then enough power needed for big fish night fishing so all I can say is it works for me thanks for your input and info and all you do🤔😉👍
Hey Pat: As always, thanks for the information. I have been an insider member for over a decade and I am always learning something from you guys. I bought the three piece slam stick from you guys with an additional head so I could have two rods. I don’t get to fish nearly enough yet happened to be in Apalachicola last week with the medium light rod. Absolutely ideal for trout due to the sensitivity it provides. But also caught a slot red, a half dozen flounder, and a seven pound sheepshead. The seven pound sheepy took a little more effort but handled it no problem. I love the feeling of the medium light because in the backwater you feel everything. My problem at first was I was setting the hook too hard, as it’s been some time that I was last on the water and therefore lost a few fish. Because I make my own rods, I often fish with a MHX SJ842. It is a fantastic rod and if you don’t have one, I suggest trying one out. I have even landed two black drum, both over 50 lbs with it. That being said I love the slam stick. Other than it being an adjustable rod with great feeling, the ease of traveling with it is second to none. Thanks for all the great info.
Tight lines, Jon Kaplan
Pat, what if you’re in between? Meaning I use a lot of smaller artificials, but with a heavier jig head (1/4, 3/8) because I fish Charleston.
How does this ML compare to TFO pro M?
Pat, why would a 4” or 5” paddle tail (I know the Hook size changes) make such a big difference on hook set? The additional weight would seem nominal to a 3”? I realize the medium action gives more stiffness for hook set and fighting the fish out of structure. Just curious on the reason for not using bigger paddle tails on the medium light slapstick.
Scott
Thanks for the really good advice and information. Here in coastal Mississippi I fish medium light rods a lot. And I fish live bait a lot more than artificial lures. Recently it seems keeper redfish ignore live shrimp and only want a piece of cut crab. I put a medium light Slam Stick in my cart but the $30 shipping charge and sales tax caused me to pause. Salt Strong didn’t use to charge us sales tax. I would love to have one or more.. so I’m still pondering…