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@The Fisher Thanks for the response. I'm hoping to have the option of effectively using lures as light as 1/8 oz on occasion, but I'm still targeting those 2+ lb smallmouths. Oh well, thanks again for your insight.

@stratoliner92 Thanks for the feedback on the 7' M and 6'10" ML Ike rods. It sounds like I may need to consider ML rods. I've been focusing on M action rods because I'll be using it almost exclusively wading and have been thinking I'd need the additional backbone to horse reluctant smallies out of grass, away from laydowns, and against current.

@waymont Sorry, not trying to be obtuse, but I'd like to confirm you're referring to the M/F Tatula Bass rod I originally referenced that's rated for 1/8 - 3/4 oz lures (TTU701MFS), correct? Thanks again for all of your insight. EDIT: Nevermind, I just re-read your comment, it's clear you were referring to the M/F Tatula Bass rod I originally referenced. Thanks again... @Junger Thank you, that's an excellent example/explanation of action/power/tip stiffness. Thanks again for your help.

@The Fisher Thank you for the response. Do you have a TAEL701MLFS? If so, have you had the opportunity to pull in 3+ lb bass with it? Most of the smallmouth in the creeks and small rivers I'd be fishing with this rod are in the 1 - 2 lb range, but 2 - 3 lb isn't rare, and 3 - 4 lb bass wind up on the other end occasionally. So I'm wondering whether that ML rod has given you any problems with hook sets or horsing 3+ lb bass out of grass or away from laydowns.

@Junger Thank you for the recommendations. At least on paper, the TAEL701MMHFS seems ideal. I originally was looking at 7' M/F 1/16 - 1/2 oz rated rods with 6 - 12 or 6 - 14 lb line guidelines, particularly the Abu Garcia Ike Signature Finesse 7" M/F (rated for 1/16 - 1/2 oz), but I can get the Tatula Bass rod I referenced for $109 so I kinda was trying to make that fit my needs. I feel foolish for overlooking the TAEL701MMHFS. I glanced at the Tatula Elite rods on the Daiwa website, but I assumed the rods not included in the "Spinning" section were baitcasting rods. I clearly should have paid more attention to the model numbers (and those rods with an "S" that aren't listed in the spinning section). Finally, and please understand I'm fully in touch with the fact medium light/medium/medium heavy/etc. mean different things to different manufacturers, and even different things within a single manufacturer's various model lines, but I may have a mental block regarding a M/MH rod efficiently handling 1/16 oz lures. I take it, based on your experience with the TAEL701MMHXB-AGS, I shouldn't put much stock in the M/MH power designation in the Tatula Elite line when it comes to lure weights. My guess is the Tatula Elite tips are soft enough (and/or the action is a little closer to fast/moderate fast) to facilitate casting the lighter lures even when the backbone is M/MH, correct? Thanks again.

@Junger Thank you for your insight. Your experience meshes closely with what I've read about the current Tatula Bass tips, that they're more similar to current Tatula Elite tips than original Tatula Bass tips. @waymont Thank you for sharing your experience. Although I've heard/read nothing but great things about current generation Tatula Bass spinning rods, it seems like I may need to continue my search. I would be using it for creek smallmouth (also with a Tatula LT shallow spool) and many of the more experienced creek smallmouth aficionados around here swear by 1/8 oz inline spinners and Tiny Traps.

Thank you very much for your insight. Just to confirm, you're referring to the current generation, with the cork split grips, correct? I'd like to confirm because I read the previous generation had very stiff tips but that had changed with the current generation. Additionally, the current generation spinning line doesn't have a heavy power rod.

Longtime lurker here. First of all, I want to say thanks to everyone who spends time answering questions on these forums and authoring articles on this site. There are some incredibly helpful (and knowledgeable) folks around here. I'm hoping someone can share some insight on how well a current generation Tatula Bass Spinning Rod 7' M/F (TTU701MFS) casts on the low end of it's recommended lure range. It's rated for 1/8 - 3/4 oz and I'm hoping someone has experience throwing true 1/8 oz (or lighter) lures. I've read reviews, watched several "review" videos, and found multiple comments on these forums regarding sensitivity, weight, balance, etc. Unfortunately, I've had absolutely no success tracking down actual user experience regarding their ability to handle light lures. Thanks in advance.