Is a 6ft6 medim action bait cast rod a good rod for smallies

I would be more concerned if the rod is suitable for the technique you are trying to employ. I'd say 3/8 oz jigs, t rigs, etc is about as heavy as you want to go as far as bottom contact baits. A medium power rod will usually throw 1/2 oz top waters and other treble hook baits pretty good, but that's probably as heavy as you would want to go there as well.

All in all, go by the lure weight rating for your rod, but be advised that not all rods are true to their ratings, and not all techniques are necessarily suitable within the ratings either. Just because my rod has a lure weight rating of 3/8-1oz doesn't mean it is suitable for fishing 3/4 oz football jigs in 30 ft of water.

For example a *** *** 6'7" M with a fast tip is rated for 1/4 to 5/8 and 10-17# line. I could successfully fish 75% of my LM or SM baits with this rod.

Thx for the advice guys

I would be more concerned if the rod is suitable for the technique you are trying to employ. I'd say 3/8 oz jigs, t rigs, etc is about as heavy as you want to go as far as bottom contact baits. A medium power rod will usually throw 1/2 oz top waters and other treble hook baits pretty good, but that's probably as heavy as you would want to go there as well.

All in all, go by the lure weight rating for your rod, but be advised that not all rods are true to their ratings, and not all techniques are necessarily suitable within the ratings either. Just because my rod has a lure weight rating of 3/8-1oz doesn't mean it is suitable for fishing 3/4 oz football jigs in 30 ft of water.

enough said above.  But If you had just one rod I would go with MH.  If two rods M and MH if 3 M,MH,H ......

USUALLY smallmouth fishing is done with smaller lures, so a 6'6M might be a very good choice! Smaller lipless cranks, plastics, spinners , compact jigs, senkos.. all of those can be thrown on a 6'6 M. 

 

I typically suggest a 7'MHF for a good all-around rod for largemouth, but the 6'6M could be a great rod for smallies. A lot of the techniques used for largemouth transition over to smallies though. I've caught smallies with a 7'H rod and a 3/4oz jig, and I've had to downsize to an UL and a small 3" fluke at times.