Hi, I’ve had one fishing setup for nearly 10 years. A 6’3 Abu Garcia vendetta medium rod with a pflueger president 30 spinning reel.

 

I'm finally taking the plunge into baitcasters after getting an amazing deal on a pflueger patriarch 79.  I’ve been looking at rods and have decided on a 6’8 Dobyns Sierra. 

 

I originally thought of getting a medium heavy, but am now questioning if I should get a medium.

 

I usually fish shores for bass and on the rare occasion pike.

 

I appreciate any help. Thanks in advance! 

I use the medium heavy rods just in case I luck out and hook a big one.

 

You can catch all sizes of fish on a medium heavy rod from dinks to large catfish and other game fish.

 

You can also use your medium heavy rod for a lot of techniques from pitching and flipping to frogs.

 

Just a suggestion to go with my usual reply: Match the rod's line test and bait weight with your favorite fishing techniques and what the rod's parameters are for line test. Add the high and low line test limits for the rod and divide by two. You now have the perfect line test strength.

 

And take your reel to a tackle shop and put it on some rods to see how the set ups feel and handles.

 

Let us know what you decide to do.

4 hours ago, Financier said:

 

I originally thought of getting a medium heavy, but am now questioning if I should get a medium.

  Been there, done that. Learned my lesson. I fish from shore, too, and I can tell you that Sam is right.  jj

Without knowing what baits you are using it is hard to say. You will be okay with with a M/H for most of them. If you are throwing crankbaits you would be better off with a medium action.

Medium heavy rods are the Swiss army knife of freshwater fishing.

1 hour ago, Koz said:

Medium heavy rods are the Swiss army knife of freshwater fishing.

Very true? if I had to pick just one baitcaster for largemouth a MH/Fast would be it.

I like using a medium. It’s easy to fish all day and I have control. But once you said bank fishing then I have to say MH. It casts farther than a medium, has more power and cast still give u the sensitivity you need. It’s a good rod for just about anything. You gotta pull fish through the nasty slop around you so MH would be best. If you are looking at another after the MH then that’s where I’d would start doing technique specific gear. Like a rod specifically for top water or plastics and something. Start with one overall one and branch out as time goes. Hope this helps.

Medium and medium heavy are powers not actions.

Holy Moly!!!!!!!!!!  Pflueger has them for $80....a $200 reel.  You should grab 3 or 4 while you can.  The Supreme XT for $60 ($150 list) and the Patriarch XT for $100 ($250 list).  Free shipping over $50.  Wow.  And I finally gave in and bought the Supreme XT for $120 a little over a month ago. 

 

Well....I had to do it.  The Bait Monkey had me in a headlock.  Ordered another Supreme XT and a Patriarch.  I already have 3 of the older blue Patriarch XTs.

Dude it totally depends on what lures you are throwing with it.  Having said that, if it is a Dobyns go med-heavy