I was using a 1/4 swimjig (with a trailer: pumpkin colored Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw) w/Shimano Expride ML rod this morning, and I missed a good number of my hooksets. Still, I landed 'bout three two pounders along the way. Anyway, should I have used a M rod instead? My ML rod has a decent amount of backbone, and its recommended lure weight is 1/8-7/16 oz so my bait is definitely within the range. What say you? 

Medium will deliver a firmer hook set.

 

Out of curiosity what action is your ML expride. 

1 minute ago, Heartland said:

Out of curiosity what action is your ML expride. 

FAST

1 minute ago, Eddie101 said:

FAST

Thanks, I should have thought to ask this the first time but what type and test of line are you using?

5 minutes ago, Heartland said:

Thanks, I should have thought to ask this the first time but what type and test of line are you using?

15 lb Power Pro braid with an 8 lb Sufix mono leader.

1/8 rod tip, yes you gonna have a hard time setting thick wire hook (jig hook) plus weed guard into the roof top of fish mouth. 1/4oz swimjig plus trailer should weight close to 3/8oz, you can get even away with MH rod and still get a good distance. I even have problem with just 1/8 stand up jig with such a soft tip rod.

Couple of thoughts, be sure your hooks are sharp, I know it goes without saying.     In you original post you gave some information about the rod having a  recommended lure weight of  1/8-7/16 oz   and that you were throwing a 1/4 oz or 4/16th oz swim jig with a speed craw trailer.  I don't know what a speed craw weights off the top of my head but I would guess that it is at least another 1/4 oz or another 4/16th of an ounce and combined put you over the recommmended lure weight or at any rate on the high side of it.      I personally would try removing the mono leader and see if it helps.  If not I agree with R.W. and you may need to step up a power in rods.

 

does the rod feel overloaded with the jig and trailer?

9 minutes ago, Heartland said:

 I personally would try removing the mono leader and see if it helps.  

I never thought of that!

9 minutes ago, Heartland said:

10 minutes ago, Heartland said:

 

 

does the rod feel overloaded with the jig and trailer?

 

No, not at all. 

Just a guess here, but I'd say "Yes" you are using the wrong rod.  What size hook are you using?  Is it a superline hook?  My guess is you don't have the power needed even with braid.  Swing for the fences. 

2 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

A "1/4 oz" swim jig weighs considerably more than 1/4 oz with the wait of the hook, gaurd, skirt and soft plastic trailer.  I'd wager it weighs in excess of a 1/2 oz. 3/4 oz wouldn't surprise me at all.  

The Siebert 3/8 oz. Grassn Swim Jig I weighed was .53 oz. without a trailer.  If I felt any kind of ambition, I could weigh a couple bare 1/4 oz. jigs (meaning no trailer).  Too bad I don't. 

 

I think the bigger issue even apart from lure weight is the thickness of the jig's hook along with stiffness of weedguard. A lot of jigs have thick wire hooks, certainly much thicker than the Ned rig heads and other baits I typically throw with my ML spinning rod. Driving that stiff wire hook home through a bass's jaw is alone probably going to be a challenge for a ML rod, but then add in the stiff bristle weedguard that most jigs have. That's a lot of stuff you have to get through to get the hook home. I would lean toward at least a MH for any jig fishing unless the jig was specifically a finesse, light wire hook jig.