Hi everyone. I'm struggling with hook sets with my current setup... Okuma sst 7ft medium light power, moderate action with a Shimano Nasci 2500 spooled with 15lb braid and 7lb flouro leader.

 

I throw primarily smaller zman baits (T-rigged, dropshot, neko) using the following hooks... Vmc #1 ike neko, owner cover shot 1/0, zman ewg bulletz, owner 2/0 light wire twistlock swimbait hooks, zman shrooms. I'll also on occasion throw a booyah pond magic spinnerbait, a strike king finesse buzzbait or finesse popper.

 

I'm a bank fisherman and I need to have a 2pc (or travel) rod so it'll fit in my car. I'm more partial to split handles, but it's not required.

 

I've been looking at the following and I'm open to advice/suggestions...

 

- St Croix Triumph 7' med light fast

- Fenwick HMX 6'6 Med light moderate fast

 

Budget is $150

 

Thanks in advance.

https://www.recreationid.com/daiwa/ardito-tr-multi-piece-travel-7-6-medium-light-3-piece-spinning-rod-mpn-ardt763mlxs-tr.html

   My advice is to go to a medium power/fast-or-moderate-fast action rod. Hookset takes power, and a lot of the less expensive ML rods in spinning don't have it.     

   Good luck!       jj

Even though there's something "unholy" pairing Shimano to Daiwa this is what I would take a real good look at: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-DAIWAROD.html?from=basres

You'll love the st croix 7' ml for light plastics. My first "real" rod purchase was a st croix premier 2pc 7' med-light about 25 years ago and that thing seen many places and caught many fish over it's 15 years of service (it's now retired). The st croix ml is a touch stouter than a lot of manufacturers med-light actions, a ml+ if you will, and very versatile... shakey head, split-shot, drop-shot, weightless, wacky,  jerkbaits, small cranks, live bait, pan-fishing. If I could make only one recommendation for that rod it would be to drop the 15 and go to 10lb braid. I think you'll have to go up to the premier series to get a split handle though, they run about $160.00

23 hours ago, Can't Catch Bass said:

St Croix Triumph 7' med light fast

- Fenwick HMX 6'6 Med light moderate fast

I have a Fenwick HMX66M-FS-2 M/F and I really like that rod. Great for Senko WR and weightless TR Zoom Tricks and similar baits. Mine has a Daiwa Revros LT2500 spooled with 20 lb Sufix 832 and a 6 lb mono leader. 

 

I really like that rod! 

get a CARBON graphite ugly stick, i am not joking and you will be surprised. Dont be shy, join us uglies.