I recently got into bass fishing the last two years and have moved into casting setups. I am looking for suggestions on how YOU would use my line up most efficiently (not spending most the day rerigging)

I have a 7’6” MHMF, 7’1MF and 7’3” MHF that I got for Xmas.

FWIW I’ve been mostly using chatterbaits, spinnerbait, whopper ploppers, T rigs and Rat L traps. I would like to start using Crigs, jerkbaits and buzzbaits this year also.

I would use the MHMF for your spinnerbaits and chatterbaits, the MF for the whopper plopper, and the MHF for the lipless and T-rig. If the other baits are introduced, I’d throw the Jerkbait on the MF, C-rig and buzzbait on the MHF. That’s just me.

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

I would use the MHMF for your spinnerbaits and chatterbaits, the MF for the whopper plopper, and the MHF for the lipless and T-rig. If the other baits are introduced, I’d throw the Jerkbait on the MF, C-rig and buzzbait on the MHF. That’s just me.

Would an 8.0:1 be too much reel for the MF set ups?

Could you let us know the model of the rods? What one brand considers mh might be a medium or h in other brands. St Croix is a big perpetrator of this sorta thing.

2 hours ago, HamSlammer said:

Would an 8.0:1 be too much reel for the MF set ups?

In my opinion, the only time a reel can be too fast is when using a bait that is worked by the reel rather than the rod. So my answer is an 8 speed reel would be ideal for these applications.

1 hour ago, TNBankFishing said:

Could you let us know the model of the rods? What one brand considers mh might be a medium or h in other brands. St Croix is a big perpetrator of this sorta thing.

The MHMF and MF are St Croix Black Bass and the MHF is a St Croix Victory

Since they are Croixs I’d rate them at minimum a half power higher than their ratings would suggest.

The 7’6 would be chatter and trap for me. Either mono or flouro. Better distance and action for those types of baits in my experience. Also I’d test the Crig on this.

MF for spinners/topwater/jerkbaits.

MH for the rest.

Are you fishing from the bank? If so I would not suggest using traps or jerks as the chances of snags are higher and the ability to get the baits nearly zill.

34 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

Since they are Croixs I’d rate them at minimum a half power higher than their ratings would suggest.

By a half a power higher, a medium is more like a medium heavy?

I fish from the boat 80% of the time. I will take a MF spinning rod out if I only have an hour or so and throw a whacky or Trig around some edges.

15 hours ago, HamSlammer said:

By a half a power higher, a medium is more like a medium heavy?

I fish from the boat 80% of the time. I will take a MF spinning rod out if I only have an hour or so and throw a whacky or Trig around some edges.

I’d say a medium is really a medium+. I’ll do my best to explain while I’m getting caffeine into my system.

Think about it like this, in the past a medium heavy was usually rated 1/4 to 3/4, not the normal for today 3/8 to 1oz. Medium would be like 1/8 to 1/2. This is why GLoomis one of the legacy brands still use and stick to this rating system. Pick up a 3 power, or medium heavy rod in their line or a Daiwa, Abu, Falcon and you’ll see similarities.

St. Croix has always been heavier. What you’re used to in the medium would feel almost exactly like a 3 power (medium heavy) in Loomis. I own an 843 and had a 893. My medium St Croix Legend Elite medium is nearly the same power as both of them. Once a fish is hooked you can tell it’s a smidge less than a medium heavy but it doesn’t give up much ground.

You’re starting just like I did, with mostly all St Croix, and it will slightly warp power and actions in your mind when you transition to other brands. They will feel a tad weaker for their printed labels. The first time I swapped my MH Croix to a MHF Daiwa MHF I was slightly confused about why they were so different feeling.

My medium St Croix is definitely a 1/4 to 3/4 stick, my old mh legend x was more stout than mh, almost a heavy. I frogged with it.

It’s also important to keep in mind the only exception I’ve found outside the cranking models. Any St. Croix XF action will have a much softer tip section than others of the same power in the same line. A MHXF is going to fish true to its power while a MHF will fish over its power rating.

12 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

I’d say a medium is really a medium+. I’ll do my best to explain while I’m getting caffeine into my system.

Think about it like this, in the past a medium heavy was usually rated 1/4 to 3/4, not the normal for today 3/8 to 1oz. Medium would be like 1/8 to 1/2. This is why GLoomis one of the legacy brands still use and stick to this rating system. Pick up a 3 power, or medium heavy rod in their line or a Daiwa, Abu, Falcon and you’ll see similarities.

St. Croix has always been heavier. What you’re used to in the medium would feel almost exactly like a 3 power (medium heavy) in Loomis. I own an 843 and had a 893. My medium St Croix Legend Elite medium is nearly the same power as both of them. Once a fish is hooked you can tell it’s a smidge less than a medium heavy but it doesn’t give up much ground.

You’re starting just like I did, with mostly all St Croix, and it will slightly warp power and actions in your mind when you transition to other brands. They will feel a tad weaker for their printed labels. The first time I swapped my MH Croix to a MHF Daiwa MHF I was slightly confused about why they were so different feeling.

My medium St Croix is definitely a 1/4 to 3/4 stick, my old mh legend x was more stout than mh, almost a heavy. I frogged with it.

It’s also important to keep in mind the only exception I’ve found outside the cranking models. Any St. Croix XF action will have a much softer tip section than others of the same power in the same line. A MHXF is going to fish true to its power while a MHF will fish over its power rating.

Thank you for taking time to explain that. I have a Lews KVD finesse spinning rod that feels softer and I just chalked it up to being a cheaper/entry level rod.