I have a 6' 6" medium-light Diawa rod and 6'6" medium OLD Ugly Stick that seem flimsy when trying to set the hook. Should I look to go medium heavy or heavy instead? Thanks in advance for any help!

I just bought a St. Croix Avid rod. It is 7ft, fast tip, Medium Light action. I find it works great for 4-5" plastic worms and setting the hook. It seems the Medium Light Avid rods, are more similar to a Medium rod of another company, compared to a Medium light of another company. I like my rod. But I do feel a 6'6" Medium action rod would be better for setting the hooks even though I didn't have trouble, I may on bigger fish. I may take my rod back for a 6'6" medium action rod. Only reason I am probably not, is because I also like to use this rod for 1/16th-1/8 size spinners for trout and a heavier rod wouldn't work so well with this.

But, I didn't have ANY truoble setting the hook or fighting fish on my Medium Light 7ft rod today. I caught a nice Pickerel about 17inches,(they kinda hook them self though as they strike fast) and I caught a bunch of SmallMouth Bass about 2 hours ago, all about 10-13inches and I set the hook on every fish and didnt lose any except maybe the small guys that hit the line and never got hooked as they usually do. I was texas rigged on a Zoom 5 or 5 1/2 inch trick/fisnesse type worm and also a 4" Senko on a few fish.

I have a few ugly sticks, not old ones. My medium Ugly Stick Lite(lite just means it is more graphite than fiberglass version, it is Blue) and I used to have trouble hooking the Large Mouth bass these past weeks because the tip bends easily. I think even though this medium light Avid rod is not as strong as my Medium Ugly stick, the faster tip on the Avid makes the rod stiffer or something and helps with setting the hook.

hope this makes sense. I am sure others will chime in soon and help you more. Welcome to the Forum.

I would go w/ a MH rod. If you wanna go cheap get a BPS graphite series rod. I have 2 and at 30 bux a piece, they're a steal. Great backbone and sensitivity!