In the last couple of months I've started fishing with light spinning rods but 20# braid. I've been getting the bites but not the hook-ups. I'm thinking that maybe the best bait to use would be a Yum Dinger/Senko wacky rigged on a jig head. I just don't have enough backbone in the rod to drive a hook through any plastic to get a hookset.

I call that a crappie rod in my boat! Coach

I don't go lighter than medium spinning gear for bass. A m action rod with braid mailnine and flouro leader is a solid setup.

Coach, I agree, that's like a crappie rod. However if you don't fish with that 'tournament' mentality .. rather fish wanting to milk the fight for all it's worth, expecting more fun out of the many 1-3 lb fish at the same time knowing you won't likely land a really big fish ... then, that's what I'm after.

I have a Dobyns 701SF that I use for drop shot with a small bait and a light weight, up to 3/16-oz. It handles bigger fish fine, just not around brush. Braid with a 6 or 8-lb leader. It's really not suitable for anything much bigger.

Medium light from most rod manufacturers is too light for larger sized bass fishing in most Texas waters.
It's too light to get hook penetration with worm hooks, even thin wire Gammakatsu hooks.

You need to use really, really fine wire hooks (like those on a ned rig, bait holder hooks, and thin wire octopus hooks) and light line with a reel and lift hookset to get a good hookset with a medium light rod.

With your medium light rod, I'd go down to 15lb braid with or without a 6-8lb pound leader.
Use it for 1/6th oz and lighter mushroom heads, slider heads, super finesse drop shot, weightless finesse worms, and small crappie jigs
In open water, nowhere near timber or vegetation.

I use my medium light for drop shots only. 10lb braid w/ a 6lb flouro leader. #2 Berkeley Fusion weedless hooks, robo worms nose hooked.

Maybe these:

• drop shot
• grub
• small crank
• small swim bait

+1

+1...everything but the hook. Gama spin shot.

I use a 7 ft. ML BC rod on all my Inshore (saltwater) fishing. Just sayin'

I use a ML spinning rod as my drop shot setup and I've never had problems handling big bass. I've even taken a 20lb flathead catfish with it. Rigged up pretty much like you describe with 20lb braid and an 8 lb flouro leader. The trick is using thin hooks that penetrate without need of a big hook set. I switched from No. 4 mosquito hooks to No. 2 and No. 1, but I've heard of using as small as 6 and 8. When you feel weight on your line, simply lift up. No need to be dramatic. You may need to be a little more patient with getting your fish in the net so if you're used to horsing them in that won't work with 6 lb line, or if there's heavy cover. Also, proper drag set is key, as is knowing how to switch off your anti-reverse and playing them when you have a really big one. Mediun light rods work wonders if you're prepared to learn how to adjust to what they can and can't do.

-SSJr