I've fished off and on my whole life but have once again caught the bug in a big way thanks to this virus situation... I've pieced together a decent arsenal from my old gear, some stuff my dad gave me and the kindness of some of my friends... I've got a rig for Texas rigs/bass jigs, one for ultralight stuff (ned and wacky rigs) and one specifically for hollow body frogs.

There's one set I'm not sure what to do with: It's a 7' 0" Ugly Stik Medium Light spinning rod (lure wt. 1/8 to 1/2 oz) with a Shimano Sedona 2500FD spinning reel for 6-10 lb test.

I'm down here in Houston but on the northwest side. All of the fishing I do is either in county parks or local ponds, almost exclusively for bass. I thought about may a drop shot rig, but most of the waterways I fish are very muddy...

Any suggestions on what I should use on this rig? Thanks.

I would go with that dropshot.

In muddy water, I prefer larger baits with a bigger profile.

Therefore, I'm not throwing spinning rod very often in muddy water.

Could be why I haven't qualified for the classic yet too though.

Thanks, Sprigsss. I understand, and I'm usually throwing a bass jig with a hefty trailer or a dark 5" Senko. But, I have this gear, and I figured why let it go to waste? Just trying to come up with a useful alternative. I appreciate the perspective, though.

To me that rod would be better for neds and wackys than an ultralight woud

I agree with this.

Thanks, Huiet. Maybe I will switch them out. If so, do you have a recommendation on what to put on the ultralight rig instead? It's a 6' 6" Ugly Stik rod with a Penn spinning reel. (Don't recall the model.) Thanks!

Use the UL for crappie.

The ultra light is a little long for this, but six pound mono on that spinning reel and some Charlie Brewer slider worms is what I throw on a light rod. The ultra light might work for that. Slider worms are a 1/8 oz jig head and four inch worm.

https://www.sliderfishing.com/product.sc?productId=417&categoryId=55

https://www.sliderfishing.com/category.sc?categoryId=33

I would throw 1/4-3/8 oz Spinnerbaits on it in creeks, ponds, and rivers!

I spool mine with 30 lb braid (8 lb diameter) and let the fun begin.

1/4 oz spinnerbait
rooster tail or mepps spinner
1/8 oz texas rig with a 4" worm
small crappie size crankbait
3" rapala minnow
roadrunners

The ugly stick medium light will do well for small moving treble hooked lures like the mepps, very small cranks, small jerkbaits, and rooster tails.

The ugly stick medium light would work OK for ned rig, drop shot, slider rig, etc. but they just don't have the sensitivity to fully enjoy those presentations.

AllStar makes a medium light rod called the dock shooter--it's often on sale for around $30. Great rod for ned rig/slider rig/small crappie jigs/beetle spins and other small single hooked spinners/etc.

Drop shot

that Ugly stick is a GREAT crank bait rod. I have one that I have fished for 20 years and caught hundreds of bass, some pretty large, with great success. Because it is a M-L the tip will not pull the lure out of the fishes mouth when you set the hook and yell "Get the Net".

The rod was given to me by a guide in Florida who was sponsored by Shakespear.

I have many more expensive rods and yet old faithful is still sitting with a 7:1 Chronach E on it and a square bill tied on. The biggest I caught this year on it is a 5 1/2.

Trout Fishing rig.