The best way to test guide quality is also demonstrated below. Each time you start again, that’s when you’re most likely to trigger a strike. Guide quality is excellent, though the Mojo could probably use an additional guide or two to compete with its competition. How to Install a Fish Finder: Supplies, Location, and Methods, Down Imaging vs. Side Imaging: Differences and Similarities. For this video, we're going to start with the spinning rod, because of the two, this is by far the easier technique or easier setup to learn how to use. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Pete grew up fishing on the Great Lakes. Especially at this price point, it would be hard to find a better rod. Below, you’ll find a basic explanation of what makes a good jigging rod, some in-depth considerations, and reviews of a few of our favorites. What kind of reel should I pair with a jigging rod? Perhaps the best all-arounder I’ve seen, if you can only bring one rod to the lake, this would be an awesome choice. This works well in some situations but not with finesse angling or jigging. Match your trailer to conditions. Choosing a productive swim jig requires careful analysis of its overall build. All of our favorites are either 7’3” or 7’4”, right in the sweet spot. If the line breaks quickly, it’s a sign to give that rod a pass. A great rod for a reasonable price is this Shimano Sellus 1-Piece Worm/Jig Spin Rod (7-Feet 2-Inch Medium Heavy), and a reasonable reel is this Abu Garcia CARD SX30-C Cardinal Spinning Reel. Throw a Texas rig on there, and you can. Fiblink Saltwater Jigging Rod. The tip is admirably sensitive, and you’ll feel it when a bass gently sucks your jig into its mouth. The 47 is 7’3” of carbon fiber, making it both surprisingly light and supremely strong. Jigging requires a lot of power because you’ll be able to get a better hookset, and you need plenty of backbone to take control of the fish during the fight. Like the St. Croix, we’d like to see an extra guide or two, but that’s really just a quibble. Hooksets can also be a problem if you run a weedless jig, as the weed guard softens the set. Why: I can fish every type of finesse technique with this rod and reel set up. A baitcasting setup is really the best option here so you can pretty much rule out spinning rods. I generally prefer a continuous handle on my rods, and if you do, too, this is an excellent choice. Spooling up your baitcasting reel with 12lbs flourocarbon will also make a difference. These rods are simple to understand. It’s important to know what weight you need so you can make sure the rod you choose is rated for a line that heavy. Many people confuse power and action, but they’re two different things. Again it depends on each bass angler's personal preference, though there are certain guidelines that can point you in the right direction. 10 Fuji guides with Alconite inserts are more than enough to protect your line. But if you can’t afford a rod just for jigging, you might be better off with the Dobyns 734 or Daiwa Tatula. Fishing certain times of the year can yield certain results. Fishing certain times of the year can yield certain results. In spring, when the bass move from winter holding areas to the shallows to spawn, fishing a finesse jig is simply fantastic. The Setup – Ideal Rod/Reel/Line Combos For All Presentations Lipless crankbaits. When complimented by the sensitive, fast tip, you’ll find the Mojo lets you detect light strikes, work your jig well, and still have the muscle you need to control a monster. For that reason, the rods we review are all casting designs. That extra length helps in flipping, and it allows the backbone to work more efficiently when you go to set the hook. Remember that most of these come with extensive warranties, so that’s basically an invitation to try it before you buy it. If you’re interested in a dedicated jigging rod, we’d like to help. Swing head jig setup. Much of the time, jigging rods are short and lightweight, but they have a lot of power behind them to help with battling large fish. Everyone should have a fiberglass rod because they’re durable and a pretty good “daily driver.”. “I like the Champion 683 because it is a lot easier to get good action out of the baits and you can also hook fish better. Since they help your rod and line take the strain of a big fish, this is not a point for compromise. Required fields are marked *. Jig Setup for Bass. I might like a touch more length, but that’s largely a matter of personal preference. What you have sounds like a perfectly adequate jig set up, don't get all hung up in what your friends tell you or what the pros use. They need to limit friction and not provide any obstruction to the line when you’re casting. And perhaps best of all, it’s priced right. GMAN does the work for us - he shares his go-to swim jig/trailer combo and rod setup for catching the most bass … Most jigging rods are set up very similar to casting rods for this purpose. As I said, I believe you can also use it in small backwater ponds with tackle like crankbaits and jigs. You want plenty of action, lots of flexibility at the tip, and as much sensitivity as you can get from a rod. For example, finesse angling is especially popular in the spring when bass move into the shallow water to nest. Sensitivity is key when finesse fishing and there really is a difference between the various price points of fishing rods. You can jig up and down, side to side or up and down and sideways. If you’re scoping out the crisp ocean water and planning to rent a boat, then you’ll need something that can handle a large fish, just in case. Everyone should have a fiberglass rod because they’re durable and a pretty good “daily driver.”. These rods feature tough line guides, secure reel seat locks, and comfortable grips with a large butt to accommodate the extra pulling. The only difference is that they’re designed specifically for this fishing technique. If you’re jigging around small ponds and lakes, then you won’t need to worry too much about the line rating. Built with a carbon fiber blank that combines excellent sensitivity with awesome power, it’s about as perfect for jigging as they come. One of the best bass fishing rod setups to use with the Ned Rig is a 6 1/2-foot light to medium-power spinning rod with fast action. If you want to catch bigger bass, the jigs, jig trailers, and the rod and reel combos in this video will make a huge difference for you! The head shape, hook size and gauge, color and skirt style, weed guard, and trailer all impact performance. Check out our full guide on how to jig for bass. But make no mistake: it’s as high-tech as they come! Jigs don’t have much of a presentation, to begin with, so it’s up to the angler to control the appearance and action of the lure. What happens in the dead of summer when the average daily high is somewhere around 90 degrees? Your email address will not be published. Additionally, USAngler.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. Your email address will not be published. As Greg Hackney, a dedicated jigging pro explains, “Bass rarely slam a jig; sometimes it’s just a ‘pressure’ bite, where you feel a little weight on the line but nothing convincing. You want to be somewhere between 6’5” and 7’5”. Have we forgotten about one of your favorites jigging rods? The best jig rod has a medium/heavy power with a casting setup to provide a little more strength when battling big bass in the weeds. Swim Jig Setup Great for a variety of lures and techniques, Maybe not as purely good for jigging as the 47. Flipping a jig requires you to release your line enough to reach your target and swing the lure back and forth, casting towards the destination. If you can find a great rod, sometimes it doesn’t need to be a jigging rod to get the job done. They have a few different styles that can hold up to 50lb test on the casting rod and 80lb test on the spinning rods. Dedicated jigging rods should be rated for heavy jigs and line. If you’re looking for some rods with a bit more variety, give these a look. Guides are important because they’re preventing your rod from going all over the place when you’re battling a fish. When he’s not out on the water, you can find him reading his favorite books, and spending time with his family. Line: Finatic 16-pound… Guide quality is excellent, and with 14 of them, you can be sure that your line is pampered during even the toughest fights. It’s also a solid choice for jigging, and you can often find hybrid mixes of these materials that increase the strength and sensitivity without increasing the budget too much. Finesse is one of the few applications where we really stress spending as much as your budget will allow on the rod. Best of all, when you pair your jig rod with a weedless jig, and you throw it around stumps, trees, and grass – you’re in for a treat. This area of the rod is where you’ll grab on for dear life when you’re pulling in a much larger bass than you bargained for. Graphite – This material is highly sensitive because it’s stiff and ultra-light. Did I mention that it’s a fantastic all-arounder? Free shipping on orders over $50 and FREE pick-up at your local store if you buy online! jigs, it's sensitivity, balance and length make it the perfect rod for any bottom contact presentation. Our favorite Tatula is the 7’3” medium-heavy with a fast action. The handle will play a major role in determining your comfort, but when we’re talking about jigging, the handle is a bit more important. This strategy helps you cast accurately up to 20 feet away. With lure sizes of ½ to 1 ounce and heavy line weights, especially if you’re running braid, this isn’t a finesse rig by any means! Denali’s Lithium series rods are designed with tournament anglers in mind, and whether you’re pitching jigs for prize money or just to spend an exciting morning on the lake, you’ll appreciate what they bring to the table. Hookset and control are all but guaranteed by this blank, and for me, I’d say this is the best of the rods we review in that sense. The Holiday Buyer's Guide series continues with this video on JIG FISHING baits, trailers, and gear. Just fish with it and determine what YOU want in a jig rod. The material also makes the rod durable, and best of all, you can use this one for a variety of purposes. When you combine these two, it tells you a lot about how the rod will behave when you have a fish. G.Loomis GLX Bass Jig & Worm Series Casting Rod Sparing no expense, G. Loomis debuts their top-of-the-line jig fishing rod within their GLX Bass Jig & Worm Series Casting Rod. That’s fine because I’m covering it all in this guide. Much about which handle to choose is a personal decision, and what’s comfortable to me may be misery for you. This is made possible through the use of smooth materials like ceramic and stainless steel in the rod guides. This rod material is a great choice when jigging for bass. Do I need a specialized jigging rod, or is a regular spinning/casting rod fine? With these rods, you can’t feel the nibbles as much because the rod isn’t transferring the movement to your hands since the rod is taking the brunt of it. Also important is the lure weight, so just keep in mind where you plan on fishing. These finesse bass fishing rod setups should be paired with a 1000 series spinning reel that has been made to handle fine diameter lines (8 to 10-pound braid). Join this bass fishing discussion topic in the Bass University bass fishing forum. The best jigging rod will combine elements of strength, power, sensitivity, and casting control. This bass fishing style is quite different from the finesse action you’d experience when drop shotting or throwing wacky worms around structure. Both offer serious jigging performance with an all-around applicability that allows you to use them with everything from crankbaits to worms. Other times it might be a slight ‘tick.’”. This bass fishing style is quite different from the finesse action you’d experience when. Is a jigging rod a good choice for bottom fishing? The main difference between pitching and flipping is distance. Saltwater jigging rods are generally pretty short (less than 6 feet), and they come with huge butts, so you have a ton of area to hold onto when you’re cranking. For this, a drop shot rod just won’t do, and you’ll need a full-on jigging rod. That means a heavy power, fast action beast, running a slick casting reel and using strong line. The 884 offers a combination handle, mixing cork and EVA foam in a split design. Weedless jigs will give you access to some of the nastiest cover Mother Nature has to offer, and you’ll need a strong rod with a rigid backbone to muscle big bass from stumps, lily pads, grass, and downed trees. Yes, so ideally, a jig rod is meant to catch larger fish. ... My setup has been on a Quantum tour KVD Rod 7’0 MH Cranking rod with 15 lb fluorocarbon. So if you're just getting into bass fishing, start with the spinning rod … A rod’s action describes where along its length it will begin to bend under load. Virgil is the grandfather of our founder and Editor-in-Chief. Having a dedicated jig rod setup is an important part of having success with this fishing technique. For the record I usually use a 7'MHF rod with 50lb braid for jig fishing. Required fields are marked *. By contrast, slow action rods begin to give closer to the handle and reel seat, curving over a much greater percentage of their length. With this rod, you could employ different fishing tactics since it is … Some feature composite construction, using more than one material in the blank that provides their backbone. Like the Dobyns 734, this is a versatile rod that can do more than jig, while still offering you top-notch performance in nasty cover. Use a stout medium heavy 7 foot rod to get good casting distance. 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