Football Jig Rod Suggestions

[dam0007]

Have been using a 6'10 heavy kistler. Looking to add casting distance and something more sensitive. Not looking for brand recommendations per say, more or less length, action, taper. The brand/model you use if you care on sharing is welcome.

Thanks in advance.

*edit my hook up ratio sucks as well with this technique... Still learning

[kickerfish1]

To help improve upon you current jig rod without throwing out brand names I would step up to something like a 7 foot or longer rod, a fast or extra fast action, a medium heavy or heavy or 4 or 5 powered rod depending upon manufacturer. My 3 favorite jig sticks are 7"4, 7"3 and 7"5. The powers all 2 to 5 and fish the 3/16 oz finesse jigs all the way up to the 3/4 + oz jigs. The rods I have listed above range from $295 to nearly $600. They are among the most costly rods I have but at the same time I take my jig fishing more serious than a lot of folks.

[dam0007]

To help improve upon you current jig rod without throwing out brand names I would step up to something like a 7 foot or longer rod, a fast or extra fast action, a medium heavy or heavy or 4 or 5 powered rod depending upon manufacturer. My 3 favorite jig sticks are 7"4, 7"3 and 7"5. The powers all 2 to 5 and fish the 3/16 oz finesse jigs all the way up to the 3/4 + oz jigs. The rods I have listed above range from $295 to nearly $600. They are among the most costly rods I have but at the same time I take my jig fishing more serious than a lot of folks.

my pitching rod is a mh/f 7'3 use it for arky heads around docks. Football heads I fish either deep pockets or structure 20-30 ft deep. Would extra fast help on a quicker hook set? My hook up ratio sucks. I think it's either the rod length not moving enough line fast enough or the tip is too slow.

[motodmast]

i use a 7'4 Mag heavy Dobyns extreme 745 which has a fast tip for deep wage smallmouth fishing, works great

[Bass_Fanatic]

Yep, you need a longer rod to move more line and I like an xf for football jigs to drive home a hook in deep water!

[kickerfish1]

Yes, a longer rod will allow you to pick up more slack once a bite is detected aside from the casting distance component. Also consider the role that line stretch may play. Braid / braid with a leader / or a low stretch fluorocarbon line will help like Shooter, Tatsu, or Toray Superhard. As far as the action either fast or extra fast should be just fine. You could argue the benefits of both but I am sure the difference is marginal at best.

[Grantman83]

I use the DX 784 ML Jig rod. Anything bottom contact in deep water gets this rod, football jigs and c-rigs specifically. I have thrown them on my 734c and dx 745 in a punch. I just have confidence in that rod.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'd look for a 7'> rod in a power appropriate for the bait weight and cover, likely MH or Hvy. Fast action, XF for light bites and/or deep water. I prefer braid for all jig fishing. A leader can be added for abrasion resistance or confidence in clear water. It takes  pretty solid hookset to penetrate a heavy jig hook and clear the brush guard. The braid helps here as well as with sensitivity.

[dam0007]

Thanks everyone.

I'd look for a 7'> rod in a power appropriate for the bait weight and cover, likely MH or Hvy. Fast action, XF for light bites and/or deep water. I prefer braid for all jig fishing. A leader can be added for abrasion resistance or confidence in clear water. It takes  pretty solid hookset to penetrate a heavy jig hook and clear the brush guard. The braid helps here as well as with sensitivity.

Ive been throwing braid w and w/o leader definitely better sensitivty down there. Was thinking trying straight fluoro this summer, 10-12#.

 

Again appreciate feed back, gonna grab something 7'4-7'6 H/XF.

 

A buddy recommended IROD's Freds magic stick. Gonna look into the 13's first.

[Brian Needham]

for 1/2oz footballs I generally use a 784ML. It is a great length and has a fast tip, closer to XF some might say. The length, tip, and overall feel and action allows you to really bomb a cast out there and still get positive hook sets to get the fish in the boat.

 

for 3/4 or 1oz I use the 745...... little shorter, but more powerful too, fishing the bigger jigs you need a pretty stout rod. you dont need a broomstick, just beef. heaving big jigs on long cast in deep water you gonna have to rare back and set the hook on them so you need a little backbone.

 

Hook up ratio..... wind down to them, then hit them as hard and as fast as I can..... thats how I do it.

BUT

I have heard Mark Zona say more than once on bigger footballs you need to just wind down to them, wait for them to turn, and keep cranking then pop them a little...... He says if you hit them fast and hard the jig will blow their mouth open and you'll miss the fish.

I dont miss many jig fish the way I do it, but I aint calling Mark Zona wrong either.

 

Try both methods and see what you like, I keep trying to remember to try Zona method, but everytime I get bit I get excited and hit them fast and hard out of habit.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I mostly use a 7'1" Hvy or a 7'3" heavy depending on the weight of the football head.  I think going to a longer rod will help.

[Teal]

Powell or Dobyns in the 764 765 range.

[roadwarrior]

This is a GREAT value:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/128588-pinnacle-review/

[Fish Murderer 71]

I have a 7' 3" heavy/xf fr my jig rod.  I use it for my swimbait rod also.

[dam0007]

This is a GREAT value:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/128588-pinnacle-review/

thats a option in my price range, just hate that reel seat.

[Brian Needham]

thats a option in my price range, just hate that reel seat.

 

I have heard that before. about folks not liking the reel seat...... but they are very nice solid rods for the price point and from all accounts fishes higher than the price.

[dam0007]

Called Powell to see if by any chance they still had a TW exclusive football rod available, he said no, but in less than 90 days theyre launching a new line that will feature that model. I asked name of line he said he cant say yet. That might be something to look into.

 

So Powell guys, Inferno>Max>Endurance. What are you paying for spending the extra $30-$80. Inferno 765C looks like a good bet.

[aavery2]

my pitching rod is a mh/f 7'3 use it for arky heads around docks. Football heads I fish either deep pockets or structure 20-30 ft deep. Would extra fast help on a quicker hook set? My hook up ratio sucks. I think it's either the rod length not moving enough line fast enough or the tip is too slow.

With 30ft of line out it is challenging to get a good hookset.  An XF action rod should help some, you will loose a little flex in the rod and get to the backbone just a little quicker.  When fishing this deep, rod length helps also as you can move more line in the same motion.  What line are your using for this fishing, as a low stretch line would be of benefit as well.

[new2BC4bass]

I keep trying to remember to try Zona method, but everytime I get bit I get excited and hit them fast and hard out of habit.

 

LOL.  Habit can be an ugly thing!  Especially in the excitement of a bite.  The mind has one thought only. 

[dam0007]

Finally after UPS broke the first one, got the rod in. Went with Irod Genesis 2 Fred's Magic Stick. Rod feels awesome, put a Tatula with 15# AbrazX on it, great balance. One huge huge downfall with the rod which I knew ahead of time via the Tackle Tour review is there is zero protection on the butt of the rod. Very very thin piece of eva is all there is for protection. I try to take very good care of my stuff so hopefully it's a non issue. I spoke with Matt via a friend who knows him and he said it should hold up fine. Lifetime warranty as well so there is some piece of mine. Worst thing I could see happening is dropping to stand the rod to lip a fish or something and the blank in the handle shattering. Fingers crossed. Anyways, it's not quite deep football head time yet but gonna attempt flipping with it this weekend.

As far as the original post, I think I'm on the right track with this over the Kistler. Thanks again everyone.

[WRB]

I use a custom 6'10" 5+ power casting rod for casting jigs in deep structured lakes.

How far do you plan to cast, over 40 yds? Using 10-14 lb FC line is good with this presentation. My technique differs from most anglers as I use my reel when moving the jig most of the time, use the rod to work through boulders or over brush. Also use the reel set and rod sweep hook set. My average cast is between 30-40 yards, up to 50 yards.

The longer rods work good, no reason for 7'6" unless that helps you, actually slows down the hook set.

Dobyn's 734 is popular for this presentation.

Tom

[dam0007]

I use a custom 6'10" 5+ power casting rod for casting jigs in deep structured lakes.

How far do you plan to cast, over 40 yds? Using 10-14 lb FC line is good with this presentation. My technique differs from most anglers as I use my reel when moving the jig most of the time, use the rod to work through boulders or over brush. Also use the reel set and rod sweep hook set. My average cast is between 30-40 yards, up to 50 yards.

The longer rods work good, no reason for 7'6" unless that helps you, actually slows down the hook set.

Dobyn's 734 is popular for this presentation.

Tom

I'll make casts as far as I can to cover ground. Main lake up here with deep structure is man made, so theres house foundations, stone walls fences, not to mention trees, etc. You can hit multiple pieces of structure in a single cast. Also because of the different structure I would have to raise the tip sometimes having to raise my arm as high as I can to get a jig to slowly come over a object. 6'10 I was using was ok, but my ratio was terrible and I was using braid as well. This rod is a 7'5" but has a longer than normal butt section so it's in reality probably comparable to a 7'1-7'3". I think the couple extra inches and taper is gonna make a huge difference.