Rod Action For Jigs.

[pigeonlake]

First mainly fish half ounce jigs.  I will be using it around dock logs and in the grass flats.  wondering what action and length would be everyones recomendation

[gulfcaptain]

Are you casting, pitching, or flipping jigs?  I use several different rods in lengths from 7' to 7'6" (Med Fast to Fast Action) for casting and pitching 3/8 to 1/2oz jigs.  

[Toeshots]

I'd say Fast action and at least 7' in length. Could go XF on the action if you want, but Fast has always worked great for me with jigs and it makes the rod a bit more versatile.

[sprint61]

I like 7'6" heavy XF action.

[Big Bait Fishing]

go with a heavy powered rod with a fast action . i prefer a rod with a lot of backbone to snap set big jig hooks .

[WRB]

I see you from Ontario Canada, Lake of The Woods region?

The bass, both LMB and Smallmouth are rarely going to exceed 6 lbs, so the rod, reel, line needs to be selected accordingly.

Because power ratings and action vary greatly between rod makers, do you have any idea who's rod you are looking at and what is your budget??

It's easy to state a MH or 4-5 power fast action jig/worm rod, it's a little harder to be more specific.

Tom

[ThatFishin'Guy]

I'm in South Western Ontario myself and probably fish the same conditions as you and I use a Medium Fast Shimano Sellus worm and jig rod and mainly use 3/8-1/2oz jigs.

[Logan S]

Fast action rod rated for 1/4oz - 1oz lure and 12-20lb line...For some manufacturers that's a Medium Heavy and for others it's a Heavy.  For length, I like 7' rods.  

 

The 7' MH/F St Croix (pick a model) is the perfect jig rod power/action IMO...Not counting the super heavy flipping/punching aspect of jig fishing obviously as that would be a flipping stick type rod.    

[illinifan4152]

Fast action rod rated for 1/4oz - 1oz lure and 12-20lb line...For some manufacturers that's a Medium Heavy and for others it's a Heavy. For length, I like 7' rods.

The 7' MH/F St Croix (pick a model) is the perfect jig rod power/action IMO...Not counting the super heavy flipping/punching aspect of jig fishing obviously as that would be a flipping stick type rod.

X2. I prefer a fast action, and my rod of choice is either a St Croix Avid 7'mhf or Dobyns Champion 734 Heavy Fast.

[GoCougs14]

Does a longer rod aid in pitching distance or accuracy?

Im in the market for a good jig rod that would mostly be pitching, with some casting and pretty much no flipping.

I know most on here like a rod thats bigger than 7', but honestly too much longer than 7'4" would seem too cumbersome.

Im liking the idea of the avid x. I wasnt going to go it since the 7' MH/F didnt seem like it was for jigs/pitching into light to moderate cover, but that may be the ticket, esp since its a pretty versatile rod in the first place

[68camaro]

X2. I prefer a fast action, and my rod of choice is either a St Croix Avid 7'mhf or Dobyns Champion 734 Heavy Fast.

I have the 734C med-heavy, extra fast, with 40lb braid I use it for frogs and jigs in the thick heavy stuff. i have read Dobyns med-heavy is alot like most others heavy.

[Toeshots]

Does a longer rod aid in pitching distance or accuracy?

Im in the market for a good jig rod that would mostly be pitching, with some casting and pretty much no flipping.

I know most on here like a rod thats bigger than 7', but honestly too much longer than 7'4" would seem too cumbersome.

Im liking the idea of the avid x. I wasnt going to go it since the 7' MH/F didnt seem like it was for jigs/pitching into light to moderate cover, but that may be the ticket, esp since its a pretty versatile rod in the first place

I definitely feel the longer rod allows for increased distance and accuracy when pitching. Obviously shorter rods tend to be more accurate in casting, but when I'm pitching, having the rod tip closer to the target is quite helpful.

I don't own any rods over 7', however I have several right at 7'. I'm 5'7" and a 7' rod is the maximum length I am comfortable with.

[iabass8]

I have the 734C med-heavy, extra fast, with 40lb braid I use it for frogs and jigs in the thick heavy stuff. i have read Dobyns med-heavy is alot like most others heavy.

You've got that flipped around. Their MH (3 power-non flipping series) is more of what you would consider a M power rod. 

[pigeonlake]

I see you from Ontario Canada, Lake of The Woods region?

The bass, both LMB and Smallmouth are rarely going to exceed 6 lbs, so the rod, reel, line needs to be selected accordingly.

Because power ratings and action vary greatly between rod makers, do you have any idea who's rod you are looking at and what is your budget??

It's easy to state a MH or 4-5 power fast action jig/worm rod, it's a little harder to be more specific.

Tom

no kawartha lake area

last year i used a crucial 7.2 xf and was wondering  if i should be using something else.

All the crucial just went on sale 50 off at local tackle store

[SMITTY0045]

The rod I use for half ounce jigs (specifically what I got the rod for in the first place) is a 7'2" H Fast Action Rod. I prefer a heavy rod in order to have the added backbone need for a good hook sets on a jig with a thick wire hook (also why the fast action is important). I like 7'2"-3" rod because it allows you to have better control the bait and the fish in deep water, as well as giving you better sensitivity when fishing the jig in deep water.

[68camaro]

You've got that flipped around. Their MH (3 power-non flipping series) is more of what you would consider a M power rod.

I miss wrote, I actually have the 735C not the 734C, oops. the 735C has a big backbone to get fish out of vegetation.

[kickerfish1]

Fast or Extra Fast depending upon the rod and the manufacturer. I use both for jig and worm fishing.

[JustinU1X]

Fast Action does the trick.

 

My ideal jig rod would probably be MH/F 7'1-7'3

[stk]

I use the shimano crucial 7'2 mhxf worm and jig rod for my jigs and Texas rigs. It's my favorite rod because of the sensitive tip and the backbone. I mainly throw 1/4 oz Texas rigs and 3/8oz jigs on it. At 119 it's a great rod, at 50 it's even better.

[Robert Riley]

With any single hook bait I use at least a fast, and when the bait is not a moving bait (i.e. spinnerbait) I prefer an extra fast. As far as length, I prefer 7'-7'6". I have a DX745 I use for jigs and plastics. It's a bit too heavy, but that's alright with me. 

[WPCfishing]

I miss wrote, I actually have the 735C not the 734C, oops. the 735C has a big backbone to get fish out of vegetation.

 

The 735 is a Medium Magnum rod.

[smalljaw67]

no kawartha lake area

last year i used a crucial 7.2 xf and was wondering  if i should be using something else.

All the crucial just went on sale 50 off at local tackle store

 

Did that rod work for you or did you feel like you were missing something? I have several jig rods, I have a 6'6" MH-F jig rod I like for roll casting 5/16oz and 3/8oz finesse jigs along rock flats, it is also great when the water is clear and I have to stay back to far to pitch but not as far that I need a long cast. I have a 7'MH-F for most of my casting jigs, like stroking a football jig or dragging heavy ball head finesse type jigs over rock from distance just covering water, a great way to find a pattern in spring. My favorite is a 7'2" MH-XF, it is a very stout MH and is closer to a heavy power. That rod to me is perfect, it is my dedicated pitching stick as the super stiff tip allows me to pitch a good distance with accuracy with little effort, it also is long enough that I can do close quarter flipping with it and if I was going to have 1 jig rod, that is what it would be, a 7'2" MH-XF, that length just makes it super versatile as it is long enough to do some flipping and is great to pitch with and still not too cumbersome to cast with.

[Montanaro]

7'3" xfast.

Length helps with pitching and getting rod in a position to pull fish out of limbs.

Xfast makes hooksets easier and transitions into backbne of rod very quickly giving you the stoutness to yank a bass out of laydows. A fast rod or slower may bend too much allowing fish to surge into line snapping timber or docks.

[iabass8]

The 735 is a Medium Magnum rod.

No, it's labeled as Mag Heavy in the Fury and Savvy line. In the Champ series its simply labeled as MHXF but is the same rod with a longer handle.

[WRB]

no kawartha lake area

last year i used a crucial 7.2 xf and was wondering if i should be using something else.

All the crucial just went on sale 50 off at local tackle store

I am not a fan of X fast rods for jigs because the lighter tip or upper 1/4 of the X fast rods are extra flexible, absorbing hook setting power and can reduce strike detection depending on how you fish jigs.

Also not a fan of Shimano jig/worm rods because they don't have a fore grip, just a reel metal lock nut. The Shimano rod power ratings are usually about a 1/2 power less than some other rods. I believe they may do this to improve casting distance, it's easier to cast more flexible rod.

The fore grip issue is a personal touch and feel thing, I like fore grips on my bait casting rods because of the way of holding the rod 2 middle fingers on the fore grip, index finger and thumb used to feel the line in front of the reel.....old schools technique to determine the slightest chances in line movements.

Tom