Jig reel

[Cody Duff]

I'm looking for a new jig reel, I currently use a 7.1 lews tournament MB  with a 7'3" duckett ghost heavy power fast action rod and I run 15-17lb Fluorocarbon. I am completely satisfied with this rod however I am looking for another stick I can jig using braid whenever I'm fishing muddy waters or heavy grass/mats. In the same token I would like a frog rod so I committed to a Dobyns Fury series 735c but I need a reel. I'm not sure what kind of reel I should get I only know lews reels. I obviously want something fast with 14lb drag. I'm looking at the lews tournament lite reel but I'm not sure if that's for the application I'm looking for. Long story short I want a reel that can handle 1/2-1oz jigs, frogs in heavy cover and pulling nice bass from grass. Any suggestions under $200???

[Catt]

Ya can jig fish with any reel ya want!

 

If you're satisfied with Lew's why change?

 

I use a Calcutta, one of my sons uses a Citica, another son uses a Lew's American Hero, & my grandson uses an H2O

["hamma"]

I have jigs on citcas, curados, and a calcutta, they all work great, I did years ago have a diawa flippin reel, and also used a old abu garcia 5501 they worked great too,.. so its much like Catt stated,.You can jig fish with just about any reel,.. what are you comfortable with?

 

[Cody Duff]

I use the lews tournament MB and it's great. Wasn't sure if certain reels are better for pulling in fish from slop or what. I just purchased the lews tournament lite so we'll see. Im sure it will do the job. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Your rod is a much more efficient tool for moving fish. You only need to reel enough to keep up with the rod and avoid giving slack line. 

[S. Sass]

I agree most of the "pulling" I do is done with the rod. Taking up slack with the reel as I reel down to pull again. Obviously a solid reel with a aluminum or better frame and a decent drag is a plus but as Catt, DVT, and others have stated many reels will do just fine.

 

I use Lews almost exclusively as well and have no problem with the LFS or Tournament MB series. I have no doubt the Tournament Lite you purchased will serve you well.     

[Robert Riley]

I'll probably pick up a Lite G for jigging if I get some good xmas money. Or one of the new Custom SLPs. 

[Cody Duff]

Thanks for all the help guys. I've never been on a forum where people were so helpful and informative. Really appreciate it big time!!

[kickerfish1]

On a rod combo I am planning on exclusively using for plastics and jigs I like to keep the weight down of the outfit to help amplify feel. It is not necessary but to me lighter magnesium framed reels are ideal. For gear ratio anything 7:1 + helps take up slack line quickly for deep water hooksets.

[Fishes in trees]

Somewhere it is written that jig reels should read SHIMANO on them.  If your current jig reel doesn't read SHIMANO, then you should get one that does.  I have either Curado 50E or Chronarch 50 on my jig rods.

[S. Sass]

11 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

Somewhere it is written that jig reels should read SHIMANO on them.  

 

 

[Scarborough817]

8.1:1 tatula type r handles all my flipping, pitching, brush & grass jigs

or if you're a lefty pickup a 7.3:1 zillion tws from tw they are only 135

[bigfruits]

a 8.x:1 gear ratio is nice to have for a jig/frog rod but far from necessary.

 

Curado or Scorpion 70/71 XG comes to mind in your price range but I cant vouch for 1 oz jigs on it as I have not fished those on the reel.

 

 

[RichF]

The curado E & I, chronarch E & CI4, and my zillions have all had heavy jig duty....ALL have been great!  Right now, my two main jig rods have a 7.3:1 zillion tws with 17lb flouro and a 7:1 curado I with 50lb braid on them. 

[RichD913]

On 12/21/2016 at 10:38 AM, bigfruits said:

a 8.x:1 gear ratio is nice to have for a jig/frog rod but far from necessary.

 

Curado or Scorpion 70/71 XG comes to mind in your price range but I cant vouch for 1 oz jigs on it as I have not fished those on the reel.

 

 

 

Curado 70 only has 10 lb drag and boast it's good at casting the lightest weights. Any input on that? I don't think 10 lb drag is quite enough.

[Catt]

10 minutes ago, RichD913 said:

 

Curado 70 only has 10 lb drag and boast it's good at casting the lightest weights. Any input on that? I don't think 10 lb drag is quite enough.

 

10# drag is more that enough to land any bass the swims!

[RichD913]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

10# drag is more that enough to land any bass the swims!

 

I don't disagree, I just was under the impression that when fishing in heavy cover or deep the extra drag is need for getting the fish out of the junk or from deep water. 

[fishnkamp]

A Diawa Tatula Type R 8-1 or Tatula CT Type R in the same speed would be really nice. I run a Tatula Type R 8-1 for my frog rod. It sits on a Dobyns Champion DC 705C. That thing feel amazing in my hand. I also like the T wing for flipping and pitching.  If my boat could fit a rod longer than 7 foot the 735 would have been my choice.  It is the rod Gary himself suggests for throwing frogs.  You will find it is good for many other things as well.  Online you should be able to get one for around $160.  It will make those frogs jump.

[Catt]

32 minutes ago, RichD913 said:

 

I don't disagree, I just was under the impression that when fishing in heavy cover or deep the extra drag is need for getting the fish out of the junk or from deep water. 

 

My Calcutta only has a max of 9.5# of drag & I landed double digit bass out of 20-25' of water & matted hydrilla. I've also landed bull redfish up to 30 lbs.

[RichD913]

Hmmm... I'll have to consider all that as I shop for my new Jig Reel. Guess you can't always listen to the guys getting paid BY the reel company to tell you what you need lol 

[Catt]

4 minutes ago, RichD913 said:

Hmmm... I'll have to consider all that as I shop for my new Jig Reel. Guess you can't always listen to the guys getting paid BY the reel company to tell you what you need lol 

 

Never in my lifetime have I seen or heard of a bass spooling a reel!

 

Big Bull Reds yes, many times but bass not!

 

As far as fighting ability bass ain't even near the top 10!

[RoLo]

Drag tension is traditionally set between 25 & 30 percent of the line's breaking test,

so let's split the difference and say 27% of line strength.  Accordingly, 10 pounds of drag tension

would be appropriate for 37-lb line, which is ample drag to pump a spent 75-lb bluefin tuna to the boat.

 

Roger

[RichD913]

3 minutes ago, RoLo said:

Drag tension is traditionally set between 25 & 30 percent of the line's breaking test,

so let's split the difference and say 27% of line strength.  Accordingly, 10 pounds of drag tension

would be appropriate for 37-lb line, which is ample drag to pump a spent 75-lb bluefin tuna to the boat.

 

Roger

 

Gotcha. So what you're saying in not so many words is that in using bass fishing as an example if you were using say 15lb test line, a 10 lb drag system is moot because the line would break long before the drag system is ever stressed. Am I right?

[RoLo]

13 minutes ago, RichD913 said:

 

Gotcha. So what you're saying in not so many words is that in using bass fishing as an example if you were using say 15lb test line, a 10 lb drag system is moot because the line would break long before the drag system is ever stressed. Am I right?

 

 

Well, not quite Rich. In your example, the reel drag would release line 33% ahead of the line's breaking strength.

My point was to emphasize the tremendous amount of pressure that 10 lbs exerts on your rod and the fish.

In 95% of freshwater encounters (except for some of Bluebasser's fish), a 10-lb drag will get you home safely.

 

Roger

[Darren.]

On 12/19/2016 at 10:55 PM, Cody Duff said:

Thanks for all the help guys. I've never been on a forum where people were so helpful and informative. Really appreciate it big time!!

 

Welcome aboard, Cody! You'll find this forum is even

more amazing the longer you hang around