Swim jig rod - St Croix vs Loomis

[badgerboyng]

I started a thread similar to this a few months ago to decide on a rod for using swim jigs in heavy cover. I ended up getting a 844c MBR IMX, which I have paired with 50lb braid for frogs and heavy cover swim jigs. Now I'm looking for a rod that I can use to throw 1/4oz - 3/8oz light wire swim jigs (with trailers added it's more like 1/2-5/8oz) in open water / weed lines as a search bait and for catching smallies. If possible, I would also like to use this rod for other finesse jigs, dragging t-rigged jelly worms, and spinnerbaits. Those are a lot of techniques, but the primary purpose of the rod is to throw swim jigs. I'll pair it with 14lb fluoro, which makes me lean towards X-Fast rods (taking line stretch into account). 

 

I am able to get St Croix Avid X, LTB, and Loomis IMX pro rods all for a substantial discount, so I would appreciate it if the recommendations stayed within those offerings. I'm considering the LTB finesse swim jig rod (7'1 MH X-fast), which claims to have a specially designed "light and sensitive tip." I haven't seen one in person, so I don't know if the tip truly has some softness to it. I would like a tip that loads easily to cast far, but that loads up really fast. As for the IMX pros, the 853c JWR is also a 7'1 MH X-fast, but I have no idea how stiff that tip is either. Lastly, I could always go with a cheap 7' MH Fast avid x, but I would be giving up some sensitivity... Although, I suppose sensitivity might not be so crucial with a moving bait. 

 

Anyone have experience with the LTB or IMX pro rods that I mentioned? Any recommendations within those lines? 

 

Thanks

[Bluebasser86]

That LTB is an awesome finesse jig rod, I'd assume it would be great for swim jigs but I rarely fish them. 

[badgerboyng]

19 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

That LTB is an awesome finesse jig rod, I'd assume it would be great for swim jigs but I rarely fish them. 

Do you own that rod? If so, is the tip pretty soft, relative to most X-fast rods?

[Bluebasser86]

I don't have a bunch of XF rods to compare it to, but it loads and casts finesse jigs down to 1/8oz well.

[badgerboyng]

3 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I don't have a bunch of XF rods to compare it to, but it loads and casts finesse jigs down to 1/8oz well.

Wow an 1/8oz jig is pretty light. It's impressive that it can cast well with that little weight. What's the heaviest jig weight that you're comfortable throwing on this rod (weight before adding a trailer)? Thanks for the input!

[Bluebasser86]

1 minute ago, badgerboyng said:

Wow an 1/8oz jig is pretty light. It's impressive that it can cast well with that little weight. What's the heaviest jig weight that you're comfortable throwing on this rod (weight before adding a trailer)? Thanks for the input!

That's just the jig weight, once you add in skirt, weedguard, and trailer it's probably closer to 1/4oz. I've fished 1/2oz football jigs on it occasionally. They load it pretty good on the cast but it does fine. 

[lmbfisherman]

10 hours ago, badgerboyng said:

I started a thread similar to this a few months ago to decide on a rod for using swim jigs in heavy cover. I ended up getting a 844c MBR IMX, which I have paired with 50lb braid for frogs and heavy cover swim jigs. Now I'm looking for a rod that I can use to throw 1/4oz - 3/8oz light wire swim jigs (with trailers added it's more like 1/2-5/8oz) in open water / weed lines as a search bait and for catching smallies. If possible, I would also like to use this rod for other finesse jigs, dragging t-rigged jelly worms, and spinnerbaits. Those are a lot of techniques, but the primary purpose of the rod is to throw swim jigs. I'll pair it with 14lb fluoro, which makes me lean towards X-Fast rods (taking line stretch into account). 

 

I am able to get St Croix Avid X, LTB, and Loomis IMX pro rods all for a substantial discount, so I would appreciate it if the recommendations stayed within those offerings. I'm considering the LTB finesse swim jig rod (7'1 MH X-fast), which claims to have a specially designed "light and sensitive tip." I haven't seen one in person, so I don't know if the tip truly has some softness to it. I would like a tip that loads easily to cast far, but that loads up really fast. As for the IMX pros, the 853c JWR is also a 7'1 MH X-fast, but I have no idea how stiff that tip is either. Lastly, I could always go with a cheap 7' MH Fast avid x, but I would be giving up some sensitivity... Although, I suppose sensitivity might not be so crucial with a moving bait. 

 

Anyone have experience with the LTB or IMX pro rods that I mentioned? Any recommendations within those lines? 

 

Thanks

Generally G Loomis fishes lighter than St Croix.  I use a GLX 853c for jigs 1/4 to 3/8 oz with a trailer, works great.  I would assume the IMX Pro would be the same.  However I don't think many people have had a chance to review.  You would have to rely on past experience.