New Rod?

[Quarry Man]

I am DETERMINED to become confident in pitching jigs to cover this year. I currently have several rods that might work. Want to know what to add. Budget is $100 - $200. Do i even need a new rod? Also what line and techniques should i throw on each. I am talking only about jigs and pitching stuff, like texas rigs and punching, stuff like that.

 

2x 6'6" MH Fast

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Falcon_Bucoo_Micro_Guide_Casting_Rods/descpage-FBMC.html

 

2x 7'3" MH Fast

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/13_Fishing_Omen_Black_2_Casting_Rods/descpage-OB2.html

 

1x 7'0" XH Fast 

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Carrot_Stix_Wild_Wild_Black_Casting_Rods/descpage-WBO.html

[CroakHunter]

Nope. 7' xh Will be fine

[CroakHunter]

And really the 7'3 would be good for jigs and t-rig up to 1/2 ounce

[Bent]

The beautiful thing about jigs is there are so many styles - you can pitch a 1/4 oz light wire finesse jig on a medium fast rod or a big heavy jig on a heavy rod.  For now find a few jigs to match your rods, not the other way around.  If you experiment a little bit and find that pitching a jig is really your thing, then start thinking about a dedicated setup.

[Turkey sandwich]

I've used a 7'-7'3" MH F jig rod for as long as I can remember.  With St Croix, this usually has me covered presenting lures up to a little over an ounce.  Most of the jigs I fish are 3/8-5/8oz and it's RARE for me to fish over 3/4oz.  So, a heavy or extra heavy stick doesn't appeal to me for most of the water I'm fishing.   I also find that a MH F rod in the 7'-7'6 range (depending upon preferences) is going to be much, much more versatile in that it's your regular jig and soft plastics rod, versus a specific rod you'll only use for punching heavy stuff.  

 

For that price point, I very much like the Avid/Avid X series, as well as Fenwick's Aetos.  In the $180-$200 range you can get into some really nice rods.

[CroakHunter]

2 minutes ago, Bent said:

The beautiful thing about jigs is there are so many styles - you can pitch a 1/4 oz light wire finesse jig on a medium fast rod or a big heavy jig on a heavy rod.  For now find a few jigs to match your rods, not the other way around.  If you experiment a little bit and find that pitching a jig is really your thing, then start thinking about a dedicated setup.

Great advice. That's what I did. Had a few 1/2 ounce jigs and that's all I used for a few years them branched out to 1/4, 3/8, and 3/4 and have now ended up with 3 rods that I throw jigs in and most days bring all three. 

My jig/plastics rods are as follows

 

8' heavy for 3/4+ jigs and pitching with straight shank hook. 65lb braid

 

7'3 heavy for 1/4 and 3/8 pitching heavy timber. Ewg hook. 25Lb fluoro.

 

7' heavy for 3/8 and 1/2 ounce jigs. 17Lb fluoro

 

7'4 heavy for 3/8+ deep Texas rig. 5-7/0 hook. Big worms and creatures. 50Lb braid to a 25Lb fluoro leader

 

7' medium for 1/4 ounce jigs and senkos.

All are baitcasters and all serve a distinct purpose for me. But I didn't buy all these rods then figure out I liked to pitch and cast jigs and plastics. I made due with the medium heavy and medium power rods then realized I really liked it and was successful with these techniques so I purchased technique specific rods. They are my most expensive rods and also my favorite.

[Finnz922]

 I'm using a 733 fast for jigs under a 1/2oz and a 764 fast for jigs a 1/2oz and over.

[Dtrombly]

To me a punching rod and a regular jig/t-rig rod are 2 different animals. If your wanting a dedicated heavy cover pitching and punching rod I'd go 7' length minimum... 7'3" and up being ideal. Heavy power at the minimum. For tip action I see some manufacturer's big punching rods use a mod fast tip, I personally like a stout, fast tip. 

[LionHeart]

I think you're good to go on gear.  I'd put a fast reel on one of your 7'3 and get started.

[fishnkamp]

I think you are fine to begin with. I would be more concerned about line and lures at this time.

Like LionHeart said, for now, take one of the 7'3 MH rods and match it up with a 7.3 or 8.1 reel (one of your favorite brand or if you do not have a favorite, try one of my favorites a Daiwa Tatula CT).

I would load it with 40 to 65 pound braid depending on how tough your cover is.

Now spend your budget on some good jigs like the Dirty Jigs, V&M, Punisher or even some Strike King jigs. I would get a few 3/8 and half ounce swim jigs for general purpose and match them up with two different colored trailers.  Those I would use around sparse cover like under docks and around pilings.  Next I would go for some heavier duty flipping jigs, these are for your heavier cover situations. This is also where flipping hooks, tungsten weights and compact flipping style baits come in to play.

I would not bother getting 50 colors. Pick a few 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 in a say three colors. Always have a black/blue combo and something in a green and something in a brown shade. match the trailers in color , perhaps with a bright tipped tail.  Make sure to have some shad, bluegill, or sunfish color in the swim jig since these are used more to look like baitfish rather than crayfish imitations.   

 

You can use a lot of this technique when you and I meet up on the Upper Bay this spring or summer.  The Northeast River will give you a thousand targets to flip, pitch and cast to.  If you run out of targets on that river you are either amazing or delusional. LOL!

[tonka_blue]

Enigma HPT 7ft6in heavy will suit all your pitching and flipping needs