Do you fish jigs with spinning gear?

[BigAngus752]

I am NOT a successful jig fisherman.  I want to be.  After experimenting for a couple years with jigs on baitcasting gear I've decided that my biggest hurdle is the "feel".  I know many will advise that I just need practice with the casting stuff but in order to take the easy path I want to try jigs on spinning gear.  I can feel everything really well on the bottom using a Texas rig, etc. and spinning rod so I want to try spinning gear with jigs. 

 

The set up will be used mostly for hopping/dragging/rarely swimming, usually 3/8 arkies and footballs.  Probably primarily Siebert's Dredge jigs.  If I'm flipping around extremely heavy cover or docks I will likely just tie a flipping jig on one of my baitcasting frog rods.

 

For spinning, are you using a MH or H rod?  I'm envisioning a 7-7'3" MH rod with a rating up to about 1oz.  If you love your spinning rod for jigs please let me know what it is.  Also, I read an article that suggested a 4000 size reel with the thought that you want to run 40-65lb braid on the spinning gear for jigs.  What main line are you fishing?  I was thinking 30lb braid to 15lb fluoro leader.  Would you advise larger main line?  

 

Any experience, thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!  Thanks

[WRB]

What spinning rods/reels do you currently use??

Tom

[BigAngus752]

54 minutes ago, WRB said:

What spinning rods/reels do you currently use??

Tom

I don't have many spinning set ups.  My favorite is a Lews Carbon Fire M/F that is rated 1/4-5/8.  It's got a Daiwa Fuego 2500 on it loaded with 20lb Sufix 832 and I use various leaders depending upon what's tied on.  I know the Carbon Fire is not "high end" but I can really feel the bottom and the taps well with that rod.  It's a bit stiff for casting but I love the bottom feel.  The others are old rods from my childhood and a couple ugly sticks.  Nothing rated for more than 5/8.  I felt like that was too light?  Your thoughts?

 

I'm due for a new spinning set up so if there's a suitable choice for around $100 (rod only) I'm game.  I would probably put another Fuego on it.  The best "feeling" casting rods I have right now are Powell and Fenwick.  I considered searching for a similar spinning rod.  

[CroakHunter]

I fish 1/4 ounce finesse jigs with spinning gear

[BigAngus752]

1 minute ago, CroakHunter said:

I fish 1/4 ounce finesse jigs with spinning gear

I thought about picking up a couple 1/4 and trying them with my current M/F spinning that's rated to 5/8 but I feel like that's too light for bottom-dragging a 3/8 with trailer?  

[WRB]

I use Major Craft Nanoace spinning rod# NAS-WJ701MH rated 3/16-5/8 oz, 8-14 lb line for light weight T-rigs, split shot, drop shot, light jigs, Senkos etc, etc.  with Shimano Stratic 2500 reel and 5 or 8 lb Maxima Ultra Green line. For a spinning rod it has good feedback and it should handle up to 3/8 jig with trailer. Unfortunitly I don't know of a heavy action jig & worm spinning rod to recommend? 

Tom

 

[The Bassman]

30 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

I don't have many spinning set ups.  My favorite is a Lews Carbon Fire M/F that is rated 1/4-5/8.  It's got a Daiwa Fuego 2500 on it loaded with 20lb Sufix 832 and I use various leaders depending upon what's tied on.  I know the Carbon Fire is not "high end" but I can really feel the bottom and the taps well with that rod.  It's a bit stiff for casting but I love the bottom feel.  

 

 

That rod is very light and well balanced and cosmetically would look great with my Stradic FA's. I just don't like the ss guides.  I suppose changing out the tip top would fix that concern.

[junyer357]

What setup are you currently using for jigs? It can make a diffrence too. I have a avid 7'mh-f for jigs up to 1/2oz. What power you go with on a new rod will depend on what weight jigs you throw, and dont forget to consider trailer weight as well as jig weight. My 1/2oz jigs are actually around 7/8oz with a trailer. 

 

Before you go spend big money on a new spinning setup, try a few tungsten jigs from siebert with what you have now. It really suprised me at how much more lively it felt to me, even on same rod and weights. If it works better, you saved money, if not you still have some good jigs to use on new setup. 

[BigAngus752]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

I use Major Craft Nanoace spinning rod# NAS-WJ701MH rated 3/16-5/8 oz, 8-14 lb line for light weight T-rigs, split shot, drop shot, light jigs, Senkos etc, etc.  with Shimano Stratic 2500 reel and 5 or 8 lb Maxima Ultra Green line. For a spinning rod it has good feedback and it should handle up to 3/8 jig with trailer. Unfortunitly I don't know of a heavy action jig & worm spinning rod to recommend? 

Tom

 

Well based on that I think my next trip out I will try a 1/4oz jig with small trailer on my current spinning set up. That will at least give me an idea if spinning will help my interpretation of the feedback from a jig on the bottom. Thanks. 

53 minutes ago, junyer357 said:

What setup are you currently using for jigs? It can make a diffrence too. I have a avid 7'mh-f for jigs up to 1/2oz. What power you go with on a new rod will depend on what weight jigs you throw, and dont forget to consider trailer weight as well as jig weight. My 1/2oz jigs are actually around 7/8oz with a trailer. 

 

Before you go spend big money on a new spinning setup, try a few tungsten jigs from siebert with what you have now. It really suprised me at how much more lively it felt to me, even on same rod and weights. If it works better, you saved money, if not you still have some good jigs to use on new setup. 

Of course I just gave Mr Siebert $100 but didn’t order any of the tungsten!  LOL. Thanks

[waymont]

I like to fish 3/16, 1/4, and 5/16oz finesse jigs on spinning rods.

I use a med action rods with 15lb braid to 12lb mono leader. It's super sensitive and has great feel.

It's not a super heavy cover setup, but great around moderate cover.

heavier jigs I use casting setups.

[Darren.]

I do use spinning with jigs, but lighter jigs as I don't fish a MH 

spinning rod (at this point).

[Bluebasser86]

I pour some little 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4oz snootie jigs I'll fish on spinning gear and 8lb test. I actually use a M/F Okuma EVX.

[burrows]

I personally wouldn’t use spinning gear with 1/4 ounce or higher. I would use spinning gear for anything lighter than that, those little micro  fineness jigs 3/16,1/8,1/16 spinning gear is optimal. 

[burrows]

17 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

Powell and Fenwick

All the Powell rods have plenty of feel for jigs imo.

[Deleted account]

19 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

Do you fish jigs with spinning gear?

Sometimes, but not often. I started fishing jigs with spinning because I only owned one rod and it was spinning. For really small ones, swimming, or when I'm pike fishing I'll usually use one. It's also natural for me as a surf caster, we throw 3/4-4 oz bucktails on spinning all the time, and yes, The handle is on the left side unlike my BCs.... 

[EGbassing]

I would go with the MH if you have another frog set aside for really heavy cover. I use a MH for all of my jigs.

[MickD]

Your MH suggestion is good for a rod.  Unless you're fishing really weed-choked areas, I see no need for more than 20 # braid.  15# leader is fine, too.  If you're running a 15# leader, heavier line doesn't do much exc cost you casting quality.  If it's really weedy and you're running over 20# braid, then use a 20# leader.

 

I like what I consider the better feel I get with spin.  Not sure why this should be true, but seems like it to me.

[BigAngus752]

48 minutes ago, MickD said:

I like what I consider the better feel I get with spin.  Not sure why this should be true, but seems like it to me.

This is exactly what I'm thinking at the moment.  I'm going to work on my jig skills with some smaller jigs on spinning gear an hopefully get my confidence up.  

[junyer357]

Ive always found i have better feel on heavier jigs that sink faster and stay on bottom better. 

[NYWayfarer]

I throw Strike King Bitsy jigs with spinning gear. Anything heavier is with a baitcaster.

[new2BC4bass]

I have fished 3/8 oz. jigs on an original 6'6" WJS Daiwa Cielo spinning rod.  VERY nice rod.  I've used 1/2 oz. jigs on a 7' MHF Quantum SuperLite spinning rod.  Seemed like a good rod.  However, I don't like fishing those weights on a spinning rod.  I gave it and the 1600SS on it to my brother-in-law that I fish with while in Florida.  I almost never used it and he fishes only spinning rods.  Had nothing to do with feel and everything to do with how it felt casting that weight.  By the time I got this rod I had gotten use to fishing with baitcast almost exclusively.

 

I can't comment on the "feel" between casting and spinning.  Although I am aware of how versatile jigs are, they are a lure I seldom fish.  I know.....................my bad.  If I ever retire, maybe I'll have the time and patience to try them more often.

[WRB]

I am amazed how bass anglers think a 1/4 jig is lightweight but a 1/4 bullet weight T-rigged worm is heavy. The 1/4 jig is smaller and more compact sinking fasting with less water resistance then 1/4 oz T-rigged 7"worm. Can't feel the bottom with the jig but can with the bullet weight T-rig. There isn't any difference both will hit the bottom and stay there if you don't move them. When you move them the jig should feel like a T-rig if you are using the same line.

Tom

[BigAngus752]

56 minutes ago, WRB said:

I am amazed how bass anglers think a 1/4 jig is lightweight but a 1/4 bullet weight T-rigged worm is heavy.

This makes sense.  I ran out and picked up a couple 1/4 and 3/16 jigs today.  I plan to try them on my spinning gear tomorrow just to see how I interpret the "feel" as compared to the jigs I've tried to fish so far on casting gear.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

You're putting too much emphasis on spinning vs casting. Concentrate instead on matching baits of a particular weight with the right power rod. Whether you choose casting or spinning tackle is your preference.