Dedicated Jig Rod

[NorthernBasser]

Ok, so right now I usually throw my jigs on a Curado rod. It's a nice rod and all, but I'd like to step it up a tad.

 

I'm, looking at either a Shimano Expride A or a Kistler Helium 3 (or even KLX).

 

Anybody have a recommendation for either of these...or even something else? 

 

Thanks. 

[NathanDLTH]

I have fished a Helium 3 for a short period and loved the rod, light and sensitive. The Expride is nice as well, well balanced and sensitive. I’d look at the ALX Zolo dragger too, fits in the bunch quite well. 

[Heartland]

NRX - You won't regret it

[freelancer27]

I had a Helum 3 Heavy , 7 foot. Very light and sensitive rod! I can recommend it. Not as sensitive as a NRX, but also a bit cheaper.

 

[FishTank]

My favorite is a G. Loomis 803C GLX> Light, sensitive, and a little stiff but can cast a jig a mile.  Another would be a St. Croix Legend Elite 7' MH Fast.  Same as the 803C but the tip is a little softer (less fast) in that respect.  Also, I find it to be a more versatile rod.

[LonnieP]

I really like my Helium 3. Light and sensitive.

[NorthernBasser]

Thanks guys. I figured I'd get a few NRX recommendations. Not sure I wanna go quite that high in price tho. Wanna stay between $200-$300. 

[txchaser]

I have the H/XF helium and like it a lot. Anniversary sale (21% off) is still going on too.

[Dens228]

6 hours ago, txchaser said:

I have the H/XF helium and like it a lot. Anniversary sale (21% off) is still going on too.

FYI the 21% off just matches the price you can buy them from every day from pretty much any online retailer that carries them.

 

 

[fishballer06]

I can't comment for the Kistler, but I own a 7'2" H Expride and I absolutely love that rod. I highly recommend them. 

[smr913]

I really want to try the Expride, but can't find them in stock. I purchased a Helium 3 in the 7' Medium X-Fast and the 7' LMH Fast. The Medium has a softer action for an x-fast, but it would work well for shakeyheads. I think it makes a great topwater or jerkbait rod. The LMH would be a good rod jigs and t-rigs up to 3/8 or maybe 1/2 oz. I really like the feel of these rods and you can get them for $213 which is about the most I like to spend on a rod. The Heliums seem like do-it-all rods. If I can sell a couple of my reels I have sitting around I want to try out the 7'3" H X-Fast. 

[NorthernBasser]

3 hours ago, Dens228 said:

FYI the 21% off just matches the price you can buy them from every day from pretty much any online retailer that carries them.

 

 

You sure about that? Tackle Warehouse has them listed at a lower price right now only because Kistler is running that 21% off. Other than that, I don't even know where you can purchase their rods other than their own website.

 

Also, on Kistler's site, you can stack another 10% off, which you can't do at TW.

[Fishes in trees]

What kind of jigs?  Football heads ?  Shakey heads?  Skirted jigs?  Slider heads?   Float & Fly?   ( just kidding about the float & fly ).   What kind of jigs makes a difference to me.  I don't throw skirted jigs all that often but when I do I use my Fenwick AETOS 7'2" MH - exhaust tip.

 

Slider heads work best for me using the old Falcon Eakins Jig Special - a 6'10" rod that is on the light side of MH.

 

Shakey head jigs I will often use a spinning rod - current favorite is an older 6'3" Diawa Light & Tough.  It is rated Medium, but has much more backbone than your average medium rated rod.   

I agree with a previous poster, if I needed a new jig rod and money wasn't an issue, the high end Loomis would be the way I'd go. 

 

Take my recommendations with a grain of salt.  I've been restraining myself from purchasing any new rods lately, kinda a self-imposed AA for a fishing gear head.  I'm at 6 months and counting since my last bait casting rod purchase.   2 months and counting on spinning gear.  (That really doesn't count because the rod was a throw in when I bought the small Pflueger President that I wanted,  the snagging rod I bought doesn't count because I'm really using it for bubba kite flying gear,  the 2 mid-range catfish rods I came across at after Christmas sales don't count because, well, they're catfish rods). I really am trying to cut down on the number of rods I buy from month to month and year to year.

[NorthernBasser]

3 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

What kind of jigs?  Football heads ?  Shakey heads?  Skirted jigs?  Slider heads?   Float & Fly?   ( just kidding about the float & fly ).   What kind of jigs makes a difference to me.  I don't throw skirted jigs all that often but when I do I use my Fenwick AETOS 7'2" MH - exhaust tip.

 

Slider heads work best for me using the old Falcon Eakins Jig Special - a 6'10" rod that is on the light side of MH.

 

Shakey head jigs I will often use a spinning rod - current favorite is an older 6'3" Diawa Light & Tough.  It is rated Medium, but has much more backbone than your average medium rated rod.   

I agree with a previous poster, if I needed a new jig rod and money wasn't an issue, the high end Loomis would be the way I'd go. 

 

Take my recommendations with a grain of salt.  I've been restraining myself from purchasing any new rods lately, kinda a self-imposed AA for a fishing gear head.  I'm at 6 months and counting since my last bait casting rod purchase.   2 months and counting on spinning gear.  (That really doesn't count because the rod was a throw in when I bought the small Pflueger President that I wanted,  the snagging rod I bought doesn't count because I'm really using it for bubba kite flying gear,  the 2 mid-range catfish rods I came across at after Christmas sales don't count because, well, they're catfish rods). I really am trying to cut down on the number of rods I buy from month to month and year to year.

For this rod, mainly skirted jigs. 3/8oz to 1/2oz. 

 

And I need to enroll in your AA program. I bought so much gear that I really don't "need". 

[Fishes in trees]

Program is self imposed.  Just don't get down on yourself when you "slip up".   Admit that you're human and every so often you just got to have a new fishing rod, and it really doesn't matter if you need it or not.

 

Myself, I'm just cutting back from a new one every few weeks.   

[cookieman]

just bought a Dobyns 704 spinning rod and have fished with it 2 times  but what a rod. Should have gotten it sooner. Tried braid which i dont use much and had great sensitivity, could feel bottom where i could not before

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

You sure about that? Tackle Warehouse has them listed at a lower price right now only because Kistler is running that 21% off. Other than that, I don't even know where you can purchase their rods other than their own website.

 

Also, on Kistler's site, you can stack another 10% off, which you can't do at TW.

I wasn't aware of the other 10%.  I was looking at rods a few months ago, before the sale at the Kistler site and TW was cheaper.  I don't remember which rods I was looking at though. 

[RichF]

Another vote for the Kistler Helium 3.  Light, powerful, and more than enough sensitivity. I throw 1/2 -3/4 oz jigs on my 7'0 H. 

[Choporoz]

Bait Monkey says 'don't get just one'.

I throw 3/8 on Helium3 and 1/2 on Dobyns DX744C.....cannot recommend either rod high enough 

[NorthernBasser]

9 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Bait Monkey says 'don't get just one'.

 

Bait "monkey"? Hell, I have a Bait Orangutan that never leaves my side. Here's an old pic of us from some years ago. 

 

[Chris at Tech]

8 hours ago, smr913 said:

The LMH would be a good rod jigs and t-rigs up to 3/8 or maybe 1/2 oz. 

I just got a H3 LMH a month or so back so I certainly don't have a ton of time on it but my initial reactions is that 3/8 oz would overpower it.

 

I throw 1/4 and 3/8 oz jigs into decent cover using my 7'1" MH/XF H3.

[smr913]

8 minutes ago, Chris at Tech said:

I just got a H3 LMH a month or so back so I certainly don't have a ton of time on it but my initial reactions is that 3/8 oz would overpower it.

 

I throw 1/4 and 3/8 oz jigs into decent cover using my 7'1" MH/XF H3.

You may very well be correct. I haven't had the rod very long either. I did take it out once with a 3/8th jig and thought it did alright. Granted it was open water and I was just casting and dragging it back. I think it would do well for fishing around floating docks as a skipping rod. Hopefully I'll be able to give it a more thorough test drive this weekend.

 

 

 

[NorthernBasser]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I did go ahead and order a few Kistlers (sale got me!). 

 

Got the 7'1" med/heavy Helium 3 (may throw t-rigs on this). And ordered a 7'2" KLX Feel n Reel for cranks, lipless cranks, chatterbait. Hope I like it. 

[punch]

On 4/28/2019 at 11:37 AM, NorthernBasser said:

Ok, so right now I usually throw my jigs on a Curado rod. It's a nice rod and all, but I'd like to step it up a tad.

 

I'm, looking at either a Shimano Expride A or a Kistler Helium 3 (or even KLX).

 

Anybody have a recommendation for either of these...or even something else? 

 

Thanks. 

For 3/8th and 1/2oz jigs, the 7'2MH Expride is the stick to get. I have two of them now, they are very versatile rods. The balance is amazing on them as well. 

[NorthernBasser]

17 minutes ago, punch said:

For 3/8th and 1/2oz jigs, the 7'2MH Expride is the stick to get. I have two of them now, they are very versatile rods. The balance is amazing on them as well. 

Just did after seeing these are back in stock. I need to sell some of my other rods now.