Picking up a new football jig rod budget $350

[cjam93]

Hey guys so I am looking to get a new football jig rod. Im spending around $350 at the most

 

I had been set on a megabass orochi braillist but they are currently out of stock and may be for quite some time.

 

I am looking for a rod to throw 1/2oz plus trailer football jigs  in 5 to 20 ft of water on 15lb fc. Light to medium cover at the most as usually I will just be dragging bottom off shore with it.

 

 

In this price range what else do you think I should consider?  I have been thinking about a Dobyns champion extreme hp 744 as well and the lifetime warrenty on that rod is a nice cushion. 

[NYBasser]

Check the champ extreme 745, most guys like it a little better for 1/2oz+

[RTipton]

I am looking for the same. The Poison Adrena is high on my list. I have also looked at the Daiwa BLX. 

[cjam93]

43 minutes ago, RTipton said:

I am looking for the same. The Poison Adrena is high on my list. I have also looked at the Daiwa BLX. 

What model in the poison adrena are you looking at?

[NathanDLTH]

The rods I’d recommend: Braillist XX Orochi, Champ Extreme 745, EMTF XX Orochi I’ve read this works surprisingly well for bottom contact, and 7MH BLX in shallower water would work. Those are it, check eBay, you might find rods on there too. 

[WRB]

I haven’t fished for a few years and finally went with a friend who guides on the lake and obviously is a good bass angler.

We were going tomorrow but his daughter test positive to Covid  and he is quarantined. 

I managed to catch more jig fish then he did the first outing. Gave my friend a few hair jigs to try and was surprised he couldn’t feel them on the bottom using his NRX jig rod. He tied on the same weight 1/2 oz silicone skirt jig and feel it good. Why? The line size was the only difference I use .011D FC my friend uses .013D FC. 

After thinking about this the line diameter may be why I can feel jigs better with my ALX rods. I started using smaller diameter line to make longer casts and as result had better feedback.

My hair jigs are more buoyant then silicone skirt jigs and sink slower and hit the bottom softer. I have adjusted to the feedback of my hair jigs and pork trailers from decades of use.

My advice when using 1/2-3/4 oz football jig casting and retrieving along the bottom use .011D / 12 lb FC in lieu of .013D /15 lb to improve feedback. This may be as important as the rod you choose!

Tom 

 

[Catt]

Kistler Helium HE704MH

7'0" Medium Heavy Fast 

1/4 - 1 oz

[Sphynx]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

I haven’t fished for a few years and finally went with a friend who guides on the lake and obviously is a good bass angler.

We were going tomorrow but his daughter test positive to Covid  and he is quarantined. 

I managed to catch more jig fish then he did the first outing. Gave my friend a few hair jigs to try and was surprised he couldn’t feel them on the bottom using his NRX jig rod. He tied on the same weight 1/2 oz silicone skirt jig and feel it good. Why? The line size was the only difference I use .011D FC my friend uses .013D FC. 

After thinking about this the line diameter may be why I can feel jigs better with my ALX rods. I started using smaller diameter line to make longer casts and as result had better feedback.

My hair jigs are more buoyant then silicone skirt jigs and sink slower and hit the bottom softer. I have adjusted to the feedback of my hair jigs and pork trailers from decades of use.

My advice when using 1/2-2/3 oz football jig casting and retrieving along the bottom use .011D / 12 lb FC in lieu of .013D /15 lb to improve feedback. This may be as important as the rod you choose!

Tom 

 

That's a great counter point to the school of thought that goes "heavy as you can get away with" and I'm glad you brought that up, I just ordered a whole bunch of different lines over the Black Friday sales and have intended to be more deliberate in which line I use when and why, thanks for the tip.

[Westcoast]

51 minutes ago, Catt said:

Kistler Helium HE704MH

7'0" Medium Heavy Fast 

1/4 - 1 oz

 I second this recommendation. This rod really surprised me with how light and sensitive it is. 

[NoShoes]

10 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

That's a great counter point to the school of thought that goes "heavy as you can get away with" and I'm glad you brought that up, I just ordered a whole bunch of different lines over the Black Friday sales and have intended to be more deliberate in which line I use when and why, thanks for the tip.

I’ve been hooking up 15 lb tatsu as my leaders for everything but my finesse rod, I’m going to try a spool of 12 lb blue label to see if it makes a difference. 

[roadwarrior]

 

On 12/7/2020 at 2:48 PM, NoShoes said:

I’ve been hooking up 15 lb tatsu as my leaders for everything but my finesse rod, I’m going to try a spool of 12 lb blue label to see if it makes a difference. 

New guy on the block: Gold Label

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Seaguar_Gold_Label_Fluorocarbon_Leader_Line_25yd/descpage-SEAG.html

 

Back on topic for the OP:

G.Loomis IMX MBC 844C

https://www.gloomis.com/content/gloomis/northamerica/usconv/en/homepage/PDP.P-IMX_PRO_MBR.html

[evilcatfish]

Have you looked at the Braillist in the Levante line? Feedback on this latest release seems to be pretty positive from what I've seen

[RTipton]

8 hours ago, cjam93 said:

What model in the poison adrena are you looking at?

The 7 2 Heavy. I would prefer the 7 3 MH, but its 'regular-fast.' 

1 minute ago, RTipton said:

The 7 2 Heavy. I would prefer the 7 3 MH, but its 'regular-fast.' 

Meant to add I did handle both Poison Adrena and BLX this weekend. The PA is super light. Feels awesome. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

The Med+ is rated for up to 1oz.  Is a fast so I would think it could handle a .5 FB jig with a trailer but would probably be close to max weight.

[FishTank]

Another vote for the 844C IMX.  Very versatile rod.  I use it for bigger jigs and topwater. 

[Chris Carey]

I have the 744, I use it for this exact application. It’s awesome. The 7’6” heavy expride or the poison adrena (not sure on the length, I have the 7’3” H but there is a longer one) would also be great option in your price range. 

[Teal]

23 hours ago, cjam93 said:

Hey guys so I am looking to get a new football jig rod. Im spending around $350 at the most

 

I had been set on a megabass orochi braillist but they are currently out of stock and may be for quite some time.

 

I am looking for a rod to throw 1/2oz plus trailer football jigs  in 5 to 20 ft of water on 15lb fc. Light to medium cover at the most as usually I will just be dragging bottom off shore with it.

 

 

In this price range what else do you think I should consider?  I have been thinking about a Dobyns champion extreme hp 744 as well and the lifetime warrenty on that rod is a nice cushion. 

I love this post man.  Sounds like you already have the set up dialed in in your mind.  I actually have a DX 744 it's my primary jig rod. I use it mostly for skipping and flipping jigs, but this time of year, I like the heavy football on it too.  Pretty sensitive rod.  I like your line choice too.  Just be careful if you throw a hair jig or any jig with a light wire hook.  If you plan on using light wire hooks, go down a power.  Or just use a spinning rod or a medium power casting rod.

 

14 or 15 lb FC would be my choice as well.  Excellent C rig rod as well.  

 

When I went fishing yesterday, I use same rod for carolina rigging and caught a couple decent fish on a c rigged senko.  

 

Dx744 would be and excellent rod choice sir.

[cjam93]

Hey guys wanted to say thabk you for all the helpful answers! The issue is I am interested in all of the ones mentioned! Hahaha rod shopping could be as addicting as actually using them!

[NOC 1]

On 12/7/2020 at 3:47 PM, Catt said:

Kistler Helium HE704MH

7'0" Medium Heavy Fast 

1/4 - 1 oz

A bought a Kistler Z-bone, 6'9" MH/F this year and it is the best bottom fishing rod I've ever used. With light line and a tungsten shaky-head I can feel pieces of gravel. Got it for about $350 on sale.