Heavy Cover Swim Jig on a MH/F rod?

[Kenny Yi]

I recently purchased a 3/8 Terminator Heavy Duty Swim Jig in the white color.  The hook on the swim jig is a 5/0 heavy wire VMC hook.  Is a MH/F rod too light for this type of hook?  The reel has 15 lb fluoro, as well.

 

Been wanting to get into the heavy duty swim jig game, as the light wire swim jigs were my best producers last year.

[huZZah]

What is “heavy cover?”  Veggies?  Wood? Rock? Docks?

 

I only ask cause I have a similar rod setup I use for swim jigs/baits and I avoid any cover but grass cause it’s almost a guaranteed loss if it gets hung up. But I also have never used a 5/0 hook in any cover. 

[Kenny Yi]

2 minutes ago, huZZah said:

What is “heavy cover?”  Veggies?  Wood? Rock? Docks?

Such a question is exactly why I bought the swim jig.  The jig seems to be a mix between a flipping and swim head with a thick heavy hook, but medium brush guard (thicker than a true swim jig and less than a true flipping jig)

 

I would say that those examples would describe the heavy cover that is advertised

[CountryboyinDC]

I don't know the Terminator jigs particularly, but there are a couple of reasons why people say a rod is underpowered for a jig.

1.  Hooksets are difficult due to the weedguard being relatively unyielding (good for reducing getting hung in cover) and the hook being relatively large in diameter and thus not penetrating as well as thinner hooks.

2.  The cover you are fishing is likely to end up with the fish wrapping itself up, resulting in a lost fish or heartbreak for you at the least. In these cases, you may want a broomstick capable of waterskiing that bass toward your boat.

That doesn't mean that a MH rod is underpowered.  If you think that or notice either of these things, then it is.  

[huZZah]

Well, Personally I use straight 30# braid for what you’re doing. I can’t wrestle a fish out otherwise and I’m strictly bank right now. But otherwise I think your setup is fine. 

[ajschn06]

11 minutes ago, Kenneth Yi said:

Such a question is exactly why I bought the swim jig.  The jig seems to be a mix between a flipping and swim head with a thick heavy hook, but medium brush guard (thicker than a true swim jig and less than a true flipping jig)

 

I would say that those examples would describe the heavy cover that is advertised

Sounds like you are describing the bait, and not the cover you plan to fish it in.  I would think the setup you have should be enough to drive the hook home if that's your concern, maybe not ideal, but it will work.  Might want to beef up the line a bit, but where you would really run into issues is if you plan to throw it in some truly THICK cover... the rod might not be enough for that...

[Kenny Yi]

9 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

I would think the setup you have should be enough to drive the hook home if that's your concern, maybe not ideal, but it will work.  Might want to beef up the line a bit, but where you would really run into issues is if you plan to throw it in some truly THICK cover... the rod might not be enough for that...

Thanks, I probably wouldn't be fishing in thick cover, mostly the standard weed edges and light brush.  

 

Definitely going to be buying some 30-40 braid soon

[Lead Head]

Not all MH rods are the same. Some have a 3/4oz top end, and others have a 1oz. Either way yours will probably work out, but a MH that tops out at 1oz would be about right and one at 3/4oz would be a little light. With the big boy hooks you won't get away with a half-hearted hookset, especially without braid. Just make sure you "stick'em good".

 

Thats just my personal opinion and preference. As always YMMV. 

[Quarry Man]

im looking at a 7'1" H G. Loomis E6X rod for swim jigs. My plan is to cast them at

sticks and the bank, along laydowns and stuff. It will also work in heavy grass but

u have other rods that may be better for that.

[Deleted account]

Yeah, should be fine. I like to bend up the hook point ever so slightly on my jigs, and thin out and spread out the weed guard a bit. If you are fishing heavy cover, don't overdo it. I fish jigs with a MH and BG 15, I like to reel down the slack, point the rod and come back hard on a tight line, don't miss many.

[Dens228]

One of my most productive ways to fish the summer months is a 3/8's oz swim jig on the edge of heavy weed/grass and sometimes inside the grass ripping it through the grass into clear pockets. 

I use a MH/Fast but straight 30 lb braid. 

[Mike L]

I just bought a new Tatula MH/XF casting rod which has a 1oz “rating”. 
A 3/8 seems to be the sweet spot. 

(20# Shooter)
 

I also have a Phenix M1 MH/F with a 3/4 oz “rating” which is close to its limit for a 3/8. (15# Sniper)
 

Point being, use the rods “rating” as a guide, not gospel. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[928JLH]

Any potential for 

Florida strain monsters in your area?