Looking for Jig Skipping Rod

[AverageJoeP]

Hey everyone,

 

This is my first post here. I am looking to pick up a new jig skipping rod before next season. I mainly throw 1/2oz jigs and would like a rod around 6'9"-7'. Looking for something less than $300, I know that leaves a bunch of options.

 

I have been looking at the Dobyns Sierra 705C or the Champion XP 610-4C or 705C. I also looked at the Diawa Tatula Elite 6'9" or 7'1" H skipping rod or jumping to the 7' MH EF rod with the AGS guides (the finesse Erhler rod). Lastly, I enjoy my St. Croix rods but only find a mojo 7' H dock sniper that would fit the bill.

 

Any input would be appreciated on these rods or any you use and enjoy.

Thanks

[Cody28]

Personally, I like skipping jigs with a stouter medium heavy rod with a soft tip to help with circle casts. This opens up a lot of options especially with St. Croix. If you're willing to go a little longer, the 7'3" MHF and HXF rods in the St. Croix Victory line are both super awesome rods. I have the MHF and it quickly has become my favorite rod. I've handled the HXF and its tip is super soft with a stout backbone, so it might be perfect for your needs. If height is an issue then I would stick with the dock sniper or even the 6'10" MH offered in Mojo. Ive never owned one but the Legend Tournament Series also offers a 6'8" MHF and 7'0" Heavy for just under $300. 

Side Note: There is a 7'1' MHF in the St. Croix Victory line, but I hear it is much lighter power than the 7'3" MH for some reason and is better off as a spinnerbait rod. 

[T-Billy]

7' MH XF with a soft tip. Perfect action according to Andy.

Versatile rod. The soft tip makes it suitable for a lot of things.

[scbassin]

I use a Champion XP 610-4C . Gary Dobyns design this rod for skipping. I have also used it for Texas rigs, Jigs, Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, Bladebaits etc. I found this to be a excellent rod & believe it to be a bit stronger than a 4 power.

[new2BC4bass]

No experience with it, but ALX has the Zolo Skipper 6'9" MH+ $250.

[Bass Rutten]

Cody nailed it, I thought for the longest time that a heavy power was a must for skipping for the winching power but putting the bait where it’ll get bit first is priority imo. I use a 7’ mh/f legend elite. The only thing about that daiwa 6’9” skipping rod that facilitates skipping is the length, it’s got no tip. St croix is clearing out avid x rods on their website right now for $175, they’ve got some mh’s left.

[Basseditor]

My favorite is a Kistler Helium 7'0 heavy/medium heavy (it is a 4.5 power rated). With the extra fast tip, it's perfect for me. (It comes in a 6-9 and 7-3 too.) I pair it with a tuned Daiwa SteezSV. I mostly use 20-pound abrazx around heavy dock cover or invizx around sparser dock pilings

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, Bassjam2000 said:

I use a 7’ mh/f legend elite.

Mine is an Okuma Reflexions A 7'0" Medium-Heavy/Fast. I like the Okuma because it's max lure rating is 1-1/4oz instead of the 1oz of most others...gives me a bit more top-end.

[Deephaven]

I use an 844 that is kicked out to 7'2".  Love that combo for skipping.

[jbrew73]

5 hours ago, Deephaven said:

I use an 844 that is kicked out to 7'2".  Love that combo for skipping.

What’s kicked out mean?

[Columbia Craw]

I had the Tatula Elite 7-1 skippin rod. It’s extremely fast for heavy action. My buddy now has it as a jig rod. He doesn’t skip at all.  I transitioned to a Kaden 714 C and I find it easier to load on the circle motion. 

[Deephaven]

2 hours ago, jbrew73 said:

What’s kicked out mean?

Sorry, custom built.  2" extension in the butt.

 

It was the first rod I ever built

 

[AverageJoeP]

On 12/8/2021 at 11:31 PM, Cody28 said:

If height is an issue then I would stick with the dock sniper or even the 6'10" MH offered in Mojo. Ive never owned one but the Legend Tournament Series also offers a 6'8" MHF and 7'0" Heavy for just under $300

I think I am going to try to stay on the shorter side. I might try the legend tournament. Thank you

On 12/9/2021 at 1:12 PM, Bassjam2000 said:

Cody nailed it, I thought for the longest time that a heavy power was a must for skipping for the winching power but putting the bait where it’ll get bit first is priority imo. I use a 7’ mh/f legend elite. The only thing about that daiwa 6’9” skipping rod that facilitates skipping is the length, it’s got no tip. St croix is clearing out avid x rods on their website right now for $175, they’ve got some mh’s left.

Thanks, I might try the avid x or a legend Tournament Cody mentioned earlier. I am not sure if I am ready to spend >$400 on an elite. Even the Legend Tournament would be 2x more expensive than any of my other rods

On 12/9/2021 at 8:17 PM, Columbia Craw said:

I had the Tatula Elite 7-1 skippin rod. It’s extremely fast for heavy action. My buddy now has it as a jig rod. He doesn’t skip at all.  I transitioned to a Kaden 714 C and I find it easier to load on the circle motion. 

I was just talking to someone else and they said the 7-1 has much more tip than the 6-9. Thanks 

On 12/9/2021 at 11:11 AM, new2BC4bass said:

No experience with it, but ALX has the Zolo Skipper 6'9" MH+ $250.

I have never held an ALX but I might have to give it a try. They have been recommended more than once

[AverageJoeP]

St Croix discontinued the Legend Tournament in November of this year. Apparently they will be releasing a newer version March 2022.

[PaulVE64]

21 minutes ago, AverageJoeP said:

St Croix discontinued the Legend Tournament in November of this year. Apparently they will be releasing a newer version March 2022.

Rodshopper is my new best friend

[Boomstick]

On 12/9/2021 at 12:31 AM, Cody28 said:

If you're willing to go a little longer, the 7'3" MHF and HXF rods in the St. Croix Victory line are both super awesome rods.

 

My youngest kid has them both. The 7'3" MH/F is pretty stout and would do quite well but the H/XF  is a really fantastic all-around jig rod. I personally prefer shorter rods for skipping, but it's not a requirement.

 

On 12/9/2021 at 12:31 AM, Cody28 said:

Side Note: There is a 7'1' MHF in the St. Croix Victory line, but I hear it is much lighter power than the 7'3" MH for some reason and is better off as a spinnerbait rod. 

 

The 7'1" is closer to a medium by St Croix standards.

On 12/3/2021 at 1:55 PM, AverageJoeP said:

the 7' MH EF rod with the AGS guides (the finesse Erhler rod)

The M-MH Ehrler finesse rod is generally designed to favor lighter wire hooks. It's a great rod to throw just about any finesse jig on and T-Rigs from weightless to 3/8oz, but unless you primarily skip finesse jigs it's not what you're looking for.

 

For a specialty rod for skipping jigs, I would favor the 6'9" Tatula Elite skipping rod or the 6'9" Zolo Dock Skipper as I prefer a rod around 6'9" or 6'10" for skipping.

 

If you want to go with St  Croix, I would look at the 7'3" H/XF Victory models mentioned above - the dock sniper would also work, but it is a bit of a broomstick in comparison and the Victory rods are really light and sensitive so they're worth the upgrade.

[the reel ess]

Here's what I use. The 6'10" pitching stick. Everything you need in a jig/pitching rod, nothing you don't need. It skips baits and even handles lighter lures pretty well. A big part of skipping the bait is in the bait you use. The Trashmaster jig skips better than conventional jigs. The "bug" style trailers, like the Rage Bug skip better than the more classic craw-style trailers.

https://www.falconrods.com/product/bucoo-sr

[Fishydishy]

On 12/8/2021 at 9:31 PM, Cody28 said:

Personally, I like skipping jigs with a stouter medium heavy rod with a soft tip to help with circle casts. This opens up a lot of options especially with St. Croix. If you're willing to go a little longer, the 7'3" MHF and HXF rods in the St. Croix Victory line are both super awesome rods. I have the MHF and it quickly has become my favorite rod. I've handled the HXF and its tip is super soft with a stout backbone, so it might be perfect for your needs. If height is an issue then I would stick with the dock sniper or even the 6'10" MH offered in Mojo. Ive never owned one but the Legend Tournament Series also offers a 6'8" MHF and 7'0" Heavy for just under $300. 

Side Note: There is a 7'1' MHF in the St. Croix Victory line, but I hear it is much lighter power than the 7'3" MH for some reason and is better off as a spinnerbait rod. 

 

On 12/23/2021 at 10:39 AM, Boomstick said:

 

My youngest kid has them both. The 7'3" MH/F is pretty stout and would do quite well but the H/XF  is a really fantastic all-around jig rod. I personally prefer shorter rods for skipping, but it's not a requirement.

 

 

The 7'1" is closer to a medium by St Croix standards.

The M-MH Ehrler finesse rod is generally designed to favor lighter wire hooks. It's a great rod to throw just about any finesse jig on and T-Rigs from weightless to 3/8oz, but unless you primarily skip finesse jigs it's not what you're looking for.

 

For a specialty rod for skipping jigs, I would favor the 6'9" Tatula Elite skipping rod or the 6'9" Zolo Dock Skipper as I prefer a rod around 6'9" or 6'10" for skipping.

 

If you want to go with St  Croix, I would look at the 7'3" H/XF Victory models mentioned above - the dock sniper would also work, but it is a bit of a broomstick in comparison and the Victory rods are really light and sensitive so they're worth the upgrade.

Excuse me for hijacking the thread. I have a question for @Boomstick @Cody28who have handled both the St croix victory 7’3MHF and the HXF. How do you compare the power and action between the two rods. It’s very confusing looking at their ratings. Thanks!

[Boomstick]

8 hours ago, Fishydishy said:

 

Excuse me for hijacking the thread. I have a question for @Boomstick @Cody28who have handled both the St croix victory 7’3MHF and the HXF. How do you compare the power and action between the two rods. It’s very confusing looking at their ratings. Thanks!

The H/xf has a shorter but much softer tip and maybe a little more backbone to it. The MH/F has a stiff tip. Both are good for a lot of the same things (jigs, Carolina rigs, t-rigs etc). The H is more of a specialty stick but a good one where the MH is a little more versatile.

[Bandersnatch]

19 hours ago, Fishydishy said:

 

Excuse me for hijacking the thread. I have a question for @Boomstick @Cody28who have handled both the St croix victory 7’3MHF and the HXF. How do you compare the power and action between the two rods. It’s very confusing looking at their ratings. Thanks!

Pm…

[Cody28]

On 2/6/2022 at 9:48 AM, Boomstick said:

The H/xf has a shorter but much softer tip and maybe a little more backbone to it. The MH/F has a stiff tip. Both are good for a lot of the same things (jigs, Carolina rigs, t-rigs etc). The H is more of a specialty stick but a good one where the MH is a little more versatile.

This ^^