fuzzface Posted January 1, 2023 Posted January 1, 2023 Specifically, I have $200 to spend on a rod to cast/pitch 5/16 oz Siebert Sniper jigs with a Paca chunk trailer at isolated targets and docks. 3-12ft of clear water. light to medium cover. Targeting 4-6lb largemouth. Thanks in advance. Looking for specific model recommendations. Leaning toward Zodias, Victory…. What else? 2 Quote
softwateronly Posted January 1, 2023 Posted January 1, 2023 55 minutes ago, fuzzface said: Specifically, I have $200 to spend on a rod to cast/pitch 5/16 oz Siebert Sniper jigs with a Paca chunk trailer at isolated targets and docks. 3-12ft of clear water. light to medium cover. Targeting 4-6lb largemouth. Thanks in advance. Looking for specific model recommendations. Leaning toward Zodias, Victory…. What else? The site sees a lot of these posts, you can search everyone's responses over the years up in the upper right corner search box. Here's my couple and then a short list of ones that get mentioned frequently.... I just picked up 2 Phenix feathers on BF, but haven't really had time with them yet. Feathers tend to fish one power light and more mod, so this is close to a "normal" M/F Phenix Feather Casting Rod 7'1" MH/XF Phenix Feather Casting Rod 7'1" H/F Highly recommended here and elsewhere online, and I'm really interested in them personally, but I've never fished one... Major Craft MS-1 Casting Rod 7' M/F Major Craft MS-1 Casting Rod 7'3" MH/F (has a long rear handle, fyi) Daiwa Tatula Casting Rod 7'1" Med Hvy Daiwa Tatula Elite Casting Rod 7'3" Med Hvy Ehrler Ark Tharp Series Casting Rod 7'3" Med Hvy Money Maker Ark Tharp Series Casting Rod 7' MH/X Fast Hammer Okuma Psycho Stick Casting Rod 7'2" Medium Okuma Psycho Stick Casting Rod 7'2" Med Hvy Irod crusher Dobyns Sierra Powell endurance My current rod for sniper jigs is a Poison Adrena 6'11M+ scott 2 1 Quote
fuzzface Posted January 2, 2023 Author Posted January 2, 2023 2 hours ago, softwateronly said: The site sees a lot of these posts, you can search everyone's responses over the years up in the upper right corner search box. Here's my couple and then a short list of ones that get mentioned frequently.... I just picked up 2 Phenix feathers on BF, but haven't really had time with them yet. Feathers tend to fish one power light and more mod, so this is close to a "normal" M/F Phenix Feather Casting Rod 7'1" MH/XF Phenix Feather Casting Rod 7'1" H/F Highly recommended here and elsewhere online, and I'm really interested in them personally, but I've never fished one... Major Craft MS-1 Casting Rod 7' M/F Major Craft MS-1 Casting Rod 7'3" MH/F (has a long rear handle, fyi) Daiwa Tatula Casting Rod 7'1" Med Hvy Daiwa Tatula Elite Casting Rod 7'3" Med Hvy Ehrler Ark Tharp Series Casting Rod 7'3" Med Hvy Money Maker Ark Tharp Series Casting Rod 7' MH/X Fast Hammer Okuma Psycho Stick Casting Rod 7'2" Medium Okuma Psycho Stick Casting Rod 7'2" Med Hvy Irod crusher Dobyns Sierra Powell endurance My current rod for sniper jigs is a Poison Adrena 6'11M+ scott Thanks for detailed reply! Great list. I love the search function and have gotten so much valuable info. Don’t mean to seem lazy…. just wanted to see if anyone had any specific models that have hit the mark lately for that particular bait/use. Quote
softwateronly Posted January 2, 2023 Posted January 2, 2023 31 minutes ago, fuzzface said: Thanks for detailed reply! Great list. I love the search function and have gotten so much valuable info. Don’t mean to seem lazy…. just wanted to see if anyone had any specific models that have hit the mark lately for that particular bait/use. I think there's some fatigue when it comes to these open ended rod questions and maybe that's why there hasn't been many answers. Nothing wrong with asking, and nothing wrong with others not responding. I'm just not wanting to see a newer poster get ignored. Specific questions within lines and or brands seem to bring out the most useful details. Also, I just might be wrong. Best of luck, you're in a great price range in my opinion to get a good/great rod. scott 1 Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted January 2, 2023 Super User Posted January 2, 2023 Yeah that is such a wide open category and price range your choices are going to be overwhelming. I don't have any personal experience with exactly what you're looking for in that price range but the Shimano Zodias and Daiwa Rebellion and Tatula Elite would be the rods I would look at if I were you. I don't know how they compare in the sensitivity department but the Dobyn's Champion at around $200 is a good discount from the regular price and they generally make nice rods that are super popular. 1 Quote
Super User T-Billy Posted January 2, 2023 Super User Posted January 2, 2023 Ark Tharp Series "Hammer" 7' MH XF. Soft tip for pitching light baits, plenty of backbone for the cover you described. Light, sensitive, very well balanced and $129 at full retail. You can spend a lot more and get less rod. It's my favorite rod for skipping docks , light jigs/trig's, senkos, tubes... 2 1 Quote
rangerjockey Posted January 2, 2023 Posted January 2, 2023 The Falcon finesse jig rod is a dandy. Originally it was called the Eakins rod and was in the Lowrider series. Jim Eakins designed it to pitch his Signature 5/16 ball head jig on Table Rock and Bull Shoals. Falcon still makes a version of it in the Cara and Expert series. I personally think they have tightened that rod up over the years but it's still good. Or... Check out the Virtus version . In the Red Diamond series it's a little over your budget but I believe they have it in the Blue Diamond series also. They are made in Harrison Ar. in the same place Falcon was before they moved offshore with the same Mandrels. It's an outstanding rod and it makes a good walking bait rod with mono also. 1 Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 2, 2023 Super User Posted January 2, 2023 Diawia Tatula TTU711MHXB 1 Quote
Super User LrgmouthShad Posted January 2, 2023 Super User Posted January 2, 2023 Sounds pretty light. iRod Genesis III Harold’s Lone Star Special Also the best light t-rig rod on the planet. Is it really? Dunno but I can’t imagine one being much better. @Catt you ever use this rod? I remember at some point you said you “held” and liked the 704C for jigs 1 1 Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 2, 2023 Super User Posted January 2, 2023 57 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said: @Catt you ever use this rod? I remember at some point you said you “held” and liked the 704C for jigs I test drove iRod Genesis II, loved the rod & everything about it with the exception of the EVA grips. Do not own a rod with EVA grips, will never own a rod EVA grips! 1 Quote
Super User LrgmouthShad Posted January 2, 2023 Super User Posted January 2, 2023 14 minutes ago, Catt said: I test drove iRod Genesis II, loved the rod & everything about it with the exception of the EVA grips. Do not own a rod with EVA grips, will never own a rod EVA grips! Cuckoo cajun Thanks. Just messin with ya sir 2 Quote
Super User casts_by_fly Posted January 3, 2023 Super User Posted January 3, 2023 14 hours ago, rangerjockey said: The Falcon finesse jig rod is a dandy. Originally it was called the Eakins rod and was in the Lowrider series. Jim Eakins designed it to pitch his Signature 5/16 ball head jig on Table Rock and Bull Shoals. Falcon still makes a version of it in the Cara and Expert series. I personally think they have tightened that rod up over the years but it's still good. Or... Check out the Virtus version . In the Red Diamond series it's a little over your budget but I believe they have it in the Blue Diamond series also. They are made in Harrison Ar. in the same place Falcon was before they moved offshore with the same Mandrels. It's an outstanding rod and it makes a good walking bait rod with mono also. this. I love my expert finesse jig rod. Great for lighter swim jigs and finesse jigs. Also great for a lot of other stuff. 1 Quote
Super User LrgmouthShad Posted January 3, 2023 Super User Posted January 3, 2023 3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said: this. I love my expert finesse jig rod. Great for lighter swim jigs and finesse jigs. Also great for a lot of other stuff. How do you like the moderate fast taper for jigs? ‘Course I’ve used my Head Turner for jigs before and thought it was fine but wanted to hear what you think since you’ve used these rods for longer than I have. Do you even prefer the moderate fast over a fast? Im just curious. I like my main jig rod (704C) and almost certainly won’t change but nice to get another perspective. Quote
rangerjockey Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 5 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said: How do you like the moderate fast taper for jigs? ‘Course I’ve used my Head Turner for jigs before and thought it was fine but wanted to hear what you think since you’ve used these rods for longer than I have. Do you even prefer the moderate fast over a fast? Im just curious. I like my main jig rod (704C) and almost certainly won’t change but nice to get another perspective. Falcon's have always fished on the slower side of fast. It was designed for a small jig with a light wire hook so it makes sense to soften it up some. The Original Eakin's rod was really soft and a lot of folks didn't like it ,including some folks at Falcon but it wasn't intended to be a football jig rod. It was a good squarebill and slab spoon rod however. Quote
Derek1 Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 Agree with the falcon finesse jig rod. It does really well with allot stuff. To me it feels on the faster side of moderate fast. At least in the Cara line. Quote
Super User casts_by_fly Posted January 3, 2023 Super User Posted January 3, 2023 9 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said: How do you like the moderate fast taper for jigs? ‘Course I’ve used my Head Turner for jigs before and thought it was fine but wanted to hear what you think since you’ve used these rods for longer than I have. Do you even prefer the moderate fast over a fast? Im just curious. I like my main jig rod (704C) and almost certainly won’t change but nice to get another perspective. I would call the finesse jig pretty close to a true fast action (and it is labeled as such). The difference is that is is much lighter on power than you'd expect any rod with the word 'jig' in the name to be, much as rangerjockey as described. If you put it on a board and measure the action with something like the common cents methodology, its going to have a pretty similar action to the head turner. A very small amount of weight/force and the tip is flexing, but about 30% of the way down the rod the action tightens up a lot (I don't want to say 'locks up' but definitely tightens up). With the head turner, there is a lot more power in the bottom half of the blank and you know that power is there. When the tip tightens up on the HT, there is a lot of power right there and not much more of the rod bends unless you're into a good fish. With the finesse jig, you transition quickly from the top 30% for casting purposes into the mid 50% for hook setting and fighting a fish. A 2lb fish will put a good bend in the rod, much further down than they will on the HT. Finesse jig aside and specific to your question, I don't prefer a MH for jigs (vibrating jigs aside) and have been steadily upping the power on my jig rods also. For anyone considering the finesse jig, I look at it based on the line I'm throwing on it. This is a rod that will top out at 14 lb test to me and even that's heavy. Sure, you can use whatever line you want, but sometimes you just get a feel for something that feels right. This rod is a 10-14 lb line rod and fits lures that are happy with that line. Lighter wire jigs like the sniper or a strike king bitsy bug on 12 lb mono around docks and light cover is a great use. I love mine for throwing 1/2 oz dawgs and with the Abu MGX I have on it the whole rig is about 7.5 oz. In the spring I'll even fish a 1/2 oz chatterbait on it depending on the day and lake. I can completely understand the original use of the rod- light jigs on lighter line bounced down rock banks. If you fish a small paddle tail that way then this is a great rod for you (a 1/4 ball head and 3.8 keitech SIF fishes great on this rod). Quote
fuzzface Posted January 4, 2023 Author Posted January 4, 2023 Excellent info and advice here. Especially regarding lighter action jig rods. I’ve learned and researched a lot! Full disclosure… I agree with @Catt and currently use the Diawia Tatula TTU711MHXB for my stated purpose above (5/16-7/16 finesse jig and trailer). It’s just about perfect. So allow me to narrow the scope a bit. What would be a great companion rod for the same use, but slightly lighter action use? If the Tatula is the heavy side of what I need, is the Falcon finesse jig or the irod genesis iii texas special the lighter side? I would just grab another Tatula but I’d like a slightly lighter action in the mix for slightly lighter baits. Thanks in advance! 1 Quote
Super User casts_by_fly Posted January 4, 2023 Super User Posted January 4, 2023 12 hours ago, fuzzface said: Excellent info and advice here. Especially regarding lighter action jig rods. I’ve learned and researched a lot! Full disclosure… I agree with @Catt and currently use the Diawia Tatula TTU711MHXB for my stated purpose above (5/16-7/16 finesse jig and trailer). It’s just about perfect. So allow me to narrow the scope a bit. What would be a great companion rod for the same use, but slightly lighter action use? If the Tatula is the heavy side of what I need, is the Falcon finesse jig or the irod genesis iii texas special the lighter side? I would just grab another Tatula but I’d like a slightly lighter action in the mix for slightly lighter baits. Thanks in advance! I don't know Tatulas so can't compare first hand. From the specs, that's on the bigger end of MH and I can see why it would be perfect for the bigger jigs you're using on it. You're saying same use but slightly lighter action. Lighter is power and slower is action. If you want a little less power in the rod (while keeping the really quick tip) then a Medium XF would be the next move. If you want the same power but want the rod to flex a bit further down when you cast then a MH Fast would be the move. The falcon would be in the latter camp- MH, great for that 1/4-3/8 jig plus trailer, quick tip but not an XF, lighter power than a lot of jig rods for managing finer hooks and lighter line. I use mine a lot for 1/4-3/8 swim jigs like the strike king tour grade which are fine wire and thin weed guards. There is also the tatula 6'10" MH F that is probably the right answer. If you like the bigger MHXF for the top end, a little shorter MHF from the same maker is probably going to feel good. 1 Quote
Tarpon Hunter Posted January 4, 2023 Posted January 4, 2023 I have an Ark Tharp Series Casting Rod 7' Hammer and the Okuma Tournament Concept TCS "a" 7' Med Hvy. Both are great all around rods. I can throw weightless 4" senkos and bomb out 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits with both. 1 Quote
fuzzface Posted January 5, 2023 Author Posted January 5, 2023 7 hours ago, casts_by_fly said: I don't know Tatulas so can't compare first hand. From the specs, that's on the bigger end of MH and I can see why it would be perfect for the bigger jigs you're using on it. You're saying same use but slightly lighter action. Lighter is power and slower is action. If you want a little less power in the rod (while keeping the really quick tip) then a Medium XF would be the next move. If you want the same power but want the rod to flex a bit further down when you cast then a MH Fast would be the move. The falcon would be in the latter camp- MH, great for that 1/4-3/8 jig plus trailer, quick tip but not an XF, lighter power than a lot of jig rods for managing finer hooks and lighter line. I use mine a lot for 1/4-3/8 swim jigs like the strike king tour grade which are fine wire and thin weed guards. There is also the tatula 6'10" MH F that is probably the right answer. If you like the bigger MHXF for the top end, a little shorter MHF from the same maker is probably going to feel good. I really appreciate your time and info. And thanks for clarifying the distinction between power and “speed”. I’m definitely looking for a slower and shorter MH. Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 5, 2023 Super User Posted January 5, 2023 Dobyns Kaden KD713C, full cork handle, MHF, 7’1” 1/4-3/4 oz lures. In your price point and ideal for your presentation. Dobyns Customer Service is outstanding and often has special sales. Tom 1 Quote
fuzzface Posted January 5, 2023 Author Posted January 5, 2023 17 minutes ago, WRB said: Dobyns Kaden KD713C, full cork handle, MHF, 7’1” 1/4-3/4 oz lures. In your price point and ideal for your presentation. Tom Thanks for weighing in, @WRB I wouldn’t be here asking questions about precisely dialing in my jig fishing if it weren’t for all of wisdom and advice that you’ve generously passed along. 1 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted January 5, 2023 Super User Posted January 5, 2023 If you can take a look at the St. Croix Victory "The Grunt". It's a 7'1" MH/F and would do very well with 5/16 oz. jig. It has a nice soft tip to it so it handles the lighter jigs with ease, it still has enough backbone if you want to move to a heavier jig as well. 1 1 Quote
fuzzface Posted January 7, 2023 Author Posted January 7, 2023 This has all been great info. Thanks for the discussion and info. One last inquiry: @Catt You’ve described your two rod setup with the Powell and the Tatula. Any other (currently available) contenders for the Powell spot? I don’t mind EVA. Something on more on the M side of MHXF like your Powell? Thanks! Quote
Super User PhishLI Posted January 7, 2023 Super User Posted January 7, 2023 1 hour ago, fuzzface said: Any other (currently available) contenders for the Powell spot? I don’t mind EVA. Something on more on the M side of MHXF like your Powell? This one; Diesel 723C MHEF It's more medium than MH. Diesel Casting Rods - Powell Rods (powellco.com) 1 Quote
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