Rod for swim jig?

[Eddie101]

Based on concept that glass rod is the consensus for chatterbait, I used a glass rod for swim jig - mostly 1/4 or 3/8 oz - as well since IMHO they’re similar. Well, I missed a nice three pounder, and barely hooked others. Should I have used a stiffer worm rod instead? What do you experts use? 

[MN Fisher]

Chatter and Spinner on Mod-Fast (Fury 705CB for me)

Swim Jigs on Fast (Mojo Bass 7'1" MH/F)

[Cbump]

Hate glass. 

[optimator]

ALX Toadface is working good for me. And I’m another that doesn’t like glass.

[Eddie101]

Isn’t glass suppose to be ideal for either crank bait or chatterbait or perhaps even both?

[T-Billy]

I still like a composite here, but I use a H action and braid. Second choice is a graphite blank that's on the slower side of fast. 

[lynxcat]

I wouldn’t overthink it. MH/F works just fine. 

[Hammer 4]

A MH/F will work just fine for swimjigs. 

[Jrob78]

I like glass for chatterbaits and modfast graphite for spinnerbaits but prefer a standard MH F for swimjigs. 

[softwateronly]

Another vote for MH/F in general, and certain MH/MF rods or mbr actions, but all graphite.

 

scott

[Bankbeater]

I use an mh/f St. Croix Premier for all jigs up to 1/2 ounce.  Around here the bass usually choke a swim jig when they are serious about eating it.  If the bass you are catching are barely hooked then it may be more about the attitude of the bass and not your rod.

[LrgmouthShad]

Okay I like two for swim jigs. But to keep my explanation simple, I like a standard jig rod when I am in thick cover. If I am in open water or sparser cover, I like the rod to be longer with a moderate fast taper. 

 

For me, this translated to iROD Genesis III 704C for thicker cover, and iROD Genesis III Stone Cold Swim and Vibrating Jig Rod for open water or sparser cover

 

If I could only have one? I would just do everything on one jig rod to keep it simple

[Cbump]

My rods that I would throw a swim jig on:

Falcon Lowrider Head Turner

Shimano Expride 72MH 

MB Orochi Diablo Spec R

 

 Most I paid for any of these was $175

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, Cbump said:

Falcon Lowrider Head Turner

Only problem with owning a head turner is I want another one.... all the dang time

[DEPS_250]

I am looking for a dedicated swim jig rod also. I literally watched over a dozen youtube videos yesterday on swim jig fishing tips.

 

I like to fish braid to a short leader for a lot of my fishing. Does anyone know of a composite or graphite rod that has a good amount of sensitivity but than also has a slow enough action to counter act the braid and not pull the jig away from the fish too fast? Should I be looking for a Moderate Fast action?

 

In my opinion, glass rods are not the way to go for swim jigs, even if your planning to use braided line. Glass rods do not have the sensitivity needed for swim jigs. 100% graphite or composite would be the right way to go. Sensitivity is very important for fishing a swim jig even though swim jigs are not considered a bottom contact technique and are more likely to be labeled as a moving/reaction bait.

 

The best way to fish a swim jig is usually trying to crash/bump/hit it into any kind of cover where you think a bass is hiding in. A good sensitive rod gives the angler the feedback he/she needs in order to tell what the jig is doing and if they are hitting a piece of cover and when they need to pop/rip the jig from a piece of cover in order to elicit a strike. Most of your swim jig bites come from popping or ripping the jig from a piece of cover. 

[LrgmouthShad]

10 minutes ago, DEPS_250 said:

line. Glass rods do not have the sensitivity needed for swim jigs

I’m curious. For what techniques do you see glass rods as desirable?

[DEPS_250]

3 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I’m curious. For what techniques do you see glass rods as desirable?

I mostly use glass rods for crankbaits only. 

[Cbump]

20 minutes ago, DEPS_250 said:

Does anyone know of a composite or graphite rod that has a good amount of sensitivity but than also has a slow enough action to counter act the braid and not pull the jig away from the fish too fast?

See my post above. Also used to have a Mojo Bass spinnerbait rod that was pretty sick. 

[Pogues2300]

I’ve used mh/fast many times for a swim jig and it works well. And as someone stated if you are in thicker cover I think that’s the way to go. Lately I’ve been throwing a swim jig on my nrx+ 844c mbr (this morning most recently) and really like it. Enough back bone to set the hook and a little give to help keep fish pinned. Probably could strike a similar balance with mh/fast with mono or just mono leader. 

[LrgmouthShad]

4 minutes ago, DEPS_250 said:

I mostly use glass rods for crankbaits only. 

Okay so it is important to feel what a swim jig is bumping against but not a crankbait, even though generally with crankbaits it is generally common thought that you need to be bumping cover to maximize your bites?

 

Im not saying that I agree with you that glass rods are “not sensitive enough.” I just really don’t understand your argument against glass rods for swim jigs. I don’t use a glass rod for swim jigs either. But your reasoning is really strange

[GetFishorDieTryin]

For a full size swim jig I like a 7'3 MH(1/4-1oz) F.  The slightly longer rod gives you a softer tip, which I dont really think is necessary for working to the bait, but it helps with casting. I like to use 15lb FC, but if you like to use braid you could get away with a shorter lighter power MH if you wanted to.  

[softwateronly]

4 hours ago, DEPS_250 said:

I am looking for a dedicated swim jig rod also. I literally watched over a dozen youtube videos yesterday on swim jig fishing tips.

 

I like to fish braid to a short leader for a lot of my fishing. Does anyone know of a composite or graphite rod that has a good amount of sensitivity but than also has a slow enough action to counter act the braid and not pull the jig away from the fish too fast? Should I be looking for a Moderate Fast action?

 

In my opinion, glass rods are not the way to go for swim jigs, even if your planning to use braided line. Glass rods do not have the sensitivity needed for swim jigs. 100% graphite or composite would be the right way to go. Sensitivity is very important for fishing a swim jig even though swim jigs are not considered a bottom contact technique and are more likely to be labeled as a moving/reaction bait.

 

The best way to fish a swim jig is usually trying to crash/bump/hit it into any kind of cover where you think a bass is hiding in. A good sensitive rod gives the angler the feedback he/she needs in order to tell what the jig is doing and if they are hitting a piece of cover and when they need to pop/rip the jig from a piece of cover in order to elicit a strike. Most of your swim jig bites come from popping or ripping the jig from a piece of cover. 

 

Most of the time I keep 2 swim jig setups on my deck, 5/16oz DJ swim jig w/ 4.5" paddle tail on a Expride 7'6 MH/MF and a 3/4oz DJ Cali swim jig w/ 5" paddle tail on a Conquest 904mbr, always braid, usually braid to leader.  I feel like I can go over or through any cover on my water at any time.  I like the longer rods for this technique and both these rods have the proper tip/backbone ratio for straight swimming or popping it off the bottom/cover.  I also like the Dobyns 755/735 actions for this as well.

 

 

scott

 

[txchaser]

Depends on what hook your swimjig has on it.  A lot of them are designed to be fished on straight braid and have thick hooks. Start with your hook diameter (fine, medium, heavy, X-heavy/braid) and choose the rod based on that.

 

Some have more medium wire and will do just fine on a MH. Most chatterbaits are a medium wire. 

 

I don't like a stiff tip on them though, so either a soft tip or something like the daiwa/shimano "R" which is probably a mod-fast. 

 

 

"There is no light wire hook here, the 5/0 VMC 30 degree hook is sharp enough to stick fish with little effort, but has all the strength of a heavy wire flipping hook. " Dirty Jigs Swim Jig

 

Compare that to the evergreen swim jig (my favorite swimjig at the moment) which is a medium wire. Fishes just fine on 17lb flouro as the hook is about the same diameter as my 4/0 or 5/0 worm hooks.

 

For a similar reason, I've moved towards heavier rods on the 5/0 owner flashy swimmer, which is a much thicker hook than the 3/0. Hookups are much better.

 

 

[waymont]

Swim jig rod- G Loomis 844 MBR.

don’t mess with glass, or even moderate fast rods, fast or extra fast  are best for me. You need to have a strong hook set.

[FryDog62]

Dobyns 734 IMO is the quintessential Swim Jig rod. Gary told me this years ago and I still agree, although he now says the 735 might be even better for this application.