Favorite Jig Rod

[Hughsonbassin]

Wanting to buy new jig rod for both casting and pitching jigs. Any suggestions. Have a bit of everything. Just bought a powell spinning rod and seems to be very sensitve and thinking of buying a powell in casting for a jig rod?

[Lance]

G L X 1st choice, 2nd would be IMX

[hammer]

Not really sure how that biking quote relates to fishing. Anyhow, I just got the Powell 7'3 Med Heavy yesterday and I love it. I have IMX's and GLX's and I think I actually like the Powell more. It's my first Powell, and definately not my last. I went out today and yesterday around my house (Clear Lake) and stuck quite a few on it and didn't miss many. It's great for flipping and casting jigs, or probly many other uses like Carolina Rigs or even a frog.
Just my opinion!

[aNNieNsaLTIE]

I would agree with Hammer. i got a few powells and loomis. I wouldn't say they are all the same But the LOOMIS IMX 843-844-and Powell 734 is what I have if i were to dial in that jig fishing on any water.

on the clear lakes like sonoma, berreyessa, folsom, and local resivors i like my IMX LOOMIS 843 with 10lb test. But on "THE RIVER" I like to pitch my jigs on 30-40lb braid with the Powell 765 or LOOMIS IMX 844.

It's all from my experience on the water during my outings i went this route for a jig rod. I love to fish those jigs. I would try them all. This is the most important reason why you SHOULD NOT just buy everything from a website or catalog, CHECK THEM ALL OUT.

saLTIE-

[Skeeterman]

I use the Powell 705 cef. Powells are great rods can,t go wrong buying one of these rods.

[TTaylor]

I use either a St.Croix Avid AC70MHF (7' MH Fast) or a St.Croix Tournament TBC70MHF (7' MH Fast).

Both rods have a great back bone and the tip action is perfect for jigs IMHO

Troyce

[Lancer]

ST CROIX all the way !!!

Ditto to TROYCE AC70MHF for all my jigs 1/2 oz or more

For my lil 1/4 oz jigs i use the avid AC68MXF (xtra fast tip)

For FLippin jigs go heavy or extra heavy

these rods go for about 145- 165 $ depending where you go to buy them good luck on your selection !!

- Lancer

[big bass beckstrom]

GLX 854 is the best jig rod on the market and pair it w/ a daiwa viento. Best jig combo ever!

[Paul W]

Powell 734, 735, 704, or 705. It doesnt get any better than those sticks, can't go wrong w/ any of them!!! Backed by a great warranty as well.

Paul W

[MikeD]

how does the shimano crucial CRC-X70M/MH/H, CRC-X72H series compare against the Powell 734, 735, 704, or 705 rods?

I'm looking for a 7'+ rod just for jigs in 3/8, 1/2 and 5/8 sizes for delta fishing.

[biteme]

I use the Powell 705 cef. Powells are great rods can,t go wrong buying one of these rods.

Agreed! Ive been very happy with em! My buddy is a die hard loomis fan. That is until he just had to pay 50.00 for warranty,hahahaha.

[mark poulson]

I'm waiting for the Dobyns Rods to come to a store near me before I buy another rod. It's killing me, but I'm sure the wait will be worth it.
Can't wait to get my hands on his jig rods. I'm sure there's a 7 footer with my name on it.

[Cooch]

Bar none, my Cameron CR704! It's a 7' footer, heavy action fast tip US Graphite blank! I have 3 and also use the 6'6" CR664 too. I've played with a lot of jig rods, it's still the one I choose to use and the standard I have yet to find matched!

Most so called "Jig Rods", are weak, PERIOD! They have too soft of a tip, even though the rod makers call em "Heavy". Ya don't want a broom stick, but ya don't want a dry spaghetti stalk either! Look for double footed guides in your jig rods, if they are selling you a heavy action rod with single foot guides, you WILL be disappointed in time while fishing jigs!!!!

[RichThiel]

Cooch,

I give. Explain the difference between a single footed guide mount over a Double footed on a jig rod. What would be the difference if the guides are mounted correctly. I can see that the cost factor to the company(s).

This question is just not for me but for the whole memberlist of WB.com

Rich

P.s. All my Rods are Double Mounted.

[bassenvy]

seems like it really depends on clear water or dirty chunky water... for all around gonna have to go with the IMX 844 for its sensitivity/lightness...I just picked up a 764 and really like it but haven't thrown enough on it to properly speak on it....had a 705 and donated it to a local rez over the winter was a little stiff for anything under 1/2oz but a good rod..Powell is puting the quality vs cost factor in our favor seems like these days. it can only get better

[Nicholas H.]

Powell 734, 735, 704, or 705, bar none!!! These four rods will cover EVERY Jig application one might have. The Customer Service is TOP NOTCH!

[912nitro]

Castaway..... GL610...... you wouldnt be dissapointed in this rod.......

[SethB]

7' heavy GL3

[Phil]

BASS PRO EXTREME 7' MED HEAVY GREAT JIG ROD

JIGS

[Rob Cummings]

BASS PRO EXTREME 7' MED HEAVY GREAT JIG ROD

JIGS

These are what I started with. Great rods for the money and very durable. Now my favorite is a Powell 705, the difference is night and day concerning the sensitivity and weight.

[Cooch]

memory loss thing startin ta kick in again? All that wind out there jumblin up yer memory banks? LOL This is a discussion we've had on several occassions annually. And I'm more than willing to express my understanding of this with our readers.

In our fishing tools, we basically have two rod types. We have spin casting rods and we have bait casting rods. On spinning rods, the guides reside on the bottom of the blank as we fish. This puts the guides on the inside of the barabolic bend. On bait casting rods, the guides reside on the outside of the blank, where they sit on the outside of the parabolic bend.

Single foot guides, were originally designed for spinning type rods, when placed on the inside of the bend. They provide a much better distribution of the load through the blank. Double footed guides are designed for that outside bend. Each guide type is uniquely designed to give optimum performance for the situation it is being used for.

Many mass producing rod manufacturers of today, began putting single footed guides on their bait casting blanks. Why is that? Well, the first thing most of them say if they don't say, "Ummmmmmmmmmm......" is it makes the rod lighter! Gimme a break, you take 8 single footed guides and the trhead used, and weight them against 8 double footed guides and the thread used, there will be no discernabe difference in weight that the angler can detect, NONE! They do it, for one simple reason, to cut costs! Single foot guides are cheaper, and they only have to spend the time to wrap one foot per guide.

Ask them two questions. First, why don't they use double footed guides on Spinning rods? You NEVER see this. There's a simple reason, they are not designed for spinning rods. Then ask them, why do you use two, maybe three double footed guides at the base of the rod, then change up and use single footed guides at the tip of the blank, versus double footed guides all the way through? Yer answers will vary, none of them will be mechanically sound. It's about costs.

Now just think back, to the last time ya broke a rod tip. And I know fer a fact, everyone reading this will be able to relate. When you break a rod, during a cast or hook set, 95% of the time, where does it break? Let me guess, somewhere between the 2nd and 4th guide, right? Why do ya think that happens right there so often? Because of improper load, distribution and over torquing of the blank at that point. Why do we git this improper functionality, because the guides are not properly balanced along the spine of the blank, or improper installation of the guide type.

Here's a simple test for ya, it will clearly show ya what I'm talking about here. Take yer favorite spinning rod, with line strung through the guides. Grab that line about 3 feet from the rod tip. Hold the rod straight out, pull that line taught putting a load on the blank. Pull that line until yer hand reaches the reel. Take notice of the nice parabolic bend in yer blank, and how the guides remain in line with that blank. You will also notice, at no point, does the line ever cross the axis of the blank. That's a good thing, mechanically sound. Turn that rod over and perform the same test, with the guides on top of the rod. Take notice of the complete different reaction to the entire mechanism. You will know have the line passing the axis of the blank at several points, and those guides will cause the blank to roll, left or right. Not good! Careful ya don't pop that blank!!!!

Do this same exact test with yer bait casters where they are using single footed guides. With the guides on top, you'll git points where the line crosses the axis of the rod. This happens fer two reason, first and foremost the guide itself resides much closer to the blank. The second reason will be poor distribution of the guides, or lack of the proper number of guides. The second thing you will see is that as you begin to put more load on that tip, as yer pulling the line towards the butt, that blank tip and guides will eventually roll. Now just imagine what happens on a hook set? What you've done with this test, is put the action in slow motion. Take notice of where ya see those single footed guides begin to roll. Speed that up to real time on the water, now ya know exactly where and why that rod is gonna snap!

Why do ya think rod manufacturers are so readily willing to replace a rod that is broken while fishing. Certainly they can tell if the blank failed, or you caused the damage. Make no mistake about that fellas, they got the best FSI(Fishing Scene Investigators) crew in town!. Because most of them know, there really is an engineering design flaw in their product, and that's the weakest point in a rod. But they are willing to gamble with using these guides, to improve the bottom line, long term. It's that ole Corporate Power thing, versus the engineer guy who designs the product. Who do ya think has the final say?

I used to love the old Browning and Bass Pro Shops Tournament Special rods back in the 80s. I never broke any of those rods on hooksets. I still have 6 of them out in the garage that I've retired. These were all built with double footed guides. They have a flaw compaired to the rods I use today, they are 6'6" rods with only 6 guides. I was introduced to Cameron in 96, and this concept was explained to me then. I discussed this with Jeff Skaggs and a couple of other custom rod builders. They concurred with the thought process here. And I can honestly say, I have never busted a custom rod that Jeff or Steve Beichman has built for me, nor one of my Camerons, between the 2-4 guides while casting or on a hookset. I certainly have busted rods, but it's because I stepped on em, closed a rod locker or trunk lid on em, creating a weak spot. But never because of this design flaw.

There is some science that goes into building rods, it's not perfect, it's not absolute, but there are some common sense factors we all should be aware of. Under certain fishing applications, maybe using the single foot guides, will not expose this flaw. But I can assure you, when looking at the proper tool for jig fishing, you are putting that rod to the extreme test! And it is my recommendation that you select the absloute best designed rod for this application. I'm not saying that Cameron is the best solution, heck, due to a serious illness to the owner, they no longer exist. But rod manufactures are making the changes with more guides, and using the proper guides on certain rods. You can find em, as long as ya know what ta look for.

[bassenvy]

some good info right there! makes perfect sense to me and I almost bought a Cameron over the Powell 705 I lost...gonna have to take the pepsi challenge and pick one up this summer

[lionkiller]

Rogue "Tackle It Pro' 704 GH. The sensitivity of the blank & graphite handle amazed me from the 1st night I took it out...

[MikeD]

results so far:

member - rod
lance - GLX
hammer - Powell 7'3 Med Heavy
aNNieNsaLTIE - clear water IMX LOOMIS 843 with 10lb test, THE RIVER Powell 765 or LOOMIS IMX 844 30-40lb braid
Skeeterman - Powell 705 cef
TTaylor - St.Croix Avid AC70MHF or Tournament TBC70MHF
Lancer - St.Croix Avid AC70MHF or Tournament TBC70MHF
big bass beckstrom - GLX 854
Paul W - Powell 734, 735, 704, or 705
biteme - Powell 705 cef
Cooch - Cameron CR704
bassenvy - IMX 844
Nicholas H. - Powell 734, 735, 704, or 705
912nitro - Castaway GL610
SethB - heavy GL3
JIGS TACKLE - BASS PRO EXTREME 7' MED HEAVY
AFbass - Powell 705
wooch - Lamiglas 655
lionkiller - Rogue "Tackle It Pro' 704 GH

[Hughsonbassin]

Thank you for everyones suggestions and opinions. My current favorite jig rod is my 7' MH Fenwick Techna A/V that I just broke, damn. Hence the want to go buy a new one while the other is getting warrantied. But all sold out of the Powells at Escalon. Guess I will wait it out for the Dobyns maybe and check em out. If the Powell is good the Dobyns should be better.

[Paul W]

If the Powell is good the Dobyns should be better.