I'm having a little trouble with deciding on a length for my next jig rod. I'm already set on trying out the an ***. But I can't decide on the 7'1 or 7'3 mh. It'll be used for a lot of pitching and casting to cover, as well as some skipping and a fair amount of football jigs, mostly around 20 feet and shallower. I like the 7'1 for pitching and skipping as well as casting in shallower water. But I'm afraid it may be too short for deeper water applications with football jigs. What are your thoughts?

My jig rod is a 7'1 and it seems to work great for everything I do with it. By the way, you will be very happy will your ***, I have the 7'1 mh for my texas rig rod and my phenix recon 7'1 H that is my jig rod isn't all that much better.

i say go 7'3. those extra two inch's arn't really gonna hurt you when skipping,( ya a 7'1 is easier, but i can still skip with my 7'4 dobyns) but it will help a lot when fishing deeper and getting a good hookset. i Have one of both, and you'll love the 7'3 man, it truly is a versatile rod. go for it. soon as my check clears the bank, im ordering another one.

My casting jig rods are all 6'10" and my standard length cast is 90' and fishing deep clear structured lakes to a depth of 35-40 feet.

Longer rods may increase your casting distance a few yards, have little to do with achieving a good hook set with the jig over 40' away. You should more concerned with the rods power (4 to 5) and casting ability.

Learn to reel set followed by a firm rod sweep, when making longer casts.

Tom

Vote for the 7'1" MH

I use a 7'1 Powell 714 Heavy and it does well. As for casting footballs and casting jigs a long ways it does good there also. But normally, im not trying to BOMB it for distance.. ill know what the bottom contour looks like and cast about 20 - 30 yards. And that is plenty far enough. Durring the spring and summer, ill use alot of flipping jigs and do mostly medium range pitches and skipping with it...

I can skip and roll cast with a longer rod like a 7'4 but its alot easier with a shorter rod.

Either way, you have to find what you can live with..and what works best for what you do. Other than my deep cranking rods, my jig rod is the only rod that I label as "for this technique only" i do that because i feel that my selected rod is PERFECT for that application. All my other rods, ill use them for a few different type of lures each.

My advice is whatever rod you get, try it out with other techniques when you first get it and see what it excels at for you. But it should make a darn good jig rod. I say this because i got the Powell 723 for a jig rod and decided it wasnt as good for MY jig fishing as it was for spinners, chatters, hollow swimbaits, and t rigs... i eventualy bought the 714 and found that it was exactly what i was looking for.

My casting jig rods are all 6'10" and my standard length cast is 90' and fishing deep clear structured lakes to a depth of 35-40 feet.

Longer rods may increase your casting distance a few yards, have little to do with achieving a good hook set with the jig over 40' away. You should more concerned with the rods power (4 to 5) and casting ability.

Learn to reel set followed by a firm rod sweep, when making longer casts.

Tom

x2  I have 3 Falcon Cara rods that are 6'10"  The only way I would go longer is if I was flipping and pitching in some of that slop down in Florida.

Either length will work.

My jig rods are 7'1".

I'm having a little trouble with deciding on a length for my next jig rod. I'm already set on trying out the an ***. But I can't decide on the 7'1 or 7'3 mh. It'll be used for a lot of pitching and casting to cover, as well as some skipping and a fair amount of football jigs, mostly around 20 feet and shallower. I like the 7'1 for pitching and skipping as well as casting in shallower water. But I'm afraid it may be too short for deeper water applications with football jigs. What are your thoughts?

 

If you can afford the longer length for storage, travel, etc. I would go with it. They will cast, pitch, and flip further from my experience and give better deep water hooksets. I prefer longer rods for these applications, but I have a 7'1'' cumulus that works well for a jig/t-rig rod. That is just my input, there is not a  huge difference in 2". I would look into the rod that you are getting, I would place a higher priority on the rod you might be getting, than the length's that are available of that rod lineup.

 

For example, if you want a phenix recon I would get the 715c and not choose a different rod just because it offers a couple more inches in length.