Is a medium heavy rod good for jig fishing with 3/8 and 1/2oz jigs? 

Some companies rate their MH as 1/4-3/4 10-17lb line and some 3/8-1oz 12-20lb line.

If you were to stick to 3/8 and 1/2oz jigs I would go with 3/8-1oz 12-20lb line rating rods.

MH means absolutely nothing when comparing rods from different manufacturers, so the answer to your question is, depends. 

5 hours ago, Jonny15678 said:

Is a medium heavy rod good for jig fishing with 3/8 and 1/2oz jigs? 

Yes

 

MH Extra-Fast and about 7' in length is what you should shoot for.  So....Yes.

9 hours ago, waymont said:

Some companies rate their MH as 1/4-3/4 10-17lb line and some 3/8-1oz 12-20lb line.

If you were to stick to 3/8 and 1/2oz jigs I would go with 3/8-1oz 12-20lb line rating rods.

This would be the guidelines I’d follow. I personally use a Heavy rod for these jigs but it’s bottom weight range is 3/8 oz and it is not as stout of a rod. I agree though that if you prefer a MH, you’ll probably have better luck with a rod where it’s lure weight range is 3/8 to 1 oz

If your not in super heavy weeds it's great. Heavy cover I use a heavy extra fast action BPS Johnny Morris signature series.

The short answer: probably 

Would a Heavy action rod with a rating of 3/8-1oz be more universal for minimal cover and thick cover?

8 minutes ago, Jonny15678 said:

Would a Heavy action rod with a rating of 3/8-1oz be more universal for minimal cover and thick cover?

That's what I use. A H action gives me more confidence to drive the hook home. Of course, I probably swing for the fences way to harder than I should.

28 minutes ago, Jonny15678 said:

Would a Heavy action rod with a rating of 3/8-1oz be more universal for minimal cover and thick cover?

If that’s an option yes. I know a St. Croix’s MH has that lure rating. I think your best bet is to go to the store and hold some of the rods to see if they are going to have enough backbone and tip to throw that size of jig

Yes, absolutely!.....and  MH will work for many other presentations.

 

3 hours ago, Jonny15678 said:

Would a Heavy action rod with a rating of 3/8-1oz be more universal for minimal cover and thick cover?

Really depends on who makes it.  A Dobyns heavy will be more versatile than an Abu heavy.  To me, a pool cue for a fishing rod is not needed for just about anything.  

 

 

A MH/F rod with a line rating of 10-20lbs and a lure rating of 1/4oz to 1oz should be fine for up to a 1/2oz jig unless you're running a really heavy trailer on it or fishing in some serious cover.

 

If I was buying a new rod just for jigs, I would look at something between MH and H like the Shimano Zodias 7'2 MH/F rod which is rated for 10-25lb line and 3/8 - 1oz lures, so basically it's a little stiffer than your typical MH rod but not quite a heavy (I've heard from many users always tell me it's about the perfect all-around jig rod as well). Daiwa makes a 7'6" MH Tatula rod that might do nicely too.

2 hours ago, Boomstick said:

If I was buying a new rod just for jigs, I would look at something between MH and H like the Shimano Zodias 7'2 MH/F rod which is rated for 10-25lb line and 3/8 - 1oz lures, so basically it's a little stiffer than your typical MH rod but not quite a heavy (I've heard from many users always tell me it's about the perfect all-around jig rod as well). Daiwa makes a 7'6" MH Tatula rod that might do nicely too.

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28 minutes ago, ResoKP said:

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Little bit out of my price range but that's the exact kind of rod I was talking about

I use a 7' MH Abu Villain 2.0 almost exclusively for jigs in that range (it also handles 1/4oz jigs fairly well too). Anything in that 12-20lb line rating, or 3/8 to 1oz lure weight with a fast or extra fast (I prefer fast over x-fast for fighting the fish, but you can't really go wrong) will be excellent.

I've seen the zodias already recommended, and I feel I have to pitch in the Villain 2.0 for consideration. I love those rods. 

The newer Diawa Tatula 7' 6" med heavy would be an excellent rod for what you want.  I owned one for a while and loved it.  Great tip for throwing lighter Texas rigs but could easily be a 1/2 jig rod.

 

The only reason I returned it was because it has micro guides and doesn't play well with leader knots.  Excellent rod and can be had on Ebay for $120.

 

 

How are the St. Croix Bass X Rods I like how those look. I understand though that they run a bit heavier than the rating.

I own the Bass X 7'4" medium heavy moderate fast.  It is one of my favorite rods for moving baits and I have used it to throw many 3/8 and 1/2 oz jigs and it handles both well.

 

It has plenty of power for its rating and a moderate fast tip which makes it highly versatile.  I use it currently for mid to large moving baits but there ain't much I haven't thrown on it.

 

Again, I highly recommend the new Diawa Tatula (not Tatula XT) rods.  Above I mentioned the 7'6' but if you plan on tossing many 1/2 jigs, the 7'3 may be best.  It has a slightly, slightly stouter tip.  Both are quite a bit more sensitive than the Bass X.

 

They can be had for $120 or so if you shop around, and worth every penny.  Only reason I don't still use it is because the guides don't play well with leader knots.

Medium heavy jig & worm  (JWR) bait casting rod is good for 3/8 and 1/2 oz jigs, but a medium heavy crankbait, swimbait or spinning rod isn't, IMO.

Tom

On 3/5/2019 at 7:31 PM, Jonny15678 said:

How are the St. Croix Bass X Rods I like how those look. I understand though that they run a bit heavier than the rating.

Yes, they are heavier, more like a light heavy if they ever had a such thing, on the heavy side of medium heavy spectrum, in other words. It's perfect for 1/2oz Swimjigs, Ol Monsters t-rigged on a 4/0 EWG with 1/2 ounce sliding bullet weight (sometimes I like to peg if there's grass), fishing grass with a football jig dragging bottoms. I fish out of a Jon boat, a 7'10" flipper is a bit cumbersome, this rod gets the job done.