On 3/6/2023 at 9:53 AM, casts_by_fly said:

 

 

people ask questions to try to help better.  There are tons of options in the marketplace.  There is a rod, reel, or line to fill every possible use case and preference.  Rather than make assumptions about what you're doing or like, its better to ask a clarifying question or two.  In this case, you might be pitching 5/16 jigs or you might be throwing 3/4oz+plastic.  Since you said you might already have a rod for the job, then what's your preferred action/style?

 

For me personally, I fish a lot of similar aquatic veg over here in NJ.  Tons of pads, thick milfoil and pondweed.  I'm normally throwing 3/8-1/2 lead plus plastic or comparable jig.  My choice is the Falcon expert Amistad with 50 lb braid.  7'3" heavy fast, but not pool cue.  A 3/8 and beaver (palmetto bug, bandito bug, etc) is about as light as I want to go on it to maintain accuracy.  If you're fishing lighter lures, the Heavy cover jig is a better choice.  If you prefer a shorter rod and its more loose vegetation then the 6'10" head turner is designed as a light pitching stick.  I have all three of them and they have their place.  The head turner is my swim jig through vegetation rod.

I have the Falcon Head Turner and I agree it’s great for swim jigs in the grass and also pitching lighter jigs into moderate cover. Great for open-water/weed line frogging as well. I also throw chatterbaits on it because of its MF action and it keeps em pinned pretty well. I’d say it’s a great “junk fishing” rod—handles about 80% of all the lures I throw. (Cranks/topwaters/swimbaits/jerkbaits go on other more specific rods.)

 

But yes, for the OP, sounds like a Heavy Fast would be best for what/where he wants to fish. 

Head Turner was one of my favorite rods. Shouldn’t have sold It.