Hey guys, spent the last 6 months learning to throw jigs. Now I'm completely hooked. I found I do really well with a quarter oz jig in my particular lakes. I have a St. Croix victory Full Contact Finesse 7'3" H/XF that I've really come to like for 3/8 and heavier jigs. On the 3/16-1/4 oz lighter stuff it works ok too but l think l can do better. I also have a Victory Tactical Spinning (jerkbaits rod) 6'8" M/XF that l have been throwing them on. Actually prefer that over the other, and although it's an extremely unpopular position for a reasons I cannot figure out, I think throwing a jig on a spinning rod is killer. However l feel like l need just a bit more backbone because l miss too many hook sets.

 

What would you recommend for a 3/6-1/4 oz jig with trailer? I feel like if I could get a MH version of the full contact finesse it would be a no-brainer but they don't make it. Would you go Baitcaster or Spinning?

 

This is a case of 'you don't know what you don't know' so help me figure out what optimum would be for this setup guys.

 

I'm thinking a Loomis jig and worm rod might be what l need?

 

Thank you!

 

I use a GLoomis GLX 802C JWR for 1/4 oz jigs.  The softer tip makes it easier to cast the small jugs. I use a reel set, no need for the back breaking cross their eyes hookset. YMMV

MegaBASS X-Bites

I use a St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass 7’1” MHXF casting rod for 1/4oz jigs. It’s discontinued but I’m sure the equivalent in the Victory and LTB lines would be great. 7’1” MHF. I always prefer casting for jigs. I also have the 7’3” HXF victory and really like it for 3/8-3/4 jigs too.

I think the Dobyns DX 744 would be sick as a lighter jig rod. 

Braid or 'other' and are they heavy wire jigs in cover or lighter wire jigs?  For lighter wire and mono/fluoro the Falcon Finesse jig is a great rod.  Mine is an expert series at $200 MSRP. 

 

If you're fishing both light and regular wire hooks then the Falcon Swim jig in the Cara series is a great rod for that.  I throw 30 lb braid because I also use it for other things and will throw it into heavier cover, but it fishes great with 1/8 oz plus plastic on a texas rig all the way up to 3/8 jigs with modest trailers.  It would be great with 14-16lb sunline mono for finesse jigs.

I would add IROD IQ733C 7’3”or 1Q753C 7’5” MHF, 3/16-3/4 oz , 1/4-1 oz lures.

Full premium cork handle.

Tom 

I started throwing them on an Okuma TCS 7’-0” med + rod rated 3/8-3/4.

G loomis 802C gets my vote as well but nothing heavier than 1/4oz.

I'm not exactly sure what to say about the hooks. These are not finesse jigs with a little wire weed guards. They have the full nylon weed guards. My favorite and most common are the siebert dredge hooks which l think are an owner. I don't know if you would call that a light wire hook or not. But I do also have some dirty jigs with the no jack hooks and they definitely are big. I really don't think I need that big though so I might phase those out. I am fishing around cover plenty. 

 

I guess the other option that I didn't mention would be that I have two good rods for what I'm doing and I just need to set that hook harder with my spinning rod. I just don't know if there is something more optimal.

I fished my friends 744 and it was so light. But I was casting 3/8th jigs I think.  You might be right. 

Thank you guys. Been thinking about this more. This is more of a help me understand how this works than it is exactly which rod I suppose. 

 

I keep thinking that for a jig rod, I want a stiff backbone with a really sensitive tip. The St. Croix full contact finesse heavy extra fast is a perfect example if you're familiar with it.

 

For some reason this feels weird to me though when trying to scale that down. My St. Croix tactical 6'8" M/XF spinning seems pretty much perfect on paper as it's rating (and lots of others) is 3/16-5/8 oz. The more I look, the more I realized this is probably as good as I'm getting as far as the ounce rating for throwing 1/4 oz jigs. 

 

Is this actually the right rod? Do I just need to set the hook a little harder?

Change your hook setting technique that reduces the need for rod power.

When you detect a strike in lieu of hook setting with a rod swing try reeling fast loading up the line then sweep the rod back firmly.

Spinning reels don’t allow you to thumb the spool so you must rely on proper drag setting. I suggest 1/3rd the line strength, about 3 lbs for your Spinning rod.

Tom

i dont set Jig hooks hard.  first i almost exclusively use the Keitech Finesse jigs.  hooks are on the smaller side, and needles.  i imagine the jig is in the fishes mouth.  i dont want to jam hard, because i imagine the football weight acting like a battering ram, and popping the fishes mouth open wildly.  

 

just a theory.  i lean into the hook set with a sweep.  

3 hours ago, FishTank said:

G loomis 802C gets my vote as well but nothing heavier than 1/4oz.

This or a 852C

For smallies I typically use a light wire hook so I am also using lighter gear.

For 1/4 oz a mf or a mlf spinning rod w/ 10# test braid and light drag.

I like any MH power rod in the Zodias or Expride line for jigs from 3/16-7/16

 Expride MH starts at 1/4 oz. 

But you can load it on a 3/16 oz jig?

47 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

But you can load it on a 3/16 oz jig?

Gotta remember that most times - what weight is printed on the package is JUST for the head...add in the hook and skirt and a 3/16oz jig might actually be a little more that 1/4oz total...then add the trailer and it's definitely over that 1/4oz mark.

Good deal thanks guys. I'll work on my technique.

Still 😉

 

Diawa Tatula TTU711MHXB 

19 hours ago, snowplow said:

I'm not exactly sure what to say about the hooks. These are not finesse jigs with a little wire weed guards. They have the full nylon weed guards. My favorite and most common are the siebert dredge hooks which l think are an owner. I don't know if you would call that a light wire hook or not. But I do also have some dirty jigs with the no jack hooks and they definitely are big. I really don't think I need that big though so I might phase those out. I am fishing around cover plenty. 

 

I guess the other option that I didn't mention would be that I have two good rods for what I'm doing and I just need to set that hook harder with my spinning rod. I just don't know if there is something more optimal.

 

17 hours ago, snowplow said:

Thank you guys. Been thinking about this more. This is more of a help me understand how this works than it is exactly which rod I suppose. 

 

I keep thinking that for a jig rod, I want a stiff backbone with a really sensitive tip. The St. Croix full contact finesse heavy extra fast is a perfect example if you're familiar with it.

 

For some reason this feels weird to me though when trying to scale that down. My St. Croix tactical 6'8" M/XF spinning seems pretty much perfect on paper as it's rating (and lots of others) is 3/16-5/8 oz. The more I look, the more I realized this is probably as good as I'm getting as far as the ounce rating for throwing 1/4 oz jigs. 

 

Is this actually the right rod? Do I just need to set the hook a little harder?

 

if you mean the dredge brush jigs, then no, those aren't light wire.  They are a fairly strong wire but they are crazy sharp.  The brush guards that mike uses aren't too stiff either.  Those are great jigs (and are my primary jig in general). 

 

You're right that for a jig rod you want a light, sensitive tip and good backbone normally.  If I'm throwing a jig, I'm probably throwing it at some cover so I want a little backbone to pull a fish away from the cover.  You're in the right ballpark with what you're looking for.  The st croix spinning rod you have is a good fit.  A pretty close equivalent in a baitcaster is the Finesse jig I mentioned above (6'10", 3/16-5/8 rated, Fast action).  Still, based on what you're saying I'd say that the swim jig rod is the better choice.  Just a touch more backbone and a tough lighter tip than the finesse jig.  

 

Awesome thank you

9 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

 

if you mean the dredge brush jigs, then no, those aren't light wire.  They are a fairly strong wire but they are crazy sharp.  The brush guards that mike uses aren't too stiff either.  Those are great jigs (and are my primary jig in general). 

 

You're right that for a jig rod you want a light, sensitive tip and good backbone normally.  If I'm throwing a jig, I'm probably throwing it at some cover so I want a little backbone to pull a fish away from the cover.  You're in the right ballpark with what you're looking for.  The st croix spinning rod you have is a good fit.  A pretty close equivalent in a baitcaster is the Finesse jig I mentioned above (6'10", 3/16-5/8 rated, Fast action).  Still, based on what you're saying I'd say that the swim jig rod is the better choice.  Just a touch more backbone and a tough lighter tip than the finesse jig.  

 

I’ve been interested in that swing jig rod for awhile now. Have you thrown a bladed jig on it. 

2 hours ago, Derek1 said:

I’ve been interested in that swing jig rod for awhile now. Have you thrown a bladed jig on it. 

yes.  I lost a big one on one on it back in April.  I am running 30 lb braid primarily for swim jigs and buzzbaits and I’m pretty sure I just pulled it out of his mouth horsing him in. It’s a great rod overall, but I think it plus braid plus chatterbait is just not enough give in the setup. If I were running bladed jigs on it I’d have 16 lb sunline mono like my head turner.  It’s a great rod but I prefer my head turner for bladed jigs. I fish 3/8-1/2 on it. If I were throwing 1/4-3/8 instead then I’d go with the finesse jig rod for a dedicated chatterbait rod, though the swim jig rod wouldn’t be a bad choice either.