Hey guys,

I'm a newbie.  Using a Shimano Scimitar Rod Medium Action with Shimano Sonora Reel 4500 Fast.  I use 8lb Spider Wire, Mono.  I had success on my cat pole with spider wire so stayed with it for my bass pole.  I don't have money for many more setups but it was recommended (in the southeast bass forum) that if I want to use jigs I should get a med/heavy action pole with higher pound test between 14-30.  Any suggestions as to the validity?  Just checking.  I want to get an overall census instead of just one person so I can be sure what I'm looking for.

I started two weeks ago and caught 4 so far.  3 under a lb and 1 weighing 1lb even (smallies).  I mainly use spinners right now Matzuo (2 blade) Yellow and Mini-Strike king (1 blade) white and bleeding.  They seem to work very well in the ponds and reservoirs I fish at.  I mainly fish light cover in shady areas.  Grass and weed beds at ponds, and fish docks and boating docks at the reservoirs I fish at.  Sometimes I try under log cover but I'm not that good at it yet.  I've lost 4 bass in 2 days due to probably my hook set with these spinners.  3 of them I just reeled and never set the hook.  The other one I set it but still lost it.  All the losses came when they barrel rolled or flipped out of the water.  But anywayz I find I like the setup I'm using for this right now, I'm just trying to start using jigs and wanted to be sure before I started using them.  Any suggestions would be helpful.  Thanks guys.

JAson  

Well, you may be confusing "Power" and "Action."

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141187546

For soft plastics and jigs you need a rod rated at least Medium Power and Fast Action with a firm tip.

Thanks for pointing that out.  I forgot that the action is also in the rod and not the reel.  My Scimitar is M Power and F Action.  My Sonora Reel is 5:1:1 Gear ratio and 17lb max drag.  Is the higher the drag the better?