Walleye jig pitching rod

I’m looking into getting an affordable set up for pitching ringworms/kgrubs/moxies etc. i’ve been bass fishing most of my life and the walleye bug i think has finally bitten me. i was using a friends avid 6 3 mxf for most of my jig fishing but it felt better suited for vertical jigging as that is what we did a lot. i’m currently using the eyecon 6’3 mxf over the avid because i’m a fan of the split grip the way i hold my rod. i’ve been forced to be out on the river on pools 10-12 by my lonesome due to friends and family engagements so i’ve been trying my best to get into pitching jigs because , in my opinion, the bite is more exciting and there’s dozens of ways to do it so that’s what appeals to me.

the eyecon does really well pitching jigs down to 1/8 but, being bit by a baitmonkey and a perfectionist, i need another rod as the eyecon is more suited to my v jigging.

i was looking into going ML over M because i rarely pitch anything over 1/2 and more times than not it’s 1/8 and 1/4.

i’m pretty dead set on an ex fast tip. i would also like something (i think i’m correct here, should i go shorter to a 6’6 or i’m crazy and stay 6’3?) in the 6’8 – 6’10 range. i’m fairly tall and pitching /w shorter rods seems awkward and all my bass finesse rods are 7+.

this specific rod is very hard to come by unless i go st. croix legend extreme 6’9 mlxf but it’s a bit pricey. i’m trying to stay around 150 maybe a bit more since i already have a stratic 1000 i’ll be using on it. i did find a rod, the abu garcia vendetta 6’9 mlxf and was looking for opinions on it? or if anybody has any other ideas i’d appreciate it. i’m partial to a split grip as well.

if anybody is wondering around the bite on pools 10-12, 4 1/2 moxies/ringworms in purple/chart or oyster/chart are killer for the late day bite in around 10 FOW.

If it wasnt for the fact I have a few of LEX MLXF rods already, I would go with the Eyecon ECS63MLXF or the Rage RS610MLXF both are of the StCroix family of rods.

For a bit more then $150 I would recommend the St. Croix Avid 6’9″ MLXF. Price is around $170. You might be able to find them for pretty cheap with all the deals this weekend.

Dean set me up with a 6’8″ mlxf mojo bass paired with an arbor. Affordable and functional

Give Dean a shout he will get you set up

i second the MoJo. I’ve got a 7′ MF and i love it to death. Great for pitching.

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If it wasnt for the fact I have a few of LEX MLXF rods already, I would go with the Eyecon ECS63MLXF or the Rage RS610MLXF both are of the StCroix family of rods.

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My bad . I would do as mentioned above, contact Dean and let him know what and how much you want to spend and he will hook you up…>>> Deans contact

Mono or hardline ?

Braid exclusively.
Am i wrong in going with a longer rod? 6’6 may open up more options but i think a few more in. May feel nicer.

Has anybody had any experience with the 6’9 mlxf mojo? Is it tip heavy and sensitize? I own a mojo cranking casting rod and love its sensivity but thats a different type of rod and technique

I totally agree with the Avid. But if you don’t want to spend that kind of money- I’ve found that a very useful tool is a Limit Creek 6’8″ MLXF. Right around $100. You can get them through Dean also. (I think) But sometimes thinking can get you in trouble.

I have both the 69MLXF Avid and the 69MLXF Mojo. The Mojo is still a great rod, but I do like the avid better. A lot of the decision for me would be based on how often you’re going to use it. If it’s a few times per year, I’d go with the Mojo.

I use the heck out of mine year round (I cast a lot of jigs at wing dams in summer, and live bait rigs also). Since I use it so much, I tend to use the Avid more.

Avid is your rod. 68MXF for mono, or 69MLXF for braid. I prefer mono over braid for most river applications, though it takes some getting used to.

Why do you like the shorter rod for mono John?

It’s not so much the length as the action, Mike. A medium is better for pitching with mono, in my opinion, mostly because you get better hook sets. The ML doesn’t have the backbone to do it right. I didn’t come up with these rods on my own, they’re pretty much th standard. Dean could elaborate, I’m sure!

John
pretty sure you nailed the exact specs James and Steve talked about in the river walleye episode where Jame’s caught that tanker on a blade at the end.
MXF is a better mono rod cause of the backbone, MLXF is better for braid. Also, not sure on this one but does St. Croix even make a 6’9 MXF? might just be the specs St. Croix puts out as well.
I have both the 6’6 MLXFTWS and the 6’9MLXFTWS and I use my 6’9 for blades and my 6’6’s for pitching jigs. wouldn’t change a thing for me.

I bought a 69MLXF Mojo to use after I broke the tip on my Xtreme while on vacation. I like it a lot, but I am partial to the split grip. I do a lot of jigging. I was pleasantly surprised and like it more all the time. I was lucky and found it on sale, but after using it, I would have been happy at the regular price, or even more. Great rod for the price.

My favorite rod is my 7 foot medium fast Legend Extreme. I believe it’s the xs70mf. Thing is just ridiculous! I am getting the xs70mlf this winter, too. I just like the feel of the 7 footer. Although, I think I have the xs68mxf in my car right now, too. Point being, don’t overlook the 7 foot rods, they’re good stuff!

the price of the avid isn’t a concern. i’m just very partial to split grips. it just feels nice to fish with personally based on how and where i hold the rod at certain times. the extreme is something i would think about later down the road if i like a certain rod i can upgrade it later through st. croix. i haven’t held the mojo in 6’9 mlxf yet but if i don’t like anything about it, i’ll keep looking.

i looked at the limit creek “smoothie” which is 6’8 or 6’9 mlxf but they are sold out =/.

i have to have my hands on a rod too before i get it.

the majority of my bass fishing rods (around 10+) are 7 foot +. i have only one spinning set up for bass in a mlf but i just didn’t like the feel of it pitching jigs and i kinda want one just dedicated to walleye.

this is probably the most info i have ever received posting on a forum. thanks a lot guys.

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I have both the 69MLXF Avid and the 69MLXF Mojo. The Mojo is still a great rod, but I do like the avid better. A lot of the decision for me would be based on how often you’re going to use it. If it’s a few times per year, I’d go with the Mojo.

i fish 3-4 times a week so it would be something i have to really love. how does the mojo compare to the avid in tip heavyness or balancing issues with say a 1000 series reel?

I use the heck out of mine year round (I cast a lot of jigs at wing dams in summer, and live bait rigs also). Since I use it so much, I tend to use the Avid more.

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I just bought a cabelas mag touch 50th anniversery rod in a 7ft one piece medium action with recoil guides for around a $100

so i found an INSANE couple of deals that couple allow me to get an avid 69mlxf for either 110 (if it’s in stock) or 140.

i was reading other posts about this rod and people were saying that prefer a 2500 size reel. why not a 1000? does this rod not balance well enough with a 1000?

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Avid is your rod. 68MXF for mono, or 69MLXF for braid. I prefer mono over braid for most river applications, though it takes some getting used to.

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Ditto! The Avid 68 mfx is my favorite spinning rod. If I had to pick just one rod for pitching, vert jigging, dragging, or even casting-trolling small cranks this would be my top pick!

-J.

i’m currently using mxf set ups and would like a mlxf set up as well.

any insight on reel size for an avid 69mlxf or mojo 69mlxf? can a 1000 series balance or do i have to stick to the 2500?

i would think (although my logic may be wrong) that the extra weight of a 2500 reel would take away from the sensitivity of the rod? unless a 1000 won’t balance i’ll have to go with a 2500.

i jumped on the nanofil wagon earlier this year and wanted to give it at least an honest shot for a year before making a switch back to pp. so far i’m impressed with the line sensitivity and noise. line strength isn’t as good as pp and the line twists like no other. does my line play any factor in reel selection here?

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Avid is your rod. 68MXF for mono, or 69MLXF for braid. I prefer mono over braid for most river applications, though it takes some getting used to.

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Ditto! The Avid 68 mfx is my favorite spinning rod. If I had to pick just one rod for pitching, vert jigging, dragging, or even casting-trolling small cranks this would be my top pick!

-J.

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my problem with going with another mxf is i think i can get more feel and sensitivity out of a mlxf for throwing jigs up to 1/4. am i wrong? trying to figure this out.

Sorry, forgot about this post. I use the Pflueger President and I believe it’s the 6925X (similar to a 2500). It just feels right and balances both of these rods out to a point that I can balance the whole set up on one finger. This reel is 6oz, so it’s relatively light.

The Mojo isn’t quite as fast of a tip as the avid, but I still get pretty darn good feel on a 1/8 oz jig. I let people who don’t have equipment like that use it when I take them out and every one so far has commented on how nice it is. I save the Avid for myself, mostly because it breaks so much easier. I’ve had the tip broken on my 69MLXF Avid twice, but never on the 69MLXF Mojo.

When I was fishing tournies seriously, I couldn’t afford to lose a rod like that for 3-4 weeks during tourney season, so the Mojo got the nod for co-anglers. None of them had any issues with it.

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If it wasnt for the fact I have a few of LEX MLXF rods already, I would go with the Eyecon ECS63MLXF or the Rage RS610MLXF both are of the StCroix family of rods.

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I have fished both these rods this fall…Inspite of the initial Rage rods (SC II carbon) being marketed as Bass rods the RS610MXF impressed me enough to consider them for my guide rods of choice for 2012 for both Walleye and Bass.

I found the super lightweight Pac Bay semi micro guides “speed up” the actions enough make them equal or surpass my 6’9″ Avid ML XF in sensitivity and action. The new handle, reel seat, and guide set are awesome.

I had no problem pitching 1/8 and 3/32 jigs with it on our Oct and Nov trips to P-4. Be aware that the actions don’t equate to the Walleye rods because they are specific to bass applications.

For your needs I would opt for the RS610MXF…the 68MXF was “softer” in the front section, than a 68MXF Avid (an SC III carbon blank), similar to the 68MXF Eyecon. I havent tested the RS610MLXF but will before next spring!

Dean Marshall would be the guy to talk to on the rod and a matching Pflueger Arbor reel.

i’m already dead set on the stratic/sahara 1000 reel. i was at scheels this past weekend and did put the arbor on a few rods and liked the reel but i’m ultimately a shimano guy.

i’m trying to steer away from the mxf as i already have mxf set ups. looking for something in mlxf.

does anybody use the 63 mlxf avid or eyecon for pitching? those two rods seem to have the right specs i’m looking for in terms of jig weight.

those who have the avid 69mlxf how is the feel when pitching 1/16 up to 5/16 jigs on the miss.? i want to be able to feel the slightest bump/tick with the light jigs i mentioned above and not just constantly watch line. i held the rod this weekend with my reel on it and love it. i’m just trying to pull the trigger

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those who have the avid 69mlxf how is the feel when pitching 1/16 up to 5/16 jigs on the miss.? i want to be able to feel the slightest bump/tick with the light jigs i mentioned above and not just constantly watch line. i held the rod this weekend with my reel on it and love it. i’m just trying to pull the trigger

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Bottom line…buy the best level rod you can afford if thats your goal… I fished fast/Xfast rods for many years pitching jigs for walleye. I loved my Avids until I fished the Legends and would not go back…Then Dean put an Extreme in my hand to test drive… and TO ME the Legend Elite had to take a back seat. That being said…application, line type, presentation all weigh in…

In your budget range…for pitching 1/16- 1/8 oz jigs, especially with braid for any distance… I would definitely choose the 69 over the 63

every time. The shorter, stiffer 63 is more suited for vertical jigging and shorter casting apps.

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The shorter, stiffer 63 is more suited for vertical jigging and shorter casting apps.

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We must have ended up with different blanks. My Avid 6.3 mlxf are too soft for jigging or pitching. Pretty much use them as panfish rods.

-J.

I have the 63MXF Eyecon and it’s a great jigging rod. A buddy has the 63MLXF Eyecon and I don’t like it at all. The MXF is a ton better IMHO. Seems like you can get away with a MLXF in a longer rod, but I don’t like that action in 6’3 and less.