For vertical jigging I use a 5ft 6in.medium power extra fast action spooled with Fireline.Its actually a custom rod.6ft IM8 blank with 6″ cut off.I used a rod that I had broke the tip off and repaired for a couple years and liked the way it performed so I made one with a more sensitive blank.You feel him you got him!
For casting jigs I go with a 6ft medium power fast action.
I’ve gone through lots of changes over the years as far as rod preference goes. Now if you look in my boat, the only place that you’ll find rods under 6’6″ is in the rod locker. And the only time that those shorter ones come out is for skipping tubes and such or for presentations that require accurate casting.
From a comfort standpoint, I find that 7 footers in medium and medium light action are perfect for vertical presentations. It’s easier on my back to stand upright and let the rod do the reaching over the side of the boat.
I also use 7′ medium heavy action rods for fishing wingdams and other casting options. Too many times I’ve been stuck reeling like crazy trying to catch up to a fish that hit a jig out on the end of a cast. 7 footers let me set the hook at a distance much easier and they help keep line off the water.
You’ll also notice that all my rods now have rod balancers, either built in or slipped over the butt. If you haven’t used them, give ’em a try. They increase sensitivity and greatly decrease arm fatigue.
I’m using Fireline for vertical and Stren gold for casting. I like line that I can see and I need the bulk of the mono to obtain a good drift.
I’ve been hearing a lot about rod balancers, but have not tried them myself. I’ve been using 5′ 10” to 6′ rods for vertical jiging in medium action, but they seem to be to stiff for casting light jigs.The Fireline I like for jigging. Thanks for the info.
I find it interesting that fisherman who fish different kind of water use the length of rods that they do.I can see the advantages of using longer rods,Keeping the line off the water,better hookset at distance or with a little slack.and casting distance.Every other rod in my boat is 7ft or better for those reasons.I guess it all comes down to the water that you fish.I fish smaller rivers than most guys on this web site which lends itself to using shorter rods for accuracy.I cannot let a jig drift too far or I will be hung in a snag.Most of the time that I am tossing a jig is when I am trying to fish “the bucket”a specific location where I know that a piggy is holding.For example in front of blow down or to a small eddy behind a boulder.
I have always used a short rod for vertical jigging because that is what I have always read that is what you are supposed to use.As I was writing this reply I was trying to explain the advantages of the shorter stiffer rod.It got me to question if those advantages wouldn’t be increased with rod length.Quicker hookset,Wouldn’t you get a quicker hookset with a longer rod?Solid hookset.When spooled with Fire line your hookset is instant and sensitivity is at a maximum.I can also see the advantage of keeping the fish on when he is rising off the bottom,with a longer rod you could keep the line tighter by reaching for the sky giving you more time to respond by reeling in.
Any one else have any thoughts on this?
You hit the nail on the head with part of your reply. Do you see those guys out on the river that look like they’re leading the orchestra when they get a strike? Those are guys with short rods who need to move the rod tip that far to get a hook-set. I used to use 5’10” rods and 6′ foot rods but I found it getting more and more uncomfortable as I found myself bending and reaching over the side of the boat. Also, using Fireline with it’s no stretch charachteristics, I can use softer action rods and still get a good hookset. But with 7′ length, I don’t have to move my hand over my head when trying to set the hook. And I can easily reach over the side of the boat instead of bending or reaching my arm straight out. Now I stand with my hand near my front pocket. It’s much more comfortable to let my arm hang down and it’s easier on my shoulder.
I’m a big fan of rod balancers and use them on all my rods for walleyes,bass and even muskies.
Beav
OK I’ll put in my 2 cents – for strictly vertical jigging I much prefer a light 5’6” stiff rod with a very light weight reel spooled with 6lb Fireline. The reason is that I vertical jig by feel, not sight (my eyes are just not that good). Also, with my not so lighting fast reflexes I can get a “quicker” hook set with a shorter rod. I also like to sit in a chair while fishing and yes, I usually stand up during the hook set and point my rod to the sky as fast as I can. Sometimes in shallow depths, small fish have been known to fly out of the water and into my face on some aggressive hook sets.
If you stand up while jigging, have very fast reflexes or great eyes to watch the line then other set-ups will probably work better for you.
Dave Gulczinski
I like to use a short 6ft diawa or st.croix medium action for verticle jigging and for casting I use a 7ft st. croix medium light with a fast light tip all jigging rods are set up with Quantum Energy reels with BRIGHT PINK 6lb Maxima line you can’t beat that combo. that nice pink line likes to attract big females. or we hope so anyways but it is a very nice line if you are a line watcher.
Nate
I use a 6′ berkly series one, walleye special… an old one back when they were made out of boron…. Ive never encountered a lighter more sensitive rod with the kind of balance it has, I fish out of a small boat, so I guess Ive never experienced the problem that Beaver mentioned… my rump is probably sitting at almost water level already…. heck I could probably use an ice fishing rod and get away with it….. hook sets have never been a problem… Ive never had to make a huge sweep…. my hook set is done when I hit my eye level….. even when I use 6-8 # mono I have no hooksetting or sensitivity issues… just line durability problems……
if I EVER break that rod, Im sure I can find no duplicate to it…. so I guess I will have to do something else…..
Hey Snakeyes,
Will throw my 2 cents worth in here too..I really like my Bass Pro Shops Bionic Blades for jigging of all types..I have 4 of them..A 6’6″ med. action spinner for vertical jigging and 3 waying with heavier jigs, a 6’6″ medium light for pitching smaller jigs (is a great smallie rod too) and have 2 baitcasters (6’6″ med. and 7′ med. heavy) for pulling cranks on 3 ways to chunkin’ bucktails for toothy things..The rods are great values when you buy 2 or more at a time and do everything with great sensitivity and strength..They have gone to top quality Fuji guides that are fantastic..Like all of my rods, I have these set up with my own version of “the Balancer” kits..I just stack up quarters and start out with masking tape to get the proper weight distribution, but once acheived, I finish it off with electricians tape to make them look nice..Even have a red, white and blue theme on a couple of the outfits..
Hope that this helps..
Keep it Vertical,
buzzer IA
I agree with you Beaver. I feel I get a much faster hook set with my seven footers. I have to keep them light, like the St. Croix Legend Elite, because my tired old arm just aches too much if I don’t.
Well, for those of us not old enough to remember Boron, I have to agree with balanced, longer rods. St. Croix Avids, Loomis IMX’s, Mitchell Fulcrum and Fulcrum Pro’s are 3 of the best rods I’ve found in the prevention of a balancing kit. As for the length, I like the longer rods for the greater ability to detect the light bites. They tend to be more forgiving on the tip and telegraph less to the fish, which helps an “average Joe” like myself. I also prefer the added control in fighting the fish with a longer rod. It keeps more of the fight in the rod than in my arms.
I’ve been jigging with the shorter rods and thinking I’d like to go back to longer rods. I like casting light jigs to the wing dams and shallow water and the short rods just don’t seem to work all that well. I’ve never used a balancing system on a rod but sounds like something I’d like to try. Thanks for all the info.
I’ve been using Bass Pro Shops Extreme rods for the last few years. Weight balance system compatable and last year I picked them up on sale 2 for 1.
I just want to thank everyone for your responses. Sounds like very good advice. I’ve been using Bass Pro rods also, the walleye series rods, both the jigging rods and the trolling rods. But I think I’ve got to go to a longer rod for tossing light jigs. The rods I’ve been using are working, but I think longer rods would work better. Thanks again !!!
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