Which jigging rod

Choosing the best jigging rod means matching the rod length, power and action to the kind of jigging you will be doing. If you are looking to use throw smaller soft plastic jigs in shallower coastal waters then you need a lighter tackle setup and using an inshore spinning rod is a much better fit. They are rated for the weight of jig you want to use and as a general rule should be paired with a high speed, light weight reel that is spooled with 40lbs braid at an absolute minimum.

You can use spinning or conventional reels for vertical jigging but once the jigs get large a conventional rod and reel setup is preferable.

Slow pitch jigging originated in Japan and has really exploded in the USA in the last five years. You need a fairly light pole with a rod tip that adds some life into the jig, low profile line guides, and the power to set the hook feet down. They are specialist rods that are designed with slow pitch jigging in mind and are normally between 6 and 7 feet in length.

Unlike vertical jigging when slow pitch jigging you do not jig the rod tip up and down aggressively instead you put a half turn on the reel and the rod tip loads up and adds some life into the jig. The rod is not used to fight the fish once hooked, instead the rod tip is pointed down and the fish is fought off of the reel. There are several high end rod brand like Temple Reef, Ripple Fisher, Sea Falcon, and Saltywater Tackle that specialize in making jigging rods but for the beginner jigger they are way too expensive to justify the cost.

Popular brands like Shimano also cater to the high end of the market with their Ocean Jigger Infinty series. You are much better served by looking at one of the mid-range rods listed below and investing in a high quality reel to match it to.

It combines great value for money with the performance and build quality of a high end custom rod blank. It is built with high speed jigging in mind and in particular butterfly jigs and other thin profile jigs. Because of the design of the blanks, the Trevala S series provides a high performing rod blank at a mid-range price. Whether you prefer to jig plastics or metals you really should own a dedicated jigging rod to improve your effectiveness and reduce fatigue.

Jigging requires a tremendous amount of physical exertion so a purpose built rod will have you fishing more efficiently and for longer. Happy jigging! The E-glass blank is very effective at absorbing the shock from braid and the line guides feature zirconium guide inserts and stainless steel guide frames that reduce line friction.

This Fiblink is a lightweight yet rugged jigging pole crafted using quality components and offered at an accessible price point making it the best value for money. It is designed specifically for vertical jigging in saltwater and has the exact specs the best rod for jig fishing should have. Its blank is composite made using the right mix of graphite and fiberglass to keep the rod lightweight, flexible and sensitive yet strong and equipped with the pulling power to haul large fish from their bottom cover.

It has a great non-corrosive aluminum alloy reel seat for a secure lock on the reel foot to ensure the reel stays put when jigging and fighting fish. High-density EVA handle and foregrip provides comfort that feels balanced and gives you enhanced control. A gimbal secures the rod butt to minimize fatigue when fishing for hours.

It also features a multi-purpose hook keeper. Features: Length: 5'8", 6'2", 6'6", Power: Medium, medium heavy and heavy, Weight Ratings: oz lures and 30 lb - 80 lb lines, 1pc. The Penn Rampage is a top rated rod for jig fishing. With the lengths and heavy powers, it is a great boat rod equipped for heavy bottom jig fishing using heavy jigs as well as other fishing applications where durability is essential.

Its strength is amazing and it has the pulling power to lift heavy fish from heavy cover. As is expected with a Penn, quality, strength, and durability is top notch. A glass blank build equips the rod with the strength and stiffness required for a boat rod to be effective at dropping jigs and making short casts.

The tip section is also strong yet amazingly sensitive for telegraphing lure action. It has a corrosion-resistant build to withstand saltwater abuse. Components are tough and durable and include stainless steel guide frames, Fuji aluminum oxide guide inserts, heavy-duty graphite reel seat, contoured EVA foregrip, and rubber gimbal.

Styles : 6', extra heavy power and 6'6", heavy power, up to lb line rating and oz lure rating, 1-pcs. UglyStiks have legendary strength and durability. They are built super strong to be virtually unbreakable and are offered at an amazing value. They are also made to offer a balanced feel in the hand. The Tiger Elite is made specifically for jigging and bottom fishing. Its composite blank offers bulletproof toughness, heavy-duty pulling power and has a higher graphite content making it even lighter in weight and enhancing sensitivity for a better feel of jigs.

Its casting performance is so good that it also suits jetty and plug fishing. This saltwater jigging rod features one-piece double-footed corrosion resistant guides, stainless steel cushioned reel seat hoods, dense EVA handle with a contoured foregrip with rubber gimbals for comfort. Styles : 6'4", medium heavy power, moderate fast action, 6', heavy power, moderate fast action, 6'6", medium power, moderate fast action.

This is a modern vertical jigging rod designed to be super light yet powerful. It is composed of a Sls3 blank, which is very thin, flexible, and lightweight but packs enough backbone to handle big game fish including groupers and amberjacks. It feels light and comfortable in the hand and its power in action is amazing.

It is equipped to handle the rigors of braided fishing line with the Fuji K guides with alconite inserts. Its strength, durability, and comfort are enhanced farther by the Pack Bay aluminum reel seat, aluminum gimbal, and a non-slip foregrip. No wonder this is a top rated rod for jig fishing. It has a fairly high price tag but is a top quality rod that will deliver years of service.

Styles : 5-Feet 6-Inch, heavy power rated for lb lines and oz lure weights, 5-Feet 6-Inch, heavy power rated for lb and oz, 5-Feet 6-Inch, heavy power rated for lb and oz. This is a traditional offshore jigging rod made for vertical jigging. As such, it is built short at 5'6" but equipped with the toughness and power for offshore bottom work and can haul large and strong fish thanks to its composite tubular blanks made using E-glass and graphite and structurally enhanced for strength while still keeping the tip sensitive for sensing bites.

Its sensitivity, performance, strength, and durability is enhanced by the precisely positioned stainless steel guides with ceramic guide inserts, aluminum alloy reel seat with cushioned aluminum oxide hoods, and high-density EVA grip. The handle and butt grip is designed for a sure and comfortable grip in all conditions and for long fights. Style : 1. This is a modern jigging rod that is made long, thin, lightweight, flexible, yet amazingly strong. It is optimized for slow jigging. If you're looking for a light jigging rod, the RoseWood is an amazing slow pitch jigging rod with a great price tag and a must on your list.

What makes it the best rod for jig fishing is the Japanese high-carbon fiber cross-wrapped construction that gives it the essential strength while keeping it thin and lightweight so you can use it for a hours without fatigue.

It also has amazing sensitivity for accurate feel and optimal response. This light feel is enhanced by the EVA handle while the split grip enhances sensitivity. It has the power to handle heavier line weights and work heavier jigs. And if you land one of the big ones, it has the backbone to pull them in successfully. The O Department guides are hardwearing and designed to ensure smooth line flow and heat dissipation.

Some of the new technical style super jig rods will cater for a far wider range of workable jigs but these rods will be expensive and not aimed at the beginner. The new specialised braids are the best lines for mechanical jigging. They have no or very little stretch. Having no stretch allows the angler to staying in touch with the jig and assists in creating a positive hook set. Braids are now being measured in what is called a PE rating.

PE simply stands for Poly — Ethylene which is the base material these braids are produced from. There is a crude but simple rule of thumb to convert these PE weight classes into pounds. Most jiggers will choose to use a multi-coloured braid, not because it looks cool but because each section of coloured line is marked off in either 5m or 10m sections. This makes it easy for the angler to work out how much line he or she has deployed when targeting fish at a certain depth.

There are two main options for leader material : mono or fluorocarbon. Both have their own pros and cons; mono is less brittle and generally easier to tie with better knot strength, while fluorocarbon has better invisibility properties in water and is more abrasion resistant. Either way a line of 45kg-plus is recommended and 90kg is not out of the question. Recommended leader lengths range from m, this will allow you enough line to cut and re-tie assist hooks or remove any worn or damaged sections without having to re-tie the braid-to-leader knot.

As with all fishing, it is recommended that you replace the leader after each trip. You never know when that trophy fish will strike and it could be the very first fish next time out. The knot of choice to tie your leader to the braid is the PR knot. This knot is very slim which allows it to easily pass through the small guides on all jigging rods. It will also add less bulk when on the reel spool. The knot from leader to the assist hook solid eye will normally be an improved clinch knot but there are others as good if not better and I will go through all these knots and how to tie them in the next issue.

Since the revolution of mechanical jigging has been introduced into New Zealand we are starting to see jigs of all shapes and sizes appearing in tackle store displays. Like the braid line, the jig weight needs be matched to the rod you intend to use it on. This has several very significant purposes. The range of shapes of jigs available is immense and many have been designed to impart a certain type of action to attract fish. Colours also will range from the bright reflective to dark and even glow colours.

Some will come pre-rigged with an assist hook, which should be attached to the top eye of the jig so it hangs towards the middle of the jig. As mentioned many jigs will come pre-rigged with a cheapish assist hook to get you started but many jiggers will prefer to remove this and tie their own assist hooks using better quality hooks and better quality cord.

This is the piece of tackle that is attached to your leader line via a solid ring and it needs to be robust enough to handle the pressures of big fish. They will generally be straight shanked and have longer beaks on the hook points for extra penetration and holding power during the fight.

If you use a short-pointed hook you run the risk of the hook being flicked out if the pressure on the fish was reduced for some reason. These cords are available in small packs or spools ranging from10m to 30m. The cord should then be looped to a solid stainless steel eye ring with a stainless split ring of 70kg breaking strain to attach the jig.

Other items needed for joining the jigging scene are things like a gimbal belt or gimbal bucket to place the rod butt in after the fish has been properly hooked. A good pair of heavy duty split ring pliers is a must as is a good pair of braid scissors. You can also dress up the assist hooks with fancy little squid-shaped squirts, and I will show these in more depth in the next issue and the purpose they perform on the assist hook.

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