JIGGING or just pulling a jig thru water

[paul708]

With a 200g Jig, and a 200g rod Typically, the rod tip will have more action and bend than if using a 450g or 500g rod.
This Should impart more action on a Jig.

When using a 450g rod to work a 200g jig, Typically you will get very little rod flex, which may result in less jig action.

Assuming we are using the same 200g jig.

Which rod will give the Jig "more action" the 200 or the 450g?

lets hear it.

i am from the old school jigging, we used longer rods thicker tips and worked the jigs well. but typically a yo-yo action.

It also seems to me the "finesse" rods are softer, so a 450g rating MAY be overstated like the travella 60-200

I am not talking about the ability of the rod to CATCH and LAND a fish.

This is about the Ability of a rod To JIG a JIG

[Ponce]

I'm not sure about the action, but I like the abilty to feel the jig that is matched to the rod from a gram stand point. I can feel a 200g jig on both the up and down stoke on 200g-ish rod better than a 450g-ish rod. On the heavier rod I can't feel the jig as much on the down stroke, because the rod was not loaded since it is way heavier than the jig.

For me when yo-yo jigging it is not as much of a factor.

[Sea Draggin]

When using a 450g rod to work a 200g jig, Typically you will get very little rod flex, which may result in less jig action.

Good post and observation Paul. What happens is the angler has to work much, much harder to give the jig action when speed jigging. The lack of flex does exactly what you say. It turns the jig into a bank sinker, unless you work overtime to keep it seductively dancing.

For only yo-yo jigging, it doesn't matter.

[paul708]

yeah, with yo-yo doesnt matter to much.

but the jerk/crank, mechanical, butterfly. or what ever you want to call it.
seems like it would matter.

anyone else?

[CFScheer]

I definitely notice that the 250 gram and 300 gram rods that I own work a 200 gram jig with a much more "desirable" action than the 400 gram rod that I own.

In my opinion the "action" that we all shoot for when working the jig is a progressive and constant acceleration and deceleration of the jig occurring with each rod jerk. I haven't physically seen it with my eyes, but I hypothesize that this change in speed of the jig not only more closely mimics the way an injured baitfish moves, but also imparts a more horizontal, fish attracting, movement on it.

Proper loading and flex of the rod is what causes the change in jig speed. If the jig is too light, the rod just "sweeps" the jig along with the movement of the rod without imparting much "action", aka change in jig speed. If the jig is too heavy for the rod the rod gets overloaded to the point of not being able to accelerate or "shoot" the jig up properly.

It's much like what happens if one mismatched line and rod weight in fly-fishing. Too small of a line won't load the rod properly or impart enough change in speed to roll the fly out. Too big of a line will overload the rod and not generate enough line speed to get the cast all the way out.

Granted, I haven't had a chance to test out a lot of different brands and sizes of rods (especially the ultra premium brands), but it seems to me that each rod has it's own sweet spot. Gram ratings work as a nice guideline...but field testing is what determines where exactly that "jig weight" sweet spot is.

Fortunately, even if a jig and rod are mismatched, we the operator can make adjustments in our jigging style to impart as much action on the jig as possible...still, when working a jig and rod that hit the sweet spot, I seem to catch more fish.

What does this mean ultimately? It means we all need to buy JPR rods and Eastern Tackle jigs in every conceivable size....I'm on to you guys and your suggestive marketing tacctics....


- Cassidy
www.sierpedelpacifico.com
"Where the Jungle Meets the River that Meets the Sea"

[paul708]

cassidy,
thanks for the reply.

and yes one of everything IS needed

[Sea Draggin]

It means we all need to buy JPR rods and Eastern Tackle jigs in every conceivable size....

Not really. I can do everything I want to do with one 200g and one 400g rod.

200g rod - 100 to 240g jigs
400g rod - 240 to 400g jigs (sometimes more, but it almost isn't jigging anymore at high weights, not seductive finesse anyway)

For inshore guys a 100 and 300g rod should be plenty.

[Caveman Sportfishing]

This the kind of information so many of my charters need to help them pick out the right tackle plus what will help them work a jig correctly. There is just a world of difference between the experienced jig pros that have fished with us and average anglers that has trolled or chunked their whole life and recently have gotten into jigging.
I have far from an expert myself and enjoyed the post and so often it is those that can make the jig dance correctly that get the bites unless is is drop and reel type day when everything get eaten just on the initial drop.

[paul708]

This the kind of information so many of my charters need to help them pick out the right tackle plus what will help them work a jig correctly. There is just a world of difference between the experienced jig pros that have fished with us and average anglers that has trolled or chunked their whole life and recently have gotten into jigging.
I have far from an expert myself and enjoyed the post and so often it is those that can make the jig dance correctly that get the bites unless is is drop and reel type day when everything get eaten just on the initial drop.

Thanks John.
hope we get some more thought on this.
alot of good replies so far.

[CFScheer]

Not really. I can do everything I want to do with one 200g and one 400g rod.

200g rod - 100 to 240g jigs
400g rod - 240 to 400g jigs (sometimes more, but it almost isn't jigging anymore at high weights, not seductive finesse anyway)

For inshore guys a 100 and 300g rod should be plenty.

You hit the nail on the head once again Jim.

We had calm, low current waters in CR the past three days...the 100-150 gram jigs were the ticket. My uncle came down with 2 days of jigging experience and a 200 gram jigging rod and ended up with the most takes of all of us. His rod was working the jigs the best.

What do you like for a 200 gram jigging rod (factory or blank) that works the jig but also has the backbone to put put the heat to the big boys?

I'm now entering phase 3 of the rod buying maturation process.

- Cassidy