Rod for pitching jigs

[Mocha]

I carry at least 4 jigging rods in my boat at all times along with about 10 other rods. For walleye and pitching 1/16oz to 1/2oz I prefer a rod around 7' M or ML with an extra fast tip. My favorite right now is the Fenwick Elite Tech Small mouth rod but I see they now call it a bass rod. Same rod different name. That rod set up with Spiderwire Stealth 14# and I feel every itsy bitsy little thing on the bottom including the every itsy bitsy bite. Plus they have an over the counter warrantee if the rod is still in production. Can usually find them at Reeds in the spring on sale in the $120 range.

https://www.reedssports.com/fenwick/-246408

 

[3Roosters]

One thing that hasn't been brought up..yet.. is what to look for in a rod. I took this rod building class in the dead of the winter and besides learning of lots interesting stuff, I also built myself a nice rod.
One of the main points made by this instructor...is that many rods are not spined correctly so make sure you spine check rods as you are checking them out at Scheels or whatever. Google how to check the spine if you are unsure.
Another item our instructor told us to look for when rod selecting..is..look at the number of guides on the rod... his recommendation is that the number of guides should be...take the length of the rod..say 6'6..and add the number one and that should be how many guides should be on the rod....6.6 plus one = 7.6 guides..and round up..so that 6'6 rod should have 8 guides on it..not counting the tip top.
Seemed to make sense to me..so.I now make it habit of checking out the rod sections when I visit a store..hey..beats wandering around aimlessly.

 

[deleted_account]

ive never understood the "spine" of a rod and how it could possibly relate to where guides are placed. Graphite rods are wrapped but also tapered so the "spine" would spiral around the blank. Correct?

 

[guywhofishes]

I think idea behind spine is to align the naturally weakest bend of the rod with the guides so that the rod won't "twist" when resistance pulls the guides in directions other than the weakest natural flex direction

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imagine a rod that flexes way easier in one direction than another (imagine a rod made of lathe or similar "board" shape) which bends nice in one direction but is very stiff in 90 degree direction to the easy direction.

You'd want to align the guides on the broad flat side... not at 45 degrees or on the narrow side. If you did the lathe would twist like a mofo when you set the hook.

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spine is obviously much more subtle but I could imagine it happening (never messed around with blanks/spines myself)

 

[deleted_account]

oohh, i was over thinking it

 

[guywhofishes]

heck I could be way off base - it's how I imagined it anyway when people talked about it ;:;rofl

 

[Auggie]

Spines are usually on one side. Some rods can have more. It's dependent on how the graphite overlays and the resin dries. The spine is the natural bend of the rod. Building on the spine removes blank twist. This increases sensitivity, cast distance, cast accuracy, and reduces breaks because the rod doesn't twist. Store rods don't build on the spine. They usually build on the straightest edge of the blank. Most customers look at the straightness and not the spine when eyeballing a rod in the store.

 

[BGH]

You should really try out a Daiwa Ballistic reel, it's a higher end reel no doubt($$), but one of my favorites.
Pflueger supreme XT would also be an option.
Sorry, I know it wasn't a reel question...but had to chim in!

 

[DirtyMike]

No problem bgh, I have a shimano stradic looking for a home.

 

[Ristorapper]

Am I wrong in thinking 6'10" (area) for pitching?

No!

I personally use a 7 footer with a bigger spool (30/40 size) spinning reel. they are old so I won't bother you with the brands or actions as they are not available any longer.

Jig rods are 5'9-6', lindy and spinner rods are 6'6'' to 7' and my pitching rods are 7 footers. Works for me.

 

[KDM]

For your budget, it might not be a dumb idea to look at a custom rod build. You can pick exactly what blank, sensitivity, length, Line Guide # and material, and rod butt material. For my ONE rod for muddin' I use a 6 ft ml custom rod with a st. croix blank and a wood handle. I can cast well enough with all the overhanging branches and still have enough power to wrestle the fish. For a boat rod, I would go with a 6'6 rod with the same action and design just to get that extra distance when you need/want it. Hope you find what you want.

 

[MSA]

Berkeley lightning rod, 24.99, walmart.

 

[Enslow]

Berkeley lightning rod, 24.99, walmart.

Haha they work thats for sure and when they snap when u slam them in the pickup door you can take them back to walmart just like at scheels. All funning aside they will fill the freezer.

 

[SDMF]

Haha they work thats for sure and when they snap when u slam them in the pickup door you can take them back to walmart just like at scheels. All funning aside they will fill the freezer.

Who the hell wants fishing rods in their freezer? You know how many damned rods it'd take to fill a freezer, especially one that fits 7' rods. Cripes!! You'd need about 300 rods to fill a freezer. #$%^&>

 

[Enslow]

But if they get freezer burnt will walmart honor the return...???

 

[DirtyMike]

I actually will agree with you on the lightning rods. They aren't bad rods. I've always stuck with middle of the pack rods. Figured I'd get me a nice rod finally. Runnings has some 13 fishing rods in stock so I'll stop there today to test drive them.

 

[guywhofishes]

I have several lightning rods too. They're great. Back in the 80s and 90s they were some of the best rods available locally.

 

[sweeney]

broke and returned a lot of lightning rods in my youth

 

[FishReaper]

Lightning rods are great for the money. there are a handful of them in my boat. plus easy to get replaced i they break

 

[wildeyes]

mike, for casting jigs med. heavy rod with a fast tip 6' aeros good rod you will feel it when the minnow comes off.