Rod for jigging Muskies

[MD musky]

Have been doing more and more jigging for muskies lately and am try to work out best combo for throwing lighter (mostly 3/8 and 1/2 oz)muskie jigs. Currently I have been using 6'6" St. croix MH spinning rod. Was wondering what other folks recommend.

[Steve @ G & S Guide Service]

I use a 7 1/2' medium Pike Rod with an extra fast tip and lots of backbone. It's a straight handled casting rod coupled with a Shimano Curado and 50 lb. PowerPro.

This combo works great for ripping plastics through cabbage and triggering some hellacious strikes.

Steve @ G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods. http://www.herefishyfishy.com

[echristy]

MDMusky, It sounds like by the weight of the jigs you are using that a bass rod what they call a flipping stick or rod might be your best bet. Most are 7-71/2 ft. long. Some are tellscoping. I got an older Quantum that I bought used in Canada when I had a rod emergency that does well. I think you can pick good flipping sticks up for a decent price as a great many are made. Luck @ you!

[MuskieKid]

Check this out; http://www.geocities.com/toothycritters/jigging.html

[The Handyman]

I agree with G&S,and just talked about that same thing with Rob Meyers of St.Croix!A 7'10"Avid with a Curado w/50#Tuff would be the ultimate stick!Mine is in the works!

[Ballistic]

I was one of the pioneers in the development of Creature fishing techniques back in the late 60's and 70's. We started with a jig my Dad developed on the kitchen table and the reapers he brought back from Arkansas when Harold Ensley was trying to make it in the lure/Promo business in the early 60's.

The tackle then was a 7' rod, 17# mono, a 12" seven strand leader, and a 1/3 ounce diamond head jig. I have been a jig fisherman all my life, and took the first dozen or so muskies over 30#, my very first legal; a Bone Lake 30# class fish, and my personal best Wisconsin fish, a 54" Pelican torpedo that way. I used to own a tackle company that was sold to Moores Lures long ago marketing the Creatures I developed with Jim Cairnes.

I still use a 7' rod, a spinning reel, and 17# mono. The rod is an Aurora IM6 Medium Heavy graphite, and the reel is a Mitchell Spidercast TI. Spinning reels have a much larger spool diameter than csating reels,so the 5.2 to 1 retrieve speed is actually MUCH faster than the same in a casting reel; much less work, and the wrist movement to 'pop' weeds is easier with spinning tackle, too. I usually whip the fish with this rig as fast as if I was using 80# and my casting equipment.

I do NOT use the superlines jigging, because I miss so many fish with it. The mono is less sensitive, so when the line hops, the fish has the jig. I set the hook so quickly, I was missing muskies with the superlines by taking the jig literally away from them. There are two articles over at the site at the bottom of this post in the articles section covering the subject in detail, if you wish to take a look. Hope this helps!

[MuskieKid]

Good points about using the spinning rod and reel. I like the spinning reels for jigging in deeper water because the jig drops quickly and does not come back at you "like a pendulum." It will happen if you use a casting rod and reel. FYI: In one of Joe Bucher's tapes he catches a really big Musky on a small reaper with 4 lb. test on a spinning rod. Of course, he is a pro.

[Don Pfeiffer]

I had a 7ft st croix blank made into a spinning rod and I love it. My question is has anyone used the new super lines on a spinning reel and how do like that. I use mono but an thinking of a switch.
Don

[MuskieKid]

I don't use it, but my fishing partner uses it and is quite happy with it. The new Steve Heiting that just came out shows Steve using it on a spinning rod with flurocarbon leader.