View Full Version : custom jigging rod
i have a chance to get a couple of g.loomis rods. i'll be using them 95% of the time on the detroit river with 6# fireline. with the fast current the range of jigs goes from 5/8 to 1 oz. i want to have some starting specs when i order them. cost will not be a consideration so i'm leaning to the glx construction. i'm torn between 6 and 6 1/2 for the length and wondering if a fast tip will be overpowered by those large jigs? i'm also considering titanium guides. since these are a recent development i haven't heard any feedback on them. any advice will be welcome.
when we lose the 2nd. amendment the others will be history too!
If you go with a 722 or equivalent, the rod will be fine for those weight jigs.
Titanium guides are fine, but I personally don't think they are worth the money. They won't wear and will work well and will bend and spring back. If these features are important, spend the money.
Any of the alconite, or silicon carbide guides will hold up just fine to braided line.
Any of the jig sticks will do a good job on these jigs and the lighter tips allow you to have a better feel.
When you go to the GLX blanks, they tend to run almost one power heavier than the IMX blanks for the same number. i.e. the higher modulus graphite in the GLX blanks tend to make these blanks a bit stiffer than the IMX blanks. Very nice blanks and very light.
However, do use care with these rods. As the graphite gets stiffer, it also tends to be a bit more brittle. The first generation of the GLX blanks had lots of issues with breakage, but the ensuing generations (including current generation) blanks have been fixed.
If you are going to be only vertically jigging and no casting, don't overlook the possibility of having this rod built as a casting rod. Quite a few advantages in having a casting rod for this application.
If you are going to be doing a bit, or a lot of casting as well with jigs of this weight - then you are probably better off with a spinning rod.
Good luck and enjoy. You will be very happy with any of these rods, if you have a good builder do the rod for you.
Take care
REW
p.s.
Possibly something along these lines might be suitable for your needs.
http://products.gloomis.com/gl/products/alltackle/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441760528&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302032520&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181201&bmUID=1167763488673
Take care
REW
Homer
01-02-2007, 04:19 PM
I fish jigs up to 3/4 oz. on the Detroit with my 721's and don't have any problems. I agree with REW that the 722 should be fine for jigs up to 1 oz.
Mattman
01-02-2007, 05:22 PM
If you're looking at custom GLX, 2 and 3 power Spin Jigs are your only choice. I do not believe any 1 powers are available in blank form. I'd go with a 2 or 3 power anyway with those jig weights.
I prefer 6'6" rods for my jigging. It all depends on where/how you sit and how far away the water is from your seat. 6 footers are just too short for me.
If you are referring to Fuji's titanium framed SiC guides...GREAT guide. 30% lighter than their Alconites and SiC is the hardest/slickest guide ring material out there. Only guide I use on my feel rods.
If you are referring to REC's Recoil guides...skip them. Metal wire guides are not good guides in my opinion. The only thing they have going for them is reduced weight. Otherwise I feel everything else about them is a drawback.
Here are some guide hardness values...
Stainless Steel (SS): 400
Chrome: 800-1000
Carbaloy: 1000
Aluminum Oxide: 1200-1400
Alconite : 1300-1500
NanoLite : 1800
Zirconia: 1000-1400
Zirconia PVD: 1600
SiC: 2200-2400
Not sure where the Recoils fall, although it will be down with the SS and Chrome rings. I can say for certain that the metal files easily. You can't even scratch a quality ceramic ring with a file.
I've had a customer wear a groove in his Recoil tip within 6 months of owning the rod with average fishing use. If a customer now insists on using Recoil guides, I insist on a ceramic tip.
Matt Davis
Better to have and not need than to need and not have!
ok, the 6'6" length does work for me. i have a 7' that i don't use too much as it is. distance from the water could be a factor, so 6' could end up being too short. i was thinking about the recoil guides, but after looking up the full frame sic guides, i think i'll change my mind.
http://shop.mudhole.com/TYSG-Concept-Spinning-Guides;jsessionid=ac112b1f1f4346e9b9b2ce7b4591ae53 b6a18ef7526c.e3eTaxiNaN0Te34RaxmMc3eMa3v0n6jAmljGr 5XDqQLvpAe?category=171
i have thought about using a bait caster with a flipping switch, but that would be an experiment. i can get a discount on diawa reels and could resell them if i didn't like the setup and it wouldn't cost me anything, but i don't want to waste my rod money on something i won't be able to get used to and i could end up being stuck with it. i also use a minn kota pd with a copilot. with a spinning setup i can mount the remote on top of the rod. the baitcaster wont allow that.
the 2 power in the glx blank seems like a good choice. i'm still a little concerned about the fast tip being too wimpy for the big jigs. as the power of the rod goes up do the tips also become relativly stiffer(less fast)? if so, a fast tip would still be suitable.
thanks for the help guys.
jake
when we lose the 2nd. amendment the others will be history too!
I think that you have it about nailed.
However, if you are going to be fishing these heavy jigs a lot, I certainly think that a bait casting reel could be an excellent way to go. A bait caster reel excels when you are talking heavier weights. However, if you are going to be doing a lot of casting, and need distance, then I would go back to the spinning rig.
I don't think that you will have any issues with the tips of the Loomis rods for jigs of this weight. You still need to feel the bite. The lighter tips really help in this respect. When it comes time to setting the hook and fighting the fish, the tips are mostly out of the picture anyway so it is a non issue.
Take care
REW
P.S.
You were talking about length, and talking about the difference between 6,6-6" and 7'.
I agree that 7 is too short and 6 might be too short.
The following is from the St Croix line of walleye tournament rods:
http://stcroixrods.com/rods/default2.asp?rodname=53§ion=spin
Check out the specs for the 6'8" mxf rod.
I have built several of these and the fellows are all quite pleased with the final result for fishing your style of fishing.
Take care
REW
thanks for the help. i have a couple of little things to investigate before i make my purchase. i'm sure i'll end up with the right rod and not be dissapointed.
when we lose the 2nd. amendment the others will be history too!