need some rod buying advise..

I am looking for a decent.. but not ferrari type or priced rod to fish swim jigs.. I plan on using 12 lb flouro.. and I am looking for something with a fast tip.. probably 6 and a half foot..

I don't have much more then $100 if that much to spend.. advice wanted.. no ripping..

any and all suggestions will be looked at.. this is going to be a one lure rod.. swim jigs .. and it seems that this is not time for a parabolic action.. thanks for your time and effort..

Messages from bjlc #10606 #10606

Go to from TheAmBASSador 3/15/2012 9:52:57 PM
Bass ProShops and look at the Tourney Special Rods,IM7 Graphite, 7' MH...you can buy 2 for $100. But use 15 lb Flourocarbon line...the line makes all rods very sensitive and save a bundle buy less expensive rods.

Rods from 521vxnascar 3/15/2012 10:08:02 PM
I agree with the AMBASSADOR on the BPS rods. I really like the old Team Diawa rods i bought way back in the 90's also.

Rod from dontr20x #17419 #17419 3/15/2012 11:00:09 PM
I use a carbonlite in MH action for that and have been very pleased with it.They were on sale for $90, don't know if still are but they are lighter and more sensitive than the tourney special.

American Rodsmiths, generally around $100 from Spookchucker #10778 #10778 3/16/2012 5:43:34 AM
The higher the rod cost, typically the easier they break, as they are made from light, stiffer, material, But lighter stiffer material is also more brittle.

check out Fenwick HMX's from soggybottom #12100 #12100 3/16/2012 8:45:51 AM
I have many Fenwick HMX's, an HMG, and a handful of Elite Techs. When I was upgrading I started with the HMX's mostly because I got good deals on them, but they are a good stick for the money, at the same time look on Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's and see what is out there for your price range.

I like Fenwick and I also like Allstar rods from ZX-Bama #14918 #14918 3/16/2012 10:31:29 AM
If you live anywhere near an Academy Sports, they have some good prices on both Fenwick and Allstar.

swim jigs from dbnaileng #19046 3/16/2012 11:31:05 AM
my question for you is are you going to be fishing a swim jig in grass with 12lb line? If so I think you will lose the majority of the fish you have bite. As far as the rod goes what is your price range? a shimano curmara MH 7'2" Extra Fast is what I swim with. A St. Croix Rage series would be really good as it has titanium guides (if you ever switch to braid you will love it and it still works great for fluoro or mono). Carrot Stix makes a great rod as well for swimming a jig. Being from down south we probably have a lot of different views on swimming a jig and how we swim it.

Carrot Stix from soggybottom #12100 #12100 3/16/2012 4:47:06 PM
The Shimano rods are a good choice I think the Clarus is under $100, a budy of mine uses them and they are a good rod for the price. I wouldn't buy the $100 Carrot Stix they snap just like a carrot.

Jmho from g2072 3/17/2012 12:11:10 PM
I'm just going to throw this one out there. Go to Ebay or some of the fishing websites that have for sale items and find you a nice used upper end rod like a St Croix Avid series. If you will be a little patient you can find killer deals on very nice rods. A month or so ago I bought a Dobyns Champion series 733 rod for 102 dollars + 20 dolars shipping off ebay. It looked brand new when it got here. Just make sure that any used rod has shipping insurance on it before it ships. I have a very nice collection of fishing rods and probably 90% were bought used off the internet. I mainly fish the St Croix Legend Tournament series with a few Avids scattered in but this year I bought a few of the Dobyns just to try. If you will keep your eyes open what you are looking for will show up.

swim jigs here and there.. from bjlc #10606 #10606 3/17/2012 2:53:40 PM
if I was just fishing swim jigs in Alabama.. I wouldn't need anything.. I could use the old jigs that I used.. and those big Mr. twister frogs. because 8 years ago, I tied on my swim jig for Alabama.. and I haven't needed to untie it.. and on Lay or Logan Martin or Smith , or Neely henry, this all works great.. because it works on what you call weeds or grass.. that emergent stuff on the corners of every bay.. that real tough stuff..

that being said, it doesn't work WITH THE SAME SUCCESS, in Wisconsin or on the Mississippi river.. its a totally different method.. its more of a finesse power method.. meaning you glide a tinsel jig on lighter line.. more of drops.. you drop the jig initally.. and then glide it with the rod.. and then let it fall.. its not done with the reel.. and trust me I have gotten my fat butt kicked trying to do the Bama method here.. Yes IT DOES CATCH FISH Here.. but not with the success of the "Wisconsin " method..

on Tuesday.. I did the straight reel.. and even though I tried to "slow down".. I could not match the guy using the slack line drift method.. you basically pull the jig on a slack line with a bow in your line.. and then drop it or shake it .. and then slide it again.. well the kid I was with caught 18 lbs.. and I caught a dink.. and this was just casting to nothing.. unseen clumps of coontail..

sorry.. I need a different rod and need to learn the "other method".. is flouro in coontail or pads or laydowns.. or stumps.. and 15 to 17 should be enough strenght of line to get the job done..

lastly.. this is the way that Jimmy Johnson also fishes his "swimjigs" here in Wisconsin as well. its the local method that is working.. I just can't get off what worked for me so well in Alabama.. or for various times of the year.. here.. just not ALL THE TIME..

How about a Powell Diesel @ $70 from drainplug #11086 #11086 3/17/2012 8:02:18 PM
I just got one 7'2" MH, yes, no warranty on this line but at $70 it is a really nice stick...

Shimano... from Begafish 3/18/2012 10:48:01 AM
The Shimano Compre for $99 is the best deal for a quality rod at IM9 with life time warrany, or you could step up to Crusial IM10 for $149, or you could step a bit down with the Clarus at IM8 for about $79....Just my .02 cents worth

Castaway is what I use from Cole #15516 #15516 3/18/2012 3:26:13 PM
They have them at academy for 50 bucks. I know it is cheap and made in China but it is the best swim jig rod I have found. It is 6'6 heavy, but it is more if a MH action. It is light weight and I have used it for over 5 years without a problem. It is also a good dock skipping rod.

Any of the Shimano rods from 710brownfish #17012 3/18/2012 8:07:59 PM
in the $100 price category are TOP NOTCH. For that matter, just about any $100 rod is superb for what you want to do with it. My only suggestion (as someone who is a total fanatic about swim jigs) is go longer than 6'-6". Use the 7 footers, and like Ambassador said above, UPSIZE that flouro to 14 or 15. Swim that sucka in the grass and hold on! LOL

Have to put the Falcon Bucco in this list from Mike Whitten 3/19/2012 7:44:23 AM
BJLC,
In the $100 price point, I would have to take a look that the Falcon Bucco--John Beckwith and the guys at Falcon have put together a very nice rod here. For a swim jig, I'd personally look at something in the 7' range, with a "5" action. Will let you handle a range of head weights.

Mike Whitten

Best $100 rods from jhopper51 #20523 3/19/2012 11:24:42 PM
Shimano Compre. Abu garcia Veritas. I swim jigs with 7' MH Compre and 6'6" M Veritas. Plus they can be used for a bunch of other techniques.

+1 on the bucoo from landm #19856 3/21/2012 8:11:20 PM
ive fished Falcon for quite a while and love my cara's but recently got a deal on a bucoo and thought id try it out. Dang awesome rod! lightest ive ever used that still has backbone. I think that trap caster can do about anything. Great all purpose rod!

Uh.. no on the Falcon.. from bjlc #10606 #10606 3/22/2012 7:54:25 AM
I want to say that I RESPECT MIKE WHITTEN.. and his posts.. he is an excellent fisnerman, and for what I have seen an excellent man..

however, I bought the original Falcon.. it was mushy.. the feel was mushy.. I have both a 4 and a 5 action.. so I put braid on them and one is the Alabama style of swim jig fishing, the other has a Net bait top water craw on it.. stuff that does not need feel...

fool me once , shame on you.. fool me twice shame on me.. sorry.. I am looking some where else.. but no to the Falcon..

and Bucca's are... from bjlc #10606 #10606 3/23/2012 8:17:02 PM
and fyi Bucca's are $129 plus at the local Walmart.. that's over $100.. close to a third..

Fyi from jdw #10274 #10274 3/24/2012 7:41:15 PM
bjlc take another look-those are micro guide BuCoos-

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