My new walleye vertical jigging rod...

[CALVINIST]

I recently took a liking to anchoring up and vertical jigging for walleyes but didn't have the right rod for it. My other rods were all St Croix medium 6.5' or 7' fast action.

Well I finally got something I really like. A couple weeks ago I bought a 9 foot medium-light Shimano Clarus with medium-fast action on the tip, about $90, matched with a Shimano Symetre reel that I already had spooled with 8lb. Gamma.

Hopefully I can stick a few nice walleyes before ice up!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sounds like a great combo.. Might be a very good crappie combo in the spring too..

[CALVINIST]

I was thinking that too. Ought to be able to cast a mile with a 9' rod.

[jwmiller33]

Hopefully I can stick a few nice walleyes before ice up!

Fall is a great time for hog walleyes! Especially with all the guys in the woods hunting. Leaves all the best fishing for us!

[Quetico]

I've always liked long rods. They are very accurate on longer casts. Sounds like an awesome set-up.

[fisherdog19]

I've had a 9.5 footer for years, great for bobber fishing and doubles as an extra crank trolling rod when I need another one for a guest in my boat.

[hanson]

Definitely personal preference but I can't vertical jig with a rod anywhere near that long.

[fishorgolf]

I'm with you hanson. I have actually been going shorter with my jigging rods with better success.

[fisherdog19]

I've never used my long rod for jigging, I prefer 6.5 ft or less for that. The long rod can't be beat for a long distance casting bobber rod.

[NCLaker]

Congrats on the new rod ... I also prefer a shorter vertical jigging rod 6'-6'6".

Just curious, what is the reason for going with such a long rod for this type of fishing?

[croixflats]

That sounds like a great combo. You are going to love the extra length.

I have the Limit Creek 8'3" and the 6'6" Medium heavy and for some reason I use the 8.3 more often. I like the fact it sends the jig out easier with a greater distance with less effort. I can see a 6'6" for stationary jigging or drifting slowly.

After using the longer rod that 6'6" feels small, kinda like going from a 6.6 to an ultralight

[Northlander]

For strictly verticle jigging I like a 6'6" -7' med fast rod. For working current drifts I like a 7'6" to 9' with a light fast tip and good back bone. To each his own though.

[CALVINIST]

Congrats on the new rod ... I also prefer a shorter vertical jigging rod 6'-6'6".

Just curious, what is the reason for going with such a long rod for this type of fishing?

A buddy of mine almost exclusively vertical jigs for walleyes, and he catches alot of fish. He has a very long rod with soft tip, it's actually a flyrod. When he gets a bite he doesn't just set the hook but lets the fish hang on for quite awhile, sometimes it will pull the rod tip into the water before setting the hook. The x-tra length and soft tip allows you to do that with less risk for for the fish to feel resistence. Also, I like the x-tra length because it allows me to fish a greater distance away from the boat.

I used to use a quick hookset kind of guy when jigging, but found I have much better hookup ratio by letting 'em take it. Plus it builds patience, which I have little of!

[Jim Almquist]

I like a 6'6" rod for all my jigging but the way I treat bites that need more time is to keep my bail open with my line on my finger and feed them line when they start to move but I make sure to keep tension on the line so the fish won't feel the weight of the jig.

[Fish Head]

I do a lot of vertical jigging, and I usually use a 6'2" St Croix Avid or a 6'6" Shimano Crucial for most of it. I like the longer rods for casting, pitching or rigging. What ever works for you is the ticket.

Fisherdog19- I love that picture!

[NCLaker]

Thanks for the explaination Calanist ... makes sense. It's kinda funny because I bought various types of rods for different walleye presentation techniques - all Fenwick Tech Elites:

- 6'2 Med XFast for vertical jiggin

- 6'6' ML Fast for pithching jigs

- 7'2' ML for rigging

Probably could have saved a ton of money and just went with the 7'2 ML for all three My wife always gives me hard time for toting so many rods. However, I do like to switch things up, so it is nice to not have to rerig if switching techniques.

[Fish Head]

NCLaker, I like your choices. 3 is too many...no way! I often take 8-10 rods with me on my fishing trips.

[NCLaker]

Thanks FishHead ... actually I do bring a few others if only targeting Walleye

- 6'6" ML Spinning Fenwick HMG, for pitching small cranks (stiffer than most ML, but still loads nice for casting lighter cranks)

- 3 way baitcasting setup

- Line Counter trolling setup for pulling cranks

With the 6 rods it pertty much covers what I need (for now )

[Scoot]

Yup, my jiggin' rod is 5'10"-- I love it!