What size football jig rod?

[sicheneder]

I usually amazed when I look at post tournament results at the rods they say they use for throwing a football head jig. I got to thinking of it when looking at a new lure where part of the head separates from the rest of the football jig. The claimed a high percentage of lose ratio without the head that separates. I use a monster 7.5' heavy action rod and not to jinx myself but I can only thing of only 1-2 bass that i have lost while using that big of a rod. I also don't use any jigs that have the lighter wire.

So, anyways what kind of rods is everyone else using for throwing football head jigs?

[TR21HP]

I use a Loomis IMX 7 footer, heavy with a fast action tip. Usually use 17-20 lb. floro line and usually have zero problems with lost fish. I think a lot of these modern day fisherman are so obsessed with braid and zero stretch lines that they are prone to losing a few with that type of equipment. What is everybody elses thought?

[bASS_BLASTER]

7'1, 7'2 & 7'3 all with 40 & 50 # braided.

[Larson15]

GLoomis 874 GLX - 7'3" heavy

20lb Seaguar Abrazx

[KickNBass]

What rods are they using? Not a regular part of my arsenal but I would probably throw them on my 7' St. Croix MH rods.

[sicheneder]

i have tried braid before but i did not like it as well as i do mono. there was something about how mono comes over and out of the rocks that i like. maybe i should try fluoro this summer but i still worry about fluoros abrasion resistance over rocks.

[RK]

I use either a 7'1" heavy or a med-heavy flipping stick. Actually, flipping sticks work pretty well for football head rods - pick up a lot of line on a sweep set on a long cast. In either case, I use 17# fluorocarbon. Don't really feel like I lose an extraordinary number of fish on them. No more than I do a regular casting jig anyhow...

RK

[Larson15]

Fluro will have better abrasion resistance than mono and also less stretch which makes it superior for dragging footballs.

For 3/8-1/2oz footballs any 7-8ft med/heavy - heavy rod will work

For 3/4 -1oz footballs any rod over 7ft and heavy action will do fine.

I prefer a longer heavier actoin rod but rarely fish a football jig under 3/4 oz.

[bASS_BLASTER]

hmmm? I use 7'1" heavy glx/core 50mg, 7'2" heavy glx/core 50mg & 7'3" med-hvy nrx/patriarch xt. I use braided b/c its easier and smoother to cast--probably b/c I'm just a rookie. Also like it b/c there is no stretch. I have a 7'5" glx/core100mgfv but it sores the forearm from flipping & pitching all day. I use that for frogs now. Its to big for my preference. I stop using football vs a regular jighead b/c football heads seems to hook up more weeds, moss & junk.

You guys see any difference in # of bites using braided -vs- mono or fluro?

[Cecil]

G Loomis 7-5" GLX senko rod

model 893GLX

[RK]

You guys see any difference in # of bites using braided -vs- mono or fluro?

In my mind, absolutely. Last summer a friend and I alternated two rods, one with fluoro one with braid, with identical jigs. # of bites on flouro vs braid was huge. In clear water away from thick cover, no doubt in my mind you get more bites with fluoro. And I mean, NO doubt.

If you like how braid handles, just add a fluoro leader. Best of both worlds...

[river rat316]

new lure where part of the head separates from the rest of the football jig. The claimed a high percentage of lose ratio without the head that separates.

[PoorWordUsage] marketing, Buckeye tried to make it sound like you won't land a fish on a heavy fb jig, I can't really think of any that I have lost there might be a coupe but it is certainly not a high percentage like they claim

[Ray Esboldt]

I throw the big ones on a flipping stick. I've used braid in the past, but will be converting that to 17lb flouro. I really only have braid on a couple rods for slop fishing.

I started throwing a lot more 1/8 oz. football heads the last couple years on a 7 foot medium action spinning rod. Based on the results, I will throw them even more. I like the fact that a football head is more likely to stay upright (hook pointing up) when stopped than a ball head or mushroom head. I don't know why it makes a difference, but it sure has. Maybe it is because I concentrate more on grinding the bait along the bottom. In the weeds or if fish are taking the bait on the drop, I will throw a more conventional jig. But, I will have a football tied on almost all the time in the future.

[RK]

I started throwing a lot more 1/8 oz. football heads the last couple years on a 7 foot medium action spinning rod. Based on the results, I will throw them even more. I like the fact that a football head is more likely to stay upright (hook pointing up) when stopped than a ball head or mushroom head. I don't know why it makes a difference, but it sure has. Maybe it is because I concentrate more on grinding the bait along the bottom. In the weeds or if fish are taking the bait on the drop, I will throw a more conventional jig. But, I will have a football tied on almost all the time in the future.

Yep - I love 1/8 to 3/8 oz FB heads too - and those I do throw on braid, with spinning gear and a fluoro leader. Around docks with a sand or gravel bottom, a 1/4 oz FB head with a fluke on it skittered on the bottom can be killer. Definitely better on hard bottom than around weeds, but they're a great way to fish a 3-6' flat in a hurry. I started putting little swimbaits on them like a Keitech Swing Impact, then just kind of grind it along - love it. Smallies must hit it weird, like smash it into the bottom or something, because they usually don't hit swimming grubs very hard, but they murder these things.

RK

[RK]

[PoorWordUsage] marketing, Buckeye tried to make it sound like you won't land a fish on a heavy fb jig, I can't really think of any that I have lost there might be a coupe but it is certainly not a high percentage like they claim

I happen to agree. I think I saw a little bit of the same show the other day but switched it off. My thought was they had a solution in search of a problem. Probably will work just fine and certainly will catch fish, but...

[Larson15]

I've become a huge fan of 1/8-3/8 football style shaky heads for smaller craws and beavers. I use a 7'1 medium x/fast spinning rod for this with 20lb braid and 10lb fluro leader. This setup is deadly on the smallmouth!

[HellaBass]

Dobyns DX 744 for 1/2 - 3/4oz Football Jigs

Dobyns Champion 702s for finesse shakey football heads