Walleye rigging / jigging rod recommendations. Avid? Loomis? Fenwick?

[CrappiesNeyes]

I am in the market for a Rigging / Jigging rod in the $130-$180 price range. I was thinking a 7ft rod with Medium or Medium Light power and a fast tip but please let me know if you prefer something else.Here are some of the rods that I've looked at.

St Croix Avid

Fenwick HMG

G-Loomis Gl2

Gary Roach "Mr Walleye" series

Cabelas Xml series

I know that Shimano, Gander,and other companies also make good rods. Please let me know what you have tried and any likes/dislikes you may have. Thanks in advance. CNE

[hanson]

I think you are on the right track!

6'-6", 6'-9", 7'-0" are all good lengths in this category. Some guys like their jigging rods even shorter but thats personal preference.

ML with a fast tip is a good choice as well.

To make your decision even harder, I would seriously take a look at a Limit Creek rod too. The rods are much less expensive than some of the ones you are looking at and every bit as capable IMO. The 6'-9" "Smoothie" from Limit Creek is a very nice rod for about $90. When you hold it side by side with a St Croix Avid, and then look at the cost difference, you'll wonder if the extra $60, $70 is really worth it.

Another thing to consider is customer service and/or warranty on the rod. How does the manufacturer (or retailer) deal with returns, exchanges, broken tips, etc...

Happy hunting!

[LMITOUT]

I have two Fenwicks, a Techna AV and a HMG, and they are both nice rods. I'll be looking at Fenwick for my next jigging/rigging rod too and it'll most likely be the 7' HMG in ML.

[PerchJerker]

What hanson said ---- that's all great advice

[mamohr686]

I have a Gloomis walleye series jigging rod (for a spinning reel) that is wicked sensitive for live bait rigging. I prefer a medium action 6.5' rod. I really like the handle design. I can feel a shinner flutter before a walleye takes it in when I'm lindy-rigging. I can also feel a great thump on the drop when I'm vertical jigging. I also have a fenwick HMG and the difference in sensitivity is huge. I did break it after I caught an 11lb fish on it a tobin lake, and scheels sent it in and it was replaced under warranty for free. I also have an avid series rod that I would rate a very close second.

[iffwalleyes]

I have had loomis, St croix, and Fenwick. With that said I currently only buy Fenwich rods. You sound like you are looking for the same thing as I was this spring. I ended up getting a HMX 7'0" ML it is a awesome rigging rod. It works well for jigging as well. The only think I don't like about it is when I am jigging it has a longer handle that I would like. If you go with a 6'6" it has a shorter handle. Right now for the money I don't know if there is a better rod out there. $79.99 for the one I got. I do hear the limit creek rods are nice but I have never used one. The HMG are nice too but I don't own one and they are a little more but I see one coming into my collection before next summer .

[CrappiesNeyes]

Has anyone tried any of the Cabela's Xml rods? Or the Gary Roach "Mr Walleye" series rods?

[Muddog]

I picked up a 7' HMG in M power the other day looking for somthing a bit stiffer then my Gander 7'ML that I use alot. Talk about a fast action, that Fenwick has all the action on the last 12" of the rod. I'll have to try it jiging because the dang thing is all but impossible to load up on the cast. I do have a 5-6" HMG in M power, That is a super rod for jiging and casting.

[Jim Hudson]

Lots of great sticks out there on the market now for rigging purposes along with jig sticks too... I seperate these two rods as I like a longer rod for rigging and a shorter rod for vertical jigging.. Tools of the trade sort of speak, and each rod plays independently of each other for these two presentations..

This year, I have exclusively been using the Jason Mitchell Elite series of rods for these applications.. Where on the rigging end of things, either the 7 foot model or the 7'6" model are the cats meow in my book.. The 7 foot model excels all around, where the 7'6" model makes handling long snells, such as those used on Mille Lacs and other clear bodies of water, a breeze. The 7'6" model also is a good stick to cast small cranks and pitch jigs with for 'eyes too.

On the jigging end of the spectrum, Jason developed a 5'9" rod, that balances great with smaller spinning reels to make a weight friendly set-up for an all day adventure on your favortie jigging water.

All these rods are super sensitive, extremely light weight, and are built rock solid for years of use. Jason backs these rods with great customer service and warranty as well, where the rods are definately in your price range..

Check em out... And if you have any other questions, give me a holler... Jason Mitchell Elite Series Rods