The Skinny On Jigging Rods

Putting screws to a big bluefin with a WWO custom tuna jigging rod built by Ricky here at the shop.

With the winter season fast approaching, serious northeast anglers are already looking over their current inventory and trying to figure out if there are any holes to plug for next season. For a surprising number of those who do most of their fishing from boats, jigging rods are at the top of the list once the appraisals are done, and for good reason.

“Just about every predatory species from black seabass, bluefish and stripers to giant bluefin tuna will slam a slender slab of metal, if it’s presented properly,” says White Water Outfitter’s custom rod guru, Rich Parisen. “While it’s possible to jig some of these battlers with standard spinning or conventional setups, using a true jigging rod designed to fit the way you fish and the specific species you pursue can be a big plus. That’s because these specialty rods help keep good contact with your jig, utilize efficient power that improves jig action on the retrieve, provide superior hook-setting muscle, and are specifically designed to reduce angler fatigue over the course of an intense jigging session making battling trophy fish a more manageable task.”

A set of White Water custom tuna jigging rods built on Jigging World blanks, matched to stand-up trolling rods for a boat outfit.

Parisen points out that there can be a considerable difference between one jigging rod and another. A lot of anglers, he notes, come in looking for a general-purpose jigging rod to cover a range of species - but that really doesn’t exist. To get the most out of a jigging rod, you need to match it to a selected species. For example, while tuna, striper and bluefish fans will use these rods mostly with diamond jigs, smaller species like fluke, weakfish, sea bass and even blackfish can be worked up with a variety of jigheads and bucktails. Further, each of these species can feed at different depths, prefer different tidal stages, and have a different way of striking lures. 

Consider, for instance, that weakfish have a soft mouth from which a diamond jig, bucktail or grub impaled on a jighead can easily tear if the hookset is too sharp or a fast-tapered rod applies too much resistance when a tiderunner tests the drag. Blackfish, by comparison, require a faster taper so anglers can set the hook sharply to penetrate their tough mouths and then use the backbone of the rod to turn a bulldog away from heavy structure in the same motion. In short, then, choosing a jigging rod heavy on the features that match the type of fishing you’ll be doing is vital to achieving peak performance. You want to have an appropriately tailored and sized jigging rod outfit that responds the way you need it to in specific situations.

To be sure, one reason for the superior performance of jigging rods when working diamond jigs, bucktails or even blackfish jigs, is that these rods tend to be a bit stouter than standard conventional or spinning rods of the same class. This provides more backbone and surprisingly efficient power for cranking heavier jigs and lifting bigger fish against their will.

You’ll really appreciate jigging rods if targeting monsters around serious structure that requires turning a lunker in your direction as quickly as possible to avoid snags and cut-offs, or when targeting big game species. Jigging rods for tuna, in particular, incorporate a parabolic curve to better distribute and absorb the heavy pressure true trophy fish exert as they dive for the bottom. Additionally, these big game rods tend to have a slow taper to help make that line come nice and tight as you prepare to drive home the hook. Jigging rods designed for most other predatory fish in our inshore waters generally incorporate a faster tip to allow for more precise control of smaller lures and lightning-fast hook-sets.

Getting one more in before sunset.

As a rough guide, suggest Parisen, jigging rods for most anything from blackfish and fluke to blues and stripers will be in the 6-1/2- to 7-foot class, while tuna jigging rods run 5 to 6-feet so anglers can better deal with the serious stand-up fights that are likely to ensue.

In terms of assembling your personal jig rod arsenal, it’s probably a good idea to start with a single new rod designed to target a favorite species. If you like that first one you’ll probably want a few more down the road. Be aware, however, that these rods take a little getting used-to before you can fully appreciate the advantages they offer and refine what you are looking for as you add to your collection.

“One way to know which jigging rod you’ll want to get first is to open up your tackle box or plug bag and take out the first five jigs/bucktails you are likely to use on a typical fishing trip,” advises Parisen. “You’ll want a rod that can handle the average weight of those lures you’ve selected. Next, consider the taper you’ll need based on if you’ll be jigging in open water, around heavy structure or through strong currents, and if the fish you’ll target require a sharp strike or more of a steady lifting hook-set. Lastly, consider how much backbone you’ll want that rod to have based on the size and strength of your potential quarry.”

Match the hatch!

Many fishing tackle shops, Whitewater Outfitters included, will have several sizes and styles of jigging rods available off the rack, and you’ll likely find suitable choices amongst these for getting started. Once you get a feel for how jigging rods respond to different stresses and pressure you may want to get a little more specific by going the custom-built route. This allows you to select a specific rod blank and hand-pick the characteristics, components and features you’ll like best from rod length to taper, butt length, and even the style of reel seat you desire. 

You can also incorporate the best design for how you like to hold the rod once you’ve set the hook. “Some anglers like to put it on their hip, others like to hold the rod just ahead of the handle, some anglers like to jig with the lure straight in front while others work it across their body,” says Parisen. “There are slight adjustments that can be made while designing custom jigging rods to enhance each of these traits.”

Whether you are thinking about a name-brand jigging rod or custom design, it’s a good idea to first stop by the shop and discuss possible choices with the crew right here at White Water Outfitters. We’ve got some pretty talented rod makers and jigging specialists on our staff that can help guide you to a few choices that should put the odds in your favor the next time you set the hook. Whether you are looking to get started with an off the rack option or want to up your game with a custom jigging rod that will be the envy of your crew, the advice here is always free - so come on down and let the staff here at White Water Outfitters help you get started because next season is already on the horizon.

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