I dont have many poles, so i was fishing a jig on a medium pole. I have missed about 4 fish over 5 pounds because i didnt get the hookset. Deacon u know wat i mean with 2 of those. Happened again. I mean i had them on then they just came off because i didnt drive it in. Not saying im not doing hard hooksets (almost as hard as i can) Would it make all the difference if i got a stiff Heavy action pole for that fishing. Would i get the hooksets easier?

Thanks,

Jdub

Almost all the difference in the world. The other thing to consider is your line. Try and use a line with little to no stretch in it. You'd be surprised in the difference the line can make.

When I'm flippn, I use a Kistler 7'6" Heavy rod and 50 lb P-Line Spectrex braid.

I was thinking about a 7 foot rod, but would it be better to go to a 7'6? Also, would it be good to use braid, even if u might wanna use it for other things such as frogs and some topwater? What would be another good line to use other than braid? Also, if u do use braid, how long would it last on ur pole after u load it on ur reel?

Jdub

Go with whatever rod is comfortable. If a 7-6 feels too long, go with a 7. When I first started using rods longer then 6 or 6-6 it was awkward. But now, I only buy 7 ft and up.

If you want to use the same setup for topwater, don't use braid or fluorocarbon. They both sink. I think that would be a hard combo though. It depends on how thick the vegetation is you're fishing. If it's thick-thick, don't use less then 20 lb. But, I don't recommend using that same 20 lb for topwater. Get what I'm saying?

The braid will work for frogs, but the rod (depending on what you get) will probably be too stiff for other topwater. Some gear set-ups just can't be used for multiple situations effectively.

I hope that's not too confusing?

I get exactly wat u mean. I have another 7' med/heavy thats pretty good for topwater. I think i will keep using that for frogs and wat not. But wat i really want out of it is a flipping stick. 7' i think is good for me for now. I think im goin to try braid, and see how i like it. (trusting u on this one ):P ( i think one of the most important things to have in california is a flippin stick, so i need one really bad. Thanks for all the imput Woodsac, but i would also appreciate of wat everyone else thinks on lines. Wat pound braid? (will be fishing lots of Spring Lake and such cover) Also, wat are some good brands for the price?

Jdub

I've been using Power Pro, which is pretty good braid. I'd think you could get away with 30# for flipping. I also use a fluorocarbon leader, 15 - 20#. I initially had some problems breaking off on the hookset until I learned to ease up. You really don't have to slam the fish on the hookset - a sharp lift of the rod has been plenty for me.

I've been flipping with a 7'6" & 6'6" rod. In really tight quarters, like under overhanging trees, the shorter stick is easier to handle. But, for flipping tules, the longer rod is good. You have more leverage & can flip farther.

As far as the topwater, braid is the only way to go for frogs. I've also been using it for buzzbaits, although some guys, like Scott Green at the Pro Shop, tell me they hate it for buzzbaits. On the other hand, he says Gary Dobyns recommended braid to him for them. So, like a lot with fishing, it probably boils down to personal preference.

Good luck at Spring Lake! I'm going to try to get out there Sunday afternoon/early evening.

One other thing to think about. When you hold your rod while working a jig, are you holding it close to your body or far out? You'll get more power on the hookset if you hold the rod closer in to your body. If you fish with the rod in your left hand, imagine that you are holding a rolled up newspaper under your left arm when you're working the jig. That's the right arm position. It's important to have a strong hookset, but the set should also be really quick. I like to set back over my right shoulder about 45 degrees. I'll only set straight up and down if the fish is very close to the boat or underneath me. I want the hook to penetrate the roof of the mouth, but slightly off center. If you can hook a bass half way between the top of the mouth and the corner of the mouth, that's a good spot to hook them. On big fish, if you hook them in the roof of the mouth, they can shake off sometimes because it's very hard to get the hook completely through their head. On fish under 5lbs, it's not too hard, but on 10lbers it is. If you set the hook every time like it's a 10lber, then you'll be less likely to screw up if you actually do get hit by a 10lber.

Rob, good advice about the relationship of the rod to your body. When you do something a lot, you forget to mention some of the small details like that because it's just habit once you have the rod in your hands.

I only mention it because I had that problem for a long time ... and lost a lot of jig fish because of it. When you come from trout fishing, you're all screwed up :)

Thanks everyone for all the replies, and i just ordered a flipping stick. 7'6 H. Thats a really good explination Rob, but i really think its my pole. Ive tried everything. Also, if i hook a fish,which is like 1 out of 20, then the pole gives to much and they go straight into the cover and i lose them. But back to the pole. I think im going to load it up with 17# mono to start (never broken 17# test, but when i do ill switch that too). Also, Aparsons, i will mostlikely be out there sunday too, im either in an ODC 816, or a little U tube. Hope to see u there.

Thanks everyone for the inputs,

Jdub

7' medium heavy rod, 17lb fluorocarbon, i have 3 setups like this and to me its the best all around combo you can have, i throw jigs, topwater, frogs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, senkos etc. just about all you need after this is a crankin rod and a dropshot rod and you got what you need, a medium action rod won't do much for you besides crankin and rippin in my opinion.