I'm looking to buy a new jig fishing rod. So what is the perfect jig rod? I will be purchasing a Lamiglas or Loomis, so please stick to those two brands.

Misty:

You might want to keep an eye on this thread , as it asks the same question that you just asked.

Fore 1 you don't need to spend the wad for a float rod,my rod of choice is a Fenwick 10-5" HMX series matched with an Okuma epix 30.
I'm in the water for around 160 bucks.
But any rod thats at least 10" is OK,if you fish from a boat you can get by this length,
I'd like mine to be longer (don't we all)
the longer the rod you use the more control you have over you're float and fighting a fish,I'm surprised just how much pressure I can put on a fish with one of these rods even with 8lb test.
anything rated around 2-10 or so witha length of at least 10 will work...........Os

if your set on a lami. or loomis check this one out, loomis gl3 1173sk, 9'9" moderate act. 6-12lb. or lami. makes one just like this one but 9'9" long. they kind of have a funny handle on them (skamania (?sp) style handle is shorter than the norm) the thing about the loomis, only this rod, is they misprinted teh price in the catalog so it is going for $180, but next year it will go for closer to $300 since its a GL3, so if your set on the loomis this is a good deal for the time being. hope this helps :p

Os, you must really pump alot of iron using a 10" rod, sheesh you must have like popeye forearms!

Just ribbing ya!

Ya, Os' 10" rod might be OK for tiny trout creeks but not big steelie rivers. Maybe he had another venue in mind?

The ultimate float rod is a 1263C Gl3. Its 10'6" and is rated for 6-12 pound line. It has the length you want-10 and a half feet and is a great all around rod because you will not have a problem casting small floats across the river but can still use to fish floats and eggs or herring under a float for salmon. You can bury up to a 1/0 hook with it as well. But because you its a GL3 you looking at about $300 or so.

If you do not want to spend that much look towards an AllStar, I have the 1262 and it is a little light for an all around bobber rod but is great for summer-runs and winter brats. Plus they make a 1263 AllStar which is almost a carbon copy of the Loomis 1263. You are looking at around $120 for either AllStar.

All 3 of these rods are casting rods as I do not think a spinning reels fishes floats as well as a levelwind. It is so much easier to freespool a float down a hole, slot, along structure etc. etc. with a levelwind as you have more direct control on the line and when if fish takes and you need to set the hook, all that you have to do is lock your thumb down on the spool and rip back.

Misty,

I agree with Os that you are wasting money by spending over $200 and up to $300 on a float rod for jig fishing. Ryan has the right idea in spending from $120 to $150 for an All Star. If you have to stick to a Loomis or Lami, a 1000 series Lamiglass in 9.5' or 10.5', depending on your height, will make for a fine float rod. Line rated 6 to 12 lb. for steelhead, 8 to 17 lb. for a dual purpose salmon/steelhead rod, and a 10 to 20 lb. for a 'nook float rod (except for snagy tidewater use, in which case most guys use 25 lb. or 30 lb. rated rods). $0.02 opinion.

Don't overlook custom rods by TH Custom Rods down near Coquille on the southern Oregon coast, and D&E Custom rods near Vanc, WA. They can make you one out of rod blanks from All Star, Rainshawdow, Lamiglass, or GLoomis 'seconds'. You can save some money and have your own custom rod with your name inscribed on it. I recently got a TH 1164 with 9.5' Rainshadow blank rated 8 to 17 lb. and I love it! Great for this time of year when both nook and steelies are present. I use either 15 lb. Izorline Platimun or Maxima UG mono for dual purpose setup, but am going to start using 20 or 30 lb. superbraids from Fireline or PowerPro. Good luck.

RT