Like the title says, I want to build a couple rods for Twitchin Jigs for Coho and Steelhead. I prefer baitcasting reels, but will probably build one of each spinning and acid rod for casting. I am looking for length and power or line ratings, like Rainshadow blanks as they are fairly local to my area and I will be making a trip over when I get off deployment to buy a bunch of blanks so that would be the route I would prefer to go.

Thanks,
Chad

I have been using a 7 foot rod this fall for twitching jigs. From a boat this is the way to go. My rod builder is going to be here in 15 mins to fish with me, we are going to discuss my next rod. Which will be a short light twitching stick.

With the shorter stick everything happens much faster and you have way less time that you are not in touch with the jig.

I would wait to see what Merg has to say!

1265 with 65# braid.................LOL.I'm waiting for the pro to respond like mentioned above..........Good luck,
SZ

I'm with Rocket. From a boat, a shorter faster casting rod works very well for twitching, ala bass jigging and inshore popping. Been using a short St. Croix bass rod and a Batson HS9000 custom casting rod. While the HS9000 is nicely balanced, it's a magnum Hot Shot blank and somewhat limited in casting distance (not a big deal) and accuracy (bigger deal). Unfortunately it seems like all better short casting rods (under 8' 6") are all 1 piece blanks. But, I've been eyeballing a little 7 foot 2 piece Inshore Batson blank (IP843F) lately. Currently my main twitching rod is a Sage CT286 because it's a 2 piece and easier to carry; really light, nicely balanced for twitching, extremely responsive, adequately fast, great bowels and casts and pitches beautifully too. For me anything over 8'6" is either too slow, too heavy, not accurate enough for pitching around the wood, trees and brush or is just too unwieldily or tiring to use for extended periods twitching IMO. If you're only fishing the big deeper open pools then pretty much any light steelhead rod capable of casting 1/4 - 1/2 oz. will do.

I'm sure when it comes to twitching we all have a lot to learn from the bass community and of course from Master Merg too. In the meantime it might be worth checking out the Batson rodbuilding Forum or even give Adam or Kerry at Rainshadow a call. They're very knowlegable and helpful.

Im with ya on that. I prefer a 6"6 bass rod rated 8-17. I started out with a longer rod and now prefer the shorter rod. Theres a reason bass fisherman use shorter rods for pitching and twitching. Sometimes you have to steal a page from the ditch pickle fisherman. Wait for Merg to chime in with his expertise knowledge.

I like my 1024 rated 8-12, but do get fatigue after a full day of twitching. I use a 1/4 oz jig- I think most people prefer heavier. Even though I use 10lb XXX line, I have landed King, Chum and Silvers on it. Not super powerful, but it works. I have been spooled once in a tricky hole. There are probably better rods, but I think it gives those jigs just the right action.

I fish it from the boat, but have also done it from bank.

I didn't think there would be much of a difference but I used an el-cheapo 7' 8-12 rated rod for a couple of weeks and then picked up an XST 1142 with carbon grips, super light guides, etc, and could feel the difference in touch instantly. Mostly it is that the short quick rod maintains a much better connection. Now I am stoked to go all high-end on a shorter jig rod.

The downside is pulling the jig off a log with the shorter rod is hard because you can't stick it as far under water.

I just bought a Lamiglas TR82MTS Twitchin stick.
Carbon grip, one piece 8' 2" rated for 1/4 to 3/4 oz lure and 8-17 lb test.

Long rod for me....

Thursday.......2 went home, 13 released.....Cabelas 10', 40# PP Hi Vis., no leader, duo-lock ite to end of PP. Rod is rated 8-15#, water was up, some, so rod has the backbone to handled fish.

Friday.......Started with same rod.....today was fishing for "male Coho" only. Early in day 2 "chromer females released". Changed rods for FUN, Shimano 10.5', 4-8# rated, hooked male, on dark side.......but it was fun, fun, fun.

Thursday, I was one of 7-8 boats......Friday, ugh.....was #3, put in but parking lot ended up being FULL.......can't even believe what Saturday and Sunday, will be like. I WILL NOT BE THERE !!!!!!!!!!

To me, fishing has got to be fun.....Twitching is fun....spinning reels, light rods, ...... 40# PP......casts easy, but allows me to get "most jigs" back.

Be safe.....hope fishing is fun for you.

ohhhh side note.....21 fish caught......Brad of Brads Jigs got the ONLY hatchery fish......just not many hatchery fish !!!!! Wonder what the deal is on so few hatchery.....showing in sport caught fish??????

Next time D-Wa change to a short light rod, so you can compare.

I am pretty sure it is the same amount of fun compared to a longer rod.

I got a hatchery fish this week, been averaging 1 for 7 or so lately.

RR:

No wonder I can't get a hatchery......you got them before I had a chance.....lol

No short rods in the few that I have.....lol.....GLX1141, is shorest I have, 9.5', not goin to use a GLX for twitching.

Cool options so far, I was a Bass tourny fisher for 20 years before I moved to Washington and started fishing for Salmon, so I have alot of high end bass rods, mostly St. Croix Avids and a couple Heliums in 7'. I have done a ton of jig fishing for both smallmouth and largemouth and definately value a custom rod built by myself for lightness and balance that equals sensitivity. I do both boat and shore fishing so I was thinking the longer rods will help out in that aspect. I have 3 1143 Rainshadow blanks at home right now, all are IM7 and have not been turned yet. Was thinking of XST 1142/1143's , but wanted opinions from guys that have done alot for the salmon.
Drifter, I LOVE fishing and am not into keeping fish just to say I did, though I do enjoy the eating part as well. So I would definately say I am more into fooling the fish into biting rather than the catching for subsistance part.

Both are great all round steelhead blanks. Love the XST1142 for side drifting, as well as light floats and hardware. Even though it's a really fun rod to play fish with and has the authority to land them, it's not my pick for twitching jigs all day long. Length too long and action too moderate.

As a former bass pro, I'm guessing you've got some pretty good stories to tell.

Mooch, not a pro by any means, just fished for Bass exclusively for alot of years. I still learn something new almost everytime I go out. Fishing competitively definately adds to the level of intensity, but that almost always makes it more stressful then fun.

I used a Lamiglas XMG50 9'6", 6-15# casting rod to twitch with the last few days...the fish didn't seem to mind.

Fish on...

Todd

Wonder what the deal is on so few hatchery.....showing in sport caught fish??????

As of the 8th it is 5807 combined Bingham / Sat Sp at the rack. 692 Skook, Ab Lake 105 & 1964 at Mayr.

damn you guys like to use some light pansy rods! i dont use anything less then 8-15 unless its for summer steelhead...

i use xmg 50 10' 8-15 or a rain shadow 1144 to twitch with... more often then not, the 1144 due to the number of kings i get twitching.

The key to being good at something is to never give away what you've learned for free. I will say two people said something i agree with and through trial and error found out to be true. The rest is speculation by people who have not done it very much. its part of learning the hard way which sometimes is the best way.

bahahahahaahha ok......hahah i will give this away for free....DONT GET THAT BIG OF A ROD. jesus t!ts bro....

lets see pics of these incidental kings twitching...plleeaaseeeee....hahahaha. i think your full of segull poop amoung other things. Especially if your using that size of a rod....very hard to do it properly with a rod that size. but it jsut reiterated my hunch you didnt know what the hell your talkign about. This is free info....if this guy speaks about twitching...discount it as heresay immediatly. free info concluded