10 Best Jigging Rods for Pitching and Flipping Bass

The best jigging rod has a medium/heavy power with a casting set up to provide a little more strength when battling big bass in the weeds.

This is why I chose the Okuma Cedros E-Glass as the best jig rod overall.

This bass fishing style is quite different from the finesse action you’d experience when drop shotting or throwing wacky worms around structure. 

Having a dedicated jig rod setup is an important part of having success with this fishing technique.

I don’t know if it’s the decades of experience or hours of research, but I think I know a thing or two about jigging, and by the end of this guide, you will too! 

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Dive Deeper: Reviews Of Our Favorite Jigging Rods for Bass Fishing

1. Okuma Cedros E-Glass

BEST JIG ROD OVERALL

Specs

• Length: 6’6”
• Weight: 1lb
• Power/Action: Medium-Heavy
• Material: E-Glass
• Pieces: One

Pros

• E-glass blank offers ultimate pulling power
• Improved sensitivity
• Small and light
• Guide inserts are a great add-on

Cons

• Customers have issues with shipping

When you’re jigging for bass, you need a rod with a lot of backbone, and this is the one.

The Okuma is a dedicated jigging rod built specifically for this purpose, so it has a lot of power, pulling strength, and durability.  

If you need a slow pitch jigging rod for saltwater fishing, I’d recommend checking out the GooFish Matte Black Slow Pitch Jigging Rod.

This rod comes in a couple of variations depending on whether you prefer a spinning reel or a casting reel. It has a solid Nano Tech blank, so it’s lighter, stronger, and more sensitive.

When it’s shipped, it’s very protected, so you can know it won’t be broken when you get it. Someone would have to try to damage the package intentionally.

2. Dobyns Rods Fury Series Casting Rod

BEST SLOW JIGGING ROD

Specs

• Length: 6’6”
• Power/Action: Medium-Heavy
• Material: Graphite
• Pieces: One

Pros

• Highly sensitive
• Durable rod
• Great for deeper water fishing like crankbaits too

Cons

• The short reel seat and rod butt which isn’t great for cranking

Here’s another powerful jigging rod from Dobyns Rods. This rod is incredibly sensitive because of the high modulus graphite.

The material also makes the rod durable, and best of all, you can use this one for a variety of purposes.

Throw a Texas rig on there, and you can fish worms around the weeds, you can also toss crankbaits down around the rocks. 

A travel option is the two-piece Rosewood Slow Jigging Rod.

I’m not typically a fan of two-piece rods because the top piece always manages to fly off when I’m casting.

However, they’re are much better to travel with because they don’t need such a long space to be stored.

So if you travel a lot, this is the rod for you.

3. Fiblink Jig Pole with SuperPolymer Handle

BEST LIGHT JIGGING ROD

Specs

• Length: 5’ 6”
• Weight: 19.75oz
• Power/Action: Medium-Heavy
• Material: E-Glass/Graphite/Composite Hybrid
• Pieces: One

Pros

• Lightweight
• High-quality blank materials
• Ergonomic design prevents friction
• Ultra-sensitive

Cons

• These rods are short

If you’re looking for some rods with a bit more variety, give these a look.

They have a few different styles that can hold up to 50lb test on the casting rod and 80lb test on the spinning rods.

When you’re trying to deep-sea jig for things like snapper or grouper, this is the rod for it.

As I said, I believe you can also use it in small backwater ponds with tackle like crankbaits and jigs.

Another excellent choice for a light jigging rod is the BUBBA Tidal 7′ Medium Inshore Spinning Rod because it’s corrosion-resistant so you can use it in fresh or saltwater and it has a little bit of power to help set the hook and reel them in.

However, it’s not meant for large fish; it will break if you try to catch big saltwater fish with it.

4. St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod

BEST FINESSE JIGGING ROD

Specs

• Length: 6’8”
• Power/Action: Medium-Heavy
• Material: Advanced SCIII Graphite
• Pieces: One

Pros

• Overall great rod
• Highly sensitive and durable materials
• Five-year warranty

Cons

• Not a jigging rod

If you can find a great rod, sometimes it doesn’t need to be a jigging rod to get the job done.

This St. Croix rod uses the best materials, has the right power and optimal length, and has a nice long and strong handle for cranking.

So, why buy a jigging rod when you have all the components of one right here?

The Catch Co Googan Squad Gold Series is another non-jigging rod that will get the job done by setting the hook while fishing with a finesse jig, yet it’s sensitive enough to feel light bites.

I’m not a fan of cork handles, but I know a lot of anglers who are, but at this price, I would prefer foam grips.

5. Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Rod

Specs

• Length: 6’10”
• Power/Action: Medium-Heavy
• Material: IM6 Carbon
• Pieces: One

Pros

• Highly affordable rod
• Amazing sensitivity
• Durable materials
• The O-seat design makes it easier to hold

Cons

• The two-piece rods don’t have the same transition quality

This rod is a crowd-pleaser because of how affordable it is, but what you don’t realize is that you’re actually getting a pretty great rod for less than $100.

It features the O-seat, which helps reduce fatigue when you’re battling a large fish.

Plus, the rod uses great materials overall, which improves sensitivity and increases cranking power.

The Cadence CR7B Baitcasting Rod is a great alternative if you’re looking for an affordable rod that can be used in freshwater or saltwater.

It has a 40-ton graphite blank with a carbon cover, adding to its strength and sensitivity. It’s an excellent all-around rod for the price.

6. Fiblink Saltwater Graphite Jigging Pole

BEST SALTWATER JIGGING RODS

Specs

• Length: 6′
• Power/Action: Medium-Heavy
• Material: Graphite-Fiberglass composite
• Pieces: 2

Pros

• Great pulling power
• Designed for vertical jigging
• Can be used for other fishing techniques
• Made of durable materials

Cons

• Issues with the eyes being improperly positioned

If deep-sea fishing or general offshore fishing is your game, you’ll need a rod like this.

Saltwater jigging rods are generally pretty short (less than 6 feet), and they come with huge butts, so you have a ton of area to hold onto and extra leverage when you’re cranking.

This rod offers a durable E-glass and graphite construction, with stainless steel guides, and an aluminum alloy reel seat.

Suppose you’re looking for a more comfortable butt while reeling in fish.

In that case, I suggest checking out the Fiblink 2-Piece Saltwater Offshore Heavy Bent Butt Trolling Rod because it’s well-built, similar to the Fiblink Saltwater Jigging Rod, but it has roller guides for better casting when you need it.

The bent butt helps you maintain leverage and comfortability, which makes it an excellent all-around saltwater rod.

7. Lew’s Custom Speed Stick Casting Rod

MOST SENSITIVE JIG ROD

Specs

• Length: 7′ 3″
• Power/Action: Heavy / Moderate Fast
• Material: HM60 graphite
• Pieces: 1

Pros

• G Clutch Handle System
• Split-grip EVA handle with duracork inlay
• Trusted Lew’s name
• Designed to be sensitive for bass fishing

Cons

• A little expensive

Lew’s is a brand trusted by many professional and weekend anglers, they are known for making high-quality gear at reasonable prices.

Lew’s designed this rod for bass fishing with football jigs which means it’s sensitive, so you feel every rock, tree branch, and bite.

The handle has a comfortable grip, the reel seats well to the blank, and the Fuji Concept O guides help increase casting distance when needed.

The Falcon BuCoo SR is an excellent jig fishing rod because it’s sensitive yet powerful enough to set the hook.

I recommend the 7’3 medium heavy, moderate fast action rod for the best results while using a jig for bass.

8. Shimano Trevala Butterfly Jigging Casting Rod

BEST VERTICAL JIGGING ROD

Specs

• Length: 6′ or 6’6″
• Power/Action: Medium or Heavy/Fast
• Material: Graphite/glass
• Pieces: 1

Pros

• Lightweight
• Powerful
• Quality materials
• Trusted brand

Cons

• Expensive
• It’s a lighter rod than what its rating suggests

Shimano is a well-established brand so you know you can trust their gear.

The materials used are known for being durable yet sensitive just like you need while vertical jigging.

I like that you can choose your rod length instead of being forced to use a length you’re not comfortable with.

If you’re not willing to spend over $150 on a rod, then I’d recommend the Penn Rampage Jigging Conventional Rod. It’s under $100 and it’s made by another trusted brand.

The main downside is that you’re forced to use a 6’6″ rod, which some might find too long.

9. Ugly Stik Bigwater Conventional Rod

BUDGET-FRIENDLY JIGGING ROD

Specs

• Length: 7″
• Power/Action: Medium-Heavy/Moderate
• Material: Graphite and Fiberglass
• Pieces: 1

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Durable
• 7-year limited warranty
• Corrosion-resistant Ugly Tuff 1-piece stainless steel guides

Cons

• Some lines cut the stainless steel guides
• Multiple complaints of the guides

Ugly Stik is known for making quality equipment at affordable prices.

The Bigwater rod is perfect for anyone on a tight budget because it’s powerful enough to handle heavy jigs and big fish without having to take out a loan to purchase it.

I appreciate that Ugly Stik stands behind their products with a 7-year warranty.

That only means you’re protected from manufacturer defects, not getting it ripped out of your hands by a big fish.

Another great budget option is the Offshore Angler Sea Lion Conventional Rod. It’s even less expensive than the Ugly Stik Bigwater and it has more length options.

The Sea Lion is constructed from E-glass like our number one pick so if you’re wanting quality at an affordable price, check it out.

10. Daiwa Harrier Jigging Trigger Rod

BEST JIGGING ROD FOR BOTTOM FISHING

Specs

• Length: 6’4″
• Power/Action: Medium/Moderate
• Material: Graphite
• Pieces: 1

Pros

• Versatile jigging rod
• Smooth-running Fuji aluminum-oxide guides
• Fuji ECS reel seat
• Virtually no blank twist

Cons

• Not designed for large fish (primarily inshore fishing only)

Daiwa is a name synonymous with quality. I love my Daiwa equipment.

The material they use is strong and durable yet sensitive enough to feel a light bite.

The Harrier can be used for most jigging applications so you won’t have to purchase multiple rods unless you want to buy more than one!

If you want the custom rod feel and are willing to spend a lot more on a fishing rod then check out the Daiwa Saltiga Jigging Spinning Rod.

Yes, it’s expensive but it’s lighter, stronger, and more sensitive than any standard graphite saltwater jigging rod.

It comes in multiple lengths and powers so you can find the one that best fits you.

How to Choose the Best Rod for Jig Fishing

What Size Rod is Best for Jigging?

The best size rod for jigging will depend on the type of jigging you’re doing.

For saltwater vertical jigging, it’s best to have a short rod that is 6’ or less.

When bass fishing with jigs, you’ll need a longer rod, 7’ or more.

While crappie fishing with jigs, a small sensitive pole will work best.

Now, you can use any rod you want for jigging, but if you’re serious about this fishing technique and you use it a lot, you might want to get a dedicated jigging rod. 

Let’s talk now about some of the factors I keep in mind when shopping for the best jig rod.

Action 

Action is unique when talking about jigging because you need the best of both worlds, and that’s why exclusive jigging rods are important.

Action refers to the location on the blank where the rod bends.

Fast action rods only bend at the tip, which allows you to feel every nibble because the tip will bend, but the rest of the blank is stiff.

That will transfer all of the disturbance to your hands, and that’s how you know you have a fish on. 

Slow action rods bend down further with some bending 75% of the rod blank.

This works well in some situations but not with finesse angling or jigging.

With these rods, you can’t feel the nibbles as much because the rod isn’t transferring the movement to your hands since the rod is taking the brunt of it. 

Ideally, jigging requires a fast action rod because you need that sensitivity, but you also need to make sure that the rod you buy has strength and backbone too.

Many fast-action rods are lightweight and intended for panfish and others that don’t put up much of a fight. 

Power

Many people confuse power and action, but they’re two different things.

Power refers to how much force is needed to bend the rod.

When you combine these two, it tells you a lot about how the rod will behave when you have a fish.

Jigging requires a lot of power because you’ll be able to get a better hookset, and you need plenty of backbone to take control of the fish during the fight. 

Let’s say you have a light power rod, what would happen is the rod would bend almost immediately when the fish applies some pressure.

As a result, it would make it very hard to set the hook, and you also run the risk of losing your lure because the fish is in control. 

Length

You want to be somewhere between 6’5” and 7’5”. I think anything bigger than this is unnecessary, and some anglers will swear that you need an eight-foot rod for jigging, but I disagree.

Some of the rods reviewed in this guide are even less than six feet, and sometimes, that’s okay. 

When you have an extra-long rod, it helps with flipping jigs, and it also gives you more surface area to control when you’re battling a larger fish than you bargained for. 

Fish Species

Your fishing location will determine the fish species in that area which means you’re jigging rod should change with your location.

A bass fishing jigging rod is very different than a saltwater vertical jigging rod and they are both way too big to be used as crappie jigging rods.

Line Weight 

Jigging rods are always capable of holding heavier line than your standard rod.

It’s important to know what weight you need so you can make sure the rod you choose is rated for a line that heavy.

Some of the rods reviewed in this guide go as high as 120lb test, which is for deep-sea fishing. 

Also important is the lure weight, so just keep in mind where you plan on fishing.

If you’re scoping out the crisp ocean water and planning to rent a boat, then you’ll need something that can handle a large fish, just in case. 

If you’re jigging around small ponds and lakes with hair jigs and other lightweights, you’ll want a lighter line. 

Guides

Guides are important because they’re preventing your rod from going all over the place when you’re battling a fish.

They need to limit friction and not provide any obstruction to the line when you’re casting.

This is made possible through the use of smooth materials like ceramic and stainless steel in the rod guides. 

When the guides cause friction on the line, it causes it to tear, and it also interferes with your cast because that extra resistance reduces your casting distance. 

One great way to tell if your guides are any good is to place your line through the guide and saw it back and forth. If the line breaks, move on to the next one. 

Reel

The type of reel you plan to use will determine the type of jigging rod you need to buy.

There are three main types a spinning reel, baitcaster, and conventional.

A spinning reel is used for the widest variety of fishing scenarios while a baitcaster is primarily used by bass anglers and a conventional reel is used primarily in saltwater situations.

Rod Material 

Probably one of the most important buying factors when shopping for any fishing rod is the material of the rod itself.

There are three primary types of material used in the construction of rod blanks. Each of them has its own set of pros and cons, so let’s take a look at them.

Graphite – This material is highly sensitive because it’s stiff and ultra-light. If you can find a rod using high modulus graphite, it will be even more sensitive and durable.

This rod material is a great choice when jigging for bass. 

Fiberglass – Fiberglass is heavy and more affordable than graphite, but it’s often very strong. Everyone should have a fiberglass rod because they’re durable and a pretty good “daily driver.” 

Carbon Fiber – Carbon fiber is the most expensive material because it’s the stiffest, lightest, and strongest material used in creating rod blanks.

It’s also a solid choice for jigging, and you can often find hybrid mixes of these materials that increase the strength and sensitivity without increasing the budget too much. 

Rod Handle 

The handle will play a major role in determining your comfort, but when we’re talking about jigging, the handle is a bit more important.

This area of the rod is where you’ll grab on for dear life when you’re pulling in a much larger bass than you bargained for. It needs to be the right material, and you generally have two choices. 

• Cork
• EVA foam

EVA is becoming more popular because it’s usually more comfortable, it lasts longer, and it feels cooler on hot days. 

FAQ’s

Final Thoughts

Have you decided on the best jigging rod yet?

Remember that most of these come with extensive warranties, so that’s basically an invitation to try it before you buy it. (I mean, you still have to buy it – but you get it) 

The best jigging rod will combine elements of strength, power, sensitivity, and casting control. All of the options recommended above contain all of these features and then some. 

Jigging is a fun fishing technique that dates back a long time; it’s great for beginners as well because of the simplicity of some of the methods.

Whether you’re a seasoned angler or still wet behind the ears, one of these jigging rods will help you catch more bass out on the water. 

Good luck out there!