Jack spin rod help

[laddercat]

I have fished for jacks over the last 3-4 years during spring and summer in SEQ. Its only been this period that i have really set aside entire days to this species and fished exclusively for them.

Its really only now after nearly 4 years that i am half confident in pursuing them and still have a long long way to go before getting any good at catching them.

Just like any sportfish i believe you dont really improve until you are willing to fish for a species exclusively, it means less fish and longer between fish. But i think until u are willing to drop the all round approach you arent really maximising your effort toward a species. I have great admiration for anglers who are species specialists Mick horn comes to mind when i think of Mangrove jack.

I have been using mid range gear because i was learning and i couldnt see expensive gear really adding anything to my catch rates until i first improved my ability. I feel ive hit a point where now really pinning down a good setup of nice quality will give me an improvement.

For learning most recently i used a 4-7kg Gen black, i think its about on the mark for cast weight and strength but im almost positive it is too fast in the tip and dosent have enough play. The taper just isnt right for mangrove jack Lunging initial runs and i pull hooks.

It isnt super easy to find slower action rods in the upper ranges of rods as xfast xxf and xxxf actions more often then not provide better results for lure angling.

I fish exclusively for jacks with spin gear so i am limited in that regard. If anyone can share a little of their knowledge or point me in the right direction for a jack spin rod i would be most appreciative.

[scott1987]

Have a look the dobyns champion series.. I use there spin rods for jacks.. atm I have a 10-20 and 12-20lb. Both similar rating but very different rods. 12-20lb is a beast of a rod. Use that for bigger hardbodies and I use the 10-20lb for smaller hardbodies aand surface lures when long casting is needed

[laddercat]

Originally Posted by scott1987

Have a look the dobyns champion series.. I use there spin rods for jacks.. atm I have a 10-20 and 12-20lb. Both similar rating but very different rods. 12-20lb is a beast of a rod. Use that for bigger hardbodies and I use the 10-20lb for smaller hardbodies aand surface lures when long casting is needed

Cheers mate ive heard these mentioned before amongst jack die hards, apart from their pulling power what sets them apart ?

[Cheyne_jones]

Just my opinion, but you should really match the action of your rod to the type of lures you are fishing, not the fish.

From my experience chasing jacks, they hook them selves very well when they bite a lure, the only way I have ever pulled hooks is by straitening hooks or rings, that's on all kinds of rods. More likely to have them bury their heads back into their lair and snap you off than pull a hook in my experience.

Get stuck into them, you will stick one good soon enough, but I doubt changing rods will help heaps.

[laddercat]

Originally Posted by Cheyne_jones

Just my opinion, but you should really match the action of your rod to the type of lures you are fishing, not the fish.

From my experience chasing jacks, they hook them selves very well when they bite a lure, the only way I have ever pulled hooks is by straitening hooks or rings, that's on all kinds of rods. More likely to have them bury their heads back into their lair and snap you off than pull a hook in my experience.

Get stuck into them, you will stick one good soon enough, but I doubt changing rods will help heaps.

Im talking straightened trebles on 50cm plus models which i believe a softer taper might negate. I know it isnt trebles or split rings because im using the strongest most expensive upgrades money can buy on all my jack hardbodys. It isnt even a case of landing a big one, ive landed 20 plus fish over 50cm now.

Maybe i didnt explain myself well enough, i believe ive reached a bit of a plateau ability wise and now its time to upgrade my kit to milk the few percentage points better gear gives you. The very nature of the terrain fish and drag used on jacks is always going to stress your trebles and spit rings i realise this. But i often hear keen jack fisherman talk about their rods with these soft tips which absorb the initial run.

[scott1987]

Originally Posted by laddercat

Cheers mate ive heard these mentioned before amongst jack die hards, apart from their pulling power what sets them apart ?

I just find them comfortable to use more then anything. The 12-20lb is quite stiff in the tip. The 10-20lb is a bit more forgiving. I've always worked on getting the jacks head turn asap. Not worrying about absorbing the first run though I normally fish plastics so I don't pull as many hooks as with trebles. Have only recently started fishing hardbodies for them.. there baitcast rods are excellent as well IIMO.they way the reel sits on the rod makes them very easy to palm the rod. And they've just got a heap of power for the physical weight of the rods. The 12-20lb doubles as a nice rod for throwing bigger vibes and plastics for jew as well.

[scott1987]

Could also look at some of the luckycraft spin rods as well.. I know a few people who like using them as there hardbody rods for jacks

[laddercat]

Originally Posted by scott1987

Could also look at some of the luckycraft spin rods as well.. I know a few people who like using them as there hardbody rods for jacks

Im on it ! thanks mate.

[boris]

I'm about to buy an omen green 7'2" medium heavy for this purpose!

[laddercat]

Originally Posted by boris

I'm about to buy an omen green 7'2" medium heavy for this purpose!

ive been thinking about this rod, but the length was turning me off i like my snag crunchers to be shorter then 7ft generally. Let me know how you go waving the 7'2 around. I feel like my accuracy might suffer a little.

[koji]

I use a 7'3" Palms Molla Bank Fisher.

Casts all my hardbodies and plastics well and has heaps of stick.
My mate has a Dobyns 10-20lb and it is a beast of a rod as mentioned, too heavy in my opinion though.

All comes down to personal preference

[boris]

It'll double up as a general purpose rod to chase threadfin salmon in the river.

Koji, do you use the 7'3" palms molla ML? I just brought this rod and use it for my bream work! It's a quality piece of gear!

[lukereneeseth]

I've had pretty good luck when it comes to jack fishing on the coast. But the way I fish Jacks is very much different to 99% of every other jack fisherman.

I prefer to chase jacks when no one else is, which is winter for me. It was about this time last year I landed a few over a weekend and took out the Noosa Fishing comp with a 58cm. I also run a relatively light drag, over the years I've come to realise jacks run a whole lot calmer when the drag is around the 1-2kg rather than most people who set around the 2-5kg mark.

If your fishing from a boat I'd never use a rod over 6'5. Fast, slow, regular is never going to make an ounce of difference when targeting jacks but more so make that choice on what baits it works best for ie. blades, plastics, surface.

The best all round rod I've found for jacks from the boat to cover surface lures, plastics and hards > 1m is the Nordic Stage Dynamic F1 6'3 12lb. Also excellent for throwing unweighted poddy mullet at bridges/drains.

Check youtube for rod bend tests of all the Nordic Stage range. The strongest blanks I've ever fished with an like a few people around here know I caught a black marlin on my 12lb F1 with a 2500FG Sustain. Rods are amazing and made for game/power fish like cod, tuna, barra, etc

[laddercat]

Originally Posted by lukereneeseth

I've had pretty good luck when it comes to jack fishing on the coast. But the way I fish Jacks is very much different to 99% of every other jack fisherman.

I prefer to chase jacks when no one else is, which is winter for me. It was about this time last year I landed a few over a weekend and took out the Noosa Fishing comp with a 58cm. I also run a relatively light drag, over the years I've come to realise jacks run a whole lot calmer when the drag is around the 1-2kg rather than most people who set around the 2-5kg mark.

If your fishing from a boat I'd never use a rod over 6'5. Fast, slow, regular is never going to make an ounce of difference when targeting jacks but more so make that choice on what baits it works best for ie. blades, plastics, surface.

The best all round rod I've found for jacks from the boat to cover surface lures, plastics and hards > 1m is the Nordic Stage Dynamic F1 6'3 12lb. Also excellent for throwing unweighted poddy mullet at bridges/drains.

Check youtube for rod bend tests of all the Nordic Stage range. The strongest blanks I've ever fished with an like a few people around here know I caught a black marlin on my 12lb F1 with a 2500FG Sustain. Rods are amazing and made for game/power fish like cod, tuna, barra, etc

When fishing the lightly light approach are you still using lures ? or is this more more your unweighted poddy mullet ?

Im not sure about your no rods over 6'5 rule. Most finesse blanks for a huge number of applications are longer then 7ft infact the majority are over 6'5.

Are you getting reaction bites in winter ? Im looking over my diary and ive caught the odd larger jack in winter on or just after an unusually warm couple of days but thats looks about it. I dont think ive ever managed a genuine reaction bite or a surface session outside of spring/summer.

You must teach of this winter jack sourcery. Apart from live baits ive heard very little of consistent jack fishing during winter.

[lukereneeseth]

I think your first mistake would be assuming buying a Jack specific rod should be "finesse". Anything over 6'5 just gives too much leeway in the top half of the rod (unless your going with a 7ft 20-30lb stick).

For that reason most blokes that dedicate their craft to jacks go with a 6'6 baitcaster rod.

I always go the light drag approach. They still hit as hard as they always do, but seem to turn with ease that 1st time. The harder the drag the more stress and shock they initially realise and go hell for leather. All fish have this reaction (like all animals really). Much like when you get a fish in the boat, jump around and carry on trying to grab it they flip out. Compared to gently cradling them across the gill plates or under the belly they seem rather relaxed (most of the time). That's my theory anyway and I stick to the statement because that's my experience.

(pics aren't uploading)

The last time I did a write up for the paper on jew fishing a month later my spots where always taken, everyone catching jewies in the Maroochy. 2 years on an I've caught all of 2 in 1 year. Winter jacks, you will just have to work out the methods. But what I do in the Maroochy and Mooloolah river doesn't mean will work for say the Noosa or anywhere else for that matter.

Last year's River to Reef comp was this time (last year) and I think there were a good 15 jacks in the tank by the end of the comp. All out of the noosa river as apposed to mine in the Maroochy. I got 2 within 20min, 12.30 at night, raining, 7 deg, surface lure. 1 58cm 1 41cm.

Everything you read in mags is the basics of where to start. You wont find many people fishing for jacks in winter or flatties at night, etc because you don't read about it. Good for me because that's 20x less boats out there targeting the same species. Fish aren't polar bears, they don't hibernate, they still eat every day, although a little less you just have to work out where and when.

If you are after a spin jack rod then grab a Nordic Stage Dynamic F1 6'3 12lb. If you don't like it, I'll buy it off you. Cant beat the warranty either. Snap a top or bottom half in any way shape or form and you get a free replacement.

(pics aren't uploading)