Here comes the Ford vs. Dodge vs. Chevy debate

Lamiglas Infinity ISS 79. It's a 7'9" 8-17 spinning rod. Works great for throwing wigglers too...

 

I'm fond of this one. The 760 or 7600 spinning series are also awesome twitching rods.

 

Unless OP wanna fish in 2028 🤣

 

For the value the Okuma Guide Select Pro is tough to beat, around $150. I have a GSP-S-761M, 7'6", 8-15#. Perfect for coho, but I have caught chinook in the low 20 # range.

 

It’s this, there really doesn’t need to be any other posts. With that said, I have eyeballed the more expensive options as I have a tendency to be a rod snob.

Why? It’s cheap, as you will abuse the crap out of a twitching rod and it’s literally perfect. The only reason I’m looking at other options is that I am old and may want something lighter to lug around, as such, the sportsmans show may be the perfect chance to get a more expensive version of this rod.

 

Really not that critical as long as the rod will pop the weight jigs you are using. With the weight jigs we use spinning or casting isn't an issue either. Appropriate weight class bass mag bass, crankbait, and inshore popping rods 7 to 8 ft. in length work well, and many a guide has used his EXS and EXC 92 M. The original rods used for this were the an Alaskan native's mainstay, loved for their versatility, and cost the Daiwa North Coast medium power 7 1/2 footers. Most were spinning versions.

 

Personally I don't spent a lot on a twitch rod, the Okuma SST works great.
I was told, not so long ago, by Bob Kratzer, the "Godfather of Twitching" the Okuma X series twitcher was the best rod of its kind he had ever put his hands on.

 

The best twitching rod is one you build yourself. I like the current one I built out of an NFC 760 blank. Fuji KLR guides and a 9 1/2" rear grip, so the handle isn't constantly catching on your jacket or pockets. Plus, you get the satisfaction of catching a fish on a rod you built.

 

That's really cool. Thanks for the detailed information.

 

I've never done any jig twitching and am curious about the preferred rods for it. Specifically, why so short? It seems like more length would give you more control and maybe better feel since you can manage line better and keep some of the belly out.

Just asking and not trying to argue or make a case...

 

I think it has to do with more of a direct contact with the take, and a quicker hook set.
More lure control with the shorter jigging strokes.

 

8'6 8-12 is what I use... I tried and have several rods but that just sticks with me. Habit I guess.

 

This is the X Series by Okuma, I have yet to hook one twitching. Pretty sure it's me. Feels real good in the hand, it's a one piece, I'm sure they'll have one at the show.

 

Bob K. most be old because I am, we were twitching in the early 70's in Alaska. Tide change we went out and trolled or bottom fished, incoming tide we would twitch from the bank, We used curly tailed jigs, etc. back then. Water depth changed so fast from the bank in some SE Alaska areas we were catching salmon, lings, etc. with our shoreside rod tips just barely missing the bank in the salt.

 

I'm certainly no expert, but my 7', 8-17 bass grub/worm rod works great.
They run about $40-$60.

 

Semi stiff tip and medium length..... good twitch
Average joe will always have a place 🤣

 

When ever I found myself twitching on the river bank early in the am, It typically meant I had too much to drink the night before, and was nothing a good stiff Bloody Mary , or a little hair of the dog wouldn’t take care of. Had nothing to do with the rod I was using….

Used to be only a few types of fishing… plunking, drifting, jigging, bobber, or trolling, and you used whatever rod you had on hand for all of them in different weights . Now we got so many different names for doing pretty much the same thing it’s not even funny….

Ya got your “bobber dogging”, but heaven help you if you call it a bobber. It’s now referred to as a Float.
Then we have Hover Fishing and Twitching……not to be confused with back trolling and drift fishing with fuzzy lead headed jigs.

I won’t even go into the difference in lures. Used to simply be plugs, spoons, jigs, spinners, and bait. Now days you choices are endless, and we have to use cabinets to sort all out different gear in plastic boxes…. The old days of just using a tackle box are long gone….

Hopefully you guys can get things sorted out on which rod you use when you start twitching. I hate it when that happens myself…. Kirk

 

Thank you. You're correct!!
I remember the good old days fishing with my dad. We'd fish out on The Columbia River. As a child fishing seemed like pure torture. These days I cherish the memories of the good old days. My dad had 2 basic fishing poles. These days I'm a fishing addict. Gear junkie indeed. Looking forward to giving away our money for the next best twitching rod. My shoulder hurts just thinking about twitching. 😀
It's my goal to master this technique.
Looking forward to taking friends and family our on the river. Sharing the beautiful experience of watching the sun come up and catching fish.
Nothing like it.

 

I own a Okuma GSP rod. Probably best rod for the money, as Richter said above. I cannot comment on other rods , but boy this year I have upgraded my spinning reel to a a Shimano STRADIC ( from Digitaka ) and I highly recommended. My first season with it and it handled everything very well. I might be on my way to become a gear snob

 

Is the STRADC a light reel?
I need a light rod and reel. My shoulder won't last long with a heavy setup. 😂 Thanks

 

Just looked at Batson to see which blanks they recommend for twitching coho and kings. They like the IMMP76MH popping rod blank and the JDGCB76MH US made crankbait stick, I made some twitching rods on the REVCB80H RX7 crankbait rods for Kings and heavy jigs, a bit heavier than the popping blanks in power, some are throwing plugs for salmon with them and the popping blanks on the Alsea, some extended to 9 ft. My first specific twitching rod was built on the Lami XMG50 ESH 96 1MT.

 

I use Shimano Nasci...won it in steelhead of the week, month and overall 3rd prize in that year from FMO....on homemade thin twin. I've pulled uncountable fish on that reel....wirh 20# drag...it holds a running nook in coastal streams like Indiana Jones holds the bad guy with his whip...heroically and with style..lol. I'm a huge fan of small things with powerhouse effect. I still use my Mitchell 300 xe ....2 spools one with 40 lb braid amd other with 8 lb mono. There's a time and place for both.
Get smaller reel...with winch effect. Clean 'em once in a while and yer golden.
Like you...I don't like to tax my wrist and shoulders. Fishing should be fun....not work 🙂
Also that nasci throws a fixed jig on weighted slip float amazing. I. came to find that out throwing on sockeye with no current. Cast, yank, walk, couple strokes of reelin....and BANG. Sometimes it reminds me of playing with a cat.
My only dislike with Shimano is Tekota....which bas nothing to do with this thread...just my gripe.

 

new tekota's or old? Ill buy your old ones!

 

I never bought em..I turn the handle amd I instantly put em down....thst 'not so smooth reeling noise instantly puts a big red alarm in my head. ..All my friends who I fish with are now Daiwa disciples. Some of em argued till I actually mafe em reel side ny side. Like sun needs no evidence how bright it is...it is the smoothness in drive and the way drag comes out in Daiwa lexa which needs no evidenve .Try em side by side. Give em to your gf/better half without tellin em...and then ask which is smoother. I have 4 daiwa 300 LC and daiwa 400...with 8:1. A FMO guide who I think is loosing it...was telling me something about torque and how its useless on those 400 with 8:1. I was about to ask his highest level.of education regarding that physics...but I just let it go. I don't listen to ppl and go by my own exlperience. 400 lexa fits in selecttive rod holders.. my only gripe with that reel.....but my god...with 80 braid amd 60 leader.....zip...fish is up. I dislike power handle on boat and switched to paddle.
I will not fish eith tekota...that subtle grinding noise in all reels. You feel that in your hands....

 

We attended The Sportsman Show yesterday. It was awesome!
I ended up purchasing a Talon twitching rod. XMW/carbon/7'9/10-20. Regular price 225.00. Show sale price 157.50!! I really like the Talon rods and the people that work there are very knowledgeable and nice. I can't speak highly enough about Talon. We purchased a 360 Talin rod for friend. Another great deal. Regular price $200 show price $140. 💥
I ended up buying a Nasci 3000.
If I'm not happy with it I'll invest (ha ha) in a Stradic.
I really appreciate everyone's advice. This ifish community is so knowledgeable. Thanks! Kristin

 

I

We attended The Sportsman Show yesterday. It was awesome!
I ended up purchasing a Talon twitching rod. XMW/carbon/7'9/10-20. Regular price 225.00. Show sale price 157.50!! I really like the Talon rods and the people that work there are very knowledgeable and nice. I can't speak highly enough about Talon. We purchased a 360 Talin rod for friend. Another great deal. Regular price $200 show price $140. 💥
I ended up buying a Nasci 3000.
If I'm not happy with it I'll invest (ha ha) in a Nasci.
I really appreciate everyone's advice. This ifish community is so knowledgeable. Thanks! Kristin

Whoops.. I mean a Stradic

 

The only time I ever had problems with a rod twitching was when I had way too much to drink the night before. But it was nothing that couldn’t be fixed by a couple stiff Bloody Mary’s, or a little hair of the dog.

 

I've caught plenty of Coho and Chum twitching with a $39 Ugly Stik spinning rod. Same one I use for bottomfishing when I want to go light tackle. Imo the best rod is the one you already have.

 

I have a 8’6” gloomis E6x fast action spinning rod I love for twitching. Sensitive enough to feel the bottom and long enough to stretch it out past the rocks for vertical shore twitching. Paired with a 2500 sized reel and 50# blue power pro.

 

So could someone please tell me the difference between twitching, and just drift fishing with a jig head with yarn? I gotta admit the creativity of some of those jigs are pretty cool. But the twitching terminology has always left me wondering.

 

It’s just jigging a jig through the water column usually right off the bottom. I think the name twitching came from what your rod tip looks like when jigging in certain circumstances. A short fast rod tip twitch in to enact action.

not like jigging a metal jig vertically you might be more used to.

drifting is just as you imagine. Drifting with the current.