Are you looking for the best Shimano reels for jigging? If you are first time angler, you may not know the right reels to use for jiggling.
However, Shimano has some of the best reels on the market. To ensure that you buy the perfect reels for your jigging, Shimano has made it easier for you.
The main benefits of using spin reels are that they are easy to use and they do not cause line tangles.
They are affordable too and have become a vital tool for most anglers.
Table of Contents
What to look for in a jigging rod?
Jigging has slowly gained popularity and interest from different anglers all over the world, and this has created room for improvement and more creation of more specialized jigging gear by manufacturers who are keen on making it better.
As a sport, jigging is a subsection under saltwater fishing that has provided a variety of reels and rods for mostly fishing jugs.
However, there are several jiggling gears made for different purposes according to the needs and specific requirements of the angler.
Jiggling gear can be for the following:
Speed jigging:
This requires a longer and thinner knife-like jig that operates in an upward manner which a rhythmic and rapid pattern
Slow pitching:
The Slow-pitch jigging gear unlike the speed gear moves with a quick upward lift and then permits a drop to a short distance while taking up the slackline which is produced by the lift. Slow pitching involves understanding the underwater conditions, jig action, and currents through the line and rod to the angler.
What are the benefits of a spinning reel?
- Higher quality.
- Reel position at the bottom of the rod creates better balance.
- More control over casting distance and speed.
- More control over drag.
- Ideal for placing in a rod holder (set and forget)
- Lower cost than a baitcaster reel
Picking a Jigging Reel
While picking a jigging reel, some of the important things to consider include:
Reel Type
Considering the type of reel which suits your fishing is very important. Jigging reels can be divided into:
- Spin reels
- Conventional reels: This is more suitable for speed and slow pitch jigging. Conventional reels do not have the gyro movement of a spinning reel and is able to easily transfer every movement of a jig to the angler.
The spin and conventional type can both be used for speed jigging
Spinning and Conventional Reels for Fishing with Jigs
People who are very interested in jigging make use of both spinning and conventional reels. Some conventional reels used by jigging enthusiasts include:
- The accurate valiant series
- Studio Ocean Mark reels (right)
For speed jigging, Chris Wong can also make use of conventional. These are able to handle:
- heavier jigs,
- very increased mechanical speed while jigging,
- bigger, and tougher fish like the yellowtail and tuna.
For anglers that prefer slow-pitch gear, they require lighter lines, which weigh about 20 to 40 pounds. Some slow-pitchers may even opt for gear that is much lighter, or the thinnest braids so that they can get jigs very deep to a depth of about 2,000 feet
Reel Weight
In jigging, one of the basic requirements is the continuous process of lifting the rod and the reel repetitively. With lighter reels, the work is much easier.
As a result of the work needed in lifting the odds and the reels, many anglers opt for smaller reels and manufacturers have begun to make them much better by making these compact conventional reels strong enough to hold plenty of heavy line.
With a very tiny lever drag which weighs about 15 ounces, it is now possible to jig about 800 feet of water which is a big improvement to how it was few years before.
Gear (Retrieve) Ratio
Many Conventional reels provide options for speed and slow pitching. For higher speed which is about 6-1 in average, speed jiggers can move the lure fast.
For slow pitchers, the low gear provides power when winching the fish away from the bottom.
Line Capacity
Conventional gears are highly recommended for anglers who plan on using the rig for dropping into water that is very deep. Unlike spinning reels because conventional reels are able to hold more line for their size.
Drag
The available drag that a jig angler requires or needs is largely dependent on his quarry. This means that when it comes to smaller fish, basically any type of good reel is suitable.
However, for bigger fish weighing up to 25-50 pounds or more, it is very important to employ a maximum drag to get the job done.
For slow pitch jigging, the importance of drag cannot be overemphasised. This is because, when hooked up, the reel does the most of the work.
Cost
Cost should also be considered when choosing between the two types of reels. The premium spinning reel is more expensive than the premium twin drag conventional.
Other Considerations
Some other things to consider while choosing a jigging reel include taller narrow spool. This can provide a better and consistent rate of retrieve. Regardless, with the wide spool reels, a smaller line on spool diameter is offered and this leaves the angler with a lesser inches per crank while fishing deep.
Usually, a lot of professionals opt for lever drags than the star drag conventional although they can still get the work done.
Best Shimano Reels for Jigging
- Shimano AX 2500FB Front Drag, Freshwater Spinning Reel
- Shimano Baitrunner 4000D, Offshore Saltwater Spinning Reel.
- Shimano Sedona 3000FI HG; Freshwater Spinning Fishing Reel.
- Shimano Sahara 2500 R Reardrag Spinning Fishing Reel, SH2500R.
- Shimano Sahara 4000R Rear Drag Spinning Reel.
Can I jig with a spinning reel?
You should decide the spinning reels that can suit your fishing activities. This should be based on the spin you need.
The conventional and spin reels are preferred for speed jiggling.
Can you slow pitch jig with a spinning reel?
You can use both conventional and spinning reels for most slow-pitch applications. Meanwhile, some professionals may find that the rhythmic rod lift, drop, and quarter-turn of the reel handle is easier to achieve with a spinning rod.
