Time and time again we are asked this Rail rod or jigging rod and it is followed up with the question “Which do you prefer?” and well the simple answer to that is both of them. Both of them have their time and place and just work differently for different people. In this BFT journal we will dive into the differences of both gear options and break down the pros and cons to each of the setups. 

Rail Rods

By definition a rail rod is a heavy action rod we lay on the rail while we fight a fish. These rods are typically in the 6’6” up to 7’6” range and are rated from 60-130 pounds. These styles of rods are great because you have a lot of pulling power and you are able to really lay your weight on the fish with the rail rod. 

Pros

● Can put the wood on a fish more than jigging rods.

● Can be used for more than just knife jigging.

● Longer length allows to keep the line away from the boat limiting break offs.  

Cons

● Heavier than a jigging rod weight wise.

● Its length and weight makes it harder to work the jig.

● Harder to maneuver the rod around the boat while on a fish. 

Jigging Rods

Jigging rods are what we know here in Socal as Vertical Jigging rods and are very common to see on these charter boats nowadays. These rods are typically no longer than 6’ in length and are typically rated in P.E ratings. To simplify P.E ratings I just add a 0 at the end of the PE rating to get the line ratings I want to fish. For example PE 3 is like a braid rating of 30 pounds.  

Pros

● Alot lighter than traditional Rail Rods

● Works the jig a lot better with there lighter tip

● Shorter length provides angler with more leverage and maneuverability with a fish 

Cons

● Only is ideal for Vertical jigging

● Its shorter length makes it probable for the line to rub against the boat while on a fish less pulling power relatively speaking