Surface iron setup.

[RileyW]

This is my first time posting on the new website after kellan shut it down, I guess because of some issues. Anyway I had a question about this jigstick I picked up the other day, I got a Calstar 90J MAG, I’m fairly new to the surface iron game. I took it for a few test casts, and it just seems like i can’t quite load it up the way I want to. Not getting the distance I need either. Part of the casting distance problem might be because of the reels I’ve had on it,a Penn jig master and a old school Avet. Both have good freespool though, any ideas? I have 40lb or 50lb mono on both reels.

[camobass]

Let about a rod length of line out and cast in a pendulum motion rotating the rod to where the reel is upside down on the release. You can actually cast far with less energy.
Being smooth is key

If you have the room, a golf swing/pitch from the hip will actually cast further than over hand.

Practice in a park or empty parking lot, bay if you’re close….something with room and practice. Water bottle filled to the same weight or a torpedo sinker.

[Roncador]

Let about a rod length of line out and cast in a pendulum motion rotating the rod to where the reel is upside down on the release. You can actually cast far with less energy.
Being smooth is key

If you have the room, a golf swing/pitch from the hip will actually cast further than over hand.

Practice in a park or empty parking lot, bay if you’re close….something with room and practice. Water bottle filled to the same weight or a torpedo sinker.

Yep.. action plays a big key, some 8 footers out there that can outcast a 10fter.

[lazyfisherman]

The more glass, the easier it is to load a surface iron rod. The 90j mag is a reinforced composite blank. Check out the calstar btg690j for an easier loading jig stick.

[OOlicon]

Surface Iron are lighter than heavy iron, so a lighter power and more parabolic action will help with binging the metal out there.

If you switch to a heavier bait, a more powerful rod should still work well.

[professionull]

I took my Calstar 900M and cut 3" off the top before wrapping it. I prefer my jig sticks a little stiffer but it's better to have the right reel with it. Torium 20's are good but I always prefer the Trinidad 20 even if it makes the rod a little heavier and a lot more mono before the braid (casting mono the entire way through with about 20 cranks more of mono until braid). I prefer the extra stretch you can get with the mono as opposed to floro straight to braid. Don't get me wrong, penn jig masters with accurate frames are still bitchin.

I mainly throw the tady 45 or 7 which are lighter jigs and just let them dangle almost by my reel when I cast and let them fly.

[Mike M]

Just a couple of things...

Try letting out different lengths of line from the tip. With your "smooth" casting swing, I'm sure you'll feel it when it is too short, or too long.

Pull with your left hand to add more pressure to your right hand (fulcrum) and load the rod more.

Rotate your right wrist as you cast... not sure why this works, but it helps me.

Now this may seem like heresy, put you could try to add a few magnets to your jigmaster's inner left side plate. Epoxy/attach metal washers, then add rare earth magnets (they don't need to be glued as they will hold themselves). Adjacent magnets should alternate polarity. The tutorials I've read seem to indicate that 3 is about right.

Good luck and I hope you converge to a solution that works for you!