Jigging Spoon Rods for Striped Bass! Line-Knots-WHY LEFTY? Full RUNDOWN! Striper rods

[@samsmithframer]

Mike, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. I bought your signature series Rods and slow pitch rod. so here’s the story about Rich and your pole. We were using Ben Parker spoons. Everyone had one on different type of rods. My cousin Ethan fishs some. He’s no beginner. He had your rod first. He was killing it. Everyone else was spotty. After we moved I moved poles around. No one really noticed what I was doing. Sure enough my friend started killing them. He had your rod. They hit for 30 minutes or so. We moved again. I moved rods again. Again, the beginner, she hadn’t fished before that day, she started catching the fish. She landed the biggest Striper so far in my boat to date. 34”. No doubt the feel and action of that rod was the key!

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

YESI!! I love it!! Thanks for doing that. I try to tell people, but it’s always stronger coming from a fisherman that paid for the rod and did his own experiments. The combination of extreme sensitivity and the length and balance move the spoon the right distance with control. Shoot me an email with your address. 👍👍thanks again!! Rich will love this 😁.

[@jerrykozak3865]

​@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS what type of reel is that conventional reel ???

[@jerrykozak3865]

@Mike smedley Rich starting process of building my jigging Rod , should have by end of week.

[@alfakilla1]

Knowledge!

[@alfakilla1]

If you ever come back to Southern VA, take me with you 😊😁

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Shoot me an email. [e-mail]

[@Stubbsbitchinfishing]

Good info

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

🙏🙏🙏😁

[@mercertevyn]

Am interested in the line raiting, action(mh, ml mhf) and oz raiting on those blanks. 3:32

[@mikejenperkins7795]

Hey Mike great video we see y’all using a cast net for bait do you have a brand you would recommend

[@CurrentJAM]

I was fortunate enough to pick one of these rods up, I can honestly say it's a work of art. I have the spinning version and it's really sweet. Thanks Rich and Mike, i've been banging them with the spoons utilizing this rod.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Oh yeah!! Rich is an old soul for sure. He believes in being the best and backs it up with elbow grease. I’m glad you like the rod and are whacking fish with it!!

[@michaelwisnieski6308]

Is there a video or can you share a link for more information on your under leaning post tackle storage that you can see in the background of the intro?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

I don’t think I have anything done in detail already. I’ll do a full video on it. Thanks for the idea 👍👍

[@darrisb1727]

No more striper stealth rod for a change of fishing I see.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

No change.We do it all brother!! This and all artificials trip.

[@Aaron.Davis56]

Striped Bass Master Class. Thanks, Mike!

[@alananderson2961]

Awesome 👏

[@jiggingjerks]

Thank you for this! New to your channel and subbed. Got a lot of comments on my channel advising you’re the authority on this style (can’t disagree from what I’ve watched so far).

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks you sir!! Very kind of you to say 😊🙏

[@beaudeclue4719]

Mike dropping knowledge like popcorn at a movie theater. My head still spinning from this and the sonar video. Thank you brother 🙏.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

You’re the man brother!! I really appreciate the support 😊😊👍👍

[@CatchingFins]

For jigging with spinning reels, do you have a preference on gear ratio? Higher or lower preferably?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

I really prefer low gear on EVERYTHING. However there is an advantage to high gear if you are deep water slow pitch jigging because you want to pop the bait off the bottom, crank once to gain most of the line from the pump and repeat all the way to the surface and repeat. Pump crank pump crank over and over. I rarely do that so I use low gear on everything. Low gear feels better. It’s less tiring. Fish stay buttoned up during the fight since you don’t have to pump hard to pump and take line. It lets you use smaller or even NO pumps depending on drag pressure. Hope this helps 👍👍

[@CatchingFins]

@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS excellent advice! Thanks so much.

[@saelee33]

Love it. Keep up the nice work Mike!

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks again for the support brother!!

[@saelee33]

@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS Anytime!

[@ShakaAantoine]

I'm ambidextrous so I can use the handle on either side. I prefer to have the handle on the right side though. What's the price point of them rod's?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

I don’t know the exact prices because they change a little here and there. parts come from all over and shipping to receive them is all over the map these days as you can imagine. Rich’s email is in the description or you message him at headfirst custom rods on Instagram. These are high end rods so they are not cheap. 👍👍😁😁. Thanks for the interest brother!!

[@jasonkurtz2259]

Appreciate all your videos and tips. Love watching them all. I'm from Delaware and fish the Chesapeake bay for strippers. One of these rods are in my near future for sure!

[@kenmccarthyfishing]

I’ve never tried the FG knot,I’m going to have to give it a try, I just use the Blood knot,I’ve been confident in it,but it has failed and lost $100 lures,not a good day lol,thanks Mike🤙

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Yeah man!! It’s a little bit longer to tie, but I really love it for heavier leader.

[@dannyneihart1821]

That weighted handle is a great idea. I have been using a 6ft. 6inch ugly stick to jig with and it will wear you down. Enjoyed the video Mike!

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks brother!!

[@staytight6340]

Watched your video Got curious while live lining pogies Managed to hook 4 monsters in Massachusetts on lures!!! In the pogy school!!! Ty Mike

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

😎. Yes sir!!! Awesome!!

[@mikeheffernan4723]

What is the reel you are using with that medium/heavy rod? I’m try to match up my rod.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Accurate Tern and Tern2 300 size. 👍

[@mikeheffernan4723]

My set up is now complete. Thank you.

[@yotasteve]

Looks good man look forward to checking them out sometime

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

😁👍👍👍

[@timfunk5084]

Great video as usual Mike, gotta have the spinning rod thanks

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks brother!! You’re gonna love it!!! 😁👍

[@laruemoody1622]

Very informative video Mike ! what is the reel you have in your video for the spinning setup ?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

It’s a cheap KASTKING Zephyr reel I’m testing for a video. I’ve been experimenting a bit with them to see if they are worth recommending as an affordable option. So far so good, but I can’t recommend them just yet.

[@webmoss]

Does the jigging rod come in acid wrap guides?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Rich can do an Acid wrap if you would like, sure.

[@timconnors3211]

As usual Mike a very concise and informative video. thanks for explaining and posting this. Beautiful set=up and the left hand retrieve makes perfect sense Along the lines of how to jig the spoon, how deep (minimally), do you like to be to effectively fish the larger spoon? and can you simply switch to the shorter/lighter spoon in shallow water say 15-20 feet? Or is the big spoon effective even in 15-20 feet? Catchem up as always brother...

[@timconnors3211]

Mike I went back and re-watched several of your awesome videos and found my answer... the larger 9 inch flutter spoons work even in the shallow range... 15 feet no problem. You have so many great videos... Thanks.

[@chrisblaine2383]

Another great video Mike! What spinning reel do you recommend? Also, you mentioned the Tern2, would a 400 valiant work?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks brother!!! I’ve been testing some cheaper KastKing reels to see if they hold up but it’s too soon to recommend them yet. I have a lot of faith Saltist reels. Sure Valiants work great. I have a few on jigging rods. The Tern is nice because of the switch, but lever drags are fine.

[@wesleylusk4028]

Hay Mike what color spoon is the most productive

[@johnsonc8]

Are those Flambeau Tuff Krates under your leaning post any good for tackle storage?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

I like them. They hold lots of boxes.

[@TeamJesusOutdoors]

Do you know which model Rainshadow blank that is. I am wanting to build a walleye jigging rod, from a Rainshadow blank, and that looks pretty close to what I want.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

I believe it’s just called their slow pitch models. It’s S glass with carbon wrapping. I personally use the medium power, but I want extreme soft rods for vertical jigging. My black and blue series is the revelation model.

[@TeamJesusOutdoors]

I like a jigging rod with a lot of tip, that will load up and stay loaded up, but with some backbone.

[@darrisb1727]

Mike love the channel. Why is it a standard now to tie a mono or floro leader to braid? It has become a standard now for everyone. I use to tie shock leader to surf rod to add heavy sinker, but now it has become a standard for everyone to tie leader. I fish Chesapeake Bay and only time I use a leader on my boat is on my trolling rods, jigging rock piles or bridge piles. Other than that its sandy bottom on the bay. Why use leaders other than that? I have not seen any braided fishing line that instructs use to tie a floro or mono leader. Yeah I know mono stretch and less abrasion resistant but braided line now says abrasion resistant also. I would say if you are worried about pulling hooks with just braid then loosen the drag a pound or two.

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks for the kind words brother!! It’s just for low visibility. In clear to decent water conditions the braid spooks Stripers more times than not especially with slow moving baits close to the surface. On my jigging rods I use 20-25 ft. On casting rods I use around 2 ft longer than the length of the rod so the knot doesn’t make it into the reel before a cast. 👍👍. I use uni to uni on leader 20lb or less and FG knots for 25lb and up. 👍

[@maxcole3930]

How & where do I get some of your signature rods? That's cool you add weight in but, that makes sense. How much are they?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Thanks brother!! You can order straight from Rich at Headfirst by email. [e-mail] I don’t have prices because they usually end up changing, especially in today’s crazy world. They are super duper high end, but to be honest they are close in price to a Phoenix or Seeker Slow pitch rod “over the counter” , but built with USA made blanks. 👍👍

[@miguelmendez8514]

Hey Mike where to shop for the jigging signature rods and what's the price on them?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

You can order them from Rich Coulson thru his email. He’s a great guy and very easy to work with. I don’t have prices on anything because they always change a little as component prices change. They are very special rods. Super high end and I love them. I know they aren’t in everyone’s budget but I wanted to really swing for the fences with them. If you get one please let me know what you think. Thanks brother!!

[@smokster0604]

All my fluke rods I use the FG knot with a 20 foot top shot…..

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

👍👍👍👍

[@miguelmendez8514]

If you don't mind me asking?

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

I think I replied to your other comment. 👍👍👍. Thanks for your support brother! 🙏🙏

[@user-gy7fb1oq4e]

Hello how can I get connect with rich coulson at headfirst rods with out connecting wit.h facebook.. just want to order some rods. Can you help? Thanks in advance

[@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS]

Sure brother!! His email is in the descriptions for any of my videos 👍👍. He’s a great guy. Easy to work with. Thanks!