Attended a great seminar featuring Capt. John Paduano
It was really a great presentation of all aspects of snap jiggling.
Everything pretty much from A to Z except the blank he uses.
I get it, he will soon be releasing his own signature line of rods.
For those who are familiar with John Paduano and this technique you can be
quite successful while others around you are not! I have been
using this technique for the past 3 years quite successfully.
Rod consists of the following:
Length 6 ft.
Lure wt. 3/8oz to 3/4 oz
Line wt. 10 lb. Braided line
Power: medium
Action: fast
I do realize to achieve this many blanks are trimmed from the
Butt end.
So my question is for those who have built them what is
You blank of choice?

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Thanks for starting this thread. I’m currently building a rod to snap tubes for smallmouth fishing and have a saltwater snap jig rod in planning stage. I’ve looked at everything I can find online from John Paduano and others about the technique. He likes six footers and in one article talks about moderate action being important. Some of the other jig and tube snappers go seven feet and fast action. It makes sense that the heavier and/or higher drag baits are going to wear an angler out with longer rods. A 3/4 ounce bucktail is definitely going to work against an angler more than a 1/2 ounce tube. My current plan is use this blank by United Composites.

UC 60H 6’0” Mod-Fast, 8-25 line, 1/4 - 1oz lure, 5.50 tip, 0.35 butt, 2.14oz weight

I have huge confidence in United Composites quality and strength. I’ve pressed them into duty on stuff bigger than their design parameters when fishing buddies brought unreliable gear to remote locations. The ones I own are slightly faster than their action ratings. If you select one, I recommend waiting for delivery and measuring before buying any tip tops or other close fitting components.

I have been trying the technique on lighter tackle and wrong rods to learn. I am well behind you as I haven’t gone to such a quality seminar. Anyway, did John talk about rod action and where he currently is relative to moderate verses fast actions?

Thanks for your response, interestingly enough John stated he began using this technique in fresh water.
After attending his seminar I now know that 6’ is pretty much the max. As you mentioned it’s all about arm fatigue you are
constantly snapping the rod and retrieving slightly on the the slack line
I actually held the rod in my hand while John had the line in his hand. When flexed you can definitely feel the power behind it, again I would consider it to be a fairly fast action. The reason for the moderate power when snapping the jig it gives a better appearance of a school of baitfish. In other words, think of a school of baitfish trying to escape the predator fish the ones that fall behind become dinner. Your jig gives that appearance on the downfall.
John does most of his fishing in the Long Island where he has caught Striped bass to 60 lbs. Great for Seabass, Blackfish, Porgy’s, Bluefish,Weakfish and Fluke. My personal best this year was a 7lb Fluke.
He has caught 3 digit tarpon on it and most all species in Florida, says the Snook love it as well as Mahi Mahi. Amazing that a rod of only 6 feet and weighs just a few ounces can do.
I am looking at your rod blank from United Composites, spec’s look good but of course unless you have the blank in your hands it’s hard to tell but I will consider it. My current rod is from North Fork composites, called Delta CB705 Zentron. I took 6” off the butt, been using it for 3 seasons. Works for me but the spec’s turned out to be fast on the action and fast on the power. Ready to build something no longer than 6 feet.
The current blank I’m looking at is from Rod Geeks, it’s a Carbon 2 Inshore C2W70MF Moderate/Fast 3/8 oz to 3/4 oz. Trim off 12” from butt. Thanks for your info.

Is it possible that a slow pitch blank might work as a snap jigging rod? They have a very moderate action, are quite durable and known for landing large fish. Just a thought.
Norm

After looking at the UC blank chart for umpteenth time, I’m intrigued by the idea of a UC664 with a six inch butt cut.

Again I think you are right on target, looking again at the spec’s ands comparing it to John’s rod seems very similar. My question for you is since you have built on these blanks can you tell if they have a cross pattern (verticle & horizontal) or an X pattern (diagonal) if you can see it?

I have looked into them for other builds. I will research again and compare. I’ll let you know.

They are smooth finished and opaque. They don’t present a visual pattern. The double helix is internal to longitudinal fibers. They run in opposite directions.