Thread: Ozark or Russ Bailey?

dont know about the Russ Bailey but in my opinion the 11ft ozark is to stiff and not very sensitive with the light winter bite, id go with the 10ft rear seated ozark , very light and very sensitive and enough backbone to get the job done, ive got 2 11 footers id trade for 10 footers just dont care for the 11s , bnm has an ultralight 10 foot rear seated that is even lighter than the ozark but havent used one of them so cant give an opinion on sensitivity and backbone but you might check them out , i also like the titanium tips on the ozarks which bnm doesnt have

I have a 10ft B&m ultra lite rear seat and I absolutely love it. MUCH LIGHTER and more sensitive than my 10ft Ozark. Gonna get a couple more of them.

Depends , I use the 11' forward seat Ozarks but I use heavier weight jigs and have no problem feeling lite bites. The 10' Ozarks are lighter but not stiff enough to swing in slabs. Probably work fine if you net your fish. I quit B-n-M jig poles about 3 years ago. Main reason was I broke way too many rods. I have not broke a single Ozark and I fish alot! I also jig fish with an 11' Ozark in each hand most of the time.

Originally Posted by NIMROD

Depends , I use the 11' forward seat Ozarks but I use heavier weight jigs and have no problem feeling lite bites. The 10' Ozarks are lighter but not stiff enough to swing in slabs. Probably work fine if you net your fish. I quit B-n-M jig poles about 3 years ago. Main reason was I broke way too many rods. I have not broke a single Ozark and I fish alot! I also jig fish with an 11' Ozark in each hand most of the time.

i swing all my fish in with no problem on 10ft ozark , its all about timing the lift and swing, i did however break my first rod ever swinging in a 5lb drum a few weeks ago and it broke on the reel end not the tip

I have a 10' BnM duck commander jigging rod and you can feel a fly land on the rod tip,its very sensitive.

I have the 10 and 11 foot ozark but neither one seem to catch me any fish!!!

Originally Posted by shawnh

I have the 10 and 11 foot ozark but neither one seem to catch me any fish!!!

Tried Ozarks, BGJP's and BBUL's and all have the same problem as above. What are rods coming to these days? I can tell you this much, the Bucks Best Ultralight is the lightest most sensitive rod I own. I really have to pay attention or I'm setting the hook if a gnat lands out on the tip of it. I did break one just above the grip on a 10 inch fish as I set the hook. I suspect it was something I caused in transport. You can hold a 12 foot BBUL all day long with no trouble, but lately I've been using Ozarks which just can't hardly be beat.

When I grab my Fav Jig Pole it's a 10 foot Ozark, never have broke one and been fishing them for years, and I have broke allot more of all the other brands sooner. Go with a 10 foot ozark or at least pick one up before you buy. Very light with just the right backbone.