Hard-working midfielder Jones took his season's tally to 17 goals by crashing home at the far post after Nicky Adams miskicked Jason Kennedy's cross from the right. Home goalkeeper Romain Larrieu got his hand to the ball but could not stop Jones' thumping close-range right foot strike.
The Dale skipper had an easier chance midway through the first half but Larrieu was equal to his weak shot.
Argyle winger Yannick Bolasie came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a thumping 29th-minute far-post header to greet Chris Clark's cross from the right. Bolasie's effort smashed off the upright.
Larrieu did well to save Will Atkinson's 32nd-minute header and then bravely dived to punch away Adams' dangerous low cross from the right. In the second half, Argyle target man Rory Fallon fired just over from 18 yards as Plymouth pressed for a leveller.
And late on Dale keeper Owain Fon Williams made a superb stop to deny Argyle striker Joe Mason as he let fly from 10 yards as the visitors failed to clear a corner.
Source: PA
Source: PA