Can Anyone Suggest A Good Jerkbait Rod In The 6'-6-6' M Action? $100 Range

[primetime]

Hey Guys,

 

I am hooked on throwing Hard jerkbaits again only now I am using the Floaters...Bomber Long A, Bang O lure, REd Fin, Rapala, Flash Minnow etc...

 

I find when I am on a bass boat all day, I like a lighter rod, and I have a nice 5.8 oz casting reel all ready to go for a new rod....I was hoping for a 6'-3" as any longer and I sometimes hit the water with my rod tip with the Twitch-Twitch-Pause-Repeat for another 8 hours...So I am open to any suggestions, I am not good with picking out rods for techniques, and my crankbait rod is too Long at 7' for how I work a Jerkbait.

 

I will pay if needed to get the right fit with the Okuma Helios, and I figure I will be throwing it with 15-20lb Hybrid to keep em floating, so short and light, and I did notice TW had some Carrot Stix on Sale, But I have never used one...I am not familiar with rods like I am lures and reels..

 

Thanks-also, what action should it be...Fast but not too fast????

[Tywithay]

6'3 medium Abu Vendetta. I think it'd work well. Definitely recommend much lighter line though like 10-12lb. 15-20 hybrid is like weed whacker string. Lighter line will give better action and more distance.

I prefer a mod-fast for them, but a fast will work. Some people like a faster rod to get a little more tip action.

[smalljaw67]

You are an angler that I can appreciate, LOL!!!! I use hard jerkbaits all season, suspending in cold water and now floating in warm water. You like the short rod that has the tip to work the bait but the flex to land the barely hooked fish. Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'3" M-MF casting rod, it is barely 3oz but is deceivingly powerful. The rod is rated for 1/4oz to 5/8 but I have used 1/2oz baits and the rod handles them with no problem, in fact you might think it is rated to a higher weight based on how well it does with 1/2oz and 5/8 is just as good. The rod is a moderate fast action and I really like the way Fenwick does it, the rod doesn't have a parabolic action like others rated moderate fast, instead it acts like a fat action rod but it loads really well so you can sling a 1/4 or 3/8oz bait a long way for a shot rod. Once you make the cast you can work the bait without it bending really far, I hated that when I tried using a cranking rod for jerkbaits, I don't know how some do it, anyway, you can really work the bait and when you hook up the rod has a deeper flex than just a medium power with a fast action. I think this is what will work for you, I was a big fan of my G.Loomis JBR 752C which is a medium power  fast action but it struggled with the heavier baits so I wanted a rod that could handle the bigger baits and I got it in a MH Fenwick ET Smallmouth which is a 6'10" with a moderate fast but it is more stout than the 6'3" but the 6'3" handles the small 1/4oz and 3/8oz baits much easier and the length is super nice for control. If you like the short rod I think you'll really like this one.

[Raul]

Shimano Clarus Crankbait series 80-90 bones.

[primetime]

6'3 medium Abu Vendetta. I think it'd work well. Definitely recommend much lighter line though like 10-12lb. 15-20 hybrid is like weed whacker string. Lighter line will give better action and more distance.

I prefer a mod-fast for them, but a fast will work. Some people like a faster rod to get a little more tip action.

I agree with the line lb test, but some of these shallow florida swamps are nasty and most guys throw braid all the time in 40-65...I use heavier Yozuri  for 2 reasons.1-Keeps bait more buoyant so I can work it over submerged weeds that are 1' below the surface most of the day....I prefer straight 65lb braid with a large floating long a, or Smithwick floating rattling rogue, yo-zuri ss minnnow with orange belly is small but casts far and only dives a few inches even if you snap it good on slack with braid...Anyhow, I usually prefer 8-10 hybrid early in year, or just 10lb mono, but key for the last few trips was managing heavy wind, 3-5' of water full of weeds, so need to paint top of jerkbait red or any bright color so you can see it for steering....But when it gets hit, you best be holding on tight since the lil ones tend to avoid the hardbait this time of year....I actually kill the action when windy so bait drifts naturally, so I inject some buoyant gel into my floaters on windy days, make sure they dont roll, cast far, and look natural drifting and working slow...I learned this technique from a guy who was winning tournaments every weekend, and I spend a good 1/2 hour sanding, changing rings, trebles, using silicone, pvc in creative ways to create the ultimate jerkbait. In saltwater, we always heated a finishing nail with a lighter, filled a red fin with water, and that would allow us to cast it into the wind in 6 foot waves and bait would never roll or foul..just some glue, and your good to go....I am running out of the older xcaliber ghost minnows, and older style rebels from 80's which are also really good. I just need a new rod that is for jerkbaits only, so I appreciate your advice. I hopefully find one that is 6' and has enough backbone which is tough......I often need heavy gear to land a 2lber in some of these lakes.

[Hogsticker]

I'd just get a 6'7 medium *** Black. I have a 6'3 medium Zillion that makes a killer jerkbait rod, but its out of your price range.

[thehooligan]

I'd just get a 6'7 medium *** Black. I have a 6'3 medium Zillion that makes a killer jerkbait rod, but its out of your price range.

 

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