Rod Recommendation For Jerkbaits

[peteryang]

anyone have a recommendation for a decent jerkbait rod for roughly 150? im probably going to be throwing 110s and some lc pointers. i prefer something 6'6 since im a pretty short guy. 

[smalljaw67]

Oh boy, this is going to take a while. I'll ask you a question and I'll give you the low down on jerkbait rods and the  differences. First the question, Do you have experience with a jerkbait and if so what are you using to fish them? If not continue reading. There are 2 separate sets of jerkbait anglers, the first set includes myself and we prefer shorter, faster action rods, something in the range of 6'10" down to 6'3" with a medium power and a fast action. The reason for this set up is the faster action rod is a little more stiff than a moderate action and it allows complete control over the bait and the medium power offers enough forgiveness to fight and land a fish hooked on trebles, when it is cold and you use longer pauses with short jerks, the fast action rod becomes neutral as there is no advantage to working the bait. The second set of jerkbait anglers look at jerkbaits as a crankbait, so those anglers tend to use longer rods with moderate or slow actions, the rods they use are typically use range from 6'9" to 7' and they like them as they provide the ultimate fish fighting ability and they will lose far fewer fish than the first set of anglers. In cold water with longer pauses this type of rod becomes advantageous as you don't need to move the bait very much and you have the fish fighting ability with the extra flex of the rod. The pros of the shorter fast action rod and medium power are the ability to rip the bait hard without hitting the water and you can work it fast in warm water as the tip recovery is instantaneous so you have total control of the bait. The cons of these rods are the higher rate of lost fish,( although the claim is strikes are also at a higher rate but that is for another discussion) and decreased casting distance due to shorter rod.  The pros of the longer, moderate action rods are increased landing percentage due to the better fish fighting ability of the slower action, and high casting distance because of the longer rod. The cons are decreased lure control due to slow tip recovery, rips are limited as longer rods can and will hit the water if ripped too low, so you have to ask yourself if you like to be aggressive with a jerkbait, or are you more of a subtle twitch and wait angler? Lure control versus fish fighting ability, choose your weapon and the suggestions will be rolling.

[Chris at Tech]

Avid 6'6" M/F

Done. Next question?

[deep]

Oh boy, this is going to take a while. I'll ask you a question and I'll give you the low down on jerkbait rods and the  differences. First the question, Do you have experience with a jerkbait and if so what are you using to fish them? If not continue reading. There are 2 separate sets of jerkbait anglers, the first set includes myself and we prefer shorter, faster action rods, something in the range of 6'10" down to 6'3" with a medium power and a fast action. The reason for this set up is the faster action rod is a little more stiff than a moderate action and it allows complete control over the bait and the medium power offers enough forgiveness to fight and land a fish hooked on trebles, when it is cold and you use longer pauses with short jerks, the fast action rod becomes neutral as there is no advantage to working the bait. The second set of jerkbait anglers look at jerkbaits as a crankbait, so those anglers tend to use longer rods with moderate or slow actions, the rods they use are typically use range from 6'9" to 7' and they like them as they provide the ultimate fish fighting ability and they will lose far fewer fish than the first set of anglers. In cold water with longer pauses this type of rod becomes advantageous as you don't need to move the bait very much and you have the fish fighting ability with the extra flex of the rod. The pros of the shorter fast action rod and medium power are the ability to rip the bait hard without hitting the water and you can work it fast in warm water as the tip recovery is instantaneous so you have total control of the bait. The cons of these rods are the higher rate of lost fish,( although the claim is strikes are also at a higher rate but that is for another discussion) and decreased casting distance due to shorter rod.  The pros of the longer, moderate action rods are increased landing percentage due to the better fish fighting ability of the slower action, and high casting distance because of the longer rod. The cons are decreased lure control due to slow tip recovery, rips are limited as longer rods can and will hit the water if ripped too low, so you have to ask yourself if you like to be aggressive with a jerkbait, or are you more of a subtle twitch and wait angler? Lure control versus fish fighting ability, choose your weapon and the suggestions will be rolling.

 

Yup. Perfectly summed up IMO.

 

I prefer a long fast action rod though. Jig rods make great jerkbait rods for my preferences. There was a Loomis 893 on the flea market that I'd have gotten if I were looking for a dedicated jerkbait rod. I don't lose very many fish either (one reason being I don't fish jerkbaits a whole lot).

 

As for your height OP, it matters little. I'm 5'8", all my rods are 7'6" or longer. Well, all except one, now that I have an NRX 893 on the way. But you get the point.

[FryDog62]

Just picked up a St. Croix Avid "X" in 6-8 Medium extra fast. Has the tip to do the short fast jerk style described above. It's a $200 rod but a few outlets have had for 20% off, I got for $160. Perfect Rod for a jerk like me!

[Fishes in trees]

I like shorter rods for fishing jerk baits, for some of  the reasons mentioned earlier.  I don't care much if I slap the water with my rod tip.   I care quite a bit if I slap the side of the boat and fracture a rod.  (which I've done several times.)  I like spinning rods for jerk baits, because it somewhat takes the wind out of the equation.  I can wind up with spinning gear and throw a half ounce pointer quite a ways into the wind, using a sidearm cast that the bait never gets more than 6 feet or so above the water.  

 

My current set up is a 6'3"  ML Shimano spinning rod with an extra fast tip.   The name of the line escapes me right now, it was a middle of the line model.  I use an older US Reel spinning reel - the larger size.  Yeah, I know they aren't made very well and the action is kind of herky-jerky, but it is a very wide spool and with the arbors, it holds a reasonable amount of 14 lb Fireline, without having to mess with backing or put 500 years or so of braid on the spool.  I use a shortish, 2 foot or less fluorocarbon leader, generally 15 lbs.  The reason for the shortish fluoro leader is that (a) I don't like the know rattling through the guides, so I start the cast with the bait and all the leader outside the rod tip and  the sinking fluorocarbon, once the cast is made and underway, gives my pointer a slightly nose down position, which I like.  I think slightly nose down is better than level, when the bait is stopped and suspended.

  I don't get the distance casting that I could get should I go to a 7 1/2 or so ML, which would be handy on  some points, but I get decent distance and I feel I can control the cadence better with the shorter rod.

 

If you ever go to an early spring tournament and look around and see what gear different guys have their jerk baits are tied on to, you'll see that there is a wide variety of opinion as to what works best for jerk baits.  You got to experiment and see what works best for you.

[speed craw]

dobyns 704cb .

[smalljaw67]

Yup. Perfectly summed up IMO.

 

I prefer a long fast action rod though. Jig rods make great jerkbait rods for my preferences. There was a Loomis 893 on the flea market that I'd have gotten if I were looking for a dedicated jerkbait rod. I don't lose very many fish either (one reason being I don't fish jerkbaits a whole lot).

 

As for your height OP, it matters little. I'm 5'8", all my rods are 7'6" or longer. Well, all except one, now that I have an NRX 893 on the way. But you get the point.

 

I can see you don't fish jerkbaits much...LOL. Just kidding, but you are the first ever person I ever heard of using a 7'5" rod to fish them, I'm guessing you sweep the rod to the side, I'm 6'2" and I have to shorten my rip or I'll hit the water with a 6'10". I'm wondering now, I'm assuming we're talking about hard jerkbaits, perhaps you mean soft jerkbaits? Forgive me but that just really threw me off a bit, that is a very long rod but if you can use it then more power to you.

[deep]

I can see you don't fish jerkbaits much...LOL. Just kidding, but you are the first ever person I ever heard of using a 7'5" rod to fish them, I'm guessing you sweep the rod to the side, I'm 6'2" and I have to shorten my rip or I'll hit the water with a 6'10". I'm wondering now, I'm assuming we're talking about hard jerkbaits, perhaps you mean soft jerkbaits? Forgive me but that just really threw me off a bit, that is a very long rod but if you can use it then more power to you.

 

Hard jerkbaits. I just twitch to the side, or if I'm twitching vertically, I end the twitches before the rod itself is vertical. Boat or shore-fishing.

 

P.S. I twitch Deps 250s/ walk the dog punkers/ slammers with a Dobyns 867 too, which of course is an 8'6" rod.

[smalljaw67]

Hard jerkbaits. I just twitch to the side, or if I'm twitching vertically, I end the twitches before the rod itself is vertical. Boat or shore-fishing.

 

P.S. I twitch Deps 250s/ walk the dog punkers/ slammers with a Dobyns 867 too, which of course is an 8'6" rod.

 

That is just awesome!! I learn something new everyday.

[Fattygreens]

Highly considering buying the new Ike reaction rod for this purpose. There's a 6'3 they designed specifically for jerk baits. They run around 120 or so. Been using a 7' spinning set up and I think the shorter rod will help a lot with working the baits.

[deep]

That is just awesome!! I learn something new everyday.

 

I don't think it's awesome or anything. It's more about finding a system that works for me. I was addicted to swimbaits (and 8 footers) long before I consistently fished jerkbaits. Of course I was fishing regular topwaters like poppers, chuggers, spooks (baits that require rod action) on my long (7'6"- 8') jig or cranking rods, and sometimes working big baits with the rod too (especially large topwaters). It was an easy transition.

[FishTank]

Avid 6'6" M/F

Done. Next question?

 

this would be my pick..... This rod has a slightly softer tip.  It would be the perfect rod for working the baits you described.

[peteryang]

Man oh man. Never thought it would've been this complicated. Some very informative stuff I just read here. I would say I prefer to work my jerkbaits pretty quickly. I'm 5'5 so I'm probably looking for a 6'6 rod since it's already hard enough for me to twitch the rod down.

I'll be taking the avid into consideration. Or any other rods that is around my ball park of 150. And ike has a reaction rod out? I'll give them a look

[JGBassinAL]

Call Brian at The Tackle Trap and get a price on a Dobyns 684CB. It will be slightly over $150 but it's one of the best jerkbait rods out there IMO.

[PitchinJigz]

Abu Garcia Ike Delay Series Jerkbait rod (the 6'4" one)