Best jerkbait/chatterbait rod

[Chance_Taker4]

I have it narrowed down to Med fast:

 

Abu Veritas

Enigma Phenom 

BPS Carbonlite

Carrot Stix Wild Wild Orange

Denali Attax

Which one is better for reaction baits. Also customer service, durability

[riverbasser]

I don't have experience with any of the rods listed but IMO jerkaits and chatterbaits are best presented with different rods. I I like a medium fast action for a jerkbait and a med heavy  for my chatter baits. 

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Fishes in trees]

You can throw your baits with whatever you want to.   Me - those seem to be two different baits that require different rods.  Chatterbaits, to me, are close enough to spinner baits that I throw them on similar gear - using at least 17 lb line.  I throw jerk baits on spinning gear using 14 to 20 lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader.   Current gear choices are a 6'8" Fenwick AETOS MH for spinnerbaits and such.   These days I throw jerk baits on a 6'3" older Shimano spinning rod - Med action with an extra fast tip.  Of course that is subject to change, but that is what I'm currently using.

[Chance_Taker4]

Thanks I used a mh most of the year last year for chatterbaits then I was suggested using a squarebill setup to get the most out of the chattetbait. I switched and got higher hookups. I use both square, jerk and chatter on Med fast with 12# flouro 

[fishnkamp]

One rod you might want to add to you list is the Abu Garcia Ike series Jerkbait rod. The rod is 6'4' with a slightly shorter handle so when you twitch the bait it does not hit your arm. I like mine a lot, It is nicely made, balances nice and is plenty sensitive.  I own an original Veritas 7 ft Medium rod, but in my opinion it has a bit more moderate action.  I use it for traps. I also own two other Veritas rods, My frog rod is a 7 ft MH and my big jig/punch rod is a 7 ft HVy.  They both work well for their use. All of the Veritas seem to run a bit heavier than they say, so go more by their lure ratings than by their power rating.   Obviously customer service on an Ike rod would be the same as the Veritas, and it runs only about $30 more.

The other rods I can not help you with.

[Chance_Taker4]

39 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

One rod you might want to add to you list is the Abu Garcia Ike series Jerkbait rod. The rod is 6'4' with a slightly shorter handle so when you twitch the bait it does not hit your arm. I like mine a lot, It is nicely made, balances nice and is plenty sensitive.  I own an original Veritas 7 ft Medium rod, but in my opinion it has a bit more moderate action.  I use it for traps. I also own two other Veritas rods, My frog rod is a 7 ft MH and my big jig/punch rod is a 7 ft HVy.  They both work well for their use. All of the Veritas seem to run a bit heavier than they say, so go more by their lure ratings than by their power rating.   Obviously customer service on an Ike rod would be the same as the Veritas, and it runs only about $30 more.

The other rods I can not help you with.

Thank you for this I was leaning towards a Ike series rod but couldn't find any reviews. Is the jerkbait Rod one of his delay series Rods?

[fishnkamp]

Yes here is a link to his explanation. It is exactly what he says it is. It is a delay series rod that really works a bait nice. Also the eva is the higher quality not the cheap spoongie stuff. Mine has a tatula Type R 6.3 on it.

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=crmas&p=IKECW64-5+Rod+-+Abu+Garcia+Ike+Series#id=1&vid=8a0a242e66b5500b2c037e328c76ee90&action=click

[smalljaw67]

A jerkbait has treble hooks, a chatterbait has a large single hook. The only way 1 rod would really be good for both is if you got a rod for jerkbaits and used the small 1/8oz chatterbaits. A medium power, fast action rod will work for both but if you find yourself in grass with the chatterbait or use a 3/8oz or heavier model, you may find setting the hook on a larger fish to be problematic. I recently found the best chatterbait/ spinnerbait/buzzbait rod I ever used, a Hammer Rods 6'9" Heavy power, the rod has a parabolic action but isn't soft like a cranking rod, the power is about a half power heavier than a standard medium heavy power with a fast action. That rod has the backbone to drive home large diameter hooks while having enough forgiveness to fight the fish and keep it pinned but it isn't any good for a jerkbait. I like shorter rods for jerkbaits, and since I use that bait a lot I've tried a lot of different rods. Anything from 6'2" to 6'9" works for me but I like a medium power, fast action rod with a soft tip or a medium power, moderate fast action that has a slightly stiffer tip section. I can't recommend a single rod that would fit as these are two completely different types of baits used in completely different ways so you are best served with two completely different set ups. Now you can get away with one rod if you use smaller chatterbaits but you really are giving up a lot by doing that, some of my biggest smallmouth have come on using larger 1/2oz chatterbaits and a medium power rod would not have landed many of those fish as the hooks are just too large.

[Montanaro]

1 hour ago, smalljaw67 said:

A jerkbait has treble hooks, a chatterbait has a large single hook. The only way 1 rod would really be good for both is if you got a rod for jerkbaits and used the small 1/8oz chatterbaits. A medium power, fast action rod will work for both but if you find yourself in grass with the chatterbait or use a 3/8oz or heavier model, you may find setting the hook on a larger fish to be problematic. I recently found the best chatterbait/ spinnerbait/buzzbait rod I ever used, a Hammer Rods 6'9" Heavy power, the rod has a parabolic action but isn't soft like a cranking rod, the power is about a half power heavier than a standard medium heavy power with a fast action. That rod has the backbone to drive home large diameter hooks while having enough forgiveness to fight the fish and keep it pinned but it isn't any good for a jerkbait. I like shorter rods for jerkbaits, and since I use that bait a lot I've tried a lot of different rods. Anything from 6'2" to 6'9" works for me but I like a medium power, fast action rod with a soft tip or a medium power, moderate fast action that has a slightly stiffer tip section. I can't recommend a single rod that would fit as these are two completely different types of baits used in completely different ways so you are best served with two completely different set ups. Now you can get away with one rod if you use smaller chatterbaits but you really are giving up a lot by doing that, some of my biggest smallmouth have come on using larger 1/2oz chatterbaits and a medium power rod would not have landed many of those fish as the hooks are just too large.

If you read any post in this thread,read that one.  (no offense guys)

[fishballer06]

Exactly what smalljaw said. You need at least a MH for chatterbaits. I'm personally debating stepping up to a H for my chatterbait needs because I throw a lot of 1/2 - 3/4oz chatterbaits with a 3.8" Keitech Fat Impact on them, which is probably pushing 1oz. or more. Chatterbaits excel around weeds and wood, so you need something that can drive the hook home on a long cast and that you can control the fish from going wherever he wants. 

If you honestly think you'll get better hookups with a medium power, then go for it. But I'm willing to bet you'll regret using a medium power after you lose a few fish in the weeds/wood/etc. 

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

A jerkbait has treble hooks, a chatterbait has a large single hook. The only way 1 rod would really be good for both is if you got a rod for jerkbaits and used the small 1/8oz chatterbaits. A medium power, fast action rod will work for both but if you find yourself in grass with the chatterbait or use a 3/8oz or heavier model, you may find setting the hook on a larger fish to be problematic. I recently found the best chatterbait/ spinnerbait/buzzbait rod I ever used, a Hammer Rods 6'9" Heavy power, the rod has a parabolic action but isn't soft like a cranking rod, the power is about a half power heavier than a standard medium heavy power with a fast action. That rod has the backbone to drive home large diameter hooks while having enough forgiveness to fight the fish and keep it pinned but it isn't any good for a jerkbait. I like shorter rods for jerkbaits, and since I use that bait a lot I've tried a lot of different rods. Anything from 6'2" to 6'9" works for me but I like a medium power, fast action rod with a soft tip or a medium power, moderate fast action that has a slightly stiffer tip section. I can't recommend a single rod that would fit as these are two completely different types of baits used in completely different ways so you are best served with two completely different set ups. Now you can get away with one rod if you use smaller chatterbaits but you really are giving up a lot by doing that, some of my biggest smallmouth have come on using larger 1/2oz chatterbaits and a medium power rod would not have landed many of those fish as the hooks are just too large.

Nicely Said ~ 

If the OP has to use one rod for both applications, presenting the treble hook bait on nylon line and the single hook baits on braid & a leader could put more fish in the net.

Not Ideal, but perhaps a little better.

A-Jay

[ww2farmer]

Like some posters above, I don't like the same rod for jerkbaits and chatterbaits.

I like a shorter (6'6") medium power fast, with a soft tip rod for jerkabits. This rod doubles nicely as a treble hooked top water rod, a weightless soft plastic jerkbait rod, and a close quarters squarebill rod for me.

and I like a 7' MH power rod for chatterbaits, and I also use this rod for swimjigs, spinnerbaits, ripping squarebills and lipless cranks out of grass, and frogs.

Say you have a $100 budget........

Get 2 Berkley Lightning rod shocks for $50/each, they are outstanding moving bait rods, and a better option than trying to make one rod fit both. I use them in the lengths/powers listed above. And I am very pleased. They may look funny sitting on the deck with my custom built rods, but I don't care.

[everythingthatswims]

I've been throwing chatterbaits on a 7' medium for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's just me, but with a long sweeping hookset it is not hard to get the open hook on a spinnerbait, chatterbait, or swimbait on a jighead to set.

Seriously look at the no8 hellbent rods. They are dirt cheap and I like them more than the nicer rods I have. Very lightweight, sensitive, and responsive. The 7' Medium sees chatterbaits and jerkbaits when it's in my hands.

[MassYak85]

Have I thrown 3/8 and 1/2 chatterbaits on my MF setup....yes. Will I ever again now that I have other rods that would be better suited for the job, no. Like @A-Jay said, if you have to use a MF, use braid to a leader for the chatterbaits (or straight braid if you want) if you absolutely can only have one rod. And like others have said you can always downsize the chatterbait size if necessary. To be honest I wouldn't necessarily be as concerned with hooking up with fish on a MF and like a 3/8 ounce chatterbait, but if I am fishing it around any type of cover like laydowns or lilypad edges, I would have almost zero confidence in the rod having enough power to stop the fish from wrapping me up. 

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

Have I thrown 3/8 and 1/2 chatterbaits on my MF setup....yes. Will I ever again now that I have other rods that would be better suited for the job, no. Like @A-Jay said, if you have to use a MF, use braid to a leader for the chatterbaits (or straight braid if you want) if you absolutely can only have one rod. And like others have said you can always downsize the chatterbait size if necessary. To be honest I wouldn't necessarily be as concerned with hooking up with fish on a MF and like a 3/8 ounce chatterbait, but if I am fishing it around any type of cover like laydowns or lilypad edges, I would have almost zero confidence in the rod having enough power to stop the fish from wrapping me up. 

Well Said.

A-Jay

[smalljaw67]

3 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

I've been throwing chatterbaits on a 7' medium for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's just me, but with a long sweeping hookset it is not hard to get the open hook on a spinnerbait, chatterbait, or swimbait on a jighead to set.

Seriously look at the no8 hellbent rods. They are dirt cheap and I like them more than the nicer rods I have. Very lightweight, sensitive, and responsive. The 7' Medium sees chatterbaits and jerkbaits when it's in my hands.

Again, it depends on the size baits you use, the areas you use them in, and the size of the fish you catch. In open areas with smaller baits the medium power, fast action rod can fish a jerkbait and chatterbait but you really limit the size of the bait and types of trailers. A 3/8oz bait with a small swim bait type trailer on a medium power rod is right at the upper limit on a rod rated to 5/8oz like most mediums are so nothing over that will work well and almost not at all in cover situations. If you're using a rod rated to 3/4oz, well that is closer to a medium heavy and probably too stout to fish a jerkbait effectively, and so you end up doing a compromise to be able to use one rod for both types of baits when you don't need to, for $140 you can get two rods with the *** blackout series rods, a 6'6" medium for jerkbaits and a 7' MH for the chatterbait.

[Chance_Taker4]

I still have the MH Rod that I used to use my chatterbait on. So what would be a good strictly Jerkbait rod? As for size of fish the water my club fishes 12#s wins events. So we aren't looking at catching trophy fish.

[Bluebasser86]

On 12/8/2016 at 4:44 AM, smalljaw67 said:

 I recently found the best chatterbait/ spinnerbait/buzzbait rod I ever used, a Hammer Rods 6'9" Heavy power, the rod has a parabolic action but isn't soft like a cranking rod, the power is about a half power heavier than a standard medium heavy power with a fast action. 

Is that the micro guide rod listed on their website? After I broke my favorite LTB that I used for bladed jigs, a rod they no longer make, the replacement I got just isn't the same. Having a good rod for bladed jigs is kind of a big deal to me, so I'm shopping around a little for new options and I like how it sounds like that rod could be a fit for me. 

[Attila]

I tried throwing 3/8oz chatterbaits on my 7' MF jerk bait rod this past year and really noticed that it didn't have the power to get fish out of the weeds as I thought it might. As a result I picked up a 7'2" MHR rod that I'll be using for both chatterbaits and crankbaits because I really need the power to get the fish out and away from cover like lily pads and docks.

Hope that this information is helpful.

Attila

[smalljaw67]

23 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Is that the micro guide rod listed on their website? After I broke my favorite LTB that I used for bladed jigs, a rod they no longer make, the replacement I got just isn't the same. Having a good rod for bladed jigs is kind of a big deal to me, so I'm shopping around a little for new options and I like how it sounds like that rod could be a fit for me. 

It is the elite micro, I know a lot of guys don't like the micro guides but I don't have a problem with them. I got the 6'9" heavy for walking 3/4oz and heavier topwaters and the rod really is fantastic for it but when I tried my bladed jigs on it I was hooked. I now want to get a 7' 3" heavy for big lipless cranks and 7' heavy for magnum square bills. I took a chance on them not knowing what to expect as it was recommended to me when I was looking for a rod for big topwaters, but ever since using the bladed jig and then spinnerbaits with it, I'm convinced there isn't a better rod for them at all. They are light and very comfortable to fish but the action still gets me, the rod is parabolic but it isn't soft and the sensitivity is just great, so much so that fishing jigs and worms can be done because of it as there is more than enough backbone to drive home even the heaviest wire hooks. I have 2 custom rods made for spinnerbaits and the Hammer I got is better than both, if I was going to build a rod myself for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits it would have to have the action and power of the Hammer, the only problem is I've never found a blank like that and to have the blank being made in America only makes it that much better.

[gmoney13]

When I know crankbaits won't work at the place I'm going, I will tie a jerkabit on my crankbait rod. I also have one rod for my chatterbait, spinnerbait, and jig rod. On a budget so I have to pick which lure I think is going to work. Jerkabait rods are good with flexible tip and a strong back bone. 7'-7'6".  My chatterbait rod would be 6'6" MH for shore anglers and 7'MH for boat anglers. A spinnbait rod would work perfect for a chatterbait. The rod just has to be sensitive taper so you can feel the vibration.

[Raul]

Hmmmmm, in my neck of the woods a chatterbait is better tied to nothing less than MHF and 12 lbs test just like a spinnerbait on light cover and it would be a lot better on a HF and 14 to 17 lbs test for the heavier stuff,  while a jerkbait is fine on a M and 8 - 10 lbs, so .... oh yeah, two rods.

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Raul said:

Hmmmmm, in my neck of the woods a chatterbait is better tied to nothing less than MHF and 12 lbs test just like a spinnerbait on light cover and it would be a lot better on a HF and 14 to 17 lbs test for the heavier stuff,  while a jerkbait is fine on a M and 8 - 10 lbs, so .... oh yeah, two rods.

Another vote for incompatible - 2 rods, unless your jerkbaits are all comprised of larger/heavier 128 sized models and up.

-T9