It's a toad Posted January 3, 2017 Posted January 3, 2017 I was also wondering could a jerk bait rod be used for any other technique. Or can it only be used for jerkbaits Quote
Super User MickD Posted January 3, 2017 Super User Posted January 3, 2017 Since the smallies I fish for prefer a sharp twitch over the more progressive "sweep", I prefer a fast action that gives that twitch more easily. So a power matched to the weight of the lures, graphite, fast or Xfast action is my preference. That rod will work fine for spinnerbaits, jigging, drop shot, and really isn't bad for cranks, especially deep ones. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 3, 2017 Super User Posted January 3, 2017 A Medium Power or Medium Heavy/ Fast Action can be used for just about everything. However, if you are talking about a "dedicated" rod, I think a jerkbait rig is most compatible for topwater and shallow cankbaits like square bills. I have a St. Croix Avid for sale - cheap! 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 3, 2017 Global Moderator Posted January 3, 2017 I use mine for poppers and small walking baits. 1 Quote
Super User Jeff H Posted January 4, 2017 Super User Posted January 4, 2017 I recommend the St. Croix Avid AVC62MXF, it is the right combination of length and perfect action for mer. Mine (I have 2) are dedicated to jerkbaits only. Obviously they could be used for other presentations but they are not. I have plenty of other rods for those things. Quote
adam lancia Posted January 7, 2017 Posted January 7, 2017 I'm using a 6'6" MF rod for lighter jerkbaits, topwater poppers, and smaller walking baits, rated from 1/4-5/8oz. I don't go much above 3/8 on this rod. I'm using a 6'7" MHF rod for heavier jerkbaits (1/2 oz or more), topwater poppers and bigger walking baits, rated 3/8-1oz. I use braid wit ha leader on both of my setups. I tried going with mono or fluoro but didn't like all the stretch I felt, I couldn't get a good feel for what the lure was doing, especially with jerkbaits. I also tried using a ML mod-fast rod for my 1/2oz jerkabaits and hated it. I had to put so much power into the rod to get the lure to do anything. The one adjustment I have made due to using braid and a fast taper (along with ensuring the drag is set properly) is to gently sweep the rod to set the hooks. Quote
rangerjockey Posted January 8, 2017 Posted January 8, 2017 I like the Falcon McClelland signature stickbait rod.. Also makes a great Pop R and yellow magic rod. also smaller walking baits the a sammy or spook jr. Quote
strikefc34 Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 Jerkbait rod should also be good for topwater poppers, small topwater walking baits and squarebills cranks. I use a Dobyns Champion 704cb...for $109 or less Dobyns Fury 705cb would be a great option too. Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted January 10, 2017 Super User Posted January 10, 2017 I use a ST Croix Avid 6'6" Medium Fast, I use it for top water (buzzbaits), spinnerbaits and swim jigs. Quote
Super User Angry John Posted January 10, 2017 Super User Posted January 10, 2017 I use my avid 66mf for jerkbaits and squarebills Quote
hawgenvy Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 I'm partial to my Dobyns Champion XP 705cb (graphite). It's moderate action casts a mile and imparts the ideal (to me) action to jerkbaits, keeps the trebles pinned perfectly on jerks and traps, and has the backbone to muscle in toads (except in heavy vegetation). Couple it with some FC line on a light weight reel -- I have a Lew's Pro Magnesium screwed on -- and it's a really sweet rig for jerking, running lipless traps, and for small to medium lipped crankbaits. I nailed a nice 6+ pounder on that rig X-mas day at sunset, on a 1/2 oz trap, from the bank. The rod helped me bring her in nice and easy, letting the springiness of the rod's moderate action tire her out and bring her right to my thumb, even though she was barely hooked. 2 Quote
aprestonSEK Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 6'6 Medium Kistler KLX Crank/Rip/Twitch. It is rated as a mod/fast but is actually fairly stiff with a good amount of tip to cast and work a jerkbait. This rod is also good for small crankbaits, poppers, and finesse plastics. 1 Quote
Outdoor Zack Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 Question: I know that you can use spinning outfits for any technique, but is there any advantage to using BC gear for jerkbaits instead? I've heard KVD talk about his jerkbait rod (BC) but he never really gave the pros and cons of each. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 10, 2017 Super User Posted January 10, 2017 5 minutes ago, Outdoor Zack said: Question: I know that you can use spinning outfits for any technique, but is there any advantage to using BC gear for jerkbaits instead? I've heard KVD talk about his jerkbait rod (BC) but he never really gave the pros and cons of each. Although I can & do fish jerkbaits on casting gear, hurling then into a stiff breeze all day (which seems quite prevalent early & late season) isn't best case scenario. I use spinning gear for the vast majority of my jerkbait presentations. The Main benefit in my eyes is the ability to make long casts using light line STRAIGHT into the wind. I catch a lot of decent smallmouth this way. A-Jay 4 Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 10, 2017 Super User Posted January 10, 2017 Spinning tackle generally allow you to use lighter line. Megabass Ito Vision 110 is designed for light line. 2 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted January 10, 2017 Super User Posted January 10, 2017 Personal pick for the perfect jerkbait rod is the St. Croix Legend Xtreme 6'6" M/F. They double as good topwater rods as well as lighter t-rig rods and small swimbait rods. Quote
Outdoor Zack Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 10 hours ago, A-Jay said: Although I can & do fish jerkbaits on casting gear, hurling then into a stiff breeze all day (which seems quite prevalent early & late season) isn't best case scenario. I use spinning gear for the vast majority of my jerkbait presentations. The Main benefit in my eyes is the ability to make long casts using light line STRAIGHT into the wind. I catch a lot of decent smallmouth this way. A-Jay 8 hours ago, roadwarrior said: Spinning tackle generally allow you to use lighter line. Megabass Ito Vision 110 is designed for light line. Would it make sense to use the same spinning setup for flukes and soft jerkbaits ? Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 11, 2017 Super User Posted January 11, 2017 3 hours ago, Outdoor Zack said: Would it make sense to use the same spinning setup for flukes and soft jerkbaits ? I will tell you what I use and you can decide for yourself. Generally it's one of two sticks for jerkbaits - one is a Fenwick Elite tech smallmouth rod 7'4" Med fast, the other is the St Croix LTB 7'1" also Med Fast. I also use this one for flukes, tubes & small swimbaits. Both are spooled with 10lb braid. A-Jay 1 Quote
Outdoor Zack Posted January 11, 2017 Posted January 11, 2017 9 hours ago, A-Jay said: I will tell you what I use and you can decide for yourself. Generally it's one of two sticks for jerkbaits - one is a Fenwick Elite tech smallmouth rod 7'4" Med fast, the other is the St Croix LTB 7'1" also Med Fast. I also use this one for flukes, tubes & small swimbaits. Both are spooled with 10lb braid. A-Jay Thanks, I'm just trying to get some insight from an expert 1 Quote
Yudo1 Posted January 11, 2017 Posted January 11, 2017 I use mine for top waters and shallow-mid depth cranks. Quote
Super User burrows Posted January 11, 2017 Super User Posted January 11, 2017 On 1/3/2017 at 1:06 AM, It's a toad said: I was also wondering could a jerk bait rod be used for any other technique. Or can it only be used for jerkbaits How much are you trying to spend? Because you could use something inexpensive for jerk baits I use a cheap 6'6 vengeance mf and it does the job you don't need a hole lot of sensitivity for trebles but the vengeance has enough for me for now at least I also use it for some cranking, poppers and light spinnerbaits I plan on upgrading to the st croix mojo jerk bait rod for next season. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 11, 2017 Super User Posted January 11, 2017 3 hours ago, Outdoor Zack said: Thanks, I'm just trying to get some insight from an expert Fair enough, and since that's the case, after reading any of my responses, you'll need to keep looking. Good Luck A-Jay Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted January 11, 2017 Super User Posted January 11, 2017 The rods I fish jerkbaits on have multiple uses for me. For a casting rod I use a 6'6" M power Berkley Lightning rod shock, it also gets used for target casting of shallow running cranks, and the few odd times I year I throw treble hooked top waters. Despite being "cheap" this rod is surprisingly light and has just the right taper IMHO for treble hooked baits, while not being "too soft" to hinder working a jerkbait effectively. When I need to switch to smaller jerkbaits that are difficult to cast on casting gear, I use a 6'8" M/XF custom built spinning rod , built on a Batson blank....it's a little stiff, but works well. Normally this is my flick shake + shaky head rod. 1 Quote
mada1594 Posted January 13, 2017 Posted January 13, 2017 I love my megabass f3 1/2-63xgti for jerkbaits and crankbaits but really any moderate or moderate fast action rods work well for me. Quote
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