Jerkbait rod casting or spinning?

[SuckAtPhishing]

Picking up a jerkbait rod set for spring and was wondering what people's personal opinion was between casting or spinning?  If you could be specific on the advantages that would be great?  I have heard people swear one over the other better, so would love some more input. Thanks everyone. Happy Friday!

 

Disclaimer: seen others have posted about them but want more recent opinions with development of rods.

[Dypsis]

Just posting as I am interested in this topic as well.  I use a 6'6" casting rod, but I've never tried a spinning set up.  

[38 Super Fan]

Always casting gear for me. I tend to always use heavier hard jerkbaits (1/2 oz) for one thing. Also, a fast retrieve casting reel can pick up the slack much faster than your typical slow retrieve spinning reel. Ability to pick up slack quickly is very helpful when fishing a jerkbait.

 

If you're talking small lightweight jerkbaits and flukes, a spinning rod could be preferable though.

[Logan S]

There's not really a wrong answer, but I use a casting rods most of the time.  I do use a spinning rod for smaller jerkbaits like the Pointer 65.  I'll also use a spinning rod with 6lb flouro if I want get maximum depth and action from a standard jerkbait...I might surprise you to see how much a jerkbait 'wakes up' on that light line .  

 

As was mentioned already, lure weights are 1/2oz or 5/8oz for most standard sized jerkbaits and that is usually easier/better handled on casting gear.  I also like to use 10lb to 15lb flouro for jerkbait fishing and that also is done much easier on casting gear.  

[Fishes in trees]

I use spinning gear nearly all the time for fishing hard jerk baits, like Pointers & Rogues.

I do this because when it is good jerk bait fishing it is generally a little windy and I find spinning gear a little easier to use in the wind than bait casting gear, especially when I'm casting into or quartering into the wind.

I cast into the wind when possible because I think that all things being equal, fish will choose to face into the wind.   I know that there are MANY exceptions to this rule and I've encountered most of them, but still I prefer spinning gear.

 

For specific gear, currently I use a 6'3" Shimano rod.   I bought it in 2000 or 2001.   Med Action with an extra fast tip.   I've used various spinning reels over the years, currently I use an older US Reels 180 Supercaster.   I know this isn't a particularly good reel but it does have the widest spool of any reel I currently own and I think that gives me more distance in this situation - and distance is part of the equation is this game.   I've tried using 7' and 7.5' spinning reels and they do give me a little more distance however I find myself smacking the boat with the downward jerk of the rod that I commonly use.  I think that a sideways jerk doesn't get the bait down as good and the straight down jerk.   . . .

compromises. . . .. .   I use 14 lb Fireline Crystal for line with a relatively short (18" or so) fluorocarbon leader of 15 or 17 lb test.   I think the sinking action of the leader gives the bait a very slight head down position - which I like.  On your jerks, the bait tends to head down - which I like.

 

So, there you got it - my current thoughts on jerk bait gear.   This isn't etched in stone, might change up something this year, might not.

[A-Jay]

21 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

I use spinning gear nearly all the time for fishing hard jerk baits, like Pointers & Rogues.

I do this because when it is good jerk bait fishing it is generally a little windy and I find spinning gear a little easier to use in the wind than bait casting gear, especially when I'm casting into or quartering into the wind.

I cast into the wind when possible because I think that all things being equal, fish will choose to face into the wind.   I know that there are MANY exceptions to this rule and I've encountered most of them, but still I prefer spinning gear.

 

I am totally in this camp as well.  Braid & a mono leader routinely.

The only expectation is when using a LC 128 south of the border - it's usually in & around mutant trees, HV action casting rod & at least 20lb mono.  Super fun and doesn't happen enough.

Otherwise, when presenting JK's in local water,  it's spinning gear the vast majority of the time.

A-Jay

[daviswill]

Personally, I use a baitcaster. The advantage that I see is just how many more casts you can take with one.

[A-Jay]

Just now, daviswill said:

Personally, I use a baitcaster. The advantage that I see is just how many more casts you can take with one.

 

Interesting premise. 

As a user of both techniques, I've not noted one method 'faster' than the other; meaning I guess more casting per hour.

A-Jay

[tkunk]

I mostly use spinning gear, because the lakes I fish tend to be very windy, especially in spring and fall.

 

On the rare calm day, I'll use casting gear, because I get much better distance with it.

[MassYak85]

For heavier jerkbaits I use a 7' MF casting, for tiny ones I use my ML 6'10" MLXF spinning (like a pointer 65). 

[jbw252]

Spinning gear.

[fishnkamp]

If you fish normal spring summer fall in warmer months I will usually use 12 pound test P Line Floroclear line ( a copoly line with a fluoro coating( on a 6'4 Ike series casting rod. In cold water, when fish are sluggish, I use more of a finesse jerkbait technique. This calls for my 6'8" medium spinning rod.  I use P Line Halo in 8 pound test. Here you get it down then jerk or twitch the bait, then it sits for a long pause before twitching it again.

[kickerfish1]

I use both. Anything 3/8 oz and up is easily done on casting gear. When the weight drops under 3/8 oz I use a ML spinning rod or sometimes a light for reel small rip baits. Line size is anywhere between 6 - 10#.

[J Francho]

Anything Pointer 100 or better, casting.  The smaller ones, and soft jerks, like flukes, I use spinning.

[Yudo1]

  I don't know if there is an advantage, but I just prefer casting gear for jerk baits.

[bassboy107]

I throw flukes and small hard jerkbaits on spinning. All bigger hard jerkbaits I throw on casting. 

[JDNKC]

Curado 200i and the gloomis jerkbaits series(nice and short at 6'3").  I match that with 10lb Seagaur invisx.  I love this setup and use this in the spring a ton with a vision 110.

[Bluebasser86]

I use both in various lengths but all medium actions.

[Guest]

Casting.

[tander]

I prefer casting better just because it just feels more natural. I use a Falcon Lowrider Med with 12# test, usually throwing a Smithwick Rogue.

[flyfisher]

I use both but primarily spinning in a MF action.  I have used a casting rod for heavier jerk baits on what I would say is a light MH rod.  I prefer your hybrid for both applications  One exception is flukes where i prefer braid and spinning gear pretty much exclusively.

[Chris at Tech]

I use both but lean towards spinning for the same wind reason a few above mentioned.

[SuckAtPhishing]

I think I might actually use a casting rod. I just like the wind advantage you have with it.

[WIGuide]

I'll use both, generally though, it's a 6'6" M/F casting rod for my jerkbaits. For some smaller jerkbaits or in super heavy wind, I might consider using a spinning rod. 

[Oxxed]

The guys above hit the nail on the head; in general, casting for heavy lures and spinning for light lure. At the end of the day it all boils down to preference, just make sure the lures you're throwing are rated for the rod you're using.

 

$500 Casting Set-up: 

Shimano Expride: 6'10 medium fast

Shimano Chronarch MGL (7.1:1)

 

$500 Spinning Set-up:

Megabass Orochi XX: Whipsnake

Shimano Vanford 3000 HG

 

$400 Casting Set-up:

Megabass Levante: Jerkbait Special

Daiwa Tatula SV TW (7.1:1)

 

$400 Spinning Set-up:

Daiwa Tatula Elite: Meyer Finesse 7' ML Fast

Daiwa Tatula LT 3000