Braid with jerkbaits

[ArkansasBassin]

I'm trying to make a topwater and jerkbait setup that includes the typical medium fast rod and a 6.8:1 reel. I want to use braid as I throw spooks in open water quite frequently and I like braid as I can twitch it on very long casts and I don't have to set the hook when they hit it 35+ yards out. However, I'm not sure about using jerkbaits with braid. It doesn't seem much different than using braid with topwater, and I've never had the treble hooks rip out of a topwater fish. I've read a few articles talking about the pros of using braid with jerkbaits. I would use 25-30 lb braid and a 6- 6 1/2 foot 8 lb fluorocarbon leader. What are y'all's opinions on using braid for jerkbaits? 

Thanks

[A-Jay]

I use braid & a mono leader for both topwater walking baits & jerkbaits.

On both casting & spinning gear.

I do OK.

A-Jay

 

[Scott F]

I just got back from a trip where I spent 2 weeks fishing mostly jerkbaits using straight braid. When using jerkbaits where I add action to the lure, I want all my movements to transfer to the bait and not be absorbed by the stretch of the line. I use jerkbaits in open water where line abrasion is not a factor so there is no reason to complicate things with a leader.

A common comment I see about braid is that guys feel they will tear the bait out of the fishes mouth without some stretch in the line. As someone who has used nothing but braid for many years and never with a leader, It has never been an issue with me. I also don't use bait casters with 50 pound test line and ski fish back to the boat. I keep steady pressure on and let the fish tire out some before landing them. If you are tearing out hooks, you need to back off your drag a bit and ease up.

[geo g]

I like Floro with a jerkbait.  Especially a plastic jerkbait.  I like to throw it weightless and It will sink deeper in the water column and floro will disappear under water.  Weightless allows for max movement by the lure with the slightest twitch of the rod. 

[ArkansasBassin]

16 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I just got back from a trip where I spent 2 weeks fishing mostly jerkbaits using straight braid. When using jerkbaits where I add action to the lure, I want all my movements to transfer to the bait and not be absorbed by the stretch of the line. I use jerkbaits in open water where line abrasion is not a factor so there is no reason to complicate things with a leader.

A common comment I see about braid is that guys feel they will tear the bait out of the fishes mouth without some stretch in the line. As someone who has used nothing but braid for many years and never with a leader, It has never been an issue with me. I also don't use bait casters with 50 pound test line and ski fish back to the boat. I keep steady pressure on and let the fish tire out some before landing them. If you are tearing out hooks, you need to back off your drag a bit and ease up.

Thanks for the very thorough response, like I said, I've never lost any treble hooked fish when using braid for the simple fact that I play the fish rather than horse it to the boat. Thanks again for the helpful response.

[Jon G]

I use both braid and straight fluorocarbon. If I'm on a really good jerk bait bite I will switch it up to braid and a leader so my arm doesn't get so tired. When I'm using braid I use a long mono leader with around 10lb line. The purpose of the mono is to act as a shock absorber to help prevent the hooks from bending (especially when using Vision 110s). If you do use braid make sure your drag is set a little loose to help prevent your hooks from bending.

 

In fact even Aaron Martens uses braid with his jerk baits (although he uses a much shorter leader than I do)

 

 

[38 Super Fan]

If I were trying to make a jerkbait/topwater combo, I'd probably go with yo zuri hybrid for my line choice. I don't like braid at all for a hard jerkbait, for soft jerkbaits it's OK.

 

I don't carry a lot of rods in my little boat, so I've tried to make that same jerk/topwater combo in the past, it never did work very well for me though, so I ended up using two different rods.

[Scarborough817]

straight 40lb braid for me never had an issue threw it this past weekend for pike and it worked well

[RoLo]

 

I fish hard jerkbaits and soft jerkbaits on straight braid, no leader, all the time.

Braided line is a remarkable performer, and if my jerkbait is doing something I don't like,

I always blame myself, never the line.

 

Roger

[JustJames]

I'm using both straight braid and copolymer for my hard jerkbait depend on size of jerkbait. For 3/8 oz and more I opt for braid where I can cast out far and still get good action when jerk but with braid I have to ease on jerking (soft jerk)when lure come closer. This happen to be my top water set up as well for jitterbug Zara spook and whopper plopper 110. This set up is MH/F rod and 50e with 30lb braid.

I also use copolymer for 1/4 oz jerk which stretch of copolymer and softer rod tip help reduce draging the lure in straight line. This also set up if I wanna use small plop lure. This set up M/F with alphas 105 on #8 hybrid line (the softest tip I could find because I don't have ML rod).

 

Note to self: I always set my drag quite loose for all moving bait no matter which lure. Check braid more often when jerk in rocky area.

 

unlike @RoLoI don't use braid on my Fluke and plan to switch to straight Fluoro instead. I might try braid when I get my hand on Yamamoto D Shad thou.

 

added: I only have 4 main setup so  I don't plan to make my rod work on every lures but instead plan the right lures for the setup I'll bring with.

[MassYak85]

I use 20lb braid with an 8 or 12lb leader and really like it. No issues "ripping out hooks". If you are doing that just back off your drag. 

[NHBull]

Braid here too.

If you have the proper rod and drag setting, braid should never be a problem.

 

 

[LxVE Bassin]

Rod action will play a big part in keeping you from ripping the hook out of the fishes mouth when using braid. Moderate action rods will give you some cushion. If your are ripping the bait out of the fishes mouth it may be too hard if hookset. I have no problems with braid but I adjust accordingly to what equipment I am utilizing.

[smalljaw67]

Now I understand why so many have problems with bending hooks on jerkbaits.

[Oregon Native]

15# Power Pro...12# fluro leader.....amazing...no bent hooks unless snagged.   Seems to get bait a little deeper too.

[Boomstick]

My personal opinion is that with a lure that is always being cast and retrieved, even a slow retrieve, braid with no leader is fine. Who knows, if I threw on a fluoro leader or used mono or fluro line, maybe it would be a lot better but I really doubt it will make a difference. On the other hand, you might benefit from using fluorocarbon as a leader or maybe your mainline in a sense as it sinks.

[HeavyTwenty]

I use braid + leader because the jerkbait hooks seem to get wrapped around the braid more frequently than fluoro.

[Further North]

On 6/13/2017 at 9:52 AM, ArkansasBassin said:

I would use 25-30 lb braid and a 6- 6 1/2 foot 8 lb fluorocarbon leader. What are y'all's opinions on using braid for jerkbaits?

Trying to learn (because I suck at jerkbaits): Why not a heavier leader?

[Jon G]

2 hours ago, Further North said:

Trying to learn (because I suck at jerkbaits): Why not a heavier leader?

Heavier line effects the action

[JustJames]

12 hours ago, HeavyTwenty said:

I use braid + leader because the jerkbait hooks seem to get wrapped around the braid more frequently than fluoro.

I only have that problem when windy. Normally I don't jerk right away after it hit water. I reel a few crank to make lure dive and jerk.