Best jerkbait casting rods priced 200-250

[Chughes37]

What are some good options? I was looking at a megabass orochi xxx rattle viper, but after reading some reviews, I’m opening up to different options. 

[Turkey sandwich]

You're going to get a ton of suggestions ranging from St Croix Avd/Avid X, to Dobyn's Champion, Daiwa Zillion, Kistler KLX or Magnesium, Shimano Zodias, to countless different custom builds. It's all a personal thing.  What kind of grips do you like? Do you like fishing jerkbaits on stiffer, faster rods or slower rods? Are you fishing on the deck of a bassboat, standing on a kayak? Do you like microguides? 

[smalljaw67]

Turkey sandwich is correct, a lot of getting a dedicated jerkbait rod depends on how you use them. I like to fish jerkbaits aggressively so I prefer a fast to mod-fast action in a medium power. I also prefer shorter rods as I use hard downward rips, I will hit the water surface with rods over 6'10" so my preferable rods are 6'2" to 6'8".  The rod you are looking at is a rod that I would call a jerkbait rod and should work well given the specs.

[rangerjockey]

Some like to fish them on a CB rod, I don't. The Falcon weightless worm rod makes a great stickbait rod, The McClelland signature rod in the Cara series is real close to the same rod. The jerkbait special is good but it feels a touch soft to me for vision 110's and Mcsticks, I can throw a pointer 78 on it.

 I also really like the Denali Michael Murphy rod . It was made in the rosewood series which is now the Lithium series. Either are great.

 I also like the N2 finesse jig rod for stickbaits.

 Some rod makers understand what it takes to make a good stickbait rod, some not so much.

 

 

 

[roadwarrior]

St. Croix Avid AVC66MF

http://stcroixrods.com/products/freshwater/avid-series-casting

 

[1BADAIR]

Dobyns dc704cb

[Bent]

52 minutes ago, 1BADAIR said:

Dobyns dc704cb

x2!  I picked up a 704CB this fall and really like it.  Lots of guys prefer a shorter, faster rod for jerkbaits, but if you're interested in a softer action definitely check it out.  I'm 6'1" and don't mind the longer rod, but if the length is a deal breaker call up Dobyns and ask about the DC684CB.

 

As a bonus, the DC704CB is also a fantastic stick for shallow cranking with baits that are on the lighter side, e.g. 1.5 size squarebills or the Rapala DT4.

[1BADAIR]

All my friends use the 704.  I would like to get one. I currently use 684 and 685cb. The 684 seems really soft for my liking 

[Yudo1]

It's a shame you didn't ask this a couple of weeks ago when the orochi xx was being cleared out. You could've picked up a jerk bait special for $175, but I'm pretty sure it's sold out everywhere. If by chance you can find one, I highly recommend it.

[Robin]

My favorite is the Kistler KLX 6'9" tops and tails special. It is a 6'9" medium mod-fast rod that is perfect for most jerk baits and topwaters in the 3/8 to 3/4 oz range. Also makes an excellent square bills rod. Great tip and plenty of backbone. Also a very lightweight rod that will not wear your wrists out! Balances great with most reels too.

[Yudo1]

55 minutes ago, Robin said:

My favorite is the Kistler KLX 6'9" tops and tails special. It is a 6'9" medium mod-fast rod that is perfect for most jerk baits and topwaters in the 3/8 to 3/4 oz range. Also makes an excellent square bills rod. Great tip and plenty of backbone. Also a very lightweight rod that will not wear your wrists out! Balances great with most reels too.

That should be a great choice.

[fishwizzard]

10 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

St. Croix Avid AVC66MF

http://stcroixrods.com/products/freshwater/avid-series-casting

 

I have been looking at the Avid AVC62MXF for jerkbaits, the shorter length appeals to me and I like the idea of the XF action for both jerks and tubes/small jigs the rest of the year.  

[Chughes37]

1 hour ago, Yudo1 said:

It's a shame you didn't ask this a couple of weeks ago when the orochi xx was being cleared out. You could've picked up a jerk bait special for $175, but I'm pretty sure it's sold out everywhere. If by chance you can find one, I highly recommend it.

EXACTLY. I looked everywhere for one. I can’t even find a flat side special. I’ll look at the Dobyns. I thought about a Shimano Expride 

[rangerjockey]

I tied the FSS for a day or so and never could love it. For me,it's too long and a bit tight for a good stickbait rod.

 I tried the Dobyns as well and thought they pretty good.

 

 

[buzzed bait]

On 12/30/2017 at 5:36 PM, Yudo1 said:

It's a shame you didn't ask this a couple of weeks ago when the orochi xx was being cleared out. You could've picked up a jerk bait special for $175, but I'm pretty sure it's sold out everywhere. If by chance you can find one, I highly recommend it.

 they were sold out everywhere that i looked as soon as that sale started.  it was the first rod in that series i tried to snag...  couldn't find one anywhere and i looked pretty hard!  i'm looking for a new jerkbait stick myself, i've been using a 6'8" MF cumara from the gray blank series and i'm not certain it's the rod for me for jerkbaits.  it's not bad, but not great....  

[fishnkamp]

I use an Abu Garcia Ike series 6'4 delay series rod and like it a lot.  

[Yudo1]

The KLX crank, rip, twitch is another really nice jerk bait rod.

[NHBull]

On 12/30/2017 at 5:36 PM, Yudo1 said:

It's a shame you didn't ask this a couple of weeks ago when the orochi xx was being cleared out. You could've picked up a jerk bait special for $175, but I'm pretty sure it's sold out everywhere. If by chance you can find one, I highly recommend it.

My timing was perfect ?

[neocrunch]

On 1/1/2018 at 11:56 AM, fishnkamp said:

I use an Abu Garcia Ike series 6'4 delay series rod and like it a lot.  

I just did a search on here for "Ike delay" and I've seen you post several positive comments about the 6'4 jerkbait rod. I see that the rod is rated for 1/4-5/8 lures. How does it handle jerkbaits at the top of that range? I'm looking for a new dedicated rod for lures like the Megabass Vision 110, Lucky Craft Pointer XD, Jackall Rerange, and Deps Buzzjet Jr (all of which come in around 5/8). I will be pairing it with a Daiwa Tatula. [I already have a dedicated spinning rod for smaller finesse jerkbaits.]

 

I fish from a kayak and the short handle seems like it would help with jerking since I'm so low to the water. On the other hand, I might not be able to cast as far with such a short rod. Thoughts? 

 

[Edit] Also, are there other baits for which you have found the 6'4 a good fit?

[Chance_Taker4]

On ‎12‎/‎30‎/‎2017 at 5:47 PM, Robin said:

My favorite is the Kistler KLX 6'9" tops and tails special. It is a 6'9" medium mod-fast rod that is perfect for most jerk baits and topwaters in the 3/8 to 3/4 oz range. Also makes an excellent square bills rod. Great tip and plenty of backbone. Also a very lightweight rod that will not wear your wrists out! Balances great with most reels too.

This is exactly what I use for jerkbaits.

[fishnkamp]

neocrunch I do not throw the baits you mention, but I do throw the 5/8 ounce 5.5 inch Rebel minnow for bass and stripers, as well as some of the count down Rapalas in that same size. I even throw some broken back rebels in the larger size, so I do think it would work well for them. I am old school with many of my lures. I am also cheap but they work well for me.

I regularly fish with 12 baitcasters in my rod locker along with 3 spinning combos.  That means I have dedicated rod for specific duties. Most of the time I will have 3 or 4 rods out on the deck, this allows me to quickly change techniques or cover different depths without re-tieing.

I have never used it for anything but jerkbaits, since that was what I needed in my arsenal. I am sure it would be useful for many other things, but for me I have never tried to use it with any other lures. Consider this, the blank and components are laid out about the same as a typical 6'6" split grip rod would be, only the rod has a bit of a shortened up butt section on purpose. It was designed to let you fish the rod with the jerking motion and not hit your wrist or elbow.