Jerkbaits with spinning tackle

[OkobojiEagle]

I know there are plenty of anglers who use spinning tackle when fishing hard jerkbaits, but I'm unable to make that combination work for me.  Using ~8lb Fireline and aggressively working the bait I throw loose loops on the reel which creates the dreaded bird's nest on future casts.  Explain how you successfully fish this technique with spinning and don't have the same problem that plagues me.

 

oe

[Troy85]

I use 30lb braid with a fluro leader.  Occasionally I will get the loops you are referring, If I'm fishing it most of the day I will have it happen maybe once or twice.  Usually a long cast takes care of it.   I think using braid with the leader would help a lot. 

 

I have 1 spinning reel spooled up with straight fluro and I don't like it, as soon as it gets low on string, I'll be gladly switching it to braid and using a leader on it as well.

[A-Jay]

I use 10 & 20lb Sufix 832 braid on spinning gear quite a bit when throwing jerkbaits. 

I came up with a deal where I will Simultaneously reel while jerking the bait. Seems to keep the loose line loops down to a minimum.

During cooler & colder water jerkbait conditions, I 'pull' the bait (with a fairly long pause) rather than the standard warmer water jerking, then it's just a matter of slowing reeling in the 'pulled' line.

Still need to be mostly vigilant to ensure I'm not introducing the highly undesirable loose line loops into the spool. 

A-Jay

[Boomstick]

I have used 20lb Daiwa Jbraid x8 for jerkbaits. As long as you don't overspool the reel, you should be okay.

[TnRiver46]

When you cast, manually close the bail with your hand instead of with the reel handle. This eliminates loops 99 percent of the time 

[Scott F]

I use 10 pound braid on my spinning reels for jerk baits. Closing the bail by hand will do nothing to stop the loops if you don’t take the extra step of pulling the line tight on the spool. When Fireline is fresh, it’s a little stiff and gave me a few more problems until it got broken in. 

As far as getting loose loops while working the bait, I assume because of the way I work the lure, I’m not allowing any slack line at the reel so I don’t have any loops form except if I neglect to tighten up the line after I close the bail. 

[OkobojiEagle]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I use 10 & 20lb Sufix 832 braid on spinning gear quite a bit when throwing jerkbaits. 

I came up with a deal where I will Simultaneously reel while jerking the bait. Seems to keep the loose line loops down to a minimum.

A-Jay

You're reeling while the rod tip motion is coming toward you?  That's opposite to my jerking motion...  (We agree on cold water "pulling" technique.)

44 minutes ago, Scott F said:

As far as getting loose loops while working the bait, I assume because of the way I work the lure, I’m not allowing any slack line at the reel so I don’t have any loops form

Please explain your jerking technique...

 

oe

[Scott F]

I’m not sure I can explain it in writing. I’ve never really thought about it.  

I cast out, crank down to remove slack and get the bait to dive by giving it a hard pull. I pause, reel in the slack, jerk twice, pause, reel in the slack, jerk twice, pause, reel in the slack.  I’ll vary the pause times, and the number of jerks until I figure out what they want. I keep the rod tip down. I’m not sure, because I haven’t thought about it, why I don’t get slack on the reel that causes loops. 

[J.Vincent]

Jerkbaits on Spinning tackle can pose a lot of problems; my solution has been 8lb Copolymer. I specifically like the characteristics of Pline CX and Yozuri Hybrid for this technique. Yes it stretches but the stretch allows for more resistance and better line management. Also the wind can more easily alter how braided line lays down on the spool during a stop and go retrieve; I find less of an issue with mono or copoly. 

[roadwarrior]

Megabass Ito 110 are designed to be fished on light tackle. Try a spool of

#6 (11.5 lb breaking strength) Yo-Zuri Hybrid.

 

[Kev-mo]

It sounds like your cadence is off or your jerking with too much slack line. Maybe you jerk then bring your rod forward for the pause and the line falls off the reel just enough to create a loop before you start the reel/jerk process again.

[dgkasper58]

I agree with what everybody else has mentioned- I strictly use spinning gear for jerk baits and never have a problem.

 

I make sure the line is wound properly on my reel and it does not have any memory to it.

 

Another thing that I do that may help is after my jerks and its sitting in its' pause I will pull the rod away from the bait to take up slack prior to reeling.

[OkobojiEagle]

10 minutes ago, dgkasper58 said:

Another thing that I do that may help is after my jerks and its sitting in its' pause I will pull the rod away from the bait to take up slack prior to reeling.

This is what I don't want to do as the bait will re-adjust when you take up all of the slack line and you'll minimize the hard-cutting ability of these baits.

 

oe

[dgkasper58]

2 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

This is what I don't want to do as the bait will re-adjust when you take up all of the slack line and you'll minimize the hard-cutting ability of these baits.

 

oe

I just do it right before I reel and only pick up slack

[A-Jay]

4 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

I know there are plenty of anglers who use spinning tackle when fishing hard jerkbaits, but I'm unable to make that combination work for me.  Using ~8lb Fireline and aggressively working the bait I throw loose loops on the reel which creates the dreaded bird's nest on future casts.  Explain how you successfully fish this technique with spinning and don't have the same problem that plagues me.

 

oe

Perhaps it's your choice in line.  My personal experience with that product has been poor.

A-Jay 

[Way north bass guy]

7 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Perhaps it's your choice in line.  My personal experience with that product has been poor.

A-Jay 

I’m with A-Jay, never had great luck with Fireline but I have a couple spinning rods rigged up with 832 in 20lb test with a fluoro leader that I use mainly for smaller jerkbaits and I’ve never had a problem as far as loops. I think some of the problems are associated with not so great reels as well. Some cheaper reels just cause nothing but trouble, no matter what kind of line is on them. 

[Paul Roberts]

Hmmm... I've never had that happen. I've used braid (Stealth and J-Braid) but usually use straight mono's, either nylons or FC.

 

I can say that I too have found Fireline to be difficult to deal with. It's too stiff. I'm told it'll soften over time, but, I've never had it on a reel long enough to find that out. It's also thicker than other braids. To tell you the truth, I'm a little baffled by it. Not sure what it's for.  I'm open to it, if I knew what it does that other lines don't. 

[Bluebasser86]

8lb Abrasx, no braid. Never have any issues with loops.

[IgotWood]

I think no matter what line you use, you will get a few loops or loose wraps on the spool from time to time. I have developed a habit of looking at the spool every 4-5 casts. If I see a loop, or loose wraps, I’ll bomb a cast as far as I can I retrieve the line back onto the reel nice and tight. No big deal. 

[greentrout]

been using 14# fireline on spinning gear since it was introduced a long time ago...close the bail yourself...have had minimal complications...love the sensitivity and hook setting on long casts...

 

good fishing...

 

 

[Bankbeater]

I use 10# mono with jerkbaits, and if I see the spool getting loose I will cast out as far as I can and then reel the bait back in.  It's the same thing I do with flukes and topwater poppers.

[soflabasser]

I only use spinning gear when fishing with jerkbaits and do well for both freshwater and saltwater species. For bass I like using 12-15 pound big game mono or 30 pound braid with a mono leader if I feel I need the abrasion resistance offered from a mono leader.