Topwater/Jerkbait Rod

[bassinyea]

Trying to decide between two rods for both topwater and jerkbait duties.  Mojo Bass 6'8" Medium Fast or the 6'8" Medium X Fast.  The first is considered to be their jerkbait rod and the second is called a topwater rod.  Anybody with experience with either of these two rods that can chime in and offer some advice?  I like to fish gunfish, sammy, various poppers, vision 110s, and LC staysees.

[Heartland]

Many of the ST. Croix rods I own seem to fish a little faster than some of the other brands I own.  If it were me I would go with the M/F.   If it were also me, I would fish these on a MH.

 

[Fishes in trees]

I use spinning gear for jerkbaits, mostly because I fish them most often in the spring and it is often windy in the spring and I do better throwing jerk baits into the wind or cross wind with spinning gear.   Top water gear, I find if I use a rod that is too long I often smack the tip into the side of the boat while manipulating the bait.   For me,  6'8" rod is too long and with a 6'6" rod I have to pay attention and be careful, so I use 6' rods for throwing top waters.

My current favorite is one I got off the clearance rack last year, a 6" All Star Med/Fast.

[Dens228]

For poppers and other top water with treble hooks, especially those 1/2 oz and under I use my crankbait rod which is a M/Moderate.  For jerkbaits I tend to use a MH/Fast.

[webertime]

This particular topic will get you a billion different responses.  Some love the m/xf. Others love m/moderate.  Add in the line type for your jerk/top set up and you've opened fishing's Pandora's Box.

I think either rod you have listed will work, I'd lean towards the xf and run 10lb Sunline Super Natural.  That should cover it nicely. 

[BoatSquirrel]

1 hour ago, Dens228 said:

For poppers and other top water with treble hooks, especially those 1/2 oz and under I use my crankbait rod which is a M/Moderate.  For jerkbaits I tend to use a MH/Fast.

Correct!  This is 2 distinctly different rods—and lines!

[Mike L]

57 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

  Top water gear, I find if I use a rod that is too long I often smack the tip into the side of the boat while manipulating the bait.   For me,  6'8" rod is too long and with a 6'6" rod I have to pay attention and be careful, so I use 6' rods for throwing top waters.

 

I thought I was the only one who uses a 6' rod. ?

 

I use an older JM Sig rod that was originally a 6' 6" m/f that I broke. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, Mike L said:

I thought I was the only one who uses a 6' rod. ?

 

I use an older JM Sig rod that was originally a 6' 6" m/f that I broke. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

My current jerk/light crank rig is the Trion on a 6' Ugly Stick. So no...you're not the only one.

[Allen Der]

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

I thought I was the only one who uses a 6' rod. ?

 

I use an older JM Sig rod that was originally a 6' 6" m/f that I broke. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

I have the same rod with a broken tip.  How did you repair or modify it?

[Mike L]

30 minutes ago, Allen Der said:

I have the same rod with a broken tip.  How did you repair or modify it?

I just added a new tip to it. 

It's a little bigger than the original but doesn't affect anything. 

The action is a little more faster being shorter than intended but by dialing in the combo I've never lost a fish useing it. 

And that includes jerk baits of all sizes and top water from the standard size Spook to Pop R's. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

4 hours ago, Mike L said:

I thought I was the only one who uses a 6' rod. ?

 

I use an older JM Sig rod that was originally a 6' 6" m/f that I broke. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Soooooooooo.  There is hope for finding a use for the 3 rods sitting in my basement that I received with broken tips....courtesy of poor packaging by the seller.  Problem is they are still going to be over 6'6" as they were 7' rods when shipped.  Should I break a few more inches off? 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, new2BC4bass said:

Soooooooooo.  There is hope for finding a use for the 3 rods sitting in my basement that I received with broken tips....courtesy of poor packaging by the seller.  Problem is they are still going to be over 6'6" as they were 7' rods when shipped.  Should I break a few more inches off? 

Turn them into 6'8", 6'9", whatever. The more you can save of the length the closer to original the action will be.

[new2BC4bass]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Turn them into 6'8", 6'9", whatever. The more you can save of the length the closer to original the action will be.

Yeah.  I was joking about breaking more off them.  If I need a cue stick, I will buy a Heavy Abu.    (Maybe another tongue in cheek comment.)

[bassinyea]

What about the dobyns sierra 683c?  This rod is MH fast and rated 1/4 to 3/4.  I heard dobyns are a little lighter than stated.  I am looking at it for a jerkbait and topwater rod as well.

[NorthernBasser]

I have the Mojo Bass in 6'8" medium extra fast. I use it for poppers and walking the dog mostly, but it also works just fine for jerkbaits.

 

I was deciding between the fast and extra fast, and to be honest, when playing with them both in store I couldn't tell much of a difference. 

[Russ E]

I have tried nearly every style of rod possible for jerkbaits. Until this year I never found one that quite fit the bill.

On a whim I bought a KastKing speed demon pro jerkbait rod and have to say it is the best rod I have ever used for jerkbaits.  it is 6ft 10in long. Medium power fast action. in spite of the fast action it has a soft tip, that helps keep the fish buttoned once hooked.

Not trying to make this sound like a sales pitch for a rod. I love my Dobyns rods.

I just feel KastKing hit the sweet spot on this one.

[Allen Der]

since you're looking at St Croix, look at the Premier line.  Similar in price to the Mojo Bass but made in USA. yes it is SCII graphite, but that can be a good thing.  they have a softer more traditional tip than the bass rods.  the 6'6 medium fast is one of my favorite rods and I just picked up a second one.

[Bluebasser86]

I use both XF and F rods for jerkbaits. I think the F is probably better for an all around jerkbait rod. I wouldn't use the same rod for both topwater and jerkbaits because I like mono for jerkbaits and braid with no leader for topwaters.