Jerkbait Rod for Pike

[dcchester]

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some recommendations for a good jerkbait rod specifically for the dreaded northern pike! Right now I have an avid x 6’6” med heavy fast with 30lb braid with a Lews tournament mb (which the gears just went in) but my problem with this setup is I can’t cast very far with baits such as x rap 12s and husky jerk 14s (which is what I primarily throw) especially into the wind. I believe my problem is having too stiff of a rod that doesn’t quite load up.  I’m looking for something in the 6’6”-6’10” range. I can’t seem to find out what would improve my casting distance more, a medium rod with a fast tip or med heavy with a moderate tip. I’d like to stay with the med heavy because there are some pretty decent pike up here. I’ve also heard about some rods that are stiffer than rated like a medium would feel more like a med heavy. Also should I stick with a casting rod or would a spinning rod work better? If you have any other tips on how I could improve my casting distance without getting a new rod that would be greatly appreciated.

thanks for your input, Dave 

[jimmyjoe]

   1.) Nobody can cast hollow lures well into the wind. Don't feel bad.

   2.) All other things being equal, a longer rod gets you more distance.

   3.) Your reel (and the specific settings on it)  may have more to do with your distance than something else. We don't know because you didn't say exactly how much distance you were getting, and we can't see you cast. You might benefit from a different reel, and you might not.

   4.) I use a 7'-01" Mojo Bass MH/F for pike. I need power to set that hook with authority. So other than length, my rod isn't too much different than yours .... they're both SC3. I consider it a great pike rod. The rod you have now is an equally great pike and/or bass rod.

   5.) I've caught musky (juveniles) with a spinning setup and 15 lb. Sufix 832 braid. I was targeting bass at the time, but the rig worked OK.  I have to admit one thing, though: spinning gear is far better into the wind.

      Good luck.      jj

  

[dcchester]

Thanks for your great input JJ, I think I’ll stop by the local tackle store this evening and see if they have any of the 7’0” medium-heavy moderate avid x’s to take a look at. My reel settings were always as low as I could get away with just to try and optimize my cast. I have a mojo bass wacky style spinning rod So I could also try using that on those windy Ontario days. 

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, dcchester said:

Thanks for your great input JJ, I think I’ll stop by the local tackle store this evening and see if they have any of the 7’0” medium-heavy moderate avid x’s to take a look at. My reel settings were always as low as I could get away with just to try and optimize my cast. I have a mojo bass wacky style spinning rod So I could also try using that on those windy Ontario days. 

 

   MH/M Avid X, huh? So many fishermen concentrate on MH/F rods that the virtues of MH/M are largely forgotten. That's really too bad. I've thought for a long time that MH/M is probably the most versatile rod for bass fishing that there is, and not MH/F.

   Of course, how MH/M is going to work out for jerkbaits, I don't know. It should be OK. And pike? I would think that the inherent problems of setting treble hooks in a pike's beak won't be made any worse by using a moderate action. (Single hooks might be a different story.)

   One thing I do know is that the Avid-X are fine rods. No matter what you decide, I hope you enjoy it.  jj

[dcchester]

4 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   MH/M Avid X, huh? So many fishermen concentrate on MH/F rods that the virtues of MH/M are largely forgotten. That's really too bad. I've thought for a long time that MH/M is probably the most versatile rod for bass fishing that there is, and not MH/F.

   Of course, how MH/M is going to work out for jerkbaits, I don't know. It should be OK. And pike? I would think that the inherent problems of setting treble hooks in a pike's beak won't be made any worse by using a moderate action. (Single hooks might be a different story.)

   One thing I do know is that the Avid-X are fine rods. No matter what you decide, I hope you enjoy it.  jj

They indeed had one on sale for only $220CAD which is a great price. Like you said it seems very versatile, I could basically throw anything on it. If I find it too long for using jerkbaits there’s tons of other techniques I could use on it. Since I use 30lb suffix 832 I think the moderate action may help with jerkbaits, but I won’t know until I get out on the water. 

4 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   MH/M Avid X, huh? So many fishermen concentrate on MH/F rods that the virtues of MH/M are largely forgotten. That's really too bad. I've thought for a long time that MH/M is probably the most versatile rod for bass fishing that there is, and not MH/F.

   Of course, how MH/M is going to work out for jerkbaits, I don't know. It should be OK. And pike? I would think that the inherent problems of setting treble hooks in a pike's beak won't be made any worse by using a moderate action. (Single hooks might be a different story.)

   One thing I do know is that the Avid-X are fine rods. No matter what you decide, I hope you enjoy it.  jj

They indeed had one on sale for only $220CAD which is a great price. Like you said it seems very versatile, I could basically throw anything on it. If I find it too long for using jerkbaits there’s tons of other techniques I could use on it. Since I use 30lb suffix 832 I think the moderate action may help with jerkbaits, but I won’t know until I get out on the water. 

I also think the moderate action will have a better slingshot motion to improve my casting distance. 

[Dwight Hottle]

I like MHM for jerkbaits used with braid. I use a custom St Croix legend extreme blank 7' 2" MHM. Works great for 5/8 thru 1oz baits. The Avid MHM will work well too if it fits your budget better.