Will my jerk bait combo also handle these types of baits?

[pauldconyers]

This winter I bought myself a dedicated jerk bait combo. Nothing special, I bought the Shimano SLX 6'10" Med Extra Fast action and went with the SLX 8.2:1 reel with 10# SUNLINE SUPER FC SNIPER. I was thinking this would be a good setup for some topwater baits as well. I would assume poppers would be fine. Would buzz baits be OK or with it being a single, larger hook (compared to trebles) to I need a rod with more "umph" to drive a hook home? My last question revolves around using this combo for walking baits like Vixens, Evergreen Shower Blows and such. They are treble hook baits but more stout and beefier hooks compared to a jerk bait so I was curious if this would be the rod for this or again something with more power? What is an ideal rod/line type/reel speed for walking baits anyway?

[JediAmoeba]

I have a 6'9" medium rod for jerkbaits as well.  It works great for small walk the dog style baits, poppers, flukes and such but I usually use a 7' mh for buzzbaits.  

Ideal for walk the dog is whatever you prefer.  6 to 8.  I prefer an 8 but that's just me.  

[pauldconyers]

1 hour ago, JediAmoeba said:

I have a 6'9" medium rod for jerkbaits as well.  It works great for small walk the dog style baits, poppers, flukes and such but I usually use a 7' mh for buzzbaits.  

Ideal for walk the dog is whatever you prefer.  6 to 8.  I prefer an 8 but that's just me.  

But you don't feel a walk the dog style bait like I mentioned (and it's gauge of wire trebles) would be too much for this set up? 

[wisconsin heat]

9 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

But you don't feel a walk the dog style bait like I mentioned (and it's gauge of wire trebles) would be too much for this set up? 

I don't think this will be an issue at all. Use sharp hooks and you should be able set them with ease, I'd be worried about a rod loading properly with big topwaters before worrying if you can set hooks - which I think your rod should be able to handle both fairly well. You may prefer a heavier power rod for the heavier walkers/ploppers if you throw them, but your rod should be able to do the job.

14 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

I bought the Shimano SLX 6'10" Med Extra Fast action and went with the SLX 8.2:1 reel with 10# SUNLINE SUPER FC SNIPER. I was thinking this would be a good setup for some topwater baits as well. 

This is the only problem I see with your setup. You won't be able to work topwaters with flourocarbon line, since it sinks. If you do not work your baits pretty quick, the flourocarbon will sink and force the nose of your topwaters down. If I often throw jerkbaits and topwaters on the same rig, and I use monofilament to do it since it won't kill the action of the topwaters. This is the way I would go, unless for whatever reason you really really need the extra foot or two of depth with jerkbaits.

[FryDog62]

My jerkbait rod is medium power with a moderate-fast action... I also use it to throw an Arashi Cover Pop, walking-style topwater lure.  

 

Since it’s a moderate-fast action rod, I use 30lb braid on this set up and tie a fluoro leader when using for jerk baits.  I will snip the leader off and use only braid if for topwater only.  Occasionally I will keep the stiffer leader 12-15 inches long to prevent the braid getting caught in the trebles of the topwater when casting on windy days, but any longer leader than that the fluorocarbon will drag the lure down.
 

If my rod were extra fast action I would ditch the braid and fluorocarbon lines and only use a low-stretch, neutrally buoyant line for both applications - either Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Sufix Advance.  

[Bird]

Good advice. 

 

I use mostly 7'-6'9 MF for 90% of my confidence baits or basically anything with sharp treble.

The use of short leader is highly recommended when throwing braid to prevent treble romance. 

[pauldconyers]

I assume this combo would work well for a soft jerkbait like a fluke on a 4/0?

[Fishes in trees]

My response would be that rod & reel combo would work, more or less, kinda.  You can throw nearly any bait on nearly any rod & reel combo, but is that the point?

What are you going to do if, after a few moments of throwing a jerk bait, you wonder, "Gee, do you suppose a popper might work here?"  A few moments later you do, "I wonder about a buzz bait."

 

Are you going to stop and retie each time?  I mean, it is your fishing time and you can waste it any way you want, but me, it sincerely bugs me to have to stop and retie when I don't have to.  It is to this end that I carry a jerk bait rod, and a popper rod, maybe a spook rod and whatever else bait I think might work that day.  Before you think anything, I 'll write it, I have been accused of wasting fishing time by tripping over all the rods & reels spread out over the front deck of the boat.  I have wasted time by picking up the wrong rod and, "OH, darn, I wanted the square bill and I picked up the Minus 1."  That is wasting fishing time and I live with it and laugh at myself for not remembering my own arrangement system.  I'm pretty sure that as I get older that issue will get more pronounced.

 

Even, 3 decades ago, when I was a bank bound, meat fishing, bush hippie, I generally carried 3 or 4 rigs so I could throw a "feel" bait, and a reaction bait and a top water bait without wasting time retying.

 

So that's my current thoughts on multi purpose rigs.  Like many of my thoughts, they are subject to change on a whim.

[J Francho]

Those are the same specs I prefer for a spinnerbait rod, so in short, yes it will work for bigger hooks.  It's wrestling them from cover where you might have trouble.

[pauldconyers]

5 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

My response would be that rod & reel combo would work, more or less, kinda.  You can throw nearly any bait on nearly any rod & reel combo, but is that the point?

What are you going to do if, after a few moments of throwing a jerk bait, you wonder, "Gee, do you suppose a popper might work here?"  A few moments later you do, "I wonder about a buzz bait."

 

Are you going to stop and retie each time?  I mean, it is your fishing time and you can waste it any way you want, but me, it sincerely bugs me to have to stop and retie when I don't have to.  It is to this end that I carry a jerk bait rod, and a popper rod, maybe a spook rod and whatever else bait I think might work that day.  Before you think anything, I 'll write it, I have been accused of wasting fishing time by tripping over all the rods & reels spread out over the front deck of the boat.  I have wasted time by picking up the wrong rod and, "OH, darn, I wanted the square bill and I picked up the Minus 1."  That is wasting fishing time and I live with it and laugh at myself for not remembering my own arrangement system.  I'm pretty sure that as I get older that issue will get more pronounced.

 

Even, 3 decades ago, when I was a bank bound, meat fishing, bush hippie, I generally carried 3 or 4 rigs so I could throw a "feel" bait, and a reaction bait and a top water bait without wasting time retying.

 

So that's my current thoughts on multi purpose rigs.  Like many of my thoughts, they are subject to change on a whim.

If you are fortunate enough position to have a rod/reel not for each general type of presentation but for more or less each type of LURE then congrats to you. Obviously I also would prefer to "roll" like that. But due to cost and space in my boat that is not a realistic scenario for me or most other anglers.

[Fishes in trees]

Seeking a rig that seems to be best for each bait isn't a function of fortune.   More to the point, it is a function of attention to detail AND addiction to purchasing gear AND wanting to get things "right".  If I had an addiction to something else, say, booger sugar, at the end of the day all I'd have to show for it would be a runny nose.  As it is, I'm addicted to collection fishing gear.

 

It just bugs me when I miss a decent fish and, IMO, that miss was due to an equipment issue on my part - so I carry a wide variety of assorted rigs.

 

For example your choice of jerk bait rig - good rig  - wish I had one - I'll put it on my list, not likely to get it any time soon, for a variety of reasons.   However, it has been my experience that jerk baits in general, Lucky Craft Pointers, Staysees, Rogues, Excaliber EE Shads, Husky Jerks, Bomber Long A's and I'm certain there are others that I've forgotten, don't throw real well in the wind.  I've never gotten on a decent jerk bait bite when it wasn't either kinda or really windy.  So I throw spinning gear for jerk baits.  Works for me.  In the process of determining that spinning gear works for me, over the years I've acquired half a dozen different spinning rigs, from 6' to 7', various actions, as I tried to work out what works best for me.   Obviously, everything is a compromise.   Rods that are more flexible, I get a little more distance with.  Rods with an extra fast tip, seem to give me an advantage when I get bit on the pause, ( which is when I seem to get bit most )   An extra fast tip makes me feel that I can make more subtle twitches.  This is my current thinking on jerk bait rigs, which I admit is subject to change.

 

Changing the subject slightly, another reason why I carry an assortment of rigs in the boat to address a variety of situations is that I've been addicted to collecting fishing gear for quite a while now.  I'm not hard on my gear,  ( I only break one or two rods per year, more or less, it is MUCH harder to break reels), I'm pretty anal about maintaining said gear and over the years I've accumulated stuff.

 

Hope this helps you understand where I'm coming from.  You're from KC, at some point we'll probably run into each other at Rogers.

[pauldconyers]

4 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

Seeking a rig that seems to be best for each bait isn't a function of fortune.   More to the point, it is a function of attention to detail AND addiction to purchasing gear AND wanting to get things "right".  If I had an addiction to something else, say, booger sugar, at the end of the day all I'd have to show for it would be a runny nose.  As it is, I'm addicted to collection fishing gear.

 

It just bugs me when I miss a decent fish and, IMO, that miss was due to an equipment issue on my part - so I carry a wide variety of assorted rigs.

 

For example your choice of jerk bait rig - good rig  - wish I had one - I'll put it on my list, not likely to get it any time soon, for a variety of reasons.   However, it has been my experience that jerk baits in general, Lucky Craft Pointers, Staysees, Rogues, Excaliber EE Shads, Husky Jerks, Bomber Long A's and I'm certain there are others that I've forgotten, don't throw real well in the wind.  I've never gotten on a decent jerk bait bite when it wasn't either kinda or really windy.  So I throw spinning gear for jerk baits.  Works for me.  In the process of determining that spinning gear works for me, over the years I've acquired half a dozen different spinning rigs, from 6' to 7', various actions, as I tried to work out what works best for me.   Obviously, everything is a compromise.   Rods that are more flexible, I get a little more distance with.  Rods with an extra fast tip, seem to give me an advantage when I get bit on the pause, ( which is when I seem to get bit most )   An extra fast tip makes me feel that I can make more subtle twitches.  This is my current thinking on jerk bait rigs, which I admit is subject to change.

 

Changing the subject slightly, another reason why I carry an assortment of rigs in the boat to address a variety of situations is that I've been addicted to collecting fishing gear for quite a while now.  I'm not hard on my gear,  ( I only break one or two rods per year, more or less, it is MUCH harder to break reels), I'm pretty anal about maintaining said gear and over the years I've accumulated stuff.

 

Hope this helps you understand where I'm coming from.  You're from KC, at some point we'll probably run into each other at Rogers.

Yep, I was at Roger's Saturday talking to Dave for a bit about some reels. All I am saying is OBVIOUSLY I would rather have a rod/reel combo for pretty much all different bait types I would throw. I mean, who wouldn't? Not having to re-tie, having a combo that perfectly suites the situation? OF COURSE SIGN ME UP? While we are at it sign me up for a $50K new bass boat, how about a $35K truck to tow it with? In an ideal situation I would LOVE those items and would never say no to them. There is NO ANGLER IN THE WORLD that would turn down say 25 high end combos, new truck and new boat? So if that is the case what prevents people from doing that and having those items? It is clearly a lack of discretionary income. In my situation I do not have the money for 3 different nicer top water combos so I look for something that can handle a few different items. Unfortunately that's how I have to afford to roll. Happy New Year to you and hopefully we will bump into each other sometime! I have thought about seeing who on here that lives in the area would be interested in meeting up for a day of fishing. Probably would be too difficult to get 15 different guys schedules all to align perfectly to where all of them could be at the same place at the same time.

[Fishes in trees]

ok

[5by3]

Yes, your jerkbait rod will also work for most of the baits you’ve listed. The only suggestions I’d make are stepping up to a medium heavy for the buzzbait and throwing copoly/mono for the top water.

Like others have said, fluorocarbon sinks so it will reduce the action of your top waters and try to pull them under the water. A high quality mono or copolymer line will work for both jerkbaits and topwater, just make sure the line floats. Some copolymers sink or are neutrally buoyant. All mono floats. Check out the sunline defier armilo line. It’s a bit pricey, but would be a great choice for what you’re asking.

[Mr.C in Texas]

I have the exact same slx combo.  The rod is very stiff  to load 1/4 baits but is great for 3/8 jigs with a trailer. I can load and cast 1/4 with no problem on my slx 7mh/f.  Im using 30lb. 832 for top water and adding a long mono or floro leader depending on the presentation.  I switched over another one of  slx reels with 14lb. Floro and the gives a better balance for contact baits.  Mono may be a good all around choice to allow a little more give.