New to Jerkbaits

[BassBlowup354]

I’ve seen so many fish caught on this bait. I have so many questions. Here they are:

 

- What rod power, action, and length

- Spinning or baitcasting 

- If baitcasting, what gear ratio

- Can you throw all jerk bait sizes on 1 rod?

- What line depending on spinning or baitcasting

- What colors of jerkbaits should I get

 

Thx for the responses

[JediAmoeba]

16 minutes ago, BassBlowup354 said:

What rod power, action, and length

Typically Medium to Medium Heavy with a fast action.  I like 6'6" to 6'10"

16 minutes ago, BassBlowup354 said:

Spinning or baitcasting

Either but midsize and larger baits are much easier to work with a baitcaster and less prone to wind knots.

 

16 minutes ago, BassBlowup354 said:

If baitcasting, what gear ratio

Depends.  If you are working it fast, faster.  In the spring when it's slow, 6.1:1 is sufficient.  

16 minutes ago, BassBlowup354 said:

Can you throw all jerk bait sizes on 1 rod?

No.  Some are heavy and go deep and require a little more power.  Some others need to be cast on lighter tackle.  

16 minutes ago, BassBlowup354 said:

What line depending on spinning or baitcasting

It varies.  Light line will go deeper.  Fluoro will go the deepest since it sinks.  12-15 pound line is good for casting.  6-8 pound for spinning.  

16 minutes ago, BassBlowup354 said:

- What colors of jerkbaits should I get

Match the forage.  Typically having a few light/white are good, a few natural colors like perch and bluegill and then a few crazy colors, like chartreuse, pink or neon green.

 

 

For a vision 110 which is one of the gold standards, I use an 8.1:1 tatula ct type r with 30 pound braid and a 15 pound fluoro leader on a 6'9" mh power rod with fast action.

When I use a smaller one like a lucky craft 78, i use a 6'9" moderate power rod with fast action and a tatula ct type r 7.1:1 ratio reel and 20 pound braid to a  10 pound flouro leader.  

[kayaking_kev]

On average people probably prefer a Medium Power or Medium Heavy depending on the manufacturer. I use a Dobyns Fury 703c most of the time and it's rated as a Medium Heavy, but more between M and MH, rated up to 3/4 oz and I can throw 1/2 oz or 1/4 oz jerks on it. 

 

Fast Action, would be the choice of most, but some do like a Extra Fast, and some who like a Mod Fast.

 

6'10 or even shorter, but you can use a longer rod depending on how tall you are and where you are fishing from.

 

You can use either Baitcaster or Spinning rod, whatever your preference is, but I think most use a Baitcaster because they like a higher gear ratio that can be hard to find in a spinning reel. 7.x.x or a even a 8.x.x is probably best to pick up the slack faster.

 

You can throw all jerkbaits on one rod most of the time for the average size Jerks that are between 1/4 and 1/2 oz. Of course, I'm sure there are some micro jerks and big heavy jerks that couldn't be thrown on the same rod though.

 

I think most people will use 10# and some 12# line. You can use FC, Mono, or a Braid with a leader, but I'm sure some will just use str8 braid. It's all depends on your rod. A lot of people use FC, but if you have a really fast rod you might want to use Mono to help keep the trebles pinned, and if you have a really soft rod Braid will help.

 

As far as colors, I think it's probably better to try to match the bait fish that the bass are feeding on and it depends on the clarity of the water also. I like more natural colors in clearer water and flashier, easier to see colors if the water is stained.

 

These are just my opinions, I'm far from an expert and have limited experience compared to most people on here, so take it for what's it worth and see what others say. 

[Dens228]

I use the same rods I use for cranks.  M/Moderate.

I used to prefer MH/Fast but find my hook ups are better with the M/Mod.

 

 

[Fishes in trees]

I prefer spinning gear for throwing jerk baits in the spring

[A-Jay]

 I like spinning & casting for jerkbaits ~   both sticks are medium / fast and on the 'shorter' end. 

I will use a 7' to 7'-4"  spinning rod when looking for max casting distance. 

6' 9"-10" is the magic spot for me on both when 'working' the bait hard - for line 10-15lb braid on spinning gear (suffix 832) and a 10-12lb big game (green) mono leader about 10-12 ft.

 All 10-12 flouro on casting gear.  

When I use Mono leader it's big game, Braid main lines are Suffix 832 green and fluorocarbon line & leader is Seaguar InvisX or Tatsu -  I buy reel fillers spools for leaders and bulk spools for mainlines in Everything (braid & Flouro).

This was a decent jerkbait bite a couple of springs ago.

Looking forward to getting into this again ASAP ! 

 

A-Jay

[Russ E]

A like a 6ft 6in to 6ft 10in medium power fast action casting rod. Unfortunately every brand is a little different.

To  me a fast taper with a soft tip gives the best action and helps keep the fish hooked.

if I am throwing a smaller jerkbait, like a duo realis rozante 77, I will switch to a spinning rod with the same action.

overall I feel the casting rod is better balanced for jerkbaits.

i ususally use 10 to 12 lb copoly on the casting rod and 8 pound copoly on the spinning rod

 

[Shimano_1]

6ft10 or close medium action rod with a 7 gear ratio reel assuming it takes up 30 to 32 inches per turn.  12 lb fluorocarbon line I prefer seaguar red label.  I throw all my jerkbaits on this rod. They're expensive but megabass vision 110 are by far the best in my opinion.  I stayed away for years and kick myself all the time for being a tight wad about it.  Any shad patterns and a cple with some chrome for dirty water. Ayu and emerald shiner type colors as well as perch are awesome.  White is a good producer as well. I'd get about 4 different colors and experiment urself. The rick clunn jerkbaits are similar but if I were gonna buy them I'd get em from Ebay and get the older ones. The new ones are trash.  Good luck

[soflabasser]

When bass fishing with jerkbaits I like using a medium heavy action spinning rod. The line I use is 8-15 pound test depending on where I am fishing.

[Chris186]

14 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I use the same rods I use for cranks.  M/Moderate.

I do as well, nothing over 7ft though.i can get away with a longer rod because I like a sideways technique vs a downwards. I use 10-12lb fluorocarbon. I like natural colors, with the exception of clown, idk why but the smallies seem to love that one. Depending on what brand you get, Pro Blue is an excellent color. I have fished many different brands and honestly, the Deep Down Husky Jerks have never let me down. In fact just yesterday I caught one on a Megabass 110, then I put on a Husky jerk and said to myself I like this one so much better. Thats just me though, its all personal preference.

[Dens228]

9 hours ago, Chris186 said:

I do as well, nothing over 7ft though.i can get away with a longer rod because I like a sideways technique vs a downwards. I use 10-12lb fluorocarbon. I like natural colors, with the exception of clown, idk why but the smallies seem to love that one. Depending on what brand you get, Pro Blue is an excellent color. I have fished many different brands and honestly, the Deep Down Husky Jerks have never let me down. In fact just yesterday I caught one on a Megabass 110, then I put on a Husky jerk and said to myself I like this one so much better. Thats just me though, its all personal preference.

My rod is an even 7 ft also.  I probably use a shad type color 95% of the time. Some times with flash. 

[TBAG]

On 3/21/2020 at 1:19 PM, Shimano_1 said:

6ft10 or close medium action rod with a 7 gear ratio reel assuming it takes up 30 to 32 inches per turn.  12 lb fluorocarbon line I prefer seaguar red label.  I throw all my jerkbaits on this rod. They're expensive but megabass vision 110 are by far the best in my opinion.  I stayed away for years and kick myself all the time for being a tight wad about it.  Any shad patterns and a cple with some chrome for dirty water. Ayu and emerald shiner type colors as well as perch are awesome.  White is a good producer as well. I'd get about 4 different colors and experiment urself. The rick clunn jerkbaits are similar but if I were gonna buy them I'd get em from Ebay and get the older ones. The new ones are trash.  Good luck

 

Don't get me wrong, Megabass Vision 110 has the best color selection for jerks out there. But......I've been disappointed because the last two I had broke off the bill waaayyyy too easy. For that reason I've kind of quit throwing jerkbaits. My jerkbait rod has been collecting dust for a couple years, lol. 

 

Maybe I need to give them another shot but to spend $25 on a jerkbait and have it break so easy is kind of a bummer. 

[Shimano_1]

2 hours ago, TBAG said:

 

Don't get me wrong, Megabass Vision 110 has the best color selection for jerks out there. But......I've been disappointed because the last two I had broke off the bill waaayyyy too easy. For that reason I've kind of quit throwing jerkbaits. My jerkbait rod has been collecting dust for a couple years, lol. 

 

Maybe I need to give them another shot but to spend $25 on a jerkbait and have it break so easy is kind of a bummer. 

I know what u mean. I broke one off and broke the bill on a 2nd one today.  Won a local tournament on it tho so there lies the dilemma lol. I am looking for something I have the same confidence in but I'm not sure it exists.  I sent megabass an email about it so we shall see if they do anything about it. 

[DitchPanda]

I use 6ft3in medium power fast action casting rod with a fairly soft tip..closer to a moderate fast...12lb izorline copolymer...most often throw a bone orange belly color jerkbait as most places I fish have a little stain to the water

[TBAG]

56 minutes ago, Shimano_1 said:

I know what u mean. I broke one off and broke the bill on a 2nd one today.  Won a local tournament on it tho so there lies the dilemma lol. I am looking for something I have the same confidence in but I'm not sure it exists.  I sent megabass an email about it so we shall see if they do anything about it. 

 

Nice, haha. Did you have any luck on a jerk today? Where'd you fish? 

 

I wish I would have gone today. 

[Shimano_1]

Fished a little small lake here in central ky. Yeah we caught our fish on jerkbaits.  It was post cold front and tough fishing.  

[TBAG]

14 hours ago, Shimano_1 said:

Fished a little small lake here in central ky. Yeah we caught our fish on jerkbaits.  It was post cold front and tough fishing.  

 

Gotcha, I'm in Lexington too so just curious.

[reddragon]

I've always fished jerkbaits with 7' rods with fast action.  I just like how the quick snaps with a fast action rod creates really erratic movements with the jerkbait.  I believe fishing a longer rod lets me get away with the fast action of the rod, due to it being just a tad more parabolic than a shorter fast action rod due to length.  One of the things about jerkbaits is the versatility of the lure.  You just keep changing it up until the fish bites, then follow that pattern.  If the water is clear and water is warmer go for faster retrieves and more erratic.  Just change it up, you'll eventually get bit.  Also, remember to pause from time to time, usually they will hit right after the pause or during. Don't give up on it, because jerkbaits are actually one of my go to lures.

 

Stick to natural colors or bone in clear water and darker more vibrant in stained water.

 

10lbs line gives better action, however I tend to just go ahead and throw 12lbs because I don't mind bigger line.