Trying to decide on a jerkbait rod, looking for advice

[ThatFishingGuy]

As the title states, I'm sort of in the market for a "dedicated" jerkbait rod that won't break the bank. Right now I'm looking at the Shimano SLX rods (the 6'9" medium/extra-fast spinning and the 6'10" medium/extra-fast casting), do the guys here think one would be a good choice? Do you prefer throwing jerkbaits on casting gear or spinning gear? Do you have another recommendations in the price range?

 

Some of the reviews on tacklewarehouse talk about the SLX spinning rods snapping during use, and I'm also a little curious if anyone here can attest to that.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Fishes in trees]

I use spinning gear for jerk baits most of the time, because most of the time that I throw jerk baits it is kinda windy and spinning gear is more forgiving for me in the wind than bait casting gear is.  I use a 6'3" Medium/ extra fast tip spinning rod.  I don't think that brand matters all that much.  I've got a 6'6" Lightning Rod that I'd probably use if I didn't like the 6'3" more.

 

I like the shorter rod better because, I generally jerk straight down/ rather than kinda to the side and with the slightly shorter rod I'm not smacking the tip of the rod into the side of the boat - which I would be doing with a rod that was any longer.

 

I don't think that reels matter all that much for jerk baits either.   I use an old US Reel Supercaster 230 - the one that a long time ago Ray Scott promoted.   Also, so did the Guido & Dion Hibdon.   They explained to me that it was a great reel, at a tackle promotion at Rogers Lures in Liberty, MO. IMO it isn't a great reel, tolerances seem kind of loose and the handle is more or less loose, herky jerky in its feel.   BUT, the extra wide spool does cast 20 lb braid great - I can throw half ounce Lucky Craft pointers farther with this reel on my chosen 6'3" rod than I can with any other spinning reel I've got.

I think I've got $100 tied up in this rig and the rod cost more than the reel, mostly because I walked into a tackle shop in Grove, Oklahoma and I was determined to buy something and this was what I came away with.

[jimmyjoe]

   You have two separate considerations: lure weight and arm technique.

   I've got jerk/twitch baits from 1/4 oz. up to 1 oz. For 3/8 and lower, I prefer spinning gear. It's up to you to use braid, braid with a leader, or monofilament nylon. I've used them all, and have no real preference. At 1/2 oz., I could go either way, spinning or casting. Heavier than 1/2, I prefer casting gear, simply because of the rods that I have. If I had a stiff-tip spinning rod that was authoritative with a 3/4 oz. lure, I'd go spinning only up to 3/4 oz. Over 3/4, though, I'd go casting no matter what.

   Arm technique is simple. Fishing a jerkbait is a fast-reaction hookset proposition. I'm right-handed, and I can feel and react much better with my right side (called the "strong side") than I can with my left. I do NOT like handling casting gear in my right hand, but I do like spinning gear in my right hand. Since most hits on a jerkbait happen when it's at rest, the fisherman needs to react quickly and with authority. Strong-side fishing makes that happen. Not only that, but the constant jerking of the lure over time wears out your weak side sooner than it does your strong side.

   It's best you investigate and use whatever is better for you. You might be like me, and then again you might not.

   Like @Fishes in trees said, I don't think money has too much to do with it.

 

   Whichever way you decide, I wish you good luck!      jj

[Russ E]

I have used a lot of different rods for jerkbaits. as mentioned above money alone does not make a good jerkbait rod. Super sensitivity is less important to me than balance. Plus the high end rods don't always take impact well. A middle ground jerkbait rod will take an occasional slap on the the boat better than the super high modulus rods.

My current favorite is a 6ft. 8in. Okuma evx medium/ fast action rod.

it balances well and sits in the middle for jerkbait rods. it casts a vision 110 easily, and can also handle the heavier deep diving jerkbaits. I think it cost around $110.00 at tackle warehouse.

[Big Hands]

I have the SLXCX610M and I primarily use it for jerkbait fishing with the Vision 110 being my go to bait.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

4 hours ago, ThatFishingGuy said:

As the title states, I'm sort of in the market for a "dedicated" jerkbait rod that won't break the bank. Right now I'm looking at the Shimano SLX rods (the 6'9" medium/extra-fast spinning and the 6'10" medium/extra-fast casting), do the guys here think one would be a good choice? Do you prefer throwing jerkbaits on casting gear or spinning gear? Do you have another recommendations in the price range?

 

Some of the reviews on tacklewarehouse talk about the SLX spinning rods snapping during use, and I'm also a little curious if anyone here can attest to that.

 

Thanks in advance!

You want a crisp tip to make a bait that is sitting still dart and stop on a dime.  On the other hand you dont want a rod that's too stiff it may not keep trebles pinned very well.  I have a gen 1 SC Mojo Bass 6'9 ML XF DS rod that does really well with JBs up to 3/8s.  Once you get up 1/2 oz the rod is overloaded.  If your throwing smaller 3/8s and under its hard to beat the Mojo Bass ML XF for the money and it can do just about any other finesse technique there is well.  The 13 Omen Black has a similar action and power and is available in a 6'7 or 6'10 for 20$ less.  The reel is very important, a smooth drag will give you a much better chance at landing a good fish on light tackle compared to using a reel with a choppy drag.  Casting distance is important as well, good line management will help with overall distance.  

I use casting gear for anything from 110 Jrs and up.  Same principle applies, a crisp rod with flex in the tip is best.  Ive got a 7'1 M F Muse that I found to be perfect for JBs.  The Omen Blacks use the same if not similar blank so the actions and powers are very close.       

[Boomstick]

My favorite rod for jerkbaits that I own is my St Croix Mojo Bass 6'8" M/XF topwater rod. Don't let the extra fast fool you, this rod is a true medium so it has a fair amount of bend, but it bends throughout the rod so it's not too stuff.

The reason I like this rod is that when you get a bite on a twitch you can really feel it. Where with a more moderate rod, sometimes by the time I realize I had a bite I lose the fish. It's also short so I don't have a problem hitting the edge of my kayak.

[Columbia Craw]

I agree with a crisp or quick reacting tip but still moderate enough to address the bait having smaller, generally finer wire hooks.  

[walleyecrazy]

I used the SLX 6’10” M casting as my jerk bait rod for a season, and it did pretty well. I’ve since switched to a Tatula 7’0” M power regular action rod for my jerkbaits, and I enjoy it more than the SLX. It is a touch more moderate action than the SLX, and for me is about my ideal action for a jerk bait rod. I land more fish on the Tatula because of that action then I did on the SLX. It also has a very short handle which as we all know is desirable in a jerkbait rod.  

[Mikey99gofish]

On 1/26/2021 at 8:50 PM, GetFishorDieTryin said:

You want a crisp tip to make a bait that is sitting still dart and stop on a dime.  On the other hand you dont want a rod that's too stiff it may not keep trebles pinned very well.  I have a gen 1 SC Mojo Bass 6'9 ML XF DS rod that does really well with JBs up to 3/8s.  Once you get up 1/2 oz the rod is overloaded.  If your throwing smaller 3/8s and under its hard to beat the Mojo Bass ML XF for the money and it can do just about any other finesse technique there is well.  The 13 Omen Black has a similar action and power and is available in a 6'7 or 6'10 for 20$ less.  The reel is very important, a smooth drag will give you a much better chance at landing a good fish on light tackle compared to using a reel with a choppy drag.  Casting distance is important as well, good line management will help with overall distance.  

I use casting gear for anything from 110 Jrs and up.  Same principle applies, a crisp rod with flex in the tip is best.  Ive got a 7'1 M F Muse that I found to be perfect for JBs.  The Omen Blacks use the same if not similar blank so the actions and powers are very close.       

I picked up an Omen Black 7'1 M from Dick's the other day for jerk baits.  Rod feels super light and really nice paired up with my Tatula 2500.  Will be even nicer when I can actually try it out haha.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Thats a good rod for JBs, shakey heads, wacky rigs, and all kinds of things.  I really like the grip style on the Omen spinning rods, they're really comfortable and the longer fore grip gives you more area to find the balance point with a particular reel.  Its a light rod, but I wouldnt have thought it would balance with a super lightweight reel like the Tat 2500.  Where is the balancing point with the Tatula?  

[00bullitt]

I use the St. Croix Bass-X 6'8" Med, xFast most of the time. I love that rod for jerkbaits and walking top water baits. This past year, I have been using a spinning rod more for jerkbaits as I can cast an easy 20-30' further and that certainly gives me an advantage for spooky fish and keeps the plug in the strike zone longer.

I really dig the Shimano Zodias 6'10" Medium for that and use 15# Smackdown braid to a 10# Tatsu leader. I have also started throwing smaller jerk plugs and the spinning outfit is such a better solution for those. When I throw the 110mm jerk plugs; I most always throw them on the 6'8" Bass-X casting rod and use straight 10# Tatsu FC as of recent. I used to use 10# Invisx and still do for all of my crankbait rods, but use the Tatsu for the jerk plug. Better sensitivity, less memory, casts farther, very strong and just the right amount of stretch. I can cast the Tatsu about 10' farther than the Invisx on the shorter 6'8" rod too. I believe mostly because it has far less memory. Having less memory, the plug reacts much better to the twitches and jerks as well after line goes slack. 

For crankbaits, Invisx has worked well for me as the bait is under a constant pressure.

Anyway....that deviated from jerk plug rod talk, but supports somevof the reasoning. I do think the jerkplug rod action is one of the hardest to nail down. 

I bought the Megabass Levante Jerkbait rod by description online. I though it was awful for a jerkplug, but it worked beautiful for finesse jigs 3/8oz and lighter. Just goes to show that jerkbait rod actions can and often are very subjective....as are most rod actions. I will say that the Megabass Levante is an AMAZING rod for $200.

[Bassattackr]

Depends on what jerkbaits you're using it for..  Personally, I like a baitcaster when using a Vision 110 size bait.  When using a smaller Jr. size or a lighter weight bait, I prefer a spinning outfit.

 

Anything in the 6'8" - 6'10" range - medium power, fast action makes a good jerkbait rod IMO.   Long enough to get some casting distance over open, clearer water but short enough that it doesn't wear you out jerking all day, or hit the side of the boat constantly.

 

You don't need to spend a lot on a jerkbait rod, many times a cheaper rod with a lower quality composite tends to have a softer, more parabolic action which is a benefit with smaller treble hooks.   Tons of good options on the market - the IMX jerkbait series and the Alpha Angler Slasher are my current favorites.

[Bassfishingfred]

I also use the SLX 6'10 medium. Cheap rod and it does the trick:)