jerkbait setup help needed

[fishinNWA]

I have never thrown one for more than 20ish casts then put it down because I have no confidence in throwing a Jerkbait. But watching these MLF events and seeing guys like Wheeler catch a bunch of fish on them tells me its a technique I need to put time into learning. So I need you guys help with getting a rod and reel dedicated to jerkbaits. I would like to spend 250 or less all said and done. Also if you have any advice for throwing a jerkbait that info would be greatly appreciated!

   Thanks for your time!!    

[Aaron_H]

I will preface this by saying that I am still very much an amateur with a jerkbait and I have no doubt that you will get some extremely in-depth answers here soon from our more knowledgeable members, but this is how I've been approaching the technique lately and have had some moderate success.

 

For my setup, I'm using a 6'10" medium SLX rod paired with a standard SLX HG (the 7.2:1, you want a little faster reel since you're working the bait with the rod and only reeling to pick up slack and for fighting the fish). If I could start over, I would go with the SLX MGL, as it can handle the lighter jerkbaits better, but the regular SLX does very well with any jerkbait 3/8-1/2 oz. I personally like the characteristics of braid for how easy it is to impart action to the jerkbait, so I use 30lb PowerPro to a 15lb mono leader (for extra stretch and for helping keep the hooks from fouling the line as it is stiffer than braid). As long as you have your drag set properly, the medium power rod has enough bend in it to keep the trebles pinned. If braid freaks you out with those little trebles, 10-12lb mono or fluoro will be your friend here. Or throw them on a M/MF or MH/MF rod. You will figure out the system that works best for how you fish them.

 

Next is figuring out what buoyancy will work best for you. There are three main categories to consider, suspending (sit still on the pause, although this is heavily dependent on water temp, most will sloooowly rise or fall), slow risers (which will slowly float to the surface on the pause) and slow sinking (just what the name says). I fish all three, but I've had the most success in my waters with slow risers. You can always play with hook size and/or Suspend Dots to alter the buoyancy if you feel like it. I like slow risers in general as a starting base because you can always add more weight to get it right, you cannot always remove weight.

 

My best producing jerkbait is, believe it or not, the Academy H2O Xpress Ultimate Jerk Shad. It's a Vision 110 copy, and while it is not quite the premium bait the Megabass is, for $5.99 it is a must have in the tackle box. Rapala Shadow Rap (slow sink) Shadow Rap Shad (slow rise), and Husky Jerk (suspending) are also quality baits on a budget. I'll be giving the Berkley Stunna a try here soon too, but I've heard great things. 13 Fishing Whipper Snapper, Jackall Rerange, Lucky Craft Pointer, it's a huge category with tons of quality baits.

 

The last thing to consider is your cadence, how quickly you work the bait. I think of it in terms of reps/sets. A rep is one twitch, and a set being the series of twitches before a long pause. I typically do sets of 2-4 reps with a pause anywhere between just a couple of seconds to 5-10 seconds. This is going to depend on a few things, including water temp and fish activity. If they're actively feeding, speed it up to trigger bites. If they're more lethargic, slow it down, not just more time between sets but also longer pauses between reps. It's not always the same day-do-day even in the same fishery, but you will figure out what works for you. I always start fast and slow down if I need to.

 

Hope that helps.

[fishinNWA]

4 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

I will preface this by saying that I am still very much an amateur with a jerkbait and I have no doubt that you will get some extremely in-depth answers here soon from our more knowledgeable members, but this is how I've been approaching the technique lately and have had some moderate success.

 

For my setup, I'm using a 6'10" medium SLX rod paired with a standard SLX HG (the 7.2:1, you want a little faster reel since you're working the bait with the rod and only reeling to pick up slack and for fighting the fish). If I could start over, I would go with the SLX MGL, as it can handle the lighter jerkbaits better, but the regular SLX does very well with any jerkbait 3/8-1/2 oz. I personally like the characteristics of braid for how easy it is to impart action to the jerkbait, so I use 30lb PowerPro to a 15lb mono leader (for extra stretch and for helping keep the hooks from fouling the line as it is stiffer than braid). As long as you have your drag set properly, the medium power rod has enough bend in it to keep the trebles pinned. If braid freaks you out with those little trebles, 10-12lb mono or fluoro will be your friend here. Or throw them on a M/MF or MH/MF rod. You will figure out the system that works best for how you fish them.

 

Next is figuring out what buoyancy will work best for you. There are three main categories to consider, suspending (sit still on the pause, although this is heavily dependent on water temp, most will sloooowly rise or fall), slow risers (which will slowly float to the surface on the pause) and slow sinking (just what the name says). I fish all three, but I've had the most success in my waters with slow risers. You can always play with hook size and/or Suspend Dots to alter the buoyancy if you feel like it. I like slow risers in general as a starting base because you can always add more weight to get it right, you cannot always remove weight.

 

My best producing jerkbait is, believe it or not, the Academy H2O Xpress Ultimate Jerk Shad. It's a Vision 110 copy, and while it is not quite the premium bait the Megabass is, for $5.99 it is a must have in the tackle box. Rapala Shadow Rap (slow sink) Shadow Rap Shad (slow rise), and Husky Jerk (suspending) are also quality baits on a budget. I'll be giving the Berkley Stunna a try here soon too, but I've heard great things. 13 Fishing Whipper Snapper, Jackall Rerange, Lucky Craft Pointer, it's a huge category with tons of quality baits.

 

The last thing to consider is your cadence, how quickly you work the bait. I think of it in terms of reps/sets. A rep is one twitch, and a set being the series of twitches before a long pause. I typically do sets of 2-4 reps with a pause anywhere between just a couple of seconds to 5-10 seconds. This is going to depend on a few things, including water temp and fish activity. If they're actively feeding, speed it up to trigger bites. If they're more lethargic, slow it down, not just more time between sets but also longer pauses between reps. It's not always the same day-do-day even in the same fishery, but you will figure out what works for you. I always start fast and slow down if I need to.

 

Hope that helps.

Thank you!

[Deleted account]

Depends on the JB. I fish 2 BCs and one spinning. I don't find the rod requirements too demanding or specific, in fact my JB rods double for other things (or is it the other way around?). What I do find important is the length, both overall, and that of the handle.  Oh, and seeing others bang fish, is no indication that a particular type of bait or presentation will work where you fish, though JBs work well in a lot of places. 

[813basstard]

I’d say spend 250 casts before 250 bucks. They work, but only around fish. If the new rod will get you closer to fish, swipe that card!

[EWREX]

my stick of choice is 6'6 medium daiwa tatula medium fast casting rod. i throw hard and soft jerkbaits on this rod. there are a ton of other great options, but that is my recommendation around $150.00 

[Smokinal]

For me, it depends on the bait. Some, like the HJ, don't cast well so I throw those on a spinning rod with 20lb braid to 10lb fluoro leader.

Others with a good weight transfer system that cast good, I can throw on a baitcaster. Those will have 20lb braid to 12lb fluoro leader.

[newapti5]

Besides all the detailed info mentioned above, I'd like to add that I personally like to use a rod with at least good sensitivity for jerkbait fishing. Most of the jerkbait bites are so obvious that you cannot miss, but sometimes a fish bites and just stays there, especially in colder water. Sensitivity on rod would help me detect that. 

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Smokinal said:

Some, like the HJ, don't cast well

If a HJ casted better, I'd probably marry one...

[fishinNWA]

One other thing, I am thinking about a 6'6 rod, is a medium or med heavy better suited? And a fast action or moderate? 

[newapti5]

Usually a medium is better suited, but it depends. Some medium heavy rods' suggested lure weight range is 1/4 ~ 3/4oz, which is rather good for jerkbait fishing. I think if a rod's lure weight range falls into from 1/8 to 3/4oz, it's good for jerkbait fishing, otherwise it'll be too stiff.

 

Action wise, some people like moderate. I personally like fast or moderate-fast action. Unless you're using braid line, other lines would be a little stretchy already. I like to compensate that with a relatively fast tip. 

[rangerjockey]

The Falcon weightless worm rod is about as good of a stickbait rod as you will find. 

It's about $130 in the Lowrider series. 

As a bonus if you want to put the stickbait down it makes a great floating worm and popper rod also.

 

 

[Ski]

[fishinNWA]

Thank you all for the responses, it is greatly appreciated!

[jimanchower]

14 hours ago, 813basstard said:

I’d say spend 250 casts before 250 bucks. They work, but only around fish. If the new rod will get you closer to fish, swipe that card!

 

Yeah, while I like my Aldebaran + Expride combo that is essentially my dedicated jerkbait setup, I will absolutely throw one on whatever spinning rod I have with me, and the fish don't know any different.

 

For what it's worth I prefer a high-viz braid to a leader (mono, usually). I'm mostly a shallow water angler, and high-viz helps me watch the line for bites.

[Dwight Hottle]

14 hours ago, fishinNWA said:

One other thing, I am thinking about a 6'6 rod, is a medium or med heavy better suited? And a fast action or moderate? 

 

First off you need to decide are you using braid as the main line or mono/flouro. If you choose braid you need a moderate action or mod fast to help put some flex/give into the system. Mono or flouro which has the give built in because of the stretch factor allows you to go with a fast or even extra fast action rod. As far as the power rating is concerned your bait choice regarding weight range will determine if you want a medium or medium heavy rod. Guys using 3/8 to 5/8 oz baits will usually go with medium power rods. If you want to use baits from 1/2 to 1 oz you will need a medium heavy power rod. I personally favor the most sensitive rod I can buy in the action/power range I am using. The increased sensitivity helps with soft bites & gives better action to the bait with smaller inputs from the angler. 

[OkobojiEagle]

19 hours ago, fishinNWA said:

 watching these MLF events and seeing guys like Wheeler catch a bunch of fish on them tells me its a technique I need to put time into learning.  

If you want to catch bass with a jerkbait a la Jacob Wheeler, install a forward facing sonar to the front of your boat...

 

oe

[Deephaven]

I personally like a SC MXF 6'8" rod for them.  For me they are a year round bait and outside of a frog one of my biggest confidence baits.  I find them more fun even when the fish are aggressive and you can work them like crazy.  The XF tip really helps getting twitches without forward motion which when done slowly is killer when the fish want that but also allows you to get the bait whipping back and forth a ton without moving forward.  Straight 20lb braid for me as well.  

[akmac]

I like a 6'6" rod (short enough to allow me to slam down without smacking the water or hitting other obstacles).  This rod has to be light, comfortable/balanced,-  hammering away on a jerk bait all day can be a chore.  I like Moderate Fast action.  Has just enough give, but enough tip to throw that bait side to side.  

[WRB]

Edwin Evers is leading the RedCrest MLF event using a Berkley Stunna jerk bait, Johnny Morris 6’8” MF rod with 8.3:1 reel, 10 & 12 lb FC line.

Check out the RedCrest going on now.

I use a Major Craft Ionvino Splash-It 6’8” MF rod with 7.1:1 reel and 11 lb Armillo line for what it’s worth.

Tom

 

[fishinNWA]

3 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

If you want to catch bass with a jerkbait a la Jacob Wheeler, install a forward facing sonar to the front of your boat...

 

oe

I have one so I thought I should try and take advantage of it

3 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

First off you need to decide are you using braid as the main line or mono/flouro. If you choose braid you need a moderate action or mod fast to help put some flex/give into the system. Mono or flouro which has the give built in because of the stretch factor allows you to go with a fast or even extra fast action rod. As far as the power rating is concerned your bait choice regarding weight range will determine if you want a medium or medium heavy rod. Guys using 3/8 to 5/8 oz baits will usually go with medium power rods. If you want to use baits from 1/2 to 1 oz you will need a medium heavy power rod. I personally favor the most sensitive rod I can buy in the action/power range I am using. The increased sensitivity helps with soft bites & gives better action to the bait with smaller inputs from the angler. 

I am gonna be using 10lb flurocarbon 

[Phil77]

I've always used a 7MH, the only treble hook lure I don't throw on a medium rod.

[Dye99]

I prefer the Megabass Ronin with 20lb braid, 8lb leader. Vanford 2000 reel and I really like the Vision 110

[Bassfishingfred]

From my experience I have the most success with them when it's slightly overcast with a little chop on the water. In the clear waters I fish ghost colors seem to work best for me.I fish places with a lot of vegetation and a jerkbait worked over the grass or on grass lines produces even in the dead of Winter in Colorado.It's one of my favorite techniques.I use a shorter rod being a shore angler.I prefer a spinning set up 6'8 MXF Mojo Bass with a Daiwa Legalis 2500 LT 6:2:1. 20lb Berkley X9 braid to 10lb Sunline Assassin leader. I also change my hooks out to Gamakatsu Nano finesse (super sticky). You wanna make sure you've got super sharp hooks.Caught my biggest fish so far this year on a Luckycraft pointer 78 5.7lb LM

[softwateronly]

5 hours ago, Bassfishingfred said:

From my experience I have the most success with them when it's slightly overcast with a little chop on the water. In the clear waters I fish ghost colors seem to work best for me.I fish places with a lot of vegetation and a jerkbait worked over the grass or on grass lines produces even in the dead of Winter in Colorado.It's one of my favorite techniques.I use a shorter rod being a shore angler.I prefer a spinning set up 6'8 MXF Mojo Bass with a Daiwa Legalis 2500 LT 6:2:1. 20lb Berkley X9 braid to 10lb Sunline Assassin leader. I also change my hooks out to Gamakatsu Nano finesse (super sticky). You wanna make sure you've got super sharp hooks.Caught my biggest fish so far this year on a Luckycraft pointer 78 5.7lb LM

Nice fish!!

The water I fish sounds real similar.  If you're looking for a nose down, slow sinker (actually adjustable), this one has been killing it for me last fall and the last week.

 

scott

 

nishine eerie darter in hologram smelt