Jerkbait rod

[Becbassin]

Looking to buy a new jerkbait rod and I’m not sure what to get. I’m mainly looking at the sixgill heimdall, Phenix feather, and a st croix. Any other advice and recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

[bloodkitty]

I've used the 7'1" Phenix Feather before for jerk baits and liked it. It's a pretty versatile rod. Don't know about the others. 

[Robin]

I use a 6'9" Waterloo Slam Mag rod. Although this is a salt water rod, it is a Medium/XF action rod

that handles 1/2 oz jerkbaits better than any rod I have ever used. Also use this rod for topwater and it is a phenomenal "spook" rod. Soft, but fast tip for casting, and plenty of backbone. Do not overlook the selection of saltwater rods available. There are some very "high end" rods out there that are extremely light and rival any top of the line JDM rods currently available.

 

 

[Brian11719]

Assuming you are wanting a casting rod here. If so and it were me I'd most likely go w/ one of these:
St Croix Mojo Bass JOC610MLMF...unless this is the one you are already considering
Dobyns Kaden KD610-4CB
Lew's Custom Lite CLTWJB

 

All 3 of these look awesome TBH and I've got rods in each of these series that I'm very happy with although I personally prefer smaller jerkbaits so I like a spinning rod...

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I use the st Croix M XF 6’8” as a go to for jerkbait rods 

[NorthernBasser]

Not sure of your budget, but the 6'10 M Expride B is a great choice. Also, the 6'11 M+ Poison Adrena. A little cheaper option, the Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special is a good one. 

[Big Hands]

I have owned two Phenix Feather rods (7'1" L/F and 7'1" ML/F), and still own the ML/F. Neither of those rods are, or ever were my first choice for a jerkbait rod. The ML/F would be more suitable than the L/F IMHO, but they are both on the long side depending on how you want to fish a jerkbait.

 

I'm over 6'4" and like to fish jerkbaits with the tip down more than up, and for me, rods in the 6'8" to 6'10" range are what I prefer to use. I also prefer an XF tip on a meduim power rod. I think it controls the bait the way that allows me to stop the forward movement of a jerkbait with a minimum of movement, and still have the forgiveness that one needs to keep fish pinned on treble hook hardbaits.

[Columbia Craw]

Dobyns Champion 704CB

Dobyns Champion 684CG

Dobns Kaden 610-4 CB

Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special 

Alpha Angler Slasher

 

 

[NavyToad]

I use a Dobyns Champion 704CB and I like it. I'd like to try their Kaden 610-4CB just because I think it probably has a slightly faster tip. Can't go wrong with either one.

Call 'em.  1-903-919-8028.

[softwateronly]

I throw 4 different rods for jerk baits and a 7’1 Feather ML isn’t one of them. I prefer under 7’ rods and the way the tip behaves I feel like I can’t cast as far as I should be able to or control the way I hit the bait on slack line.  It is used mostly for little free rigs and tail spinners. 
 

I can recommend;

 

expride 6’10M/MF

adrena 6’11M+/F

major craft Days 692 M/F

major craft Days 360 6’10M/RF

 

The Adrena plays best for me on the larger/ heavier jerkbaits, 1/2oz up. The other 3 have been real versatile for me, able to fish them all, but usually best 5/8oz and under. 
 

scott

[Dye99]

Megabass Ronin for spinning, One ten special for casting are my favorites.

[Becbassin]

Thanks a lot everyone. Not on the phone so much hence the late response but I really appreciate the feedback. I’ll check all of them out!

[Texas Flood]

I really like my St Croix Legend  6’8” Medium Extra Fast. Paired with a Zillion and I can cast a 110 about a country mile. 

[MN Fisher]

Different people have different feels - some say an XF action is what's needed for jerkbaits, others want a MF action, and lastly is F action which a number of anglers use. You're gonna have to try different ones to see which action suits you.

 

Me personally - St Croix Victory 6'8" M/XF. I tried F and MF and just couldn't get the 'snap' I wanted...XF gave me what I needed to get the action out of the jerkbait.

[gim]

13 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Different people have different feels

 

I agree.  The one consideration that does need to accounted for with jerk baits is that there should be some "give" to it somewhere, whether that's in the rod or the line.

 

I personally like the give in the line, which is why I use mono.  It has that rubber-band type effect.  But a less stiff rod paired with braided line would also work, as the give would then be in the rod instead.

[PBBrandon]

I use a Daiwa Tatula 7’0” MLR and love it, but I have held the Dobyns Kaden 610-4 in the store and dang it is a sweet feeling rod too

[BrianMDTX]

So, my question is, as a treble bait, don’t you lose the ability to keep bass hooked with an XF action? 
 

I ask as one time, I tied a jerkbait onto my Procyon MXF accidentally (I was in a rush and thought I was tying it onto my MF) and I lost the first two bass that hit it. 
 

This comes with the realization that not all XF are the same. But as a general rule, do you consider an XF to be a good action for jerkbaits?