Do you need a dedicated jerkbait rod or can your MH “do everything” rod serve this purpose just fine?

[Ohioguy25]

I am a kayak fisherman, and am limited to 4 setups, 2 casting 2 spinning. One of my casting setups is for swimbaits + A rigs, the other my “do everything” work horse. St Croix Victory, Medium Heavy Moderate Fast I use to throw just about everything from Jackhammers to topwater to spinnerbaits and it serves this function well. 
 

I recently got into throwing jerkbaits, a technique I’ve needed to learn for a while now especially for this time of year. The Lucky Craft Pointer 110 SP I am able to cast with ease, however the Megabass Vision 110 I find a bit more difficult to cast. This is strange considering other 1/2 oz baits I seem to have no problem casting. 
 

In any case, do you think my setup should serve this purpose just fine, and if not what do you consider the ideal jerk bait rod?

[MN Fisher]

Personally, I like a short/XF rod for jerks....I'm running a Victory 6'8" M/XF for my jerkbaits

 

I know some like a MF action for jerks....while the jerk rod KVD designed for Lews is a MH/F

 

I think pretty much anything will do, long as you can get the cadence down and don't set the hook too hard with the heavier rod so you don't pull out or straighten hooks.

[A-Jay]

@Ohioguy25

Of the presentations you mentioned, many are chunk & wind.

Which is fine.

But IMO, there are very few horizontal moving baits that rely more on 

angler input to generate bites, than a jerkbait.

Many baits sort of whizz by the bass; jackhammers, spinnerbaits and the like.

But a jerkbait hangs right in the basses face, she almost always gets a really good look at it and what it's doing (or not doing)

So while any 'work horse rig' might get a few bites,

having a stick that makes the bait do the magic dance in a manner that elicits many strikes,

can be very beneficial.

We can all accomplish that in different ways.

I use and prefer a slightly parabolic M/F spinning rod for most all of my jerkbait needs.

And I get a few. 

A-Jay

 

[MN Fisher]

50 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

And I get a few.

And the award for 'Understatement of the Century' goes to Andy F.

[gim]

I also use a shorter rod, 6’6”.

 

I like using a stiff rod but I use mono, so the line offers the stretch needed with a jerkbait.

[softwateronly]

@Ohioguy25You should try your jerkbaits on your spinning setups, I believe a mb 110 was intentionally designed to be fished on 8lb line.  I did good on jerkbaits before I ever threw a casting combo once.  

 

scott

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

I believe a mb 110 was intentionally designed to be fished on 8lb line. 

Ya - while I am using casting gear - my line on the rig is 8#YZH.

[Drew03cmc]

11 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

@Ohioguy25You should try your jerkbaits on your spinning setups, I believe a mb 110 was intentionally designed to be fished on 8lb line.  I did good on jerkbaits before I ever threw a casting combo once.  

 

scott

I came here to say this.

 

I'm also a kayak guy, but I carry 6 rods most of the time, 3 spinning, 3 casting or 2 and 4. It depends what I'm doing and where I'm at. 

 

I am likely to use my 6'10" M Ark Cobb spinning rod over my 6'11" M Ark Cobb casting rod for jerkbaits this year. I really like the action of the casting rod for flat sides and smaller wakes/paddletails/etc more than jerkbaits. 

[DogBone_384]

I carry 6 rods on my kayak too. @Saltysmalljaws got me into jerkbaits a few years ago and I use a dedicated setup.  I have an older 6’9” Kistler KLX and a 6’10” Shimano Expride for JBs. They’re both medium power. I prefer the KLX because it just feels better in my hand.  I use the KLX for lighter cranks when I need to B/C of it’s mod-fast action.

 

The choice is really up to you. A V110 is a touch light for a MH rod. Especially if it’s got a lot of backbone.

[PaulVE64]

17 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

I came here to say this.

 

I'm also a kayak guy, but I carry 6 rods most of the time, 3 spinning, 3 casting or 2 and 4. It depends what I'm doing and where I'm at. 

 

I am likely to use my 6'10" M Ark Cobb spinning rod over my 6'11" M Ark Cobb casting rod for jerkbaits this year. I really like the action of the casting rod for flat sides and smaller wakes/paddletails/etc more than jerkbaits. 

Can you compare the Ark spinning rods to something from St Croix?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Of all the moving baits I feel like the jerkbait is the most nuanced, and in depth.

 

Jerkbaiting is far more of an artform than a science.    Just like painters, most really great jerkbait anglers fish differently from one another.   It's a very personalized technique.    

 

To me it's one of the techniques that really shines with a technique specific rod.   For me that was the Megabass JDM P5 Destroyer 110 Stick.   Very short and light rod at just 6'3.   Megabass's other 110 specific rods for the American market are much longer.   It's a typical medium fast.   It's the nicest rod I own.   I would only recommend it to somebody who uses jerkbaits a ton because of the cost.     

[softwateronly]

5 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Of all the moving baits I feel like the jerkbait is the most nuanced, and in depth.

 

Jerkbaiting is far more of an artform than a science.    Just like painters, most really great jerkbait anglers fish differently from one another.   It's a very personalized technique.    

 

To me it's one of the techniques that really shines with a technique specific rod.   For me that was the Megabass JDM P5 Destroyer 110 Stick.   Very short and light rod at just 6'3.   Megabass's other 110 specific rods for the American market are much longer.   It's a typical medium fast.   It's the nicest rod I own.   I would only recommend it to somebody who uses jerkbaits a ton because of the cost.     

So true.  For me even with that perfect stick, if you find a new jerkbait thats an outlier in size, profile, weight, or design you should always try it on other sticks before you give up on the new jerkbait.  I'm now happy with 4 different sticks, only need two to cover everything, and one of them only throws one specific jerkbait.

 

scott

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - while I am using casting gear - my line on the rig is 8#YZH.

pe 1.5 to 10lb sniper for me.  I do have one rig thats 30lb braid to tieable steel leader so I can keep my fancy nishine md from being bit off.

 

scott

[ABU is overpriced]

MH is fine, but i would not want a fast tip. I've used the Megabass Triza StymPalides, which Megabass considers as a Heavy action rod (which i certainly wouldn't agree. way more of a MH rod than a H one) with a moderate fast taper, and really really loved it for jerkbaits. Just make sure the handle isn't long or its just annoying to work a jerkbait with a long handle.

[F14A-B]

I have about a dozen jerkbaits only, most are Spro and Yozuri. I’ll throw them on Kentucky lake on staging pre-spawn fish. I would rather throw darts in a bar than use a jerkbait 😂. Don’t get me wrong they’re a solid, effective bait but my right arm can’t deal with the cadence to be effective as many others are. So it’s just a tactic I’d rather skip if at all possible. But… I will use them especially if my partner is crushing them 😉 so my recommendation is, I have no recommendation. Haha. 

[MN Fisher]

Oooo....I see that @JohnFromLisbon is back...what's up, man - how's the fishing been across 'The Pond'?

[FryDog62]

As a fellow yakker, I have a core of 3-4 rods that I always pack and one is a dedicated jerkbait rod. Versatility with limited rod storage is important, so that rod also serves dual purpose for small/mid cranks, squarebills, flat siders, etc.  

 

I think a jerkbait rod has to be just the right one, more than most other rods. The ability to impart just the right action - and parabolic enough to keep them on and well-pinned all the way back to the boat is key.  Those small hooks can be great when setting the hook, but real heart-breakers when the fish jumps or makes a hard run boat side.  Gotta have a rod with just the right “give.”

 

I personally have used the graphite Dobyns crankbait rods for years as a jerkbait rod. The Champ XP in either 685cb or 705cb, same rod just different lengths.  I like the shorter length in a kayak. 

[A-Jay]

Dedicated Jerkbait rod - I say yes.

If you fish them enough and you enjoy fishing them

and you might even get addicted to fishing them - like I am.

Here's a little fuel for the fire . . . . 

A-Jay

[KP Duty]

I also prefer a spinning rod.  Shorter M/Fast 1/4-5/8oz is ideal for me.

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/22/2024 at 4:16 AM, KP Duty said:

I also prefer a spinning rod.  Shorter M/Fast 1/4-5/8oz is ideal for me.

What is short to you?

On 10/21/2024 at 8:34 AM, FryDog62 said:

As a fellow yakker, I have a core of 3-4 rods that I always pack and one is a dedicated jerkbait rod. Versatility with limited rod storage is important, so that rod also serves dual purpose for small/mid cranks, squarebills, flat siders, etc.  

 

I think a jerkbait rod has to be just the right one, more than most other rods. The ability to impart just the right action - and parabolic enough to keep them on and well-pinned all the way back to the boat is key.  Those small hooks can be great when setting the hook, but real heart-breakers when the fish jumps or makes a hard run boat side.  Gotta have a rod with just the right “give.”

 

I personally have used the graphite Dobyns crankbait rods for years as a jerkbait rod. The Champ XP in either 685cb or 705cb, same rod just different lengths.  I like the shorter length in a kayak. 

How long? Also is it possible to make this double as a jackhammer or do everything? I ask because I have been looking at Champions for a while as a repacement.

[FryDog62]

4 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What is short to you?

How long? Also is it possible to make this double as a jackhammer or do everything? I ask because I have been looking at Champions for a while as a repacement.

The 685 is 6'8" but either that or the 7 foot long 705 would not be the right action for a chatterbiat (too soft).  I think you're looking for 2 different rods...

[RB 77]

Does one need one? No. Do I have one? Yes. I try and have a technique specific rod for various different presentations. Jerkbait is a very important one to me because I want short, lightweight sensitive rod for this technique. IMO, it is one of the more taxing presentations and I want to use the right equipment for this. 

[Aaron_H]

You couldn't pay me to throw a jerkbait on one of my MH setups. Maybe a MH cranking rod, but I want a stiffer tip than that to have better start/stop action on the bait. Dedicated setup 100%.

[KP Duty]

15 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What is short to you?

How long? Also is it possible to make this double as a jackhammer or do everything? I ask because I have been looking at Champions for a while as a repacement.

I've got 6' and 6'3".  I still get good casting distance with a 3k size reel.

[FryDog62]

5 hours ago, KP Duty said:

I've got 6' and 6'3".  I still get good casting distance with a 3k size reel.

Me as well, I have a Tatula Elite reel on my 6’8” jerk rod and it casts a country mile..

[bowhunter63]

I was watching a video with Steve Daniel’s and he has a custom made rod with a weighted tip. He said it improves casting and action on his baits. If anyone would know it would be him. One of the best with a jerk bait