When working a Jerkbait, do you want tension on the line at all times, and how important is parabolic bend?

[Ohioguy25]

52 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Yes I have heard that, many Expride fans out there. I have two Expride rods but not the jerk bait rod. I tried a friend of mine who had one - but I didn’t like it because the handle was too long and would bang off my side or forearm all day. I found it awkward to consistently get the right action without fatigue.
 

If you look at the TW web site, they list handle length and the Expride is 15 inches which I find is too long. Those with a 13-14 inch handle are much more comfortable for jerkbaiting and less fatiguing IMO.

 

I have a Dobyns 685 CB which has a 13 inch handle. So even if it is a slightly shorter rod than the Expride, the casting length is the same because the Expride’s additional length is behind the reel. A lot of us feel the Dobyns is one of the best regarded jerkbait rods in addition to the Expride.
 

Other rods with a 13 inch handle include the 6’11” Levante and the 6’9” ALX Zolo jerkbait rod. I also have the Dobyns 705 CB and is 7’0” but still has only a 13.5 handle. That’s a good one if you prefer a longer jerkbait rod.

I did notice the handle length before buying, seemed a bit long. Is the Dobyns quite a bit more bendy when working the bait? As long as there is slack wouldn’t this extra flex on the jerk help subdue the action you are imparting?

7 hours ago, Team9nine said:

IMO, jerkbait is one of those techniques where you can truly use either rod type and be just fine. You’ll find equally good arguments for both - and I’ve used both extensively. You definitely want to drop some degree of slack between twitches/pauses because tension will drag the bait forward, then line watch for the “jump,” though often it is like blade baits where the next time you go to twitch, the fish is just ‘there’.

 

6 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Zero tension in the line... semi-slack is key to get the right back and forth snap action of a jerk bait.  Rod manufacturers vary - but a Fast or sometimes even a extra fast action tip will keep the dog a walkin'  A parabolic bend would not work and be a PIA to fish all day and try to impart the right action. 

 

A guy named Kevin did a video on this awhile back... slack in the line is key and all his signature rods are fast action: 

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

Nope. You always want to jerk it on a slack line. Don't drag it with the reel. 

I make the cast then give it a few cranks to get it down and let it soak. Then a couple three jerks and a pause and so on. They will usually get it on the pause.

Honestly, it seems like your obsessed with the rod . It's you who's going to get them to bite or not.

As to the Expride, I'm sure it will work fine. It's not my personal choice but that's not to say it won't be good for you.

 

6 hours ago, SkippinJimmy said:

Lot’s of video’s online to see the action if you are a visual learner.  Throwing slack between jerks is where you get your erratic, darting action.  You can mix up your tempo/cadence depending on situations including throwing in an upward jerk on occasion.  No one size fits all as far as working a jerkbait.

 

6 hours ago, SkippinJimmy said:

Rod choice is personal preference…just like most everything in fishing.  My dedicated jerkbait rod is a Megabass OneTen Stick but I’m fine with work with most medium, moderate to fast rods.  However I do want one with a shorter handle and shorter overall length.  Much easier to work if you’re not constantly catching your shirt or hitting the water with the tip.

 

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Do jerkbaits even work ?

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Choporoz said:

I like 40# braid to fc leader most of the time.  The stretch of fc and mono kills my confidence in my 'jerks' - just feels like the stretch sucks the snap out of the jerks, especially when using a somewhat soft tip (for casting and landing).  That said, I have a MM baitcaster with a fairly stiff tip and I like fc on that rod for jerkbaits.  

  Wish I had an easy button for you.  But really just got to try different limes on the different rods you have available to you.  It isn't complicated.  But I can make it complicated.  Tip and action and stretch all work to affect cast, jerk, pinning and landing.  So it is harder to advise beyond "just try stuff and see what YOU like"

 

5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

"Tap the slack" is the proper term and technique for cold water suspending jerkbaits.   

 

For non suspending or warmer water jerking, it's not nearly as important. 

 

The goal when you pause your suspending jerkbait, is that it remains totally motionless and unencumbered by a taught line.    If you don't have slack on the pause, you'll drag that bait forward.

 

A slack line jerkbait bite is about as cool of a bite as there is in Bass fishing.    That feeling never gets old, and is totally unique.   

 

 

ETA:    You can throw out all the traditional rules and techniques for jerkbaits when you combine them with FFS.   

 

The whole motionless long paused technique is pointless when you put the bait on top of their faces.    It's mind blowing watching the Elite Series guys fish jerkbaits.......I can't remember the last time I saw a pro pause a jerkbait longer than a second or two. 

 

Without FFS you're relying on fish coming from further away hints the longer pauses and importance of having that bait remain motionless.     

 

 

As long as there is slack wouldn’t the extra flex of a more parabolic rod on the jerk help subdue the action you are imparting?

[FryDog62]

2 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I did notice the handle length before buying, seemed a bit long. Is the Dobyns quite a bit more bendy when working the bait? As long as there is slack wouldn’t this extra flex on the jerk help subdue the action you are imparting?

The Dobyns “CB” line up stands for crankbait, so it does have some parabolic action to it. It just seems to balance out with the jerks and the right action. But that’s for me, it helps to try a few different rods out if you can 👍

[Aaron_H]

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Other rods with a 13 inch handle include the 6’11” Levante and the 6’9” ALX Zolo jerkbait rod. I also have the Dobyns 705 CB and is 7’0” but still has only a 13.5 handle. That’s a good one if you prefer a longer jerkbait rod.

 

Also an A++ lipless crank rod.

[SkippinJimmy]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

As long as there is slack wouldn’t the extra flex of a more parabolic rod on the jerk help subdue the action you are imparting?

It’s all relative.  It’s not like you are getting deep into the blank when you are imparting action on a jerkbait.  Personally I want a rod that has some tip, doesn’t rip the bait away on the hookset, and has some forgiveness when fighting the fish.  There are reasons why you typically use rods that are more forgiving with treble hook lures.  And two of the big reasons relate to the hook set and keeping the fish buttoned.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

With a JB, I want a quick, sharp action.  A M Fast with a qucik recovering tip is generally what you want, although some people have different preferences towards action, power and length.  The 6'10 expride has a great action for JBs and twitch baits.  Its pretty much ideal, until you get a better feel for JBs and know what if you prefer a faster or slower action.  A faster action takes less pressure to twicth, but sometimes they don't cast as well and can overwork a bait if youre not careful, MF and regular actions load really well, but can be more fatiguing if you use them all day, its all preference.

Every JB is different, some are more aggressive and take more pressure to work, some are sensitive to pressure.  110s are more delicate and don't need much tension at all to work and too much will blow them out.  You want to be working slack or semi slack line, only coming into contact with the bait at the end of the twitch.  As soon as you feel the bait you put slack back into the line by pointing the tip at the bait, reel in some slack and either twitch again or let it sit.  

Most of the time the fish will hit the bait with slack in the line.  You might not feel it, but you can usually see the line jump or the fish will knock more slack into the line. 

Since you are relying on the fish to hook themselves, quality hooks and hook caps to keep them sharp are a must IMO.  If the hooks stay sharp, the fish will hook himself as he tries to blow the bait out of their mouth.   

[WRB]

Before we knew what a jerk bait was it was called a Rogue suspending rip bait.

The more radical jerk jerk jerk and pause came after reeling, ripping and pause. Sometimes just reeling and pause works good, the rod just needs to be able to cast the lure.

Tom

 

[SkippinJimmy]

Rip and jerk are 2 different techniques.  A good jerkbait rod should do more than just cast a lure.  Jerk all day with the wrong rod and see how you feel at the end of the day.

[Ohioguy25]

6 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

With a JB, I want a quick, sharp action.  A M Fast with a qucik recovering tip is generally what you want, although some people have different preferences towards action, power and length.  The 6'10 expride has a great action for JBs and twitch baits.  Its pretty much ideal, until you get a better feel for JBs and know what if you prefer a faster or slower action.  A faster action takes less pressure to twicth, but sometimes they don't cast as well and can overwork a bait if youre not careful, MF and regular actions load really well, but can be more fatiguing if you use them all day, its all preference.

Every JB is different, some are more aggressive and take more pressure to work, some are sensitive to pressure.  110s are more delicate and don't need much tension at all to work and too much will blow them out.  You want to be working slack or semi slack line, only coming into contact with the bait at the end of the twitch.  As soon as you feel the bait you put slack back into the line by pointing the tip at the bait, reel in some slack and either twitch again or let it sit.  

Most of the time the fish will hit the bait with slack in the line.  You might not feel it, but you can usually see the line jump or the fish will knock more slack into the line. 

Since you are relying on the fish to hook themselves, quality hooks and hook caps to keep them sharp are a must IMO.  If the hooks stay sharp, the fish will hook himself as he tries to blow the bait out of their mouth.   

Very informative response, thanks. I’ve replaced all of the stock hooks with Gamakatsu G Finesse.

[rangerjockey]

There's no bait that bass bite like a stick bait. In the clear water around here I've watched them nose up to the bait and study it from both sides. I'd rather not see them but its fun to see

 

[Bigassbass]

Fishing jerk bait is a feel kind of thing and it's not rocket science as some people make it out to be.  You need to use a fairly stiff rod, nothing UL but you can easily use a Med too.  Practice fishing jerk baits on windy days so you feel the lure working, which should be a cast, wait till ripples stop, jerk, reel, jerk, wait, jerk, reel.   Find your own cadence and when you catch a fish keep doing that same movement you made when you caught the fish.   I love to fish small jerk baits

[GetFishorDieTryin]

18 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Very informative response, thanks. I’ve replaced all of the stock hooks with Gamakatsu G Finesse.

Yeah, I like the #5s on the MB 110.  Its well worth the money to invest in treble caps to keep those hooks in good condition while the baits are being stored.