Best Jerkbait Rod/Reel Setup

[Skettyboy]

Jerkbait rod/reel questions, what's the best combination....

1.) Spinning or Casting?

2.) 6', 6'6" or 7'?

3.) Medium or Medium Heavy Power?

4.) Moderate or Fast Action?

5.) 5.4:1, 6.2:1 or 7.1:1 reel?

6.) Fluoro or Mono?

7.) best line weight, 12lb?

[Ineedanewscreenname20170204]

Casting, 7', Medium Fast, burner, 12# copoly (yozuri)

[-nick-]

casting

6'6"

M

Fast

7.1

10-12lb yz hybrid

[OIFBasser]

I use a 6'6" MF St. Croix Avid with a Revo SX

10 lb. Invizx

[Stingray23]

6'6" spinning rod and reel with a medium/fast action. 8lb Invizix.

[Blade-Runner]

1) Casting

2) 6'6"

3) Medium

4) Fast

5) 6.2:1

6) Fluorocarbon

7) 10 lb.

[Fishes in trees]

If wind wasn't an issue, I'd probably use a bait caster, but in Missouri in the early spring, wind is frequently an issue, so I go with spinning tackle.  Currently I'm using a 6' 3" Medium Light rod with a fast action tip.  I'm using a US reel 240, 14 lb Fireline crystal with a fluorocarbon leader of 12 or 15 lb test.

A Pointer 100 weights roughly a half ounce.  I can throw a long ways, I sneer at the wind.  For the most part, you can feel your bait at the end of a long cast and when you give it slack, like you would during a 10 second or so pause, the Fireline works almost like a strike indicator.  It is very easy to see.

The only catch to this rig is to close the bail by hand and pay attention so that you don't wind in wind knots.

This rig is subject to change, I'm thinking about going longer with the rod.  The reason I went with the size rod I did was to avoid slapping the side of the boat or the water with the rod tip.  So, I don't know, but I do know that if I had to go throw a jerkbait tomorrow, that's what I'd be using.

Using a spinning rod wasn't my idea, for a few years I used a baitcaster spooled with 10 pound line.  Then 2 or 3 years ago, In-Fisherman magazine published a lengthy article about jerkbaits, going into great detail why they thought spinning tackle was superior.  Without going into a lot of detail, it had to do with covering water and dealing with the wind.

I'd say try it both ways and see how you like it.

[RandySBreth]

Yes here in the Ozarks we do things a little different.

Because of many of the conditions just stated, I use a 7' medium power/fast action spinning rod, with a large capacity reel spooled with 4/10 Fireline. Most of the time I use Orvis "Mirage" fluorocarbon leader, 1X size which is about the diameter of 8-pound test mono, but is rated at 14.5-pound test.

I sometimes use 10-pound Vanish as leader material

I don't think gear ratio is that big of deal with jerkbaits as you work the bait with the rod and don't crank it in like you do crankbaits. Faster would be better to take up slack, mostly.

[roadwarrior]

Avid AVC66MF

Shimano Scorpion

Yo-Zuri Hybrid #12

For light lures and at night:

Fenwick Techna AV AVS70MM

Shimano Sustain 2500

Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6

8-)

[sal669]

Avid AVC66MF

Daiwa TD Sol

8# P-Line Fluoroclear

For lighter stuff:

Daiwa 66 MLF rod, daiwa Capricorn 2000 reel, 6# diameter Tectan Premium or 15# Power pro with BPS Fluoro leader

[Tin]

6'7" Medium Fast Carrot (spinning)

Shimano Symetre 2500

10 pound Berkley 100% flouro