Name Your Set Up - Soft Plastic Jerk Baits

[Dockhead]

Interested to see what people are using for this.

Please list rod w/ specifics, reel, line, bait of choice, hook, and you can even throw in your preferred situation to throw them if you'd like!

I have been using:

Cumara 7'2" mh xf

Citica 200 E

Zoom Super Flukes are my main bait of choice (watermelon red or watermelon candy)

50 lb. power pro

3/0 Gamakatsu superline extra wide gap hook

I throw mine in some pretty thick stuff at times, working it quickly and letting it drop through holes, but lately I have been getting bit in some open areas near the cover, fishing them more like a senko (some people might even say I was deadsticking it). In these areas I have been throwing on a leader of 15 cxx.

[.ghoti.]

If you've ever needed an example of "there is no right answer", this is it.

Compare my rig to dockhead's.

I use a Kistler Helium LTA 7' med-light rod, R-Edition Alphas, 10lb test mono and a 4/0 light wire EWG hook.

The Salty Super Fluke is on of my go-to baits, but sometimes a Yum Houdini Shad is better.

For working through weeds and dropping in holes, the Fluke wins the contest most times.

For outside weed edges, dead-sticking and fishing on the drop, the Houdini Shad gets the nod.

On a 4/0 light wire EWG, on #10 mono, the fluke has a mostly horizontal drop with just a little bit of side to side wobble. On the same rig the Houdini Shad has a tail wiggle just like a Senko. It is deadly at times.

Any other additions, shot, weight, swivel, etc, kills the tail wagging action.

dockhead, if you try the Houdini Shad, you'll have to experiment with hook choice. Your braid is more buoyant than my mono, so you will likely need a heavier hook to get the same action.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I usually throw flukes on spinning tackle. 7' but in Med/XF. I use a "popping" blank which has a fast action but soft tip.

[J Francho]

I use whatever spinning rod is laying around. If you need a special rod for this, you are doing it wrong.

[The Rooster]

I don't need a special rod for it. I use 2 different ones.

The first choice is my Shimano Compre, 6'6" M/F (previous model with full cork handle) and a Shimano Citica 200E with 12# Berkley Vanish fluoro line. I use a Zoom Super Fluke rigged on a 3/0 EWG Gamakatsu hook, not the superline hook either.

The second rod is the one I use when the other one has a lure tied on that I don't want to remove. It's simply a Ugly Stik Lite Pro 6'6" medium rod with a BPS Extreme 6.4:1 ratio baitcaster, and 12# Berkley Trilene XL mono on it. Same lure and hook rig.

Basically either of these rods work. I like the lighter weight and feeling of the Shimano combo better so I use it whenever I can.

Fluke colors are Pearl, Albino, Green Pumpkin, Smokin' Shad, Baby Bass, Rainbow Trout, and whatever else just looks good. This is an awesome bait!

[LuckyHandsINC.]

I use whatever spinning rod is laying around. If you need a special rod for this, you are doing it wrong.

I think your wrong with this statement. I have a designated rod that started as a kistler argon 6'9 top water spinning rod. The tip was way too soft and with the parabolic bend it was a terrible combination for the soft jerkbait. The rod would bend under the weight of the fluke and then give it a second jerk when the rod tip recovered. Witch made it very hard to get timing down.

I then switched to a 6'6 m/xf veritas spinning rod and can not explain how much better this rod is than the argon. At least now I know not to buy a rod just because its on sale and it looks cool with the reel.

Now to answer the op I use the aforementioned veritas with a 9535 pflueger patriarch 8# suffix and a 3/0 gammy ewg and fish this more than anything else by far. I've never even had anything else tied on to this setup.

[BassThumb]

Spinning tackle and light line will provide the best action from a fluke. I use a 7' M/F spinning rod.

[Hooligan]

Spinning tackle and light line will provide the best action from a fluke. I use a 7' M/F spinning rod.

I disagree!

I fish them on a Pixy/MBR 783CGLX, and I luuuurve it for that.

[BassThumb]

To me, it appears that using smaller diameter line creates a more effortless, natural looking, side-to-side sway. I use MH baitcasting tackle sometimes when I fish them over heavy weeds, and the action of the baits seems slightly deadened due to the larger diameter line, IMO.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

Spinning tackle and light line will provide the best action from a fluke. I use a 7' M/F spinning rod.

I agree 100%. I've thrown a fluke on casting gear only once because my dad was using my only spinning combo at the time.I hated it and will never do it again.

[Hi Salenity]

Yesterday I threw a Fluke with a 6' ML spinning rod with 10# 832 & a 3/0 hook. I fished this on a shallow weedy flat from my Kayak.

[FD.]

Yall listen up, heres how we doit down hear in the slop.

Fenwick 7-9 MH swimbait rod

Revo SX 7.1/1

65 lb braid

3/0 Gama EWG superline

3/16 bullet pegged with a bobber stop

skinny dipper or imitation

It's not subtle, but it works great in the hydrilla, coontail, eel grass, pads and the rest of the snot choking the lakes this time of year.

This is a close as it gets to finesse in Cental Fl. If yall ever come down here you can leave your little sissy spinin rods at home.

PS just ax ghoti how many big fish he lost out of the back of my boat cause he dont like braid.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

Yall listen up, heres how we doit down hear in the slop.

Fenwick 7-9 MH swimbait rod

Revo SX 7.1/1

65 lb braid

3/0 Gama EWG superline

3/16 bullet pegged with a bobber stop

skinny dipper or imitation

It's not subtle, but it works great in the hydrilla, coontail, eel grass, pads and the rest of the snot choking the lakes this time of year.

This is a close as it gets to finesse in Cental Fl. If yall ever come down here you can leave your little sissy spinin rods at home.

PS just ax ghoti how many big fish he lost out of the back of my boat cause he dont like braid.

Yall listen up cuz this guy is really really cool; way to cool for spinning tackle.

[Red]

I normally use a 7'3" Lamiglas Excel, 734C. Revo S-L spooled with 12lb Seaguar fluoro. Hook would be an Owner 4/0.

[Hooligan]

To me, it appears that using smaller diameter line creates a more effortless, natural looking, side-to-side sway. I use MH baitcasting tackle sometimes when I fish them over heavy weeds, and the action of the baits seems slightly deadened due to the larger diameter line, IMO.

Let me clarify, I fish 6# Fluoro on the Pixy and the 783 is powerful but a light enough tip that it's more along the lines of today's "M" rods.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I just bought a Crucial 7' M/EF rod with A Citica reel just for soft jerbaits and senkos and I love it!

[SirSnookalot]

I use whatever spinning rod is laying around. If you need a special rod for this, you are doing it wrong.

I'm a spinning guy. The rod and reel I choose for the day, I only carry one with me, is based not on the size of fish I'm targeting but where I'm fishing, I use a lot of topwater lures and flukes. True I don't get too many big bass but I do catch a lot of bigger snook and tarpon, the equipment isn't much different from my bass stuff. I use a med 8/17, 2000 reel for my bass fishing, 10# braid. I use pretty much the same setup off a saltwater beach, off a jettie or sea wall I step it up to a 10/20 rod and a 4000 reel, 15# braid, a little extra backbone is needed to keep the fish out of the pilings, although I have handled 20 and 30# on the light saltwater set up a number of times.

[promax200]

Carrot Stix Gold MH/F 6'2" (Yeah, I'm a short guy. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?) with a Quantum Tour PT (silver) 7:1. 30lb. braid. I also run a double fluke rig fairly often, for which a make the leaders out of 14lb. mono or flouro. Favorite bait is Berkley Gulp in white.

[.ghoti.]

Yall listen up, heres how we doit down hear in the slop.

Fenwick 7-9 MH swimbait rod

Revo SX 7.1/1

65 lb braid

3/0 Gama EWG superline

3/16 bullet pegged with a bobber stop

skinny dipper or imitation

It's not subtle, but it works great in the hydrilla, coontail, eel grass, pads and the rest of the snot choking the lakes this time of year.

This is a close as it gets to finesse in Cental Fl. If yall ever come down here you can leave your little sissy spinin rods at home.

PS just ax ghoti how many big fish he lost out of the back of my boat cause he dont like braid.

I did indeed loose some fish out of the back of Lee's boat. I was using #12 mono in places I shouldn't have. I did leave my fairy wands at home though. :D

[Fontana Finesse Man]

Rod: Duckett Med Action 7 ft spinning rod.

Reel: Quantum Energy E20PTiB spinning

Line: 8 lb test BPS Excel

Hook: 1/0 Gammy or 3/0 wide gap. (99% of the time I fish them nose hooked and use 1/0 hook, when I fish docks use a 3/0 regular hooked)

Most of my fluke fishing is in relatively open water. No grass, some laydowns so I really don't worry about breaking line and with gin clear water I like to make long casts. I have tried flouro and small braid but my personal opinion is that in order to make a fluke work best for me, light, mono line. I use bps excel because fishing it with no swivel, I replace the line alot and it is more cost effective than almost any other lines.

[J Francho]

I think your wrong with this statement. I have a designated rod that started as a kistler argon 6'9 top water spinning rod. The tip was way too soft and with the parabolic bend it was a terrible combination for the soft jerkbait. The rod would bend under the weight of the fluke and then give it a second jerk when the rod tip recovered. Witch made it very hard to get timing down.

That is a very strange rod. To be honest, that rod doesn't sound like it would work for anything bass related, including it's stated purpose. It's not what I'd use, anyway.

Fenwick 7-9 MH swimbait rod

Revo SX 7.1/1

65 lb braid

3/0 Gama EWG superline

3/16 bullet pegged with a bobber stop

skinny dipper or imitation

It's not subtle, but it works great in the hydrilla, coontail, eel grass, pads and the rest of the snot choking the lakes this time of year.

That is a classic Texas Rig, not soft plastic jerk baiting.

Yeah, I'm a short guy. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?

Not at all. I use a 6-2 casting rod, and two 6-3 spinners simply because I don't like the tip splashing in the water, LOL. Just think, 6'6" rods were considered "long" 15 years ago.

Lastly, hot tip for hookups on plastic jerkbaits? Nose hook them with a finesse hook.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

That is a very strange rod. To be honest, that rod doesn't sound like it would work for anything bass related, including it's stated purpose. It's not what I'd use, anyway.

That is a classic Texas Rig, not soft plastic jerk baiting.

Not at all. I use a 6-2 casting rod, and two 6-3 spinners simply because I don't like the tip splashing in the water, LOL. Just think, 6'6" rods were considered "long" 15 years ago.

Lastly, hot tip for hookups on plastic jerkbaits? Nose hook them with a finesse hook.

yea it is a weird rod. I don't use it for anything now. Just don't like it.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

Carrot Stix Gold MH/F 6'2" (Yeah, I'm a short guy. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?) with a Quantum Tour PT (silver) 7:1. 30lb. braid. I also run a double fluke rig fairly often, for which a make the leaders out of 14lb. mono or flouro. Favorite bait is Berkley Gulp in white.

Is this Paddy Tanniger the caddy manager?

[hookingem]

Cumara 7'2MXF 50e 8lb flouro.

[J Francho]