I am Looking to purchace a rod for jerk baits and was wondering what other guys use in the action length and brand.
Thanks Mike.
I throw them on a 6'-6" med kitsler with 10# XT
The shorter rod help to keep the tip out of the water
And I like the strech that the mono has
I really like my dobyns champion 705cb, it has a great tip to work the bait, plenty of backbone for hook sets and to handle big fish and its also a very versatile topwater and small crankbait rod too if graphite is what you prefer. Super light and well balanced, a very fun rod to use.
We have been selling Dobyns rods for a couple of years now and they have had a problem with guide popping out. But they have change guide suppliers and now the problem is corrected. The blanks are light but have great back bone, they are the up and coming manufacture.
REELMAN
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Where's LGMOUTH on this topic?
Probably out fishing... or hunting...
While I don't throw a jerkbait very often, when I do, I use a St. Croix Mojo jerkbait/topwater rod and I really like it.
Depending on size of jerkbait, I would go with either a 6'-6" in medium or medium-light action Grandt All American rod in either casting or spinning (C07, C07A, 007, or 007A). They are USA made and come with the Best Warranty in the Business. They also have a new rod coming out in 2012, made with new materials, called PYARA. If I can help, let Dan or myself know!
I guess the first question would be do you use a spinning or a casting rod? For me that depends on which jerkbaits I am using. If I'm using something like a Lucky Craft I would use a spinning rod. Since I really don't throw Lucky Crafts I'm not sure which spinning rod would work the best. What I do throw ALOT is a Smithwick. With this jerkbait I would use a 6'6" casting rod. In my opinion you don't need a sensitive, light, expensive rod for jerkbaiting. All I've used for as long as I can remember is a Bass Pro Shops Bionic Blade rod until last year when I started using the National Angler. Both are inexpensive but have very good backbone and a nice tip for Jerkbaits. I use a 6'6" Med action rod (but I had to cut about 3 inches off the butt on the Bionic Blade because I would hit my stomach, but the National Angler rod is made with a short handle). This is one rod that you can compromise the sensitivity and expense for a inexpensive rod.
I fish a 7' rod for most applications including jerkbaits (my exceptions are spinnerbait and topwater where I use a 6'6 and deep cranking where I use a 7'6 or 8'). I fish mostly Xrap 10 or LC Pointer 100s but I also throw LC 78 on my rig. Currently I'm using a St. Croix Mojo 70MHMF casting rod which is a little heavier than I'd like (both in absolute weight and also power) but it is sensitive, strong, and has a moderate fast tip which is more forgiving and I feel helps me move the lure better. I use 10# fluoro (I prefer Sufix or P-Line) and do not use a snap. I like a high-speed reel (7:1) to recover line quickly.
If I need to downsize line and lure (LC 78 or Xrap 8) then I use a 70MF St. Croix Avid spinning rod and 8# fluoro.
Quote from: WillyC on December 05, 2011, 08:27:48 PM
Depending on size of jerkbait, I would go with either a 6'-6" in medium or medium-light action Grandt All American rod in either casting or spinning (C07, C07A, 007, or 007A). They are USA made and come with the Best Warranty in the Business. They also have a new rod coming out in 2012, made with new materials, called PYARA. If I can help, let Dan or myself know!
Plus, Grandt Rods are on sale through 12/25/2011 for 25% and FREE shipping. See the Grandt Rods forum for details. I will probably pick up a C07 or C08 this winter. I have a C10 and C09 and they are both fantastic graphite rods! Light and very sensitive.
And, Grandt Rods is going to be at the Grand Rapids show this year, so everyone will get the chance to handle them again. Once you feel the sensitivity, and talk to Jim Grandt, its hard to buy another brand.
Hey Mike, what have you used in the past for Jerks?
I've tried a softer rod (M power/M or MF action) and I just don't like them. I feel like the rod absorbs what I'm trying to do with the jerkbait.
I'm no jerkbait master, but I have settled on a rod I really like. A Falcon Low-rider. 6'6 MH. It's what I would consider fast, maybe even moderately fast, but surely not XF.
They are good made in USA rods, but in all honestly aren't the most sensitive...I've got another 7' Falcon, that I haven't used much. There are better rods for contact baits.
But that 6'6 rod I have is the one rod I wouldn't trade for anything or just about any amount of money, because it really is perfect for what I like to do.
To me, slightly tip heavy, not ultra sensitive or ultra light are all things I'm OK with.
I do need it to be comfortable in my hand.....When the reel I have now ever bites the dust I'm going to be ticked because you can't buy it anymore. A BPS ProLite from a few years back, that I've tuned, and modified a bit.
Thing is slow, which I like (6.4.1 but picks up like 25" of line because of the small size) and is a really compact reel.
Thanks for the suggestions I believe I am leaning towards a Grandt.I will be at the sportshow and will check them out first hand.
Thanks Mike.
You'll probably run into me there too looking for a few new rods!
Quote from: Manxfishing on December 05, 2011, 06:07:46 AM
I throw them on a 6'-6" med kitsler with 10# XT
The shorter rod help to keep the tip out of the water
And I like the strech that the mono has
I agree, I use the Kistler 6'9" med. Jerk-bait special.
For jerkbaits 95mm and longer, I use a 783 IMX which is labeled as a medium heavy. The lighter tip loads when casting, yet the backbone of the rod transfers a hard snap to the line. I've tried the bionic blade and the falcon cara, and really like both of those rods as well.
I think throwing a jerkbait is one technique where it pays to have a quality casting reel. I dedicated one of the first generation revo premiers to jerkbaits. After about two years of use, the handle bent and eventually fell off because the plastic cap had stripped.
Last season I used the curado 50, and it has maintained tight tolerances so far. I'm sure there are other reels that will work just as well, if not better, but just wanted to throw that experience out there.
Quote from: dominater on December 13, 2011, 09:06:44 AM
I think throwing a jerkbait is one technique where it pays to have a quality casting reel. I dedicated one of the first generation revo premiers to jerkbaits. After about two years of use, the handle bent and eventually fell off because the plastic cap had stripped.
These are words of angling wisdom...I agree that some techniques can be accomplished just fine with lesser quality reels (for instance throwing med. sized cranks, spinnerbaits, traps, etc. However, when throughing some baits like jerkbaits (hard or soft) a quality reel and rod, make all the difference. Another great example is pitching. When pitching jigs and soft plastics (particularly lighter weights) a good rod/reel is crutial.
Just about every rod/reel combo in my boat is a Kistler rod paired w/ a Quantum reel. I have a few BPS reels, from a few years back, when I believe the quality was a bit better, but mostly Quantums. My preference for spinning reels is changing as I have been exposed to the Wavespin reels, of which I now have two, and will order another before spring.