Favorite jerkbait rod/ reel/ line?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chad Simon on November 13, 2013 at 10:43am

 I use 2 rods for jerkbaits:

-G Loomis PR 844 C GLX- Very Light and Sensitive rod for open water applications with the proper parabolic bend upon load up

-G Loomis CBR 845- Same good characteristics. My rod of choice when dock/wood fishing where I need more power to steer a fish

Reels:

There are many good high speed reel choices out there. I use a Quantum Energy 7:1. This reel fits nicely in my hand, and can throw the light ones. You want a high speed reel to catch up to fish running at you, or if you make a bad cast. If I had any higher speed reels, I would use them. Max drag pressure isn't an important element to reel selection for this application. Bearing quantity should always be considered for casting reels.

 

Line:

I've always used 8lb mono. You want something with a little stretch.

 

I would equate jerkbait fishing to drop shot fishing when setting the hook.

Permalink Reply by Russell Baker on November 13, 2013 at 11:11am

Megabass Orochi 6-8" Jerk Bait special. I have tried many brands in the past and absolutely love this rod for jerking megasbass 110 Visions.

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on November 13, 2013 at 2:21pm

The pointer series has become a mainstay on my front deck the last 3 years.  I've read up on it, but I will only speak from my personal experience:

I like 8-10 fluro.  Because early pre spawn is when I find them uniquely effective, and I want to fish them a bit deeper.  small fluro allows this.  I've watched big smallmouth analyze the bait for 5-10 seconds from a distance of 5-10 feet away before inhaling the bait and slowly swimming off.   Fluro is a confidence thing for me there, knowing the fish are checking it out, and not just reacting blindly like a crank bite.  

Reel:  Spinning.   I like the smaller pointer 78's and 100's, so I can cast farther and without backlash with the spinning gear.

Rod...  Too long and you slap water, too short and casts are compromised.  I've been using a 6'3", and 6'6", and I'm wanting to go a touch longer....Russ may be right on the money at 6'8".   I'll take proper action before sensitivity.  I won't pay Glx money for a jerkbait rod.  The bite for me, is only detected when I go to impart action to the lure.  I don't ever actually feel a "bite".  I go to impart action and it loads up.  The fish hit when it was suspended. 

Again, only 3 seasons fishing hard jerk baits, but that is what I've come up with.

One thing i've found is that hard jerkbaits do work everywhere, but some bodies of water they work a whole lot better than others....  Alot of what I've read is contrary to this.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on November 13, 2013 at 4:11pm

Chad that's a good point about highspeed reels, guys are always talking about slow gear ratios. Russ and Snake I totally agree about the 6'8" rod. .. I've been eyeing the Micheal Murphy Jerkbait rod made by Denali. ..this thing has been getting great reviews.
http://www.denalirods.com/michaelmurphyjerkbaitrod-spinning.aspx

Permalink Reply by troy kelly on November 13, 2013 at 4:51pm

Joel you could PM Henry Dover (Denali team member) he uses that rod and loves it.  I have also been thinking about getting one too.  I own the Denali Kovert 6'8" crankbait rod and I will be using that for jerkbaits next year for sure.  I think it has enough backbone to snap the bait and enough flex to keep them buttoned up. 

Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on November 13, 2013 at 6:20pm

Will do thanks Troy

Permalink Reply by Willie Parsons on November 13, 2013 at 6:58pm

CBR 845, Diawa Sol. 10 lb flourocarbon= lots of jerk bait fish in the boat. Great staysee rod as well.

Permalink Reply by Chris Ferry on November 17, 2013 at 12:53pm

G loomis CBR 845 7' with a Shimano Calais reel 6.2:1 spooled up with 10lb Sunline FC Sniper this setup is also good for cranking med sized baits like a hotlips or normans dln.  

Permalink Reply by Doug Jorgensen on November 17, 2013 at 5:49pm

I use the CBR845 like Chris and Chad. It's been my jerkbait rod for years now. I use a Diawa Zillion in 7.1 ratio spooled with 10 flouro. Jerkbaits put a lot of stress on the line and most strikes are violent, better to be a little heavy on the line versus sorry about losing a big fish and a $15 lure.

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on November 20, 2013 at 11:38am

Doug makes a good point regarding the stress at the knot for fishing jerk baits.

You can use lighter lines, but you have got to test your knot pretty often even if you haven't caught a fish since you last re-tied.   I've actually been snapping the jerk bait, then had it simply float to the surface un-attached to the line.  That was an eye opener....   

Doug, I'm curious about your "violent strike" comment.  I've always read, and practiced that jerkbait fishing is done almost exclusively on a slack line.  Basically, you snap the bait on a slack line, then give line back to keep it slack so the bait darts different directions every time.    How are you feeling violent strikes on slack line?  

Do you fish it differently, and get good results? Are you getting the violent stikes in the summer time?  How strikes are triggered, is more interesting than ford/chevy discussions.   

Permalink Reply by Doug Jorgensen on November 23, 2013 at 6:51pm

A lot of jerkbait bites are not detected by the feel of a bite, but by the rod being almost ripped out of your hand. I tend to fish my jerkbaits with long pauses most of the time. While there is slack in my line, it is really only a foot or two of slack line. Just enough so that little less than halfway through you jerk the lures is moving. And watch out for large trout, they love jerkbaits too.

Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on November 26, 2013 at 10:51am

What baits do you guys like? I know the Smithwicks are big down south...anyone use smithwicks up here? Ive done well on the Ito and Pointer 78.

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