What rod would you recommend for jerkbaits? 2025

It's a toad reply :

I was also wondering could a jerk bait rod be used for any other technique. Or can it only be used for jerkbaits

MickD reply :

Since the smallies I fish for prefer a sharp twitch over the more progressive "sweep", I prefer a fast action that gives that twitch more easily. So a power matched to the weight of the lures, graphite, fast or Xfast action is my preference.

That rod will work fine for spinnerbaits, jigging, drop shot, and really isn't bad for cranks, especially deep ones.

roadwarrior reply :

A Medium Power or Medium Heavy/ Fast Action can be used for just about everything. However, if you are talking about a "dedicated" rod, I think a jerkbait rig is most compatible for topwater and shallow cankbaits like square bills. I have a St. Croix Avid for sale - cheap!

Bluebasser86 reply :

I use mine for poppers and small walking baits.

Jeff H reply :

I recommend the St. Croix Avid AVC62MXF, it is the right combination of length and perfect action for mer. Mine (I have 2) are dedicated to jerkbaits only. Obviously they could be used for other presentations but they are not. I have plenty of other rods for those things.

adam lancia reply :

I'm using a 6'6" MF rod for lighter jerkbaits, topwater poppers, and smaller walking baits, rated from 1/4-5/8oz. I don't go much above 3/8 on this rod.

I'm using a 6'7" MHF rod for heavier jerkbaits (1/2 oz or more), topwater poppers and bigger walking baits, rated 3/8-1oz.

I use braid wit ha leader on both of my setups. I tried going with mono or fluoro but didn't like all the stretch I felt, I couldn't get a good feel for what the lure was doing, especially with jerkbaits. I also tried using a ML mod-fast rod for my 1/2oz jerkabaits and hated it. I had to put so much power into the rod to get the lure to do anything. The one adjustment I have made due to using braid and a fast taper (along with ensuring the drag is set properly) is to gently sweep the rod to set the hooks.

rangerjockey reply :

I like the Falcon McClelland signature stickbait rod.. Also makes a great Pop R and yellow magic rod. also smaller walking baits the a sammy or spook jr.

strikefc34 reply :

Jerkbait rod should also be good for topwater poppers, small topwater walking baits and squarebills cranks. I use a Dobyns Champion 704cb...for $109 or less Dobyns Fury 705cb would be a great option too.

lmbfisherman reply :

I use a ST Croix Avid 6'6" Medium Fast, I use it for top water (buzzbaits), spinnerbaits and swim jigs.

Angry John reply :

I use my avid 66mf for jerkbaits and squarebills

hawgenvy reply :

I'm partial to my Dobyns Champion XP 705cb (graphite). It's moderate action casts a mile and imparts the ideal (to me) action to jerkbaits, keeps the trebles pinned perfectly on jerks and traps, and has the backbone to muscle in toads (except in heavy vegetation). Couple it with some FC line on a light weight reel -- I have a Lew's Pro Magnesium screwed on -- and it's a really sweet rig for jerking, running lipless traps, and for small to medium lipped crankbaits.

I nailed a nice 6+ pounder on that rig X-mas day at sunset, on a 1/2 oz trap, from the bank. The rod helped me bring her in nice and easy, letting the springiness of the rod's moderate action tire her out and bring her right to my thumb, even though she was barely hooked.

aprestonSEK reply :

6'6 Medium Kistler KLX Crank/Rip/Twitch.

It is rated as a mod/fast but is actually fairly stiff with a good amount of tip to cast and work a jerkbait.

This rod is also good for small crankbaits, poppers, and finesse plastics.

Outdoor Zack reply :

Question: I know that you can use spinning outfits for any technique, but is there any advantage to using BC gear for jerkbaits instead? I've heard KVD talk about his jerkbait rod (BC) but he never really gave the pros and cons of each.

A-Jay reply :

On 1/10/2017 at 7:40 PM, Outdoor Zack said:

Question: I know that you can use spinning outfits for any technique, but is there any advantage to using BC gear for jerkbaits instead? I've heard KVD talk about his jerkbait rod (BC) but he never really gave the pros and cons of each.

Although I can & do fish jerkbaits on casting gear, hurling then into a stiff breeze all day (which seems quite prevalent early & late season) isn't best case scenario.

I use spinning gear for the vast majority of my jerkbait presentations. The Main benefit in my eyes is the ability to make long casts using light line STRAIGHT into the wind. I catch a lot of decent smallmouth this way.

A-Jay

1BADAIR reply :

Dobyns 684cb.

roadwarrior reply :

Spinning tackle generally allow you to use lighter line. Megabass Ito Vision 110 is designed for light line.

WIGuide reply :

Personal pick for the perfect jerkbait rod is the St. Croix Legend Xtreme 6'6" M/F. They double as good topwater rods as well as lighter t-rig rods and small swimbait rods.

Outdoor Zack reply :

On 1/10/2017 at 7:52 PM, A-Jay said:

Although I can & do fish jerkbaits on casting gear, hurling then into a stiff breeze all day (which seems quite prevalent early & late season) isn't best case scenario.

I use spinning gear for the vast majority of my jerkbait presentations. The Main benefit in my eyes is the ability to make long casts using light line STRAIGHT into the wind. I catch a lot of decent smallmouth this way.

A-Jay

On 1/10/2017 at 10:08 PM, roadwarrior said:

Spinning tackle generally allow you to use lighter line. Megabass Ito Vision 110 is designed for light line.

Would it make sense to use the same spinning setup for flukes and soft jerkbaits ?

A-Jay reply :

On 1/11/2017 at 6:27 AM, Outdoor Zack said:

Would it make sense to use the same spinning setup for flukes and soft jerkbaits ?

I will tell you what I use and you can decide for yourself.

Generally it's one of two sticks for jerkbaits - one is a Fenwick Elite tech smallmouth rod 7'4" Med fast, the other is the St Croix LTB 7'1" also Med Fast. I also use this one for flukes, tubes & small swimbaits. Both are spooled with 10lb braid.

A-Jay

Outdoor Zack reply :

On 1/11/2017 at 9:09 AM, A-Jay said:

I will tell you what I use and you can decide for yourself.

Generally it's one of two sticks for jerkbaits - one is a Fenwick Elite tech smallmouth rod 7'4" Med fast, the other is the St Croix LTB 7'1" also Med Fast. I also use this one for flukes, tubes & small swimbaits. Both are spooled with 10lb braid.

A-Jay

Thanks, I'm just trying to get some insight from an expert

Yudo1 reply :

I use mine for top waters and shallow-mid depth cranks.

burrows reply :

On 1/3/2017 at 5:06 PM, It's a toad said:

I was also wondering could a jerk bait rod be used for any other technique. Or can it only be used for jerkbaits

How much are you trying to spend? Because you could use something inexpensive for jerk baits I use a cheap 6'6 vengeance mf and it does the job you don't need a hole lot of sensitivity for trebles but the vengeance has enough for me for now at least I also use it for some cranking, poppers and light spinnerbaits I plan on upgrading to the st croix mojo jerk bait rod for next season.

A-Jay reply :

On 1/11/2017 at 6:59 PM, Outdoor Zack said:

Thanks, I'm just trying to get some insight from an expert

Fair enough, and since that's the case, after reading any of my responses, you'll need to keep looking.

Good Luck

A-Jay

ww2farmer reply :

The rods I fish jerkbaits on have multiple uses for me.

For a casting rod I use a 6'6" M power Berkley Lightning rod shock, it also gets used for target casting of shallow running cranks, and the few odd times I year I throw treble hooked top waters. Despite being "cheap" this rod is surprisingly light and has just the right taper IMHO for treble hooked baits, while not being "too soft" to hinder working a jerkbait effectively.

When I need to switch to smaller jerkbaits that are difficult to cast on casting gear, I use a 6'8" M/XF custom built spinning rod , built on a Batson blank....it's a little stiff, but works well. Normally this is my flick shake + shaky head rod.

mada1594 reply :

I love my megabass f3 1/2-63xgti for jerkbaits and crankbaits but really any moderate or moderate fast action rods work well for me.

basseditor reply :

On 1/10/2017 at 4:00 PM, aprestonSEK said:

6'6 Medium Kistler KLX Crank/Rip/Twitch.

It is rated as a mod/fast but is actually fairly stiff with a good amount of tip to cast and work a jerkbait.

This rod is also good for small crankbaits, poppers, and finesse plastics.

I have this rod and a new Kistler Feel N Reel Rod works really well.

Master Bait'r reply :

Orochi xx jerkbait special or flat side special depending on the length you like..... Can't say enough good things about the versatility and action in those rods. They are just a joy to use in every way for me.

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What rod would you recommend for jerkbaits? 2025

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