Jerkbait rod and reel?

[Dan L]

I have been using jerkbaits such as a suick and reef hawgs for pike. What length and weight should the rod be. Also what action would you suggest. I'm thinking of getting a 5400 Abu Garcia for a reel. For line I have always used mono but would consider a braided line if that is best. This would not be used for Musky fishing. Thanks

[MT Net]

I use a 6'-9" St. Croix rod, heavy power, fast action, and a 6500 C3 Abu Garcia reel spooled with 80 pound Tuff Line. I also like Power Pro line. No stretch like with mono. The 6500 reel holds more line, is relativley inexpensive, and is very durable. Get some good quality steel leaders.

[LunkerBaitCo]

I agree the 6'9" rod is the way to go with a little heavier action and backbone. Personally, I use a custom Diamondback from Thornes in that size. As for a reel, in addition to a bigger spool like the 6500, you might consider a 5600 or something with a faster gear ratio, say 6:1, since you frequently need the faster line pick up while jerking baits so they don't overrun your leader. Bigger spool filled vs. smaller reel fitting your palm better, but with faster gear ratio. Again, 80 lb superline is a must, too, as a heavy jerkbait on an errant backlash can play havoc and snap lesser lines.

[fisherdog19]

If you're going to use it mostly for jerkbait use I would definately go with a 6.6:1 gear ratio. It's crucial for the action of the lure for you to pick up slack line quickly, and a 5.1:1 won't do it. You may also want to consider a rod between 6' and 6'3". It will be easier to work the bait because you will be able to put the rod into a more vertically down position without putting the tip in the water. Good luck in your decision.

Fisherdog

[guideman]

Hey Dan,
You will get better action and control if you go to a no strech line. No need to go higher than 50# for Pike, I use 35# PowerPro/Tuffline on my Pike rods.

The Tuff is smoother but they are both quality line, with many advantages over even the best mono. I use 5500c4's for pike fishing, they have the thunb bar release and plenty of line capacity for even the bigest pike.

Rod length can depend on how tall you are and how high out of the water your boat sits. I like the longer rods as I am over 6ft tall and my boat sits high in the water. Your idea of a good rod length may be different, whatever works
best for you, is the best rod to use.

------------------

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
Ace guide service.
aceguideservice.com
NPAA #278
[email protected]

[RK]

Hiya,
I'm going to offer a completely contrary opinion on rod lengths. 95% of my jerkbait fishing is done with a 7'10" rod. I can't remember the last time I fished muskies with a rod shorter than 7'3" for any significant amount of time.

Long rods offer a lot of advantages when it comes to jerkbaits, most of them coming once a fish is actually hooked. Quite frankly, in my opinion anyhow, shorter, stiffer, more traditional 'jerkbait' rods are really lousy fishing tools. They may be great for working the baits themselves, but when it comes to fighting fish, they have a lot of disadvantages, especially when paired with zero-stretch superlines. With a heavy jerkbait on a short, stiff rod, with no stretch line, it's often tough to keep the rod loaded and keep the line tight without overpressuring the fish, which either causes the hooks to tear out (a problem with jerkbaits in any situation) or allows them to toss the bait back and forth, throwing the hooks.

Longer rods are a lot more forgiving. A longer rod with a fast tip but less overall power stays with a thrashing fish, soaks up a lot of the violence, and, I think, gives you a better hooking percentage besides. It certainly means fewer lost fish, at least for me. A long rod also makes figure-8s a lot easier, and figure-8s with a jerkbait is hard enough to start with.

A final, and significant plus of longer rods is fatigue. It's a lot easier to toss a big bait on a long rod that loads properly, vs. a pool cue where the arms and shoulders are doing all the work. Ideally, the weight of the lure should load the rod, and the rod does most of the work in moving the lure. I can cast a Sledge a mile without much effort at all, and I can do it all day without feeling like someone's digging a knife between my shoulder blades.

I do have to acknowledge though that I fish jerkbaits differently than most. I generally use burts, 10" suicks, Sledges, and, in the fall, 8" reef hawgs. Every once in a while a glider, but not often - they just aren't suited well to the waters I fish most of the time. I work suicks and sledges with a pretty steady retrieve - I just sort of reel constantly, speeding up and slowing down some, while I pump the rod downward now and then - more like pulls of varying lengths and speeds than hard 'jerks.' In heavy weeds, I work them like a toothpick - I just cast them out and reel them in. My objective is to get them back to the boat, and the fish do the rest. It'll bore you to tears. Burts get a little more of a workout, but it's still the same basic retrieve - the rod movement's just a little sharper now and then to get the baits to swing out to the side a little more when there aren't weeds to pile into.

In a lower profile boat you have to hold the rod a little more horizontal, but it really doesn't change much as far as how the lures work. You'll also get the hang of working the lures much more with the reel itself, and not just the rod tip. Makes it easier to vary retrieve speeds and so on without working your shoulders to death.

Anyhow, consider longer rods. They DO take some getting used to, but they have distinct advantages, especially when it comes to actually landing the things once you hook one.

Oh - reels. I use Garcia 7000s 90% of the time when I'm muskie fishing. They're big, and they take some getting used to if you are used to using smaller reels, but they have a combination of low gear ratio and a wide spool which equates to a lot of cranking power for big baits, without killing you, plus, they're incredibly durable. I have some that are probably 17 years old that haven't missed a lick. For lines, I've used tuff line in 80 pound int he past, but have been using #100 Berkley Stealth (whiplash is nearly the same stuff) lately and really like it. Casts easy, doesn't soak up water (a big plus in the fall) and is very durable.

Whew - what a novel. This is what happens when you start drinking coffee at 5 in the morning

Cheers,
RK

[guideman]

Hey RK,
Great advice...for muskies, but the man is talking about Pike fishing. That may be a bit of an overkill, to go to all that big tackle, for pike fishing.

------------------

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
Ace guide service.
aceguideservice.com
NPAA #278
[email protected]