So I've been thinking of getting a Dobyns Champion D685 rod for jerkbaits. I've noticed some people favor the CB (mod fast) or the regular casting (fast). What does everyone here prefer for jerkbaits? 

I'm in the group for fast, it's a twitch bait, it's just like walking the dog, underwater. 

I like a fast but soft tip for jerkbaits and top waters. I want the action that will help me present the bait the best way to generate strikes. We'll worry about landing them once we hook'em. 

I use 2 fast and 1 extra fast rod for jerkbaits. 

I've had a 6'6 MF for a few years which I have always liked, but this past year I picked up a 6'8 MXF and had good success with that too. I honestly can't say I prefer one over the other. Both work for me, but don't have in enough time on the water to make a definitive choice. 

Biggest thing for me is that the tip is stiff enough that I don't have snap the rod excessively hard to get the lure to dart around, that makes for easy prolonged use. I'm using a medium fast right now, but a medium-light extra fast might be in my future, as soon as the funds are there at least,

I just bought a new rod specifically for topwaters and jerkbaits - its a 6'6" MF.  

17 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I like a fast but soft tip for jerkbaits and top waters. I want the action that will help me present the bait the best way to generate strikes. We'll worry about landing them once we hook'em. 

Specifically the St. Croix Avid AVC66MF which has a soft tip.

 

Fast for me!

I'm using a 6'7 med/fast currently.

68MXF 

I have a 634CB. Love the smaller size for snapping downward.  Great rod.

So I think we have a good consensus here. Is the mod-fast from Dobyns still "fast" but with a more parabolic bend? Is it just softer than say my spinnerbait rod, but faster than my D806?

I'm in the minirity here, but my ideal jerkbait rod is 6'9" MH Power with a Moderate-Fast action.  

Fast or extra fast depending on the rod and where in the rod's sweet spot the bait I'm using is.  

 

I like crisp with a solid backbone.  I don't want to have to impart much into the rod to make the bait twitch.  Also I do like braid with a leader, as the immediacy of the twitch on braid I find is more suited to my style most times.  

 

To to each his own though.  There is no "right", only "right for you".

 

   

Mark another one down for fast. I don't mind extra fast, and there's one style of bait I throw on a moderate just because I don't want as much action in the bait. The fast allows you to work the bait without having to work your arm off. Back the drag off a bit to prevent fish from pulling off. Up here though it seems like the best jerkbait bit is after the bass start slowing down because of the cold and they don't fight as hard then anyway. 

Hello,

Back "in the day" I would have used the stiffest 5'6" MH rod I could find.

Now, I use a 6'6" M/F IM6 rod.  This is due in equal parts to new technology and a change in personal technique and philosophy regarding treble hooks.

Regards,

Josh