I haven't thrown a jerkbait much and would like to try this spring. Fishing northern smallmouth in clear lakes so thinking of going with a spinning setup. Not sure if I need a new rod though. The only rods I have under 7' are a bps carbonlite 6'6" mh/f rod with a president reel or a custom 6'10 ml/XF that I use for fishing a ned rig with a Daiwa Fuego reel. Just not sure if the mh is too much and the ml too light or if I need to find something in a medium-fast. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Are you completely sold on using a spinning setup already? I use a BC in medium action/fast 7 ft.  If you want to use one of those mentioned, I’d go with the 6’6” one. ML isn’t enough back bone for me.

I'd get some jerk baits you're interested in, and fish them on what you already have.  A vision 110 jr on the ML would probably be great.  Some jerks might be better on the MH.  Not all jerkbaits are the same, you kinda have to feel them out and see if they like soft pulls or hard snaps for best action.  The trick for me is to get a bait to dart and roll, then stop.  I like no perceivable swim, just flash and suspend, then try to determine a cadence of flashing vs suspending.

 

scott

Edited March 21, 20233 yr by softwateronly
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6 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Are you completely sold on using a spinning setup already? I use a BC in medium action/fast 7 ft.  If you want to use one of those mentioned, I’d go with the 6’6” one. ML isn’t enough back bone for me.

No. I am not really sold on anything yet. Trying to figure out which way I should go before the ice is out. 

8 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

I'd get some jerk baits you're interested in, and fish them on what you already have.  A vision 110 jr on the ML would probably be great.  Some jerks might be better on the MH.  Not all jerkbaits are the same, you kinda have to feel them out and see if they like soft pulls or hard snaps for best action.

 

scott

Thank you. I have a few that I have picked up here and there but haven’t really tried them yet. 

I fish my 1/2 oz and lighter jerk baits on medium and medium light action spinning rods. Most of the spinning rods are loaded with 10 or 12 lb. braid and a mono or fluro leader. 

 

Good luck!

Was in a small tackle shop yesterday and found a 6'8" Daiwa Kage jerkbait spinning rod on sale for $99. Couldn't pass it up so we will see ?

I do alot of smallmouth jerk bait fishing. I found the Megabass orrochi ronin to be my favorite.