I have some random crankbaits and hard jerk baits.  What type of set up do you recommend? Most of my rods seem too stiff.  What type line?

I have read through posts and they seem to contradict each other.

What rods do you already have? 

Ideally jerkbaits and crankbaits are 2 different rods.  Jerkbaits generally shorter with a faster taper than a crank rod.

Baitcasters

6,6" St. Croix Mojo, MedMOJO,

6' Ozark Milestone Heavy

7'3" Lamiglass EXL 736C, Heavy

6'6" BPS Tourney Special, MH, Fast

Ugly Stick Lite 6'6" Medium

 

Spinning

Fenwick Eagle 6'6" Light?

Ugly Stick GX2 6', Medium

BPS Tourney Special IM6 MH

 

A hodgepodge of brands.  I also have some Salmon/Steelhead rods.  I have nicer fly gear. I have moved around with work and keep having different species to target.  Bass and Panfish, now.

I use the St Croix most of the time, but the Ugly Stick seemed to have a better feel with Cranks.

Cranks and Jerk baits can kinda be used on whatever rod you have laying around. Before I built my dedicated jerk rod (which, is a 7ft rod geek MH fast spinning rod that has a very soft tip to it ) .  I was using a 7ft M/l St croix  premier spinning rod which, worked fine. I caught a lot of fishing doing it that way 

 

Generally speaking both cranks and jerk baits are used in slower actions rods due the treble hooks. However,If you’re going to use a faster rod use mono.  if your are going to use a rod with a slower action use braid to a flouro leader. 

This will get you by until you can buy dedicated rods. 

I'd use your pair of ugly Sticks- the spinning for jerkbaits and the casting for cranks (up to 1/2oz).  I bet your Tourney special rods could handle heavier moving baits over 1/2oz.

Your St Croix or Ugly Stik in baitcaster;  your Ugly Stik or BPS in spinning.  Jerk or crank.

You need something to "give" when using a jerk bait.  They always hit it on the pause when you snap up.  I prefer mono for this reason.  You could select a rod with some give instead if you wanted to use braided line, but something has to give otherwise you will pull those light wire hooks right out.

Would you think mono on the ugly stick bc or braid?

I'm not very familiar with an ugly stick but I would tend to think it's not a very stiff rod, so you would be OK using braid.

 

Maybe someone else can help here with that type/brand of rod.

I'd use mono/copoly.  You will be throwing cranks in abrasive areas, and you need an abrasion resistant line.

I fish a lot of crankbaits, and I always use mono. I have used straight braid occasionally, just because it was expedient.

 

I have 4 rods I use, listed by power/action

BPS Graphite Series 6'6" M/F 2 Piece

Abu Garcia Black Max 6'6" M/M

Lews Hank Parker 6'10" M/F

BPS Crankin' Stick 7'3" H/F

The BPS Graphite is a listed as Medium but it's a ML. I use it for smaller jerkbaits like 3/16oz Rapala original minnow and size 6 Shad Rap.

 

Between the next 2, the Abu pins fish better, but the Lew's sets the hook better. I have taken to using it for an all around rod.

 

The heavy is used for big crankbaits or swift current. In current, it pins fish good, and it's not as fast as the Lew's. I had no problem pulling 10 pound carp or 15 pound gar with it. But I've caught 1 pound bass with it as well and it doesn't over power them. Again, in current, at the river. I don't fish it much other than in current.