The Best Jerkbait Rod: Our Top 6 Picks in 2022

If you’re an avid fisherman, you know that having the best jerkbait rod can make all the difference. And when it comes to rods, there’s nothing more important than choosing the right one for the job.

Jerkbaits, especially mid depth jerkbaits, are a versatile type of lure that you can use to catch a variety of fish, making them a popular choice among anglers. And with the right rod for jerkbait fishing, you can up your game and increase your chances of bringing home a big catch.

Not sure which rod is the best for jerkbaiting? Check out our top 6 picks for the best jerkbait rod in 2022.

Our Top Picks 

6 Best Rods for Jerkbait

• Best Fishing Rod For Many Fishing Techniques – SHIMANO Curado Casting Rods
• Best Fishing Rod For Bass Fishing Technique – KastKing Speed Demon Pro Tournament Series
• Most Sensitive Fishing Rod – St Croix TRS70MF Triumph Fishing Rod
• Best For All Types Of Lines – Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Fishing Rod
• Best For River Water Lures – Shimano Poison Adrena Fishing Rods
• Best For Technique Specific Actions – G Loomis NRX+ Bass Fishing Rods

1. SHIMANO Curado Casting Rods

Best Fishing Rod For Many Fishing Techniques

Key Features

• This jerkbait rod can execute various fishing techniques
• Hybrid high modulus UD carbon construction with nano resin for high sensitivity
• Composed of Fuji Alconite Guides for uninterrupted passing of knots
• Rubberized Fuji reel seat matte
• The cork grips are high quality to ensure comfort when held

When shopping for the best jerkbait rod, consider the SHIMANO Curado Jerkbait Rods. It’s a versatile option that can be used for many fishing techniques, making it a great rod for anglers of all levels.

The Shimano Curado casting rod has fast action and medium power rating. Featuring a 6 feet and 10 inches length, this gear is considered an uncompromising quality.

They are made with a hybrid high modulus UD carbon construction, which makes them extremely sensitive. This means that you’ll be able to feel even the smallest of bites, allowing you to set the treble hook with ease.

The jerkbait rods are also outfitted with Fuji Alconite Micro Guides, which ensure that your line passes through smoothly and without interruption. And for added comfort, the cork grip is of high quality and provides a comfortable hold.

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2. KastKing Speed Demon Pro Tournament Series

Best Fishing Rod For Bass Fishing Technique

Key Features

• Carbon NanoTube resin technology for more sensitive grip
• It has a baitcaster that can handle heavy lines from ten to twenty pounds
• Sensitivity won’t let you down when attaching the trebel
• WINN golf-style, also known as WINN Grips, makes tighter hold
• The Speed Demon Pro crankbait rods for smooth crank action

Have you ever gone fishing with a jerkbait and had difficulty reeling in your catch? This is a common problem for anglers, especially those using heavier jerkbaits. The KastKing Tournament Series was designed with this problem in mind.

This baitcaster can handle heavy lines from ten to twenty pounds, making it the perfect choice for bass fishing. The KastKing is made with carbon nanotube resin technology, which makes it more sensitive to the touch.

This means you’ll be able to feel when a fish is biting, making it easier to reel them in. This fishing rod also has a WINN, golf-style grip that provides a tighter hold. This will help you keep a firm grip on the rod, even though the fish fight back.

The smooth crank medium light power is one of the best features of the KastKing Tournament Series. This ensures you won’t struggle to reel in your catch.

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3. St Croix TRS70MF Triumph Fishing Rod

Most Sensitive Fishing Rod

Key Features

• Premium graphite construction for high sensitivity and durability
• Premium cork handle for a strong grip
• St Croix detects jerk bait bite easily
• The reel seat type is spinning for St Croix bass
• With 5 year-warranty from St. Croix Superstar Service

If you’re in the market for a spinning rod or a good walleye rod that is both sensitive and durable, the St. Croix bass TRS70MF Triumph Fishing Rod is a great option. This fantastic rod is constructed from premium graphite, which makes it sensitive enough to detect even the slightest bite from a jerkbait.

You can choose 6 feet by 6 inches length for medium-heavy power and medium power rating for the St. Croix Spinning Jerkbait Fishing Rod.

The cork handle also provides a strong grip, even when wet. Plus, with a 5-year warranty from St. Croix Superstar Service, you can be confident in the quality of this jerkbait rod.

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4. Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Fishing Rod

Best For All Types Of Lines

Key Features

• Built with fiberglass and graphite for strong pull yet comfortable weight in the hands
• It has stainless steel to remove pops out and is suitable for all types of lines
• It has an Ugly Stik Clear rod tip design to facilitate extra sensitivity
• Has EVA grips
• Has warranty for 7 years

You will not regret purchasing this casting fishing rod as it is one of the best you can get in the market. It is built with fiberglass and graphite for strength, yet it is still comfortable to hold. The rod features 6-7 feet lengths, medium to medium-heavy powers, and slow action.

Its composition makes it hard to snap when pulling in large fish. It also has an ugly stick clear tip design for sensitivity and to remove line pops.

The Ugly Stik baitcasting fishing rod also features stainless steel micro guides with zirconium inserts. Lastly, it has EVA grips for comfort during use.

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5. Shimano Poison Adrena Fishing Rods

Best For River Water Lures

Key Features

• It has 6 modes, 2 bait casts, and a super-high 4 spin
• Composed of carbon tape on the inside of the rod
• Fuji K Stainless SiC guides and a Fuji Titanium SiC tip facilitate smooth line flow
• Vibrations increase sensitivity to biting
• The New Poison Adrena rod range is flexible

Shimano’s Poison Adrena is one of the favorite jerkbait rods of most anglers. It is suited for use in river and estuary settings where other lures are constantly being cast. The rod’s six modes (two bait casts and a super-high four spin) give the angler ample opportunity to change their lure presentation.

And the carbon tape inside the rod blank increases sensitivity to vibrations, allowing the angler to feel even the lightest of bites. The Fuji K Stainless SiC guides and a Fuji Titanium SiC tip facilitate smooth line flow.

Its cork handle ensures a comfortable grip even when wet. The rod makes casting effortlessly precise and is very easy to target your desired position.

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6. G Loomis NRX+ Bass Fishing Rods

Best For Technique Specific Actions

Key Features

• It’s constructed with graphite spiral X 
• Light and strong recoil guides
• With a custom reel steel C14+
• Handmade

The G Loomis NRX+ Bass Casting Jerkbait Rods are designed with proper technique-specific actions to give you the advantage when out on the water.

The NRX+ construction with graphite spiral X provides a light and strong blank up to 20% stronger than similar jerkbait rods on the market. These rods have recoil guides designed to help reduce line tangles and provide smoother casting.

And the custom reel steel C14+ provides added strength and durability. The NRX+ Bass Fishing Rods are handmade in the USA and come with a limited lifetime warranty.

The G Loomis NRX promotes long and accurate casts. Its casting rod makes a more comfortable grip and decreases forearm fatigue. Moreover, the rod helps boost a bass anger’s ability to fish jerkbaits and cast rods.

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Things to Consider When Buying the Best Jerkbait Rods

Now that you’ve learned and maybe picked a particular rod among the ones reviewed, it’s also important to know the things you’ll have to consider when buying a high-quality rod.

Listed below are the criteria to take note of.

Durability

This should be one of your top priorities as you don’t want to buy a rod that will easily snap and break, especially when you’ve already caught a big fish. You want a product that can withstand different weather conditions and still perform at its peak.

The micro guides and blank should also be high-quality to avoid accidents. Look for a rod made of high-quality materials such as graphite, fiberglass, or composite. This will ensure that the rod can withstand years of use.

Reels

The reel seat is an integral part of the rod for jerkbait fishing as it helps you cast your line and catch bass with ease. Different types of reels are available in the market, so choosing one compatible with your rod is essential.

The most common types of reels are baitcasting, spinning, and spincast. Baitcasting reels are best suited for experienced anglers as they require more precision when casting. A spinning rod or reel is more user-friendly and ideal for beginners. You can use a spinning rod in fresh and saltwater.

And Spincast reels are a good option for those who want the simplicity of a spinning reel seat with the added accuracy of a baitcasting reel. These reels are also great for kids as they are not too difficult to operate.

Action

The rod action of a rod refers to how much the tip bends when pressure is applied. There are three types of action – fast, medium, and slow.

Fast-action rods are designed for experienced anglers who want more control over their casts. These rods are great for jerkbait fishing in open water as they allow you to make long and accurate casts. They bend mostly in the tip, so they are not as well-suited for fishing in tight spaces.

Action rods with a medium heavy power rating are a good compromise between fast and slow action rods. They are versatile and can be used for different types of fishing. The tip bends more than fast action rods, so they are better for fishing in tight spaces.

Slow action rods are designed for beginners as they are easier to control. These rods provide more forgiveness when casting, so they are ideal for those still learning. The tip bends more than medium-action rods, so they are better suited for jerkbait fishing in close quarters.

Length

The rod length is also important as it will determine how easy it is to control. If you are new to fishing, it is recommended to choose a shorter handle as it will be easier to use. A rod with a longer handle is better for experienced anglers as it provides more power and accuracy. 

Line Weight

The line weight is the thickness of the line and is measured in pounds. The heavier the line, the thicker it is.

Heavier lines are better for jerkbait fishing in open water as they can handle more weight. Lighter jerkbaits are better for fishing in tight spaces as they are easier to control.

They are also a good choice for smaller fish as they are less likely to break the line. The best test for line weight is around a 10-15-pound test range.

Within that range, you can easily cast and retrieve a jerkbait. As an illustration, you can check the casting distance of a good jerkbait rod.

Notably, the American Tackle MicroWave guides have significantly set the best line control to eliminate wind knots.

Type

The next thing you should consider is the type of jerkbait rods. You can choose spinning rods for beginners because spinning rods are easier to use than a baitcaster and is suitable for experts in jerkbait fishing.

In other words, a good rod for you to use is what’s suitable for your level.

Power

The power of the rod refers to how much pressure it can handle. There are three types of power – light, medium, and heavy. 

Light and medium light power rods are designed for smaller fish such as panfish, trout, and Crappie. They are not well-suited for larger fish as they can break easily.

Medium power rods are a good all-purpose option. They can be used for smaller fish but can also handle larger fish such as bass and walleye.

Heavy power rods are designed for larger fish such as Muskie and Northern Pike. You can also use them for saltwater fishing.

The power of the rod is an important factor to consider because it will determine what kind of fish you can catch. It is also important to ensure that the rod matches the type of line you are using. If you are using a light power rod with a heavy-duty line, the line can break easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Right Equipment For You Lets You Catch More Fish

When choosing the right jerkbait rod, it is important to consider the best length, action, line weight, and power. These factors will determine what kind of fish you can catch and how easy it is to control the rod.

If you are new to fishing, choosing a short rod with light power is recommended. This will make it easier to handle. Experienced anglers can choose a longer rod with a heavy power for more accuracy and power. You can catch more fish and have more fun with the right setup.

When buying a jerkbait rod, ensure that you do some due diligence. Read as many jerkbait rod reviews as possible to fully understand what to look out for in a new equipment.