New to jerkbaits

[Leskenny2155]

Hi
I'm going to have a go at jerkbait fishing which is a area of pike fishing ive never ventured into though i've done plenty of lure/crankbait fishing with your average size lures, at present i've purchase a few jerkbaits from Ebay upto 110g and gone and bought a new savage gear jerkbait rod 6'6" 125g and a new okuma citrix baitcasting reel 350, i will be fishing from the bank to begin and hopefully venturing onto a boat at some stage (another area that would be new to me) what i would like some advice on is the braid to go onto the reel my own thoughts are for 100lb power pro which i'm struggling to find local to me (Preston Lancashire) would this be suitable or do i go higher or lower ? Are there other brands that members have used and i could look at? Also do you use any shockleaders due to the lure weights? Also are there any makes of jerkbaits i should be looking at for the future, Any help on this matter or jerkbait fishing in general would be much appriecated

[Jason Skilton]

as you have no stretch, 80lb+ is what you need for chucking around big old jerkbaits.

Don't tend to use a shock absorber though.

[Leskenny2155]

Thank you Jason ive got it in my head to have 100lb however i can only find power pro braid in 88lb then 121lb would the 88lb be ok or would you up it to the 121lb as a safe guard or am i over thinking it? Just want to get it right before attempting to fish with jerkbaits

[davelumb]

Thank you Jason ive got it in my head to have 100lb however i can only find power pro braid in 88lb then 121lb would the 88lb be ok or would you up it to the 121lb as a safe guard or am i over thinking it? Just want to get it right before attempting to fish with jerkbaits

A general rule of thumb with all braids is to select on diameter rather than stated breaking strain.

The Power Pro you want for jerkbaiting is 0.43mm. The 0.46mm will do the job but the extra diameter (and buoyancy) acts to keep the lures up in the water, which can be advantageous at times - I use it for surface baits for that reason.

[Leskenny2155]

Hi Dave
Thanks for this I've sourced some 0.43 power pro braid and ordered it so hopefully will have it by weekend, that's good to no about the 0.46 braid thank you very much appreciated
Regards
Les

[davelumb]

Hi Dave
Thanks for this I've sourced some 0.43 power pro braid and ordered it so hopefully will have it by weekend, that's good to no about the 0.46 braid thank you very much appreciated
Regards
Les

Good stuff. Best of luck.

[Terryclayton]

Hi, what would be the alternative mono mm or test for the same method of fishing, I have a Citrix 364a but feel until I'm used to it mono for me, at the mo I have sensor 15lb on but only using it on a 70g rod until next weekend when my 120g prorex tips up.
Cheers

[David Holden]

Several considerations.
Mono is much thicker strength for strength than braid (for the purpose of the discussion assume it to be floating braid)
Mono is much stiffer than braid, so to go anywhere near braid strengths with mono is not casting friendly.
High strength braids have the advantage that should the lure be snagged, the hooks can straighten. Deadbait size hooks (4,6) open at around 20-25lb. You would need to test some of your lure sized hooks to find their fail point. Let's assume they open at 50lb. Any line strength lower than that means the line will fail first, so it's a non starter. Braid comfortably above 50 lb (we'll come back to that) will open the hook, but only once. There is a level on everything called a yield point; exceed that and permanent weakening occurs every time it is exceeded. On braid, that point is at approx half its actual (important! - not always what it says on the label) break load, so while 80lb braid will free the lure once or twice, sooner or later it will be seriously weakened.
Go to say 120lb braid, and there is enough margin to straighten a hook and fight for more days.
First job is to attach a hook to your scales, and earing eye protection pull till the hook opens. Double that load (for braid) and add on a bit more for comfort and that is your minimum braid strength.
For interest, the yield point on mono is at about 25% of its strength, so for hook straightening it's a non-starter without going to impractical strengths.
You mention you are in Preston. I'm in Blackburn. If you want to have a chat and see some demos I'd be happy for you to come round
D