Fun part of this gig is getting to fish new stuff. Rigged up a few new rods on Friday and fished 2 of 'em on Saturday. Both were wows – for me. Disclaimers:
- I'm a decent fisherman. Sometimes I'm good but that's because of the conditions and the fish lol.
- To me rods, shotguns, guitars and hot dog toppin's are very personal. You might not like what I like...BUT you would definitely know if you had a good rod in your hands.
7' M Abu Garcia Pro Series Hank Cherry Jerkbait Rod
I couldn't wait to fish this rod. Hank's one of the best if not the best ever at jerkin' plus the Stunna Jerkbait he co-designed is great – so I "knew" his jerkbait rod would be too. And it is, but I actually underestimated it. Haven't been a huge jerkbaiter so I have no level of expertise here, but I had no idea a jerkbait rod could do this stuff.
Had to call him about it, here you go, hopefully more coming later:
1. Is this the best jerkbait rod ever made?
> "For my style of jerkbait fishing, it's by far the best one I've ever put in my hands."
[Asked him what "his style" is and he basically said that means 365 days a year!]
> "You hear people say in wintertime they like a lighter rod and in the summer they want a rod with...parabolic bend – for me this is a rod you can throw 365 days a year. In the cold it's sensitive enough, and in FL fishing around grass it's strong enough to pull fish out of the grass. For me it's the rod I've been looking for...been wanting to build.
2. I could cast a light bait far – even in the wind – and when I jerked the bait it wouldn't move as much in the water, which is good. Am I getting that right?
> "That's all part of the design. ...people try to build the action so light that what happens is the rod flexes too much and there's not enough catapult to throw smaller baits...you get backlashes.
> "When you're working the bait, if the rod's too stiff it'll pull the bait too far, and if it's not stiff enough it won't pull it far enough. That rod is a fine line between the two. ...[notice] when you snap it down, the rod tip isn't shaking – if it's still shaking, that rod is too light. That means I have complete touch between me and the bait..no interference."
3. What line do you like for jerkbaits in colder water?
> "My preference is usually...15-lb fluoro. I'm used to throwing it – it's a little different with that bigger line. I like to horse 'em in. For the weekend angler it'd probably be 12 – I don't recommend going lighter than that, you don't gain any advantage.... The fact of the matter is 12-lb line, no matter what brand you use, is plenty strong to get in whatever you're gonna catch. I use Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon.
> "...that 15 deadens your bait so it has a little less action in that colder water. Those hooks [Berkley Fusion19 trebles] are so tacky sharp I can still take up slack with the rod and the line doesn't have as much stretch so I can drive the hooks home. With 10-lb line in colder water I could never get the hooks in them – there's still too much stretch.
> "This is something been working on for 15 years. ...want to hook em, get 'em off in the boat and put them in the jacuzzi as fast as possible...."
Couple more things he mentioned:
- He's caught 30-lb stripers on the rod.
- He uses a lubricant – I think it's Blakemore Real Magic – on his line in cold weather.
- Says he's gotten a lotta good comments on his new Abu Bladed Jig Rod as well.
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