Extra-fast or moderate action — which rod is right?
It depends on four things, not on taste. Extra-fast when you twitch-pause or rip on fluorocarbon with a 100-115 mm bait: the snap is crisp, slack recovers instantly and you feel the slow "weight" bite. Moderate-fast when you slow-twitch, fish braid main line, throw micro baits with #10-#12 trebles, or target smallmouth that jump — a tip with give keeps small trebles pinned. Most pros throw extra-fast because most pros throw standard baits on fluoro; that is not a rule for a 50 mm bait on braid.
The full story
This answer is one piece of a longer lesson — setups, diagrams and the reasoning behind it.
More questions about Jerkbaits (Suspending, Floating & Sinking)
- Why does my jerkbait sink (or float up) on the pause when the package says "suspending"?
- How long should I pause?
- How long a rod?
- Fluorocarbon or PE braid — and is nylon ever right?
- Rattling or silent?
- One-piece or jointed?
- What is "slow twitch" and when do I use it?
- Can I fish a jerkbait in grass at all?
- Do I need a loop knot?
- What size for smallmouth versus largemouth?
- When is the water too warm for a jerkbait?
- Which reel speed?
- How do I get it deeper?
- I get bit but keep losing them — why?
- Colour — natural or bright?