How To Build The Perfect Custom Jerkbait Fishing Rod! Build To Catch!

[@TimBigBendFishing]

I was born and raised in Ohio until my thirties when work brought me to Florida. I can vividly remember being stuck inside watching snow fall, wishing I could fish. Now I've traded the frustrations of winter weather for the frustrations of hurricanes. I guess just like the Eagles said "I guess every point of refuge has its price". Thanks for explaining rod building in an easy to understand way!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching

[@jamesclifton474]

Love your rod building videos and building rods. Feel very satisfied when I or a friend catch something on a rod that I have built. Good luck on the up coming season.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you like them!

[@mikecollett8513]

Had a chance to stop in and see Mud Hole a few weeks ago, oh man. Anyone stopping in Orlando, it's only about 20 minutes south, must see. I was eyeing the SJ812 for the same application. First build so being frugal. I don't know what I don't know just yet. Hoping a Black Friday or Xmas sale hits and I grab a couple blanks for a winter project. Another thumbs up for the build videos.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks so much!

[@michaelbyrne8860]

Pull the battery, open it up & insert into a plastic bag filled with rice! Spinning Rod build spine up or spine down? Always thought that the best length for any jerk baits was 6' 6" MH with a thick butt, tip slow! Spinning Rod & Reel kick-ass up to 3/4oz baits! After that it's a bait casting set up! I bought a All Star Rod Reef Walker 6" 6' 784c T38x casting rod blank when they were still made in Houston by hand, it's still the top water I've ever fished! Cast a lure a country mile and still have enough butt to set a hook at long distance! Nice rod build! Sorry about the phone dip!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺Thanks Matt. Sorry to hear about the snow. I also fish my jerk baits on a spinning rod with lighter 6lb Tatsu line. I use the NRX+ 802 and rely on my Stella drag system to assist with the lighter line. Works phenomenally well. When you have a 5lb class smallmouth on and you have a “inadequate” set up you will lose more bigs than your heart can take especially on a jerk bait. Rod and reel are not always crucial but in the above example it’s vital in my experience. I can’t take a photo if I don’t land the fish and I’m all about the photo. If you don’t have the photo it didn’t happen.😎

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds good to me!

[@Mg0936]

I watch your comments, and you’ll be dropping bank on fishing lol. I hope I can build up a lots of nice stuff some day. It really makes a difference!

[@freeagentangler5159]

It’s the nice thing about living in Las Vegas, year round fishing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yep

[@johno7435]

Matt, come to Florida. Our prime bass fishing season is just starting as water temps drop into the 70s 😉

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds great!

[@docbrown9054]

70° here in sunny Santa Rosa! Come out and beat up on Clear Lake when you're ready!😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds fun

[@joffrechampagne7908]

Good luck with the bone fish. I chased them for years and miss the challenge. Todd's artwork - look at his hybrid hunter Playlist. One of the earlier ones he shows his drawings. He has talent. Love the rod builds !

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome

[@markhogquist2000]

Built one on an MHX high mod, medium powered popping blank many years ago. Still my favorite for quarter and 3/8 oz jerkbaits.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome

[@markbrigance6294]

Love your channel, but just can’t resist letting you know that it’s in the 80’s here in south Texas today and I’m going out to see if I can find some bass in the 6 to 10 lb. range. I am envious of the big Smallies you have up there where it’s snowing now.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Dang!

[@rodneygreen9968]

Thanks Matt for a great video.👌 I wish that you could talk about Gloves for Cold Water fishing.👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great suggestion!

[@samuelschult985]

Nicely done Matt and great catches too 👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thank you very much!

[@harryaterui2474]

Watched this video, then caught a nice size steelhead on a jerkbait on my way to work. Thanks for the tips!

[@MattStefanFishing]

That is awesome!

[@kellyhalverson2887]

Hey Matt, expecting my mudhole order today so I can build an NSJ871 for Ned fishing. In the past when you've done these, you included the parts lists and the spacings for the guides. Are you planning to add that info to this video as well? Love the build to catch videos

[@joebaggs78]

I was wondering the same.

[@noahledbetter3969]

Man your not alone I use spinning gear for my jerkbaits !!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nice!

[@richshackelford5793]

Great video Matt, this spring I will try a spinning rod with a jerkbait

[@MattStefanFishing]

Go for it!

[@TURBOINTEGRATYPER]

Excellent video as usual.!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks again!

[@jaimelascurain3192]

Matt, what size Revo3 SX do you recommend? I really enjoy your videos.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I use the 20 and 30 sizes

[@terrytresemer2864]

Yeah I get the cheep brushes also. And yes you have to pull the lose hairs out. Me being but 5'7" it important for me to have the shorter rod. My next project will be refurbishing my split bamboo fly rod. It's seen a lot of wear the past couple of years.

[@rickmarshall3352]

Make a video of that! I have an old H.L. Leonard split bamboo rod that my great grandfather used for catching trout in some of Michigan's great streams.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@mybassfishingaddiction]

Sorry man, on Lake Norman today it was 82 degrees. The same for the next 3 days.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds nice

[@sbaner5]

Two things, I saw the blank to order but is this one of your completed packages that can be ordered? And unless I missed it, I would still like to see how to remove and replace a guide down the blank. Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

This is not a signature series kit and I’ll do another video on guide replacement

[@mikek3638]

Would you say the stretch you gain from using all fluoro compared to braid/fluoro helps pin the fish? I find a lot of fast action rods that are truly fast action don't help me pin the fish enough, so I have to really search for a good jerkbait rod. Love the rod build stuff you do and on the water action too. Full circle.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes

[@harrydixon6770]

What guides are you using and what is the recipe please. I love to go after Big Fish on light tackle. You have not lived until you have hunted redfish and speckled trout on ultralight tackle.😊

[@colt5618]

Another quality video, two questions, the spine, w here is it positioned in relation to the guides? Secondly what is the casting weight range of the rod. Thank you.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Put the guides along the spine and the casting weight i believe is up to 1/2 oz

[@colt5618]

@@MattStefanFishing thank you, would the guides for a baitcaster be opposite the spine?

[@nawinchester]

Wow, straight 6 lb floro. I'm a braid to leader guy. Do you fish straight Floro all year long ??

[@MattStefanFishing]

With jerkbaits

[@mellowfellowfishing]

Awesome build! As a new angler with jerkbaits, I much prefer a spinning rod. How big/ heavy are the jerkbaits you're throwing on this setup? Thanks! 👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Standard size Stunna 112, vision 110 etc

[@mellowfellowfishing]

@MattStefanFishing cool, thank you. I'm still trying to grasp the idea amd courage of throwing 6lb line on jerkbaits 😮

[@michaelsheppard4227]

Very reason I moved from WV to Alabama. No more non fishing months for me.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds good

[@joebaggs78]

Would the MHX 6'10 Dropshot blank 6-14lb X- Fast, also make a good jerkbait rod? I was wondering if this blank would get a little more distance with the blank or does the Extra Fast prevent the blank from loading up and launching that bait?

[@MattStefanFishing]

You don’t want an extra fast blank for jerkbaits IMO

[@spencersmith6754]

Watching you trying to convince Todd was epic😂😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha

[@danielhedrick9917]

What hover rig is the go to if u only get 1? Figure weedless, can always cut off the guard, but what size hook and weight? This is for a fisherman in Massachusetts. No electronics. Mostly 300acre or less water.

[@MattStefanFishing]

My favorite is the 3/64 oz size

[@danielhedrick9917]

@@MattStefanFishing I think I ordered 3/32. Where do I throw that size? I figured I'd throw on my med or ML spinning rod. 8lb fluoro. Am I sounding about right? Or should I be returning for smaller size?

[@Bass302Fishing]

Hey Matt, what reel seat are you using? Do you prefer that over the TVS for jerkbaits specifically?

[@javishmedina8144]

Matt Love your channel, does the real seat threads go on top or bottom? Is that preference?

[@MattStefanFishing]

its a preference with most seats

[@tyguidry4113]

Matt is there a blank that has no spine?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Not that I’m aware of. Blanks have spines because they are rolled sheets of graphite

[@rickmarshall3352]

Thanks again for a terrific rod recipe! Wait! Where is the recipe? Which reel seat is that?

[@MattStefanFishing]

It’s the crb real seat.

[@rickmarshall3352]

@@MattStefanFishing PFS-16-B?

[@douglasspickler4925]

I heard you say we are going to put this rod together for you. So I'm sure you were talking about me. So when can I expect my new rod?😂🤣

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha

[@banned4life857]

Love it. Send me one identical

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha

[@banned4life857]

@@MattStefanFishing dead serious lol

[@banned4life857]

@@MattStefanFishing I'm fishing some Toyotas this year. Your rod could be my secret weapon.

[@banned4life857]

@MattStefanFishing I think I've not tried a spinning reel with light line as my jerkbait rod because I'm in Florida. Always chasing 6-10lb bass in shallow water. Feel like if I went with 6lb flouro 2 things would happen. I'd break off some big fish and they'd run a lot having to set the drag so light. They'd be headed for cover and I'd lose fish there also.

[@banned4life857]

@@MattStefanFishing Matt Stefan custom rods sponsorship? Lol

[@mikeeller557]

Thanks Matt , New Phone ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nope it actually works fine surprisingly…took two days for it to start charging thou

[@Triple87]

Is there anything worse for a bass guy than looking out the window and everything is snow?? Us northern guys have to suffer lol… I’m in the middle of a freezing rain as I write this.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Bummer

[@Mg0936]

Yep I’m in southern Arkansas and I would die if I couldn’t fish for months. I am very jealous of northern smallmouth fishing though. There’s a few lakes within 2 hrs of me that have smallies, but you are lucky to catch one and they are never hardly over a pound.

[@Woefman911]

So what is the spine,to me it's just where wrap sorta overlaps....Gary Loomis even says he has no clue about spine, but he just knows where to put guides, for spinning or casting.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Spine is were the wrapped graphite ends/starts

[@williamknight5142]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@russellkamp8923]

Go to Texas and fish!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds good

[@kayakfishingforpredators9107]

🙄 The blank alone is 107$ and the rest of the components doubles that (at least).....🤔 The rest is not important anymore,... I am GETTING myself a readymade HE- rod. Really Matt if you only know about my source for High End HE rods😊. I cant tell you about it unfortunately 🤐😬

[@MattStefanFishing]

Ok