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For better understanding of the advantages of casting equipment designed for jerkbaits, let us take a closer look at its elements. Thus,
First of all: the rod.
We are discussing typical jerkbaits for big predators; we will cast heavy baits: 35 - 120 g or even bigger. Jerking is a very active and dynamic technique. Considering this, the rod must have an appropriate casting weight to prevent it from breaking. Secondly, appropriate action, which will allow comfortable casting and effective jerking when big fish strike. Thirdly: the appropriate length. Moreover, a typical casting rod has a handle of special construction. It is the so called "gun handle". The characteristic trigger on it helps to grip it firmly and operate the whole set actively.
 Trigger on the casting rod handle helps you in better grip.
The American typical baitcasting rods are a little different. Usually these are rods with tremendous supply of power.
 Diffrence between American and European casting rod is very visible. The European anglers usually loose their tongue for a while after they have held in their hands such a rod, described: "action - heavy"! No wonder; they are more like broom sticks, not angling equipment. But this construction is justified, first of all, by tradition; in the US it is not customary to "play with fish". And thus the fight with great muskie, which most frequently fall prey to the jerbaits fans, is very short and exceptionally dramatic.
It much easier to play with big fish when you have a short rod.
Another thing is the size of lures used across the ocean. Huge jerbaits or soft lures with a few 5/0 hooks are very effective for big predators provided that we are able to do an effective hookset with our rod. Moving such a lure in the toothy jaws of a giant is possible only with the "broom stick". The American rods for muskie are usually also longer than the European ones. The issue here is, of course, better distribution of forces during the cast, jerk and hookset. But there is another reason for using a 2.4 - 3 m rod. It is the muskie fishing technique called "figure eight". This relatively simple trick allows to fish for muskie, which are in the habit of following the lure to the very boat, without attacking it. The trick is to extend the last stage of the lure retrieval through making vast movements with the rod half in the water. The rod tip can draw figures similar to "8" or "0". Many predators are tempted even after a few such figures. Most of experienced muskie hunters finish their cast in this way. Fishing with a short rod they would have to bend towards the water giving their spine unnecessary fatigue. A long rod allows the angler to do a precise "figure eight" without having to bend.
As it is widely known, our European pike is not deceived by any "eights" and usually darts at the sheer sight of the angler. Besides, our jerkbaits are slightly smaller than the American ones. Therefore, new designs being the "skimmed" versions of the American lures relatively quickly appeared on our market.
More ambitious companies created their own rod designs perfectly adjusted to the needs of the European anglers. These designs, the product of American - European and recently also Japanese experience, are still undergoing modifications. And thus, new rods, light and good-looking, of unusual dynamics and great action are produced.
 Modern casting rod - comfort and elegance. The second essential element of baitcasting equipment it is, of course-
A multiplier with a good braided line.
I have already mentioned how much the multiply reel "turns up" the equipment sensitivity. The classic spinning reel, especially when it comes to the heavy bait, requires taking the line on the finger at every cast. After a few hours even battle-hardened finger tips are damaged. In the casting reel, the line is released when the thumb's pressure is removed from the spool. In the same manner we can control the jerkbait's flight. It is much more comfortable way, and safer for our hands, than blocking the line going out of a reel with a fixed spool with our index finger.
Another advantage of multipliers is their greater strength for dynamic load, which is inseparable part of jerking. Generally there are two types of casting reels available for sale: low and high-profile (round).
 Samples of casting reels - round and low profile.
The first type is more delicate and is intended for smaller lures (15 - 35g). For "heavy artillery" it is recommended to use classic round multipliers. In addition to more solid construction, they also have spools of bigger capacity, which can hold 100 m and more of a thick braided line.
Another important thing is the power of our reel's brake. If we fill in a thick braided line onto a delicate reel and tighten up the brake, it will be damaged sooner or later.
To make our casting equipment complete we need a good quality braided line. We can, of course, experiment with the monofilament line, but it is like preaching to the converted. Apart from better strength parameters, the braided line has almost zero stretchness. It allows the angler to feel the lure's work perfectly and react immediately when the fish strikes.
While fishing with 15 - 35 g jerkbaits, it is sufficient to use a 10 kg braided line (ca 0.18 mm), which can be wound onto a low-profiler. However, for the baits above 35 g, I recommend 14 - 20 kg braided lines (0.23 - 0.27 mm). Very often "normal" anglers tap their fingers against their foreheads when they see such a "set". For a layman, it makes no sense to use the "catfish" braided line to catch the pike. True, it is not about the strength needed to fight the fish; it is about the technique. Fishing with jerkbaits, especially the big ones, is quite remote from classic spinning. It involves heavy baits and very dynamic performance. Undoubtedly, a big advantage of this technique is the possibility to explore places overgrown with weeds and reeds. Consequently, we have frequent "weed catches" that can be released with one jerk. After many such actions even a strong line sooner or later wears out. This is the reason why it is necessary to have a "strength margin", allowing us to retrieve without being anxious that a theoretically strong line will break at the twitch of a small fish. Everyone who, at least for a few hours, was trying to work against this rule, changed their minds right away, usually after they had lost a few precious lures. Personally, even if I am using the 20 kg line, I change the knot every few hours, just in case.
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