The last but not least element of equipment is the leader of appropriate strength. Unfortunately, there is too much trash on the market, elaborately but untruthfully described by their manufacturers. It is advisable to test the strength of the purchased leaders, and as for the equipment recommended for casting, it is simply a necessity. The simplest test is to make a knot on the line and the leader that you want to use. Then you must load the whole thing with sufficient weigh. The weakest element of the set SHOULD be, of course, the knot on the line. However, you will be surprised to learn how often it will be the leader end, snap, or swivel at the end of the leader. It is not worth to make your successful landing the fish dependent on leaders' manufacturers.

The only way to check if your leader is strong enough.

Still many anglers choose traditional spinning rods of 2.4 or even 2.7 m in length for fishing with jerkbaits. They do their fishing and are convinced they do not need any other equipment. Of course, it can be done this way. It reminds me of fishing with a 3-meter-long rod under the ice. Surely, it can be done, but what for? Even if they use smaller baits, like Slider 7, 10 or Fatso 10, they do not realize how much information coming from the other end of the line escapes their attention. And when it comes to the "real" jerkbaits of 45 - 120 g, they can only dream! So, a strong spinning rod is a good start but casting set is a step further into the magic circle.

Some anglers start to fish with jerkbaits with classic spinning rod and reel.

When choosing your first jerkbait equipment, you should take into account the following attributes of such a set, composed of a short stiff rod with the trigger, multiply reel and braided line.

- possibility to employ the most ergonomic thus the least tiring technique of angling with the rod directed towards the water,
- excellent control of the bait,
- ability to perform a strong and fast hookset
- possibility to use the shortest possible drag time, which is the safest for the fish.

Of course, the new sensations provided by perfectly selected equipment are not the only attributes of casting technique. It also gives us the possibility to catch the fish that used to be out of reach. In the fisheries where all the anglers use small or medium-size spinner baits or soft plastics, jerkbaits are deadly effective. I found out about it myself during a few large lure competitions and everybody who has not given up at the first failure will surely confirm it.

How does it happen? Where does this magic power come from? To understand it, let us have a closer look at these strange lures and think about the origin of these

Strange lipless wobblers - jerkbaits.

In fact, not only lipless baits belong to this family. The name of this group derives from the angling technique, not their construction. This technique is most accurately characterized by the verb: "to jerk", and one may "jerk" not only with jerks but also with wobblers, soft baits or even good old spoons. Yet, each of these lures, even guided very monotonously, keeps moving whereas the classic jerkbait, without intensive work with the rod and reel, stands stock-still. Only a conscious action of the angler can awake the force able to lure the dream-pike out of the depths. The most beautiful thing about jerkbaits is that sooner or later practically everyone discovers new techniques of using them, effective in particular conditions. Every jerkbait, even of the same type, only slightly different for example in buoyancy, is like a new chapter of a fascinating novel the pages of which are written with our own hand on our angling expeditions. For me, jerkbaits are a major discovery and great adventure. In their simple construction I can still find a primal magic force that makes me focus and stimulates my imagination. I think that this type of bait was the prototype of all the artificial lures. Where could the first of them appear? In North America or in Europe? I guess we will never know. One thing is sure, though: the rod as we know it today, the reel and the advanced lure designs have been created as a result of the first "angling" experience of our fur clad ancestors. The first "human-made" lures must have resembled fish and been made of the kind of material that was easy to shape - wood. At first they were probably used as "teasers" to lure big predatory fish to come near the boat where they were killed by a hunter with an arrow or spear. So these "lures" were classic jerkbaits, only without hooks.

We may never learn the truth about the first jerkbaits, but it is not the most important thing. What is important is the fact that in spite of their primitive construction and often not very elaborate appearance they still catch big fish on both sides of the Ocean, leaving behind nice and shining spinner baits and realistically looking silicon lures.

Jerkbaits are the best way to catch a new monster on old water.