Am I missing out not using a jerkbait? 2024
Rbunton87 reply :
I don't own, never thrown one! its a bait that I shrugged off and thought was boring. Am I missing out by not throwing one?
DanielG reply :
Same experience. Good question. I'll be watching. thnx.
Hewhospeaksmuchbull reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 4:15 AM, Rbunton87 said:I don't own, never thrown one! its a bait that I shrugged off and thought was boring. Am I missing out by not throwing one?
Without a doubt!
Was a jerkless fisherman until LMB shut down, threw a jerkbait for first time and BAM smallmouth.
Boring? Not!
I love manipulating these smallmouth with a jerkbait, they will often follow bait to shore, pause it there and give a twitch and they attack. In my opinion one of the more rewarding ways to catch fish.
Tizi reply :
I have been using jerkbaits before they were called jerkbaits: #9 Original Floating Rapala in black/gold. Fast forward to today, I am fishing using more expensive lures: Vision 110, Provoke 106, LC Pointer and others. These are designed to provide erratic slashing action and suspend on the pause. I always have one tied on, they just catch fish, everywhere.
Shimano_1 reply :
Absolutely missing out. 4 years ago I decided that spring to really get into fishing em and it has opened my eyes. I have one tied on now year round anywhere I go unless it's super muddy water. In the spring I've seen days when nothing else even compared. Give em a shot and be patient and I'm sure your experiences will be similar.
Smokinal reply :
In water 45 degrees and down, yes, you are
BoatSquirrel reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 4:36 AM, Tizi said:I have been using jerkbaits before they were called jerkbaits: #9 Original Floating Rapala
Same here Tizi. I would let that Rapala minnow sit on top, give it a few jerks and if nothing ate it on top, reel it up. One day, probably 1982?, I started doing a jerk, pause, jerk thing and the fish crushed it. Nowdays I love throwing jerks because I am convinced most guys think its too much work to fish. Last year a jerkbait was responsible for 20% of my bites. I fish them almost all year long.
Shimano_1 reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 5:02 AM, Smokinal said:In water 45 degrees and down, yes, you are
We rarely have water much colder than 45 and I can assure you they work just as good in water above that. We've caught em all summer on jerkbaits. Most people quit throwing them once the water heats up
A-Jay reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 4:15 AM, Rbunton87 said:I don't own, never thrown one! its a bait that I shrugged off and thought was boring. Am I missing out by not throwing one?
On 1/31/2020 at 4:24 AM, DanielG said:Same experience. Good question. I'll be watching. thnx.
I have not fished in AL so I can not say for sure - my guess is probably.
I have fished in ME and There Is No question in my mind -
Yes you are missing out on bites from some of the best fish in the water's you're fishing.
Because a jerkbait is so productive during the times when some of the biggest fish are accessible; early & late season.
And if you are seeking smallmouth - that's even more reason to consider a jerkbait.
'Several' of the biggest brown bass I get every season, choke a jerkbait.
So there's that.
A-Jay
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 4:15 AM, Rbunton87 said:I don't own, never thrown one! its a bait that I shrugged off and thought was boring. Am I missing out by not throwing one?
Well if your fishing with me & you still don't it's going to be a long day for you.
kdubracing reply :
Does anyone throw them out of a kayak? Is it hard to work them from a kayak?
Way north bass guy reply :
I have several rods rigged with different sized jerkbaits from ice out to freeze up, have for many years. I’ve caught so many different species, from spring lake trout to pike, muskie, bass, walleye, catfish etc etc. It’s funny how so many people say they’re only good when the water is cool, but I have some of my best days with them in the highest water temps of the year, ripping them about as hard as I can along weed edges and shallow rocky areas for both largemouth and smallmouth. When gamefish are feeding on minnows or smaller fish ( like perch), they are often one of the best choices of lure, both to cover water quickly and to slow down and work a spot over.
Mr. Aquarium reply :
I for the love of God can’t get bit on a jerkbait. Big swimbaits hair jigs, small swimbaits, swimbaits fished like a jerkbait blade baits, soft plastics. I’ve tried and tried with jerkbaits can’t get bit to save my life
NorthernBasser reply :
If you only fish muddy water, eh. Much better options. If you're fishing water with decent to great visibility, absolutely.
Bird reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 7:57 AM, kdubracing said:Does anyone throw them out of a kayak? Is it hard to work them from a kayak?
I throw them from a kayak, sitting and much harder to work them as opposed to a standing deck of a Bass boat.
The issue is compounded because I work a Jerkbait VERY aggressively and prefer a downward stroke.
Dens228 reply :
I also fish them out of a kayak. I love using them and don't have any kayak related issues. I've caught them in warm water but they really shine in the colder water. I was fishing in northern Illinois on Black Friday using jerkbaits and using 15-20 second pauses and caught a lot of bass that day!
jimmyjoe reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 8:24 AM, NorthernBasser said:If you only fish muddy water, eh. Much better options. If you're fishing water with decent to great visibility, absolutely.
Exactly. I "accidentally" learned jerk-and-twitch baits on a Rapala Countdown, which has no rattles. I was fishing in rivers, and quickly learned how much the effectiveness could drop with dropping water clarity.
I was happy (again) when I was introduced to the Bomber Long "A", which has rattles. Even it has its limits, depending on how bad the visibility happens to be.
I occasionally experiment with new lures, but those two are my ol' reliables. jj
A-Jay reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 8:36 AM, Bird said:I throw them from a kayak, sitting and much harder to work them as opposed to a standing deck of a Bass boat.
The issue is compounded because I work a Jerkbait VERY aggressively and prefer a downward stroke.
Perhaps give this method a try in cooler or colder water -
I use in it when fishing from both my boat and my canoe.
#catchesgiants
A-Jay
slonezp reply :
Natty Lite on a Husky Jerk...The preferred bait for alcoholics everywhere....
In all seriousness, I always have one tied up and ready to go. It works year round, but shines in cold water.
DanielG reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 5:23 AM, Shimano_1 said:We rarely have water much colder than 45 and I can assure you they work just as good in water above that. We've caught em all summer on jerkbaits. Most people quit throwing them once the water heats up
Well, 4 ft of ice on my lake right now so at some point it will be water and it will still be cold.... I'll give them a try. I like hard baits anyway.
Tizi reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 7:57 AM, kdubracing said:Does anyone throw them out of a kayak? Is it hard to work them from a kayak?
I fish jerkbaits out of my kayak often. Depending on the kayak, the technique can be performed standing or sitting. Standing I use the downward sweep, sitting is sideways. I use both methods. Both work.
slonezp reply :
Not only Natty Lites, but they catch 7lb walleyes under bluebird skies in 90* weather. This, by the way, was the only fish I caught that day
They also catch crappie
Baby bass also catches baby bass
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
Do yourself a favor and buy one. A hot jerkbait bite is so fun, hookup ratio is phenomenal
J5877 reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 7:57 AM, kdubracing said:Does anyone throw them out of a kayak? Is it hard to work them from a kayak?
Yes I had good luck all year in the f11 floating minnow
drew4779 reply :
They will work year round but an absolute killer in cold water. It's the first lure I throw after ice out.
@reelChris reply :
When everyone is talking about throwing jerk baits in colder water, are you all using hard baits, or flukes too?
Fishes in trees reply :
Yes you are missing out not throwing a jerk bait. Once you own a few of them then you will want "sets" of them to cover all the various conditions you might encounter. Most of these situations you encounter in your mind, but how much does that really matter?
Nevertheless you'll want a set of Lucky Craft pointers, you'll want a set of Vision 110's (these get really pricey). You can get a set of Vision 110 knock offs from Lucky Strike for somewhat less money and sometimes they work as well as the originals. Over the years, Strike King has come out with several different jerk bait variations, you'll want a set of each of those. Smithwick Rogues are classics and there are multiple variations of that bait, so a set of each of those, in a variety of colors is nice. necessary? Excalibur marketed a jerk bait for a while, the EE Shad - when those got closed out at a local tackle shop, there went $150 for a set of those. ( they haven't gotten wet yet ).. But wait, there's more . ..
There is such a thing as deep diving jerk baits. Lucky Craft makes some in the Pointer series - you need a set of those. Lucky Craft also makes a bait called at Staysee - a deeper diving jerk bait - they work and you probably need a set of those as well.
Don't forget the classics - the old Rebel spoonbill - the various Rapala jerk baits, formats among these is the Husky Jerk, but you can spend well over $1000 just getting some each of the Rapala variations of the jerk bait. Bomber Long A's are classic - need a set of them. And I'm pretty sure I've left out 80% or more of the jerk baits currently on the market.
So, short answer to your question, yes, you're missing out not throwing a jerk bait. There are numerous threads about the gear side of this equation as well, check those out and lighten your wallet some more.
PhishLI reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 4:15 AM, Rbunton87 said:I don't own, never thrown one! its a bait that I shrugged off and thought was boring. Am I missing out by not throwing one?
Probably. 90% of the fish I caught in several lakes between January and March last season came on the Rapala Shadow Rap in perch. The rest came on the IMA suspending lipless crank that I sort of fished like a suspending jerkbait. Halfway through March the Dark Sleeper bite took off like wildfire so I gave up on the jerkbait. I was fine with that as our lakes have big Pickerel and it's not fun unhooking them when they choke a 3 treble bait.
Bluebasser86 reply :
One of my favorite ways to fish. Catches all sizes and types and works way more than just in cold water. I fish them on a spinning rod from my kayak.
Dorado reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 1:23 PM, Bluebasser86 said:One of my favorite ways to fish. Catches all sizes and types and works way more than just in cold water. I fish them on a spinning rod from my kayak.
Blue, If you could only pick one multi-species jerkbait, what would it be?
gimruis reply :
I started using them about 5 years ago. Took a while before I caught a fish on one. It helps to mix up the cadence and pauses until you get bit. I exclusively used them for smallmouth in clearer waters until last year when I tossed one in some darker water for largies. By god I caught a couple so I will consider them as an option year round now.
The downside is the cost. Any reasonable jerk bait is close to 10 bucks, with the really nice ones being more. And up here, pike bite offs are a serious problem.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 10:09 PM, Dorado said:Blue, If you could only pick one multi-species jerkbait, what would it be?
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Duo_Realis_Rozante_77SP_Jerkbait/descpage-DRRZT.html
FryDog62 reply :
My 2 cents, yes you are missing out if not using a jerkbait. Sometimes they work when nothing else does, sometimes they work for all species not just bass.
On our season opening weekend last May in Minnesota I had maybe my single best multi-species day of fishing. Entirely with a jerkbait and caught numerous 18-20 inch largemouth, a 27 inch walleye and an 11 pound pike (I even caught a huge, beautiful Sunfish I now wish I had snapped a picture of!). That day I used a Shadow Rap, Berkley Cutter and a Vision 110. Fish didn’t discriminate - it was all about the jerk-pause action.
There were a few other boats out on this small 200 acre lake, all dragging live bait around and I didn't see any other fish caught...
J Francho reply :
What are you missing not throwing jerkbaits? Not catching fish on jerkbaits. Some places, you won't get the bait back if you throw them. That's true with any bait. There are times of the year, especially up here, where it's almost a must throw. Outside those times, you might not miss much not throwing them, but the question can be always be asked: what am missing not throwing [blank]? You're missing fish that bite [blank].
slonezp reply :
On 2/1/2020 at 12:10 AM, FryDog62 said:My 2 cents, yes you are missing out if not using a jerkbait. Sometimes they work when nothing else does, sometimes they work for all species not just bass.
On our season opening weekend last May in Minnesota I had maybe my single best multi-species day of fishing. Entirely with a jerkbait and caught numerous 18-20 inch largemouth, a 27 inch walleye and an 11 pound pike (I even caught a huge, beautiful Sunfish I now wish I had snapped a picture of!). That day I used a Shadow Rap, Berkley Cutter and a Vision 110. Fish didn’t discriminate - it was all about the jerk-pause action.
There were a few other boats out on this small 200 acre lake, all dragging live bait around and I didn't see any other fish caught...
Beautiful pike
Silas reply :
On 1/31/2020 at 8:24 AM, NorthernBasser said:If you only fish muddy water, eh. Much better options. If you're fishing water with decent to great visibility, absolutely.
Down in the Louisiana Swampland, I've rarely seen clear water, the likes I have seen in Lake Ouachita in Arkansas, where I could see my bait even 20 feet underwater
So I read about them but never fished them here.
About 2 years ago I bought a Lucky Craft Pointer in Sexy Shad jus to put in my tackle box.
About a month later I came upon a stretch of bayou where I could see the bait around 4-6 inches underwater so I tied one on and chunked it as far as I could and pulle in about a dozen bass in half an hour. Wow!
I went crazy and bought 10-12 jerkbaits.
Ive found in November- February, between fronts and floods, that I can do well with them.
Problem is last few months have been floods, and murky water, so black and blue Bitsy Bugs and Zoom Sapphire ultra vibe speed craws have been the ticket.
And in my depressed area of the South, the Pointers and Visions are too expensive to lose. Lots of debris on our shallow soft bottom bayous.
FordsnFishin reply :
I've had the best day of fishing of my life on a jerkbait.
I've caught my personal best on a jerkbait.
An my go to bait is a jig...
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