Beginner Friendly Suspending Jerkbaits? 2025
Jay Ell Gee reply :
This is my first "winter" (if you can even call it winter in South Louisiana) that I am still attempting to bass fish, and for some reason, I have just been really against trying jerkbaits. I would much rather throw swimbaits, but if some suspending jerks will put some fish to hand this winter, I will throw them as much as I have to, in any temperature that I have to.
My main question is, does anyone have any suggestions for beginner friendly suspending jerkbaits? I'm not really into modifying my lures yet (nor would I know how to) and am kind of hoping to find some baits locally to try before ordering. Keep in mind that I am a college student, and while I am not against picking up a pointer or two, I was hoping to also perhaps see some suggestions for some less expensive ones. I am also bank bound most of the winter, as my dad (fishing partner) is hunting more this time of year.
I am looking for some lures that will be useful in spring as well (in the boat), so I am not wanting to spend a lot on specialty lures diving 8-10 feet. I am just looking for a handful of general use suspending jerks that are beginner friendly. Main colors would be shad, bluegill, baby bass, typical south La stuff.
Also, does anyone fish soft jerkbaits this time of year? I haven't used flukes much because they just roll all over the place, they never stay upright. Is that supposed to happen?
Thanks in advance for all the help guys! I am planning on bringing the girlfriend to a pond Thursday to get her on some bass. Perhaps we can nail some and post a report!
endless reply :
I haven't had no luck on them yet but I like the Smithwicks.
Matthew Veillion reply :
Who showed you that pond bud?
ww2farmer reply :
I had good results last year with the Luck E Strike Rick Clunn STX baits. Resonabley priced, and produced way better for me than any Rapala product. Every one I have suspended right out of the box with no additional weighting in 45 degree water and they cast like a bullet with the weight transfer system in them. The hooks are so so, they are good for a while, but will need to be changed after a few big fish. I have yet to find a hook to replace the stock ones that I like. Mustad elite regular wire hooks were too light and caused the bait to rise on me, and the Mustad KVD 1x strong hooks were too heavy and caused it to sink. I ended using the light wire hooks and added a suspend dot or two to balance it back out.
Jay Ell Gee reply :
On 1/2/2013 at 12:39 PM, Matthew Veillion said:Who showed you that pond bud?
Hey, you were invited! 
I do think we had kind of a slow morning there. Now that I realize the kind of shad that are in there, I can hopefully formulate a better game plan!
Quillback reply :
On 1/2/2013 at 12:47 PM, ww2farmer said:I had good results last year with the Luck E Strike Rick Clunn STX baits. Resonabley priced, and produced way better for me than any Rapala product. Every one I have suspended right out of the box with no additional weighting in 45 degree water and they cast like a bullet with the weight transfer system in them. The hooks are so so, they are good for a while, but will need to be changed after a few big fish. I have yet to find a hook to replace the stock ones that I like. Mustad elite regular wire hooks were too light and caused the bait to rise on me, and the Mustad KVD 1x strong hooks were too heavy and caused it to sink. I ended using the light wire hooks and added a suspend dot or two to balance it back out.
Yep I also like the RC STX baits. I replace the trebs with Daichi Deathtraps. Spro McSticks fish well out of the package, a little more pricey, but if you wait for the online sales you can get them at reasonable prices. I haven't tried the Strike King KVD bait yet, but it is also reasonably priced.
Crestliner2008 reply :
I learned on a Husky Jerk, many years ago. I still get hit with some decent LM's in the spring on the clown pattern. If you want to increase your odds, consider an X-Rap in the olive back shiner pattern. Medium size will work about as good as anything. Eventually, you'll be investing in some Pointers too.
ww2farmer reply :
On 1/2/2013 at 9:10 PM, Quillback said:Yep I also like the RC STX baits. I replace the trebs with Daichi Deathtraps. Spro McSticks fish well out of the package, a little more pricey, but if you wait for the online sales you can get them at reasonable prices. I haven't tried the Strike King KVD bait yet, but it is also reasonably priced.
The KVD's are on my short list of new baits to buy this year.
CPBassFishing reply :
I like the Daiwa DB minnow. Great quality for $6, it dives down to 3 feet and suspends perfectly with the nose down. Give one a try.
A-Jay reply :
I'm not the expert, (insert Dwight's name here) but Lucky Craft Pointers have accounted for some quality fish. (avatar)
Both the 100 and the 100 Deep Diver are good choices and there are Several colors to chose from.
A-Jay
webertime reply :
Good "starter" Jerkbaits:
L.E.S. Rick Clunn STX's (replace the hooks with Gammy EWG Trebles!!!!!) $5-$8
Bomber Suspending Long A $4-$8
Rapala Husky Jerks $3-$8
Smithwick Suspending Rogues $4-$6
Get comfy with those then get a Luck Craft Pointer (or Slender Pointer) and see if you can tell the difference.
flyfisher reply :
I like the x-raps and as far as soft jerkbaits go i do use them year round.
If yours is rolling then you are most likely not rigging it straight. It took me a few times to get to the point where i can rig it straight but now it is second nature.
jeb2 reply :
I have LC's of all different types, Vision 110's, SK KVD's, RC STX's, Rapala's, etc for jerk baits. The easiest to fish out of the box is the STX. As metioned above, it suspends very well out of the box. All of others need weight applied to do the same. And the STX is a fish catcher!
Not sure if the water gets cold enough in South Louisana for jerk baits, though. The general rule here in the Ozarks is water below 50-55 degrees.
Jay Ell Gee reply :
I never carry a thermometer with me, but perhaps I should.
Our winter days fluctuate, but this time of year it may reach below 32 (29 is the lowest so far) once a week. Our days tend to be in the upper 50's and sometimes lower 60's.
Is this a waste of my time even tossing JB's? I'm still catching fish on a jig'n'pig pretty much daily. Maybe throw some swimbaits along with the usual plastics?
However, thanks a lot for the advice. I do want to pick up a few just to try. The STX seems to be pretty popular, just have no idea where to find them. I'll start calling around. I may fold and pick up a shallow pointer as well. Seems like a good bait to fish parallel to banks and wood when a squarebill won't produce.
MCS reply :
I am catching them here in Jax in the same weather senario. I use bomber long a's or daiwa db minnows. most productive colors are blue/clear orange belly in the bomber and the only color I have is rainbow trout in the daiwa. My best days with them are after a cold front comes through with some wind. After a couple days of solid temps(no dramatic change) I go will something more proven/typical, ei t rig or for you a jig. So hell yeah try them in your area they will work. It is a different type of lure and fun to use here and there.
Jay Ell Gee reply :
PM sent. Thanks to everyone for their advice! May try to order a few of the Daiwa and Luck E Strikes!
roadwarrior reply :
Don't order anything just yet...You will have a few toys to play with next week.
Silas reply :
Ya gotta listen to Road Warrior! And, I can tell you this: I live about 25 miles from you and have been doing really well with the Chartreuse Sexy Shad Pointer 78. I know it's a little pricy, but it works right out of the box, and what's more important....it's catching fish in THIS area right NOW! Jerk, jerk, pause!
Glad to see a fellow fisherman nearby. Your pond should be relatively clear now and the Pointer should do the trick.
roadwarrior reply :
I'm sending some soft plastics, too. I don't recommend fishing hardbaits, except topwater, from the bank.
A lure retriever will return almost all treble hook lures when you can get over them in a boat, but not from
the shore.
Jay Ell Gee reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 3:29 AM, roadwarrior said:I'm sending some soft plastics, too. I don't recommend fishing hardbaits, except topwater, from the bank.A lure retriever will return almost all treble hook lures when you can get over them in a boat, but not from
the shore.
I really appreciate it Sir. I agree on using expensive hard baits from shore. I have one completely void pond with decent visibility (5-6 feet) near my house and I will be tossing it just to practice the cadence and action. There is absolutely nothing to get hung up on except on the bottom in 12-15 feet of water, and I may borrow a Jon boat to do even that. I couldn't imagine losing a 10-15 dollar lure from shore!
Skeet22 reply :
I'm assuming you fish the Basin being you live in BR area?
Jerkbaits are very productive in South Louisiana esp this time of year through the spawn. A smithwick suspending rouge in gold/black/orange is the only jerk bait you need down here. I'm not saying pointers and more expensive baits wont catch them but they eat rouges well enough that you don't NEED them.
The water temps are between 50-56 now depending on exact location and a jerkbait is one of the few ways to catch them now if they are suspending on points or holding close to wood. In a month or two a productive pattern in the Basin is to pitch a rouge to the base of cypress trees and pop it a couple times. It will draw the fish off the tree and they will kill it.
Another pattern to use is to hit north facing canals that hold fish in the winter and throw a rough right down the center in the deepest part of the canal where they will sometimes suspend during the fronts or under cold cloudy conditions. That and fishing jigs and plastics as slow as you can stand are the most productive ways to catch them during the winter down here. When we get those common warm periods and the water temp climbs back to 60 or so they will start eating a chatterbait,crank,spinnerbait again.
Jay Ell Gee reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 3:56 AM, Skeet22 said:I'm assuming you fish the Basin being you live in BR area?
Jerkbaits are very productive in South Louisiana esp this time of year through the spawn. A smithwick suspending rouge in gold/black/orange is the only jerk bait you need down here. I'm not saying pointers and more expensive baits wont catch them but they eat rouges well enough that you don't NEED them.
The water temps are between 50-56 now depending on exact location and a jerkbait is one of the few ways to catch them now if they are suspending on points or holding close to wood. In a month or two a productive pattern in the Basin is to pitch a rouge to the base of cypress trees and pop it a couple times. It will draw the fish off the tree and they will kill it.
Another pattern to use is to hit north facing canals that hold fish in the winter and throw a rough right down the center in the deepest part of the canal where they will sometimes suspend during the fronts or under cold cloudy conditions. That and fishing jigs and plastics as slow as you can stand are the most productive ways to catch them during the winter down here. When we get those common warm periods and the water temp climbs back to 60 or so they will start eating a chatterbait,crank,spinnerbait again.
Thank you for the advice! Typically, we fish the Bayou Pigeon spillway area. I have really been wanting to make it a point to fish lake cataouatche some this year as well. I appreciate the heads up. Banging squarebills off of trees and stumps accounts for some good fish out there, so it seems like the concept is the same, but with a slower lure? I appreciate the tips from locals. However, I am mainly bank bound this winter, unfortunately. Highway 51 and Ramah usually, as well as some ponds around here.
If you know of any decent bank fishing opportunities, any chance the local guys could shoot me a pm? I am always up for new fishing partners!
Skeet22 reply :
I can't think of any spots to bank fish. I fish all winter and will be scouting the basin often between now and spring. PM me you number and I would be glad to take you whenever you can get away.
And Cat is not very productive right now. The whole area has fished really tough since Issac. They had a major fish kill in Segnette and Des Allemands.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 1/2/2013 at 9:10 PM, Quillback said:Yep I also like the RC STX baits. I replace the trebs with Daichi Deathtraps. Spro McSticks fish well out of the package, a little more pricey, but if you wait for the online sales you can get them at reasonable prices. I haven't tried the Strike King KVD bait yet, but it is also reasonably priced.
Put me down as another fan of the RC STX jerkbaits, both the large and smaller sizes produce for me very well. I have one of the bigger KVD jerkbaits that I tried last Wednesday and it produced for me on a bank we had already pulled a bunch of fish off of, so far so good I guess. One that nobody mentioned that I really like is the Excaliber Erratic shad. The same price as the RC baits but a little more subtle action and for some reason it seems to be more of a big fish bait for me.
Quillback reply :
I've seen those Excaliburs, but never tired one. I've got so many jerklbaits as it is, it's hard to justify picking up another brand, but if it catches big fish... 
ww2farmer reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 2:48 PM, Bluebasser86 said:. One that nobody mentioned that I really like is the Excaliber Erratic shad. The same price as the RC baits but a little more subtle action and for some reason it seems to be more of a big fish bait for me.
I purposely didn't mention them. 
But your right...........
Bigbarge50 reply :
Ok so as a guy who stinks with jerk baits, here is my current selection (recently lost my pointer 100). As you see I have a smaller pointer, rapala husky jerks and a x rap, two different yozuri's, and two different rogues..... all suspend.
Which one should I really be tossing and mastering..... cause I think I might have been bouncing around too much trying to catch fish and not getting good with the bait.
Jay Ell Gee reply :
What are those two in the top left corner? I like those a lot!
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 1/6/2013 at 9:41 AM, Bigbarge50 said:Ok so as a guy who stinks with jerk baits, here is my current selection (recently lost my pointer 100). As you see I have a smaller pointer, rapala husky jerks and a x rap, two different yozuri's, and two different rogues..... all suspend.
Which one should I really be tossing and mastering..... cause I think I might have been bouncing around too much trying to catch fish and not getting good with the bait.
Those shallower running Husky Jerks and the shallower running Rogue will be much easier for you to fish and are all good colors.
Bigbarge50 reply :
Not too shallow?
The two in the top left are older yozuri's
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