Jerkbait Help/ Advice 2024
deep reply :
I was playing around with a Pointer 95 in a bucket of water earlier today when I realized that I could make it suspending, slowly floating or slowly sinking depending on the hooks I installed..
So I was wondering, when would you use a sinking jerkbait vs a suspending bait vs a slowly floating one? Also, when to use rattles and when not to? Not looking for specific brand info, just some general knowledge/ opinions; although the former would be appreciated, of course.
I'm fishing for northern strain largemouths in mostly clear water reservoirs (visibility 10 ft plus).
My apologies if this has been discussed before; in which case a link to the relevant thread would be great.
Thanks for any pointers!
00 mod reply :
Deep, I just searched for about 10 minuets and can not for the life of me find the "article" Dwight posted a while back about his jerkbait fishing. If you keep up with him, you should know he is jerkbait king around here. Maybe someone else saved it. It must have been in someone else's post. I am pretty sure it was in a fishing report as well.
Also, there are several jerkbait articles to be had here.... http://www.bassresource.com/fishing-lures-articles/
Jeff
aavery2 reply :
Mike McClelland (SPRO Mc Stick) says that you never want a suspending jerkbait to rise, he went on to say that he tunes his baits with either bigger hooks or additonal splitrings to get the presentation he prefers. He also said that he prefers the bait to have a slightly nose down attitude while suspending.
Hooligan reply :
There are many theories on it, in terms of rise, sink, true suspension. I fish the Vision110 Silent Riser an awful lot, and I catch an awful lot of fish on it- the theory of not wanting a jerkbait to rise. I believe Mike was misquoted on that- he doesn't want a jerkbait that rises in very cold water. At least that's what I've gathered from conversations and from writing he's done on the subject.
I'm very particular about jerkbaits, because there are specific things that I want them to do. A huge portion of my annual catch is attributed to jerkbaits; I'd go so far as to say that it's a full 1/3 of what I do every year.
When it comes to what I'm doing in terms of which style, and the floatation of a bait, I'm almost always looking for a true suspending bait. That said, it's only at specific water temperatures that it is going to do that. I would prefer a bait to rise slowly in a nose down attitude than I would prefer to fish a sinking bait in cold water. I select my baits a lot by what I'm fishing them over, or around what sort of structure I'm fishing them. I like some baits more in rock than in wood, the same can be said for open water or over weeds. In the Highland Reservoirs that I so often fish in Spring and Fall, the LC Pointer 100 and Pointer 78 are king as my all around baits- the size is based on depth and forage. When fish are on smaller profiles, obviously I fish the 78; and vice-versa. I prefer the Vision 110 for shallow weeds and wood, and in open water where there's very good visibility. I'll fish LCP100 in open water and wood as well, but typically where there's a little less visibility. Only very, very rarely do I go to a silent, or wood, bait. I do love my wood pointers, as they're simply superb for those situations in which an absolutely stealth bait is the way to go. The other style of bait that I have a lot of confidence in is the Flash Minnow 110- This bait, or style of bait, if you will, is a far more active bait. It's a bait that I generally do well with in spring and in certain situations in fall. When fish are on the tops of shallow rock or shallow primary points in fall, it can be absolutely dynamite. I'm not 100% certain of why it's so much more effective in those specific situations than other baits I fish; I'm sure of it is just my confidence in the bait. Sure it's the right depth and profile, but there are other guys that would rather fish a Vision 110. The depth of the Flash Minnow, I'm sure, is what does it for me in those situations- or at least that's the heart of it. A bait that will without fail stay at the 2' depth is pretty key.
Lastly, when I desire a deep bait, such as when fish are stacked on deep edges or on the backside of primaries in the 12-16' range- the only bait of choice is the Staysee90. It's extremely tight moving and it's very erratic.
Overall, in jerkbaits, it's getting an idea of what works for you. For instance- less is more. I really prefer to move a bait far less initially, until the fish tell me what they want. I'll move the bait very, very slowly at first.
Dwight's post is absolutely stellar with information, too. Hopefully he chimes in on this. I'm very proficient with a jerkbait but I took several things out of his post and have since applied them to my fishing style.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Great informative post Hooligan. The only thing I'll add is I occasionally use a very slow sinker in very cold water. I think sometimes the bait sinking slowly into a fishes face as it rises towards the bait will sometimes cause them to strike.
Will Wetline reply :
The behavior of a hard jerkbait can make the difference between a bunch of bass and a dry net.
Specifically, I'm thinking back to the '90s when I used to throw a Bomber Suspending Pro Long A (which is still a great value for $4.99).
This bait at that time came with #6 trebles which worked but looked small to me in relation to the body. The bait rose slowly with them as well.
I decided to experiment and put #4s on one of these. The bait sank slowly and the smallies slammed it. Out of curiosity, I tried a stock Suspending A and watched, grinning, as bass after bass followed right up to the boat but wouldn't take.
One other thing to keep in mind: flotation varies with water temperature.
Quillback reply :
On 10/13/2012 at 12:27 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Great informative post Hooligan. The only thing I'll add is I occasionally use a very slow sinker in very cold water. I think sometimes the bait sinking slowly into a fishes face as it rises towards the bait will sometimes cause them to strike.
Yep I agree on the slow sinker, I have had days were they tore it up. Got a couple of modified (heavy split rings) Luck-E-Strike RC STX jerkbaits, that will do the slow death sink.
A-Jay reply :
On 10/13/2012 at 10:50 AM, 00 mod said:Deep, I just searched for about 10 minuets and can not for the life of me find the "article" Dwight posted a while back about his jerkbait fishing. If you keep up with him, you should know he is jerkbait king around here. Maybe someone else saved it. It must have been in someone else's post. I am pretty sure it was in a fishing report as well.
Jeff
Here it is ~
A-Jay
Alright Shimmy I'll share a little bit about jerkbaits. First of all my jerkbait fishing evolved around pike fishing. Big predators. My favorite jerkbaits were made out of wood or plastic & weighed about an ounce to 2.5 oz. . I would practice jerk bait strokes along side the boat to see what kind of action I could delvelop with each bait. Some baits would dart 90 degrees to either side like a walk the dog motion but under water. Other baits would glide forward or sideways & some rare baits would almost turn around like in your face mr pike. Hard violent jerks or strokes would elevate the motions. Then you have to incorporate a pause period or let the bait rest. Usually the baits will get eaten while your pausing or just as you start your next movement. Remember jerk baits work on all species.
Now to jerkbaits for smallies. Typically when you first start fishing you use a search bait until you find fish unless you know exactly where they are. Then once you find fish you switch to your favorite presentation. I fish big water with lots of suspended fish spread over lots of rock structure. I seldom find lots of big fish in a small area. So my approach is to cover water with a jerkbait as my search bait until I find some big girls. Once we find them we work over the area. We put in waypoints when we get bit so we can revist each spot. When drifting on lake erie the waves cause the boat to surge & pause just like a jerked bait does when you are working it. Boat motion adds motion to your baits. I always prefer to drift downwind with the wind hitting my stern. I work one rod while i dead stick a second rod in a rod holder. When my forward progress is between .3 to 1.0 mile an hour drifting with the wind at my back it all works. Most of the time my worked rod out fishes the dead stick 3 to 1. But sometimes the dead stick rod is extremely effective all by its self because the boat is working the bait. This tells me to slow down the worked rod. This approach also allows you to run a deep diver suspending jerkbait while you are running a shallow suspending bait. Then you can decide to use all deep or all shallow baits depending upon the conditions. My prespawn smallie fishing is between upper 30 degrees to 65 degrrees surface temps. The colder the water the more subtle the action. As the water warms I use more erratic movements. I also select baits with more subtle action for cold water & more erratic action for warming water. You have to learn the action of each style bait you use and develop an understanding of what works best for the conditions you are facing. Colder water with poor visibility finds me using loud colors with subtle action & loud rattles. Warmer water with good visibility finds me using subtle natural colors with more erratic action and softer rattles. Smallmouth bass are extremely curious about noise & erratic action. Remember that statement. Your jerkbait represents a dying bait fish to a smallie if properly worked. Smallies will come up thru the water column to hit a jerkbait. How far they will travel depends upon water visibility & sound. When I can see the bottom in 15 feet of water I will not hesitate to work jerkbaits out to 30 feet. I try to use a bait that will get down to the depth I want to fish based on overall water depth & visibility. If your marking fish or marking bait you can key into that depth. My jerkbait inventory covers baits that run from 2 feet down to baits that run 20-22 feet down. Now I can fish jerkbaits effectively in forty feet of water with good visibility. Since i'm fishing relatively open waters I use ten pound braid with a leader on spinning tackle. And I use ten or twenty pound braid with a leader on casting tackle. The thin braid adds up to five feet of extra depth on the baits. Now when casting jerkbaits your depth is based on the bait, line diameter & the length of your cast. Maximum depth on most baits is increased by letting out more line up to around 200 some feet with diving bills. So I run my baits back from the boat about two to three cast lengths to achieve more depth when needed. This also allows you a more stealthy approach. I find that smallies move during the day between deeper water to shallower water based upon changing conditions. So I try to target different depths until I can observe a pattern of where they will be.
I do not limit myself to just one manufacture of jerkbaits. I find that on some days a particular bait from one manufcture will out preform all others. Especially on a tough bite day. So I carry about four different manufactures jerkbaits. Now within just one manufactures line of jerkbaits there can be five or six completely different baits by action, size, depth, sound, suspending, floating or slow sink & tilt. They can all shine based on changing conditions. Generally I prefer suspending jerkbaits with rattles. Then I look for level suspenders, nose down or tail down attitudes. Lucky craft probably covers the most diverse offerings of all jerkbaits manufactures in my experience.
Just remember when fishing a jerkbait that you are trying to excite a neutral fish into striking it because it mimics a dying baitfish. The more action you can impart to the bait the more fired up that big smallie gets. It is very similar to teasing a cat with a mouse on a string. 
Some times they want it barely moving and other times they want it fast and erratic.
00 mod reply :
Thanks A-Jay!
Jeff
roadwarrior reply :
Wow!
Now it won't be hard to find.
-Kent
aavery2 reply :
On 10/13/2012 at 12:05 PM, Hooligan said:There are many theories on it, in terms of rise, sink, true suspension. I fish the Vision110 Silent Riser an awful lot, and I catch an awful lot of fish on it- the theory of not wanting a jerkbait to rise. I believe Mike was misquoted on that- he doesn't want a jerkbait that rises in very cold water. At least that's what I've gathered from conversations and from writing he's done on the subject.
I'm very particular about jerkbaits, because there are specific things that I want them to do. A huge portion of my annual catch is attributed to jerkbaits; I'd go so far as to say that it's a full 1/3 of what I do every year.
When it comes to what I'm doing in terms of which style, and the floatation of a bait, I'm almost always looking for a true suspending bait. That said, it's only at specific water temperatures that it is going to do that. I would prefer a bait to rise slowly in a nose down attitude than I would prefer to fish a sinking bait in cold water. I select my baits a lot by what I'm fishing them over, or around what sort of structure I'm fishing them. I like some baits more in rock than in wood, the same can be said for open water or over weeds. In the Highland Reservoirs that I so often fish in Spring and Fall, the LC Pointer 100 and Pointer 78 are king as my all around baits- the size is based on depth and forage. When fish are on smaller profiles, obviously I fish the 78; and vice-versa. I prefer the Vision 110 for shallow weeds and wood, and in open water where there's very good visibility. I'll fish LCP100 in open water and wood as well, but typically where there's a little less visibility. Only very, very rarely do I go to a silent, or wood, bait. I do love my wood pointers, as they're simply superb for those situations in which an absolutely stealth bait is the way to go. The other style of bait that I have a lot of confidence in is the Flash Minnow 110- This bait, or style of bait, if you will, is a far more active bait. It's a bait that I generally do well with in spring and in certain situations in fall. When fish are on the tops of shallow rock or shallow primary points in fall, it can be absolutely dynamite. I'm not 100% certain of why it's so much more effective in those specific situations than other baits I fish; I'm sure of it is just my confidence in the bait. Sure it's the right depth and profile, but there are other guys that would rather fish a Vision 110. The depth of the Flash Minnow, I'm sure, is what does it for me in those situations- or at least that's the heart of it. A bait that will without fail stay at the 2' depth is pretty key.
Lastly, when I desire a deep bait, such as when fish are stacked on deep edges or on the backside of primaries in the 12-16' range- the only bait of choice is the Staysee90. It's extremely tight moving and it's very erratic.
Overall, in jerkbaits, it's getting an idea of what works for you. For instance- less is more. I really prefer to move a bait far less initially, until the fish tell me what they want. I'll move the bait very, very slowly at first.
Dwight's post is absolutely stellar with information, too. Hopefully he chimes in on this. I'm very proficient with a jerkbait but I took several things out of his post and have since applied them to my fishing style.
Great post, very informative, my previous post was in reference to suspending jerkbaits, that is what in my opinion makes a great suspending jerkbait is the fact that they do not rise or sink but rather suspend. I also fish the MB 110's and if fishing a Silent Riser or a High Floater that is exacly what I would expect them to do, especailly at their price.
Again very good post
deep reply :
Thanks a ton guys. Hooligan, thanks for your input; A-Jay, thanks for posting Dwight's masterpiece. Stuff has been Ctrl C-ed and Ctrl V-ed without asking for permission!
merc1997 reply :
deep, there has been lots of information on here. i did see some that say to never let your bait rise. HMMM??. i have fished "jerk baits" since back in the 60's. i have caught tons of bass with a bait that would slowly rise. also, i have done the same with one that sat perfectly still, and with them that slowly sank. the fact is you have to let the bass tell you what they want on the specific day you are fishing. you can kill them one way one day, and go the next, and have to go with the bait doing something else. same thing goes with how you are moving the bait too. i have jerkbaits that slowly rise, sit still, and sink, and i have them marked accordingly. another factor in the science in jerkbaiting is water temperature. you might have one of your jerkbaits that is slowly floating, and use it two weeks down the road, and that same bait is sinking. water density changes. let the bass tell you what they want. there is not any rule set in stone as to what will trigger a strike from a bass on any given day.
bo
Hi Salenity reply :
I have a couple more questions. What jerk bait (dive depth & color) would you try on a sunny day in 10' of water and it's clear enough water to see 5' down. I'm fishing for smallies.
I'm just curious to see how everyone would attack this situation.
A-Jay reply :
On 10/15/2012 at 8:01 AM, Hi Salenity said:I have a couple more questions. What jerk bait (dive depth & color) would you try on a sunny day in 10' of water and it's clear enough water to see 5' down. I'm fishing for smallies.
I'm just curious to see how everyone would attack this situation.
The options and personal preferences here are just about endless . . . .
Just in the LC brand alone there are several models / colors to go with .
Pointer 95 silent, a pointer 100, a flash pointer, the 127 and 128 are proven fish takers.
As for colors, the prevalent bait could play a role.
A-Jay
merc1997 reply :
you did not mention time of year and water temp. those variables would make a difference.On 10/15/2012 at 8:01 AM, Hi Salenity said:I have a couple more questions. What jerk bait (dive depth & color) would you try on a sunny day in 10' of water and it's clear enough water to see 5' down. I'm fishing for smallies.
I'm just curious to see how everyone would attack this situation.
bo
J Francho reply :
Here's a breakdown of Lucky Craft slash baits, by my friend Burnie.
http://www.burniehaney.com/files/Cold_Water_Jerkbaits_LOO_Spring_09_.pdf
deep reply :
Good stuff everyone. Thanks Bo, and J.
Blue Streak reply :
Clear water = natural colors. But if it is sunny I would be tempted to at least try chrome.
BuckMaxx reply :
It also depends on the line weight you use. I primarily fish Smithwick Suspending Rouge all winter. My favorite is a old school clown color.... on 8 lb line. I tune mine to sit exactly horizontal in the water and stay stationary. This makes the bait lay there for an extended amount of time. Altho I cannot see the fish. I feel they will come up to within a foot or two of the bait and sit next too it. When the bait suddenly moves they will reaction strike it. In real cold water like 43-45 degrees. I start at a 15 count, the first few fish will tell you what they want. If they are hitting it at 6-7 then thats what you go with.
n8cas4 reply :
On 3/24/2013 at 9:20 PM, BuckMaxx said:It also depends on the line weight you use. I primarily fish Smithwick Suspending Rouge all winter. My favorite is a old school clown color.... on 8 lb line. I tune mine to sit exactly horizontal in the water and stay stationary. This makes the bait lay there for an extended amount of time. Altho I cannot see the fish. I feel they will come up to within a foot or two of the bait and sit next too it. When the bait suddenly moves they will reaction strike it. In real cold water like 43-45 degrees. I start at a 15 count, the first few fish will tell you what they want. If they are hitting it at 6-7 then thats what you go with.
Just bought a few sus rogues. The hooks don't look so great. I'm going to put some gammy round bends on. Do you upgrade hook size or replace / or add split rings to make it suspend the way you want it?
BuckMaxx reply :
Years ago they used to have good hooks on htem and they didn't need tuned. But now adays each on of them is diffrent. I believe its not because of the bait itself but more so the chinese steel hook they put on them. Sometime I need to just change the split rings sometimes I need to change a hook. I use all Mustad hooks on my baits. Ya just gotta play with them. I spend hours on the water tinkering with crap. After you get a few baits tuned you really start too take care of them.
J Francho reply :
Rogue Limited come with Gamakatsu hooks.
n8cas4 reply :
Yeah, saw that. No need to switch with those - I got a few from cabelas -- they are the "pro" models. No gamakatsu on those.
Stacey king does a jerkbait clinic that was videotaped on you tube - its pretty good. Just type in Stacey king and jerbaits and you should find it.
Oldplug reply :
I have took time to watch dying shad. Some float up some drop. In either case the action is a lot more like the old plastic slugo lure than something you get from a Rogue. I think the thing that makes the rogue effective is the treble hook. Bass will come up in cold water and very slowly nip. That is when they get hung on a very sharp treble hook. With the plastics like slugo there is a single hook and they will nip the tail and drop it.
In the old days we did all kinds of stuff to make our baits suspend.the stick on lead strips were are a real blessing for suspending baits. I know a national champion that even today prefers jerk baits that he balances himself.
Water temperature and the line your using can effect these things also.
DementedMutt reply :
How can I tell if a jerkbait is a suspending jerkbait if there is nothing about the bait on the package? Rebel baits are a well known and famous brand, so why is it they put nothing on the package about what the bait is supposed to do. Their cranks have no dive depth written on the package, nor is there weights of the lures, does the minnow jerkbait suspend or float or sink. Not just picking on rebel a lot of brands do this. Strike King is awesome about info on there packaging but for someone on a budget $8 for a jerkbait is a bit much when I can get a Rebel for $4.
Bit of a question and a rant, but anyone know how to tell if a jerkbait is a suspending jerkbait without an aquarium or pool cuz I have neither?
J Francho reply :
On 5/3/2013 at 10:22 AM, DementedMutt said:How can I tell if a jerkbait is a suspending jerkbait if there is nothing about the bait on the package? Rebel baits are a well known and famous brand, so why is it they put nothing on the package about what the bait is supposed to do. Their cranks have no dive depth written on the package, nor is there weights of the lures, does the minnow jerkbait suspend or float or sink. Not just picking on rebel a lot of brands do this. Strike King is awesome about info on there packaging but for someone on a budget $8 for a jerkbait is a bit much when I can get a Rebel for $4.
Bit of a question and a rant, but anyone know how to tell if a jerkbait is a suspending jerkbait without an aquarium or pool cuz I have neither?
You can look up the specs on the baits here: http://www.lurenet.com/brands/rebel-lures
Nothing is exact, though. Line type, and diameter have a big influence on running depth.
Hi Salenity reply :
Another thing, to me a $25 110 that I actually use is a better value than the lower priced baits I've bought and probably will never use.
Bass Junkie reply :
This is so true... If I could have back the money I spent on lures laying around....On 5/3/2013 at 11:05 PM, Hi Salenity said:Another thing, to me a $25 110 that I actually use is a better value than the lower priced baits I've bought and probably will never use.
Mccallister25 reply :
Whats the best times of year to use jerkbaits? Are fish really particular when it comes to these lures?
Dwight Hottle reply :
I use jerkbaits all year. A lot of guys prefer to use them under cold water conditions. Fish do seem to prefer certain size baits and actions throughout the year.
Mr_Scrogg reply :
I cant get over the stretch feeling of the line when I work a Jerkbait. I feel I need to really jerk it hard and long to get the lure to move.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 8/27/2013 at 9:28 AM, Mr_Scrogg said:I cant get over the stretch feeling of the line when I work a Jerkbait. I feel I need to really jerk it hard and long to get the lure to move.
Braid and a leader will solve that problem. Try working the bait boat side or bank side to get a better idea how it moves with different strokes.
Mr_Scrogg reply :
Im using some Big Game right now. Going to pick up a spool if Copolymer soon to see if that would help with feeling things
Dwight Hottle reply :
Save your money. You need braid or floro.
Hi Salenity reply :
On 8/27/2013 at 10:15 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Save your money. You need braid or floro.
Do you normally use braid while throwing a jerkbait?
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 8/27/2013 at 10:32 AM, Hi Salenity said:Do you normally use braid while throwing a jerkbait?
Always.
Hi Salenity reply :
On 8/27/2013 at 11:47 PM, Dwight Hottle said:Always.
Interesting, I've never tried braid for that.
Tell me a little about your setup.
Dwight Hottle reply :
I use 10 or 20 lb braid with a maxima ultragreen leader in 10, 12 or 15lb. The rods I use are moderate action M or MH power St Croix's in spinning or baitcasting. I use a fairly light drag setting that just barely slips on a hard hooksett. I know a lots of guys prefer fast or extra fast actions but they are not very compatible with braid. The braid allows you to work a bait with very short or subtle movements of the rod tip. This system works well for me on the open waters of lake erie.
A-Jay reply :
On 8/28/2013 at 1:58 AM, Dwight Hottle said:I use 10 or 20 lb braid with a maxima ultragreen leader in 10, 12 or 15lb. The rods I use are moderate action M or MH power St Croix's in spinning or baitcasting. I use a fairly light drag setting that just barely slips on a hard hooksett. I know a lots of guys prefer fast or extra fast actions but they are not very compatible with braid. The braid allows you to work a bait with very short or subtle movements of the rod tip. This system works well for me on the open waters of lake erie.
Yea - that's a bit of an Understatement.
A-Jay
NathanW reply :
On 10/13/2012 at 12:05 PM, Hooligan said:There are many theories on it.....
Hooligan, Do you size up your hooks on your pointer 78? I typically go up a size up to #5's but I have never really spent the time to anlyize if it changes the baits behavior/action?
DelcoSol reply :
OK guys, after seeing everyone's success with jerkbaits I am going to upgrade some of mine and really dedicate myself to them this upcoming year. I currently only have Rapala Husky Jerk and X Rap. Can anyone put together a starting point for a few other brands/models I should try? All that is available here locally is Rapala so the higher end stuff like Lucky Craft is unknown to me. I will have to buy online so please include as much specifics as possible so I don't buy the wrong ones. Thanks
Frank
dam0007 reply :
On 12/10/2013 at 9:32 PM, bighead said:Before I really researched very much I bought a half dozen x raps to start with. What's everybody's take on these lures for cold water fishing?
I had great luck with them over the years during pre spawn.
roadwarrior reply :
Rapala puts the X-Rap in a different category, "slash bait" not jerkbait.
The major difference is the fast, erractic action of the lure. I think it is
generally too fast for winter fishing. I think you would do better with
a more subtle approach.
sprint286 reply :
Water temp. plays a role in suspending baits because cold water is denser than warm water so a bait that may suspend in 45 deg. water may rise In 55 deg water and so on . so the warmer the water the more weight you will have to add to get a bait to suspend. I like up sizing the hooks on a rapala shad rap in the winter to get it to suspend.
Nick reply :
Been slinging suspending jerks for a few decades myself. Conditions do change and what the bass want changes, but it's been my experience that finding the fertile ground to jerkbait fish is undoubtedly most important variable to control- way more so that brand, color, movement, or even lure depth. Since I fish them mostly now at Lake of the Ozarks, I'm constantly looking for shad at the depth level within the range where my jerkbait will suspend. Sounds easy, but lots of guys just go down any banks fishing them regardless of the presence of suspended food fish. When the shad are hugging the bottom, rareIy do I have a good catching day with jb's. can look at my locator and pretty well tell when I get to a patch of busted up shad, that is, smaller clumps of scattered that indicate they have been targeted by gamefish. I often tell my buddy in the boat next to me to get ready for a strike, and it happens pretty frequently when I see the right formations on my screen.
After location of food at the proper depth, then one can tweak the color, speed/tempo, action to get even better results. Particularly if one guy in the boat is getting the vast majority of strikes, then through comparison, better start copying what he is doing. Sometimes it's pretty subtle.
I do find it interesting that on Lake Ozark, a very good jb lake, that the suspending Rogue was supplanted by the Pointer which in turn was supplanted by the Megabass brand these last two decades. It's hard to argue against the Megabass brand for its casting distance and fish catching abilities. It tends to suspend tail down often, but occasionally rides parallel to the surface. For those wanting to save a few bucks, the Lucky Strike Clunn model works pretty much the same, but the internal weights can be fussy, and the lips are slightly smaller than the 3x more expensive Megabass. I'm not saying the Megabass 110 is always better, but it's really hard to argue tournament results around here.
Like Bo says, and we have won money before together jerk baiting, sometimes bass want something different for no apparent reason. At times, the could prefer a painfully slow sinking model that will get down to the 10-12 foot level with a quicker quiver than a spoonbill will give, but there are times that the fish want a spoonbill, wide wobble. And some around here even drill holes in a floater Rogue to make them sink in a circular pattern as deep as the angler wants and they can be deadly at times. So the real key is to be flexible and not tied in to one approach or lure. Sometimes the retrieve pattern makes a difference, but I like to fish them as fast as I can as long as I'm getting bit. I'll cover more water that way. I might actually only suspend and slow it down for 6-8 feet during a long retrieve(and I might hold it still for 6-10 seconds in a preferred zone) when I'm really dialed in to the location. Faster can be better when fishing against the clock.
As far as fishing the xrap, go for it. They catch lots of bass, and it can be slowed down and stopped in any temperature to match the bass' wants. I kind of like that little, cute fly tail too. It can be a trigger.
I would agree that braid gives better feel, and I think working a jb with just the tiniest bit of slack in the line gives that bait more wiggle room if desired. I like to move my rod tip at the 8 o'clock position about 2-3 inches before I feel the lure pull tight. I think I get better twitches that way if the bass want a sharper twitch. For economy, I can't find a way to beat straight Yozuri hybrid in 8 or 10 lb. test, and a 6'9" medium rod, and a quality bait caster. I get decent feel, and I don't break off like I did with flouro. For me jb fishing is done below 50 at it's most effective, and below 39 degree water temps, I have a much tougher time like everyone else I know.
aavery2 reply :
Nice post and good information Nick.
kingkong85 reply :
Would appreciate your input.
Got into hard jerkbaits last year so I'm still fairly new to this.
Q: How do you hold a baitcast rod with a trigger while working it?
I'm using a st croix triumph MH fast action 6'6" baitcast rod and after a few downward movement of the rod, I start noticing pain in my pinky and ring finger (trigger is between these 2 fingers). So I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 1/17/2014 at 10:14 PM, kingkong85 said:Would appreciate your input.
Got into hard jerkbaits last year so I'm still fairly new to this.
Q: How do you hold a baitcast rod with a trigger while working it?
I'm using a st croix triumph MH fast action 6'6" baitcast rod and after a few downward movement of the rod, I start noticing pain in my pinky and ring finger (trigger is between these 2 fingers). So I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong.
You need to try a different grip. Maybe try holding the reel instead of the grip. Or try holding the handle behind the trigger. I know some guys who removed the trigger for some applications. Your other choice would be to try a spinning rod & reel.
J Francho reply :
Quote
Q: How do you hold a baitcast rod with a trigger while working it?
All my fingers are in front of the trigger, with the rod between my index and middle finger. I rest my index finger just in front of the reel, by the level wind guard, and my thumb on top of the reel. I use a very small profile reel, a Daiwa Alphas, though I'm also comfortable using a Zillion.
kingkong85 reply :
Thanks for the response anglers! Will try your suggestions and see what works. MIGHT have to stop by the store and check some out.
Kirk Bonanny reply :
On 10/13/2012 at 9:58 AM, deep said:I was playing around with a Pointer 95 in a bucket of water earlier today when I realized that I could make it suspending, slowly floating or slowly sinking depending on the hooks I installed..
So I was wondering, when would you use a sinking jerkbait vs a suspending bait vs a slowly floating one? Also, when to use rattles and when not to? Not looking for specific brand info, just some general knowledge/ opinions; although the former would be appreciated, of course.
I'm fishing for northern strain largemouths in mostly clear water reservoirs (visibility 10 ft plus).
I prefer a neutral jerk bait myself, but have modified a couple to slowly rise, but none to sink. Many times I'll set it up so that the back of the lure is a fraction of an ounce lighter than it originally was so I can get that "nose down" look that seems to work quite well for me.
I also fish a lot of clear water lakes and live in north-eastern Pennsylvania, so we fish similar types of water. I primarily use Lucky Craft Pointers as well with my main ones being the size 78 (I think)... I can't remember for the life of me at the moment if these have rattles, but I am split down the middle on the rattle aspect... sometimes they seem to help while at other times they seem to hinder.
One piece of advice I'd like to add is to throw these whenever you have decent water visibility as they will load the boat in short order year round, at least around me they will. I can cover water with a jerk bait quite quickly..if that bite drops down I'll rework some of the spots I may have covered that showed some potential with worms, jigs etc... I have found in real clear water as you described you can call fish up from great depths or from a good distance with these lures. The colder the water, the slower you want to work these... An example would be 40 degree water not long after the ice clears up here... I may go 20-40 seconds (or longer) between twitches, and I want that lure to suspend. Water temperature will affect how the lure reacts, either rising, sinking or suspending, so be aware of that. One the water gets to 50 and above, I literally rip these all the way back to the boat. I have a 6' Browning Citori rod paired up with a Bass Pro Johnny Morris high speed reel specifically for jerk bait fishing. I am short (5'7") so anything longer than a 6' rod with this technique (same applies to me for topwater) is too long for me. I work my jerk baits with the tip down, right off the edge of the water and when ripping it I twitch twice and reel in the slack and repeat, quickly.
Hope this helps..feel free to ask any questions if you would like. Kirk
roadwarrior reply :
The preferred cadence changes with other factors. Right now a long pull and an extended pause is the ticket
around here. When the water warms up, a faster retrieve come into play. When the fish are red hot, in a feeding
frenzy, the Rapala XRap is a great lure.
jhoffman reply :
The xrap is a great jerkbait, its not nearly mentioned as much as it should be with the market being flooded with megabass, luckycraft... ive laid em out on an xrap.
HPfishin reply :
I have never had much confidence in a jerkbait until Tuesday, I got the chance to go to a lake in Raleigh, NC that is known for having some good size bass and I can tell you we absolutely smoked them on jerkbaits. I tried several of my Rapalas and an Xcalibur but I ended up borrowing a Lucky Craft because they actually work better, I was doubtful at first. The key is having a good setup, I was using my Curado E50 on a Skeet Reese jerkbait rod with 8lb Vicious flouro, I could make super long casts for such a light bait and a strong twitch (ON SLACK LINE) could make the bait turn a complete 360 and hook the line with the back hook, it was crazy. I definitely recommend jerkbait fishing this time of year, we saw water all the way from 50 to 60 degrees through the course of the day.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 3/14/2014 at 12:52 AM, HPfishin said:I have never had much confidence in a jerkbait until Tuesday, I got the chance to go to a lake in Raleigh, NC that is known for having some good size bass and I can tell you we absolutely smoked them on jerkbaits. I tried several of my Rapalas and an Xcalibur but I ended up borrowing a Lucky Craft because they actually work better, I was doubtful at first. The key is having a good setup, I was using my Curado E50 on a Skeet Reese jerkbait rod with 8lb Vicious flouro, I could make super long casts for such a light bait and a strong twitch (ON SLACK LINE) could make the bait turn a complete 360 and hook the line with the back hook, it was crazy. I definitely recommend jerkbait fishing this time of year, we saw water all the way from 50 to 60 degrees through the course of the day.
It's amazing what a little sucess with a jerkbait will do for your confidence level. The more you use them the better it gets.
frogflogger reply :
I've fished them for years - great tools - one of my more memorable catches was an 18# channel cat in south bay on the big O on a strike king wild shiner in clown color.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 3/18/2014 at 10:17 PM, frogflogger said:I've fished them for years - great tools - one of my more memorable catches was an 18# channel cat in south bay on the big O on a strike king wild shiner in clown color.
You beat me by a pound. When those big channel cats first hit the thoughts of a record bass quickly go through your mind.
roadwarrior reply :
And as your bait goes straight to the bottom and you line starts to twirl,
you realize, "probably not".
msp reply :
I have found that the temperature of the water has a huge effect on jerkbaits. When the water is super cold they don't seem to suspend properly. I like to have a variety of baits that
suspend differently. some have heavier hooks , some rise slowly and some sink very slow. Just keep experimenting during different conditions. Playing with suspend strips helps too.
roadwarrior reply :
Nice collection!
slimshad reply :
Ok, new guy here and also new to jerkbaits. I have neglected the jerkbait for years. Got my butt handed to me in spring tournys alot. Well this year I decided to learn it. Got extremely lucky and started this journey at Guntersville lake. Started to throw a Lucky Strike Rick Clunn model in a clear bay with boat houses. Immediatly caught fish with a 5 mississippi count between pauses. That was the start of a wonderful relationship. I found a stretch of bank that had some depth, say 10'. Worked the bait with the 5 second pause and had best five of 23lbs. Took that new found confidence home with me. Caught 50+ bass at Barren River lake KY with 4 1/2 the biggest. Took it to Patoka Lake in IN at my first tournament and got second, had two five pounders that day. Then to a small lake in western KY on spring break. Had a 6lber and 7 other keepers over 15" with numerous short fish. I don't know when this ride will end, but I will keep throwing it til it stops. I used the clear with blue back in clear water. The blue/purple back with chartruse sides in dingy water. Guys this is the real deal when you get confidence in it. My question is this ride going to end when the water temp gets to a certain spot like 70+???
kingkong85 reply :
From what I understand, jerkbaits work all year long. Jerkbaits are a visibility bait. The bass need to see it, even if it's from a distance. Water visibility is the key. So as long as you have good water visibility they'll hit. Color is important too. That I have yet to master.
Catch 22 reply :
Great read. Love the jb`s in winter.41 deg to 44 deg is when I do the damage with LC 78 & 100.
One thing I didn`t see mentioned , or missed is line attitude to the rod. With 15/20 lb braid and floro leader, often I will completely slack the line so it lays on the water with no tension from the rod. The lure is supposed to remain motionless between twitches.
Hope this helps.
C22
aavery2 reply :
On 4/9/2014 at 3:19 AM, slimshad said:Ok, new guy here and also new to jerkbaits. I have neglected the jerkbait for years. Got my butt handed to me in spring tournys alot. Well this year I decided to learn it. Got extremely lucky and started this journey at Guntersville lake. Started to throw a Lucky Strike Rick Clunn model in a clear bay with boat houses. Immediatly caught fish with a 5 mississippi count between pauses. That was the start of a wonderful relationship. I found a stretch of bank that had some depth, say 10'. Worked the bait with the 5 second pause and had best five of 23lbs. Took that new found confidence home with me. Caught 50+ bass at Barren River lake KY with 4 1/2 the biggest. Took it to Patoka Lake in IN at my first tournament and got second, had two five pounders that day. Then to a small lake in western KY on spring break. Had a 6lber and 7 other keepers over 15" with numerous short fish. I don't know when this ride will end, but I will keep throwing it til it stops. I used the clear with blue back in clear water. The blue/purple back with chartruse sides in dingy water. Guys this is the real deal when you get confidence in it. My question is this ride going to end when the water temp gets to a certain spot like 70+???
Things will change as the water warms. Baits that suspended well in colder water will start to sink in the warmer water and you will need to adjust, use smaller, lighter hooks, use mono line, or increase the diameter of the line if already using mono. Use a different bait altogether, some baits suspend better in warmer water than others. You will have to tune your baits to the water temp and how you want their stance and suspension properties to be.
Fish become more active in warmer water and you may have to adjust your cadence to a slightly faster one, lessen the time the bait is paused, you will need to make adjustments.
If you get the chance read some articles and interviews with Mike McClelland, he is an excellent jerkbait fisherman and always shares some good information.
Chris S reply :
On 3/22/2014 at 3:50 AM, msp said:I have found that the temperature of the water has a huge effect on jerkbaits. When the water is super cold they don't seem to suspend properly. I like to have a variety of baits that
suspend differently. some have heavier hooks , some rise slowly and some sink very slow. Just keep experimenting during different conditions. Playing with suspend strips helps too.
I have a question on your selection: top box 4th row bright green on the right, you ever caught anything on that color? I have the same exact lure and I give it a shot but i have never had any success with it! The Rouge on the top left is my go to most of the time.
J Francho reply :
Quote
I have a question on your selection: top box 4th row bright green on the right, you ever caught anything on that color?
Clown? It's my best color in less than clear water.
aavery2 reply :
I have a bunch of Rapala's in the clown color, but have had better luck with the LC Nishiki (bottom middle), not sure if it is the bait or the difference in color but the LC works for me.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 11/14/2014 at 5:26 AM, aavery2 said:I have a bunch of Rapala's in the clown color, but have had better luck with the LC Nishiki (bottom middle), not sure if it is the bait or the difference in color but the LC works for me.
I say BS to that. That Nishiki never catches fish. 
msp reply :
Yes. I ave had luck with that color. Clown is the name. I do have much better luck with the Smithwick rogue in the clown color. The LC in nihilism works well too. I find that when the water is very cold,i have much better luck with the more subtle jerkbaits like the husky jerkbaits and rogues than the more erratic baits like lucky craft
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 11/14/2014 at 7:26 AM, msp said:Yes. I ave had luck with that color. Clown is the name. I do have much better luck with the Smithwick rogue in the clown color. The LC in nihilism works well too. I find that when the water is very cold,i have much better luck with the more subtle jerkbaits like the husky jerkbaits and rogues than the more erratic baits like lucky craft
Is there another box with deep diver jerks that you did not include?
msp reply :
I do have a hand full of down deep husky jerks in another box but rarely use them as the water I fish is typically shallower than 20 ft. This year I have been experimenting with the new Smithwick perfect 10 rogue. Fist box bottom row
A real game changer for deeper suspended fish. I highly recommend them
Dwight Hottle reply :
The perfect 10 runs deeper than the typical shallow bill jerk bait. I fish a lot of deep divers in 20 fow. Try them some time. You might be surprised how effective they can be.
aavery2 reply :
On 11/14/2014 at 7:54 AM, Dwight Hottle said:The perfect 10 runs deeper than the typical shallow bill jerk bait. I fish a lot of deep divers in 20 fow. Try them some time. You might be surprised how effective they can be.
What's you goto deep water jerkbait?
OkobojiEagle reply :
On 11/14/2014 at 7:26 AM, msp said:I find that when the water is very cold,i have much better luck with the more subtle jerkbaits like the husky jerkbaits and rogues than the more erratic baits like lucky craft
... or you can work the Pointers in a more subtle cadence.
oe
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 11/14/2014 at 7:56 AM, aavery2 said:What's you goto deep water jerkbait?
Rapala husky jerk, smithwick rogue, lc 100 dd & staysee 120.
msp reply :
Great discussion guys. I forgot to mention. Most of the best smallmouth fisherman up here in Canada that fish Lake Erie and Lake Simcoe use medium action spinning rods with 15-20 pound braid and a 10-12 pound flouro leader tied directly to the braid.
I personally use a 7 ft. medium action casting rod with 30 pound braid. If there are toothy critters like pike and muskie around , I will tie a 50 pound flouro leader to avoid break offs.
Most jerkbait fishing here is for smallies only. Although my buddy and I do target largies in the late fall with jerkbaits.
Any thoughts on set ups...... casting vs. spinning..... flouro vs. braid ?
J Francho reply :
I use a 6'2" M/XF Avid and a Daiwa Alphas spooled w/ 10# CXX for jerkbaits. I generally throw larger (>100 size) jerkbaits, though, so spinning gear isn't necessary.
Dwight Hottle reply :
I use both spinning & casting. My favorite rods are mhm which handle up to 1oz baits. I mostly use 10lb braid with 10-15 lb mono leaders. We mostly drift & cover water.
Choporoz reply :
I honestly wonder whether I'll ever have the patience and confidence to fish a jerk bait correctly. 60 seconds?!?!?! 30 seconds?!?! I thought I was exhibiting extraordinary patience when I threw one this weekend and was able to count to 6 between twitches. And even then, I'm only good for a half dozen casts before moving on to something else.
The only two fish I can recall catching on them...one was a slow steady retrieve and the other was on the first twitch-twitch - bam.
I'm not sure I'll be able do it well. No surprise, I also don't know how many licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
J Francho reply :
The only time I let a bait sit that long is when it's tossed off the backside of the boat, while I fish something else. Toss the rod in the holder, and let the boat move the bait. Actually picked this up kayak fishing, but it works from any craft. I know at least one smallie hunter that does the same thing.
If the rod is in my hands, I'm only good for about a 15-Mississippi count, lol.
*Hootie reply :
On 11/14/2014 at 5:12 AM, J Francho said:Clown? It's my best color in less than clear water.
Just because he hasn't caught anything on it, is no reason to call him a clown......Just kidding, just kidding.
Hootie
MarkH024 reply :
Has anyone gotten their hands on the 6th Sense Provoke 106? I'd like a review of one before picking it up. If not ill be the guinea pig for it come spring time.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 12/11/2014 at 10:23 AM, MarkH024 said:Has anyone gotten their hands on the 6th Sense Provoke 106? I'd like a review of one before picking it up. If not ill be the guinea pig for it come spring time.
Mark I haven't used one but if you send me one I'll happily review it for you.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/15/2014 at 6:15 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Mark I haven't used one but if you send me one I'll happily review it for you.
It's like a Christmas Miracle ~
A-Jay
MarkH024 reply :
I've got two growing kids to feed Dwight. Should be you sending it my way.
AJay, im surprised you don't have one. You're a big fan of 6th Sense from what I recall.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/15/2014 at 9:10 AM, MarkH024 said:I've got two growing kids to feed Dwight. Should be you sending it my way.
AJay, im surprised you don't have one. You're a big fan of 6th Sense from what I recall.
I am a fan but I've been "out of Town" sort of speak
A-Jay
MarkH024 reply :
Oh yes, sunburn and margaritas while pulling in 10#ers
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 12/15/2014 at 9:10 AM, MarkH024 said:I've got two growing kids to feed Dwight. Should be you sending it my way.
Mark I am retired and on a fixed income. But I do see your point about those two cute boys. I looked up that bait and it kinda looks like a megabass vision ten style bait. If they are half as good as the shallow cranks A-Jay likes so much they might be worth a try. PM me your address.
AJay, im surprised you don't have one. You're a big fan of 6th Sense from what I recall.
MarkH024 reply :
Dwight I was only being humorous. You're a very generous man. I'll likely get one or two for the spring and post a review on it. No sense of getting them now as the hard water is here to stay for quite some time and I won't wet a line until May. Until then ill spoil my future fishing buddies with toys and such.
Dwight Hottle reply :
Mark maybe I wasn't sending baits just some old recycled fruitcakes. 
Texas Pride reply :
What are the best replacment hooks for jerk baits and while im at it what are the best replacement for all trebel hooks
roadwarrior reply :
Katsuage or VMC are what I use
http://www.megabassusa.com/news/guide-upgrading-jerkbait-hooks
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 1/3/2015 at 12:05 AM, Texas Pride said:What are the best replacment hooks for jerk baits and while im at it what are the best replacement for all trebel hooks
Owner ST 36's or Gamakatsu round bends are what I use for a majority of my baits. The VMC spark points are really good hooks too.
conorsixtakc reply :
I'm curious to hear from anybody who has replaced the stock trebles on their RC STX with Megabass Katsuage Outbarbs. The Vision 110 uses all #6 Outbarbs so they seemed a logical candidate for the RC STX. Do they have any effect on suspension or action?
I know there are lots of good hooks out there, but I have confidence that anything swiping at a Katsuage Outbarb is going to stick!
Dwight Hottle reply :
I replaced them with owner ST36's. The Katsuage outbarbs are probably lighter in weight so you might have to make a weighting adjustment if it doesn't suspend right. Try it and find out.
aavery2 reply :
This thread is so full of great information, I continually come back and read it over and over again, picking up little pieces of information I missed the first or fourth time.
Someone should make this a sticky, similar to the Senko thread. It should be required reading for anyone asking questions on jerkbaits.
conorsixtakc reply :
On 1/7/2015 at 5:04 AM, aavery2 said:Someone should make this a sticky, similar to the Senko thread. It should be required reading for anyone asking questions on jerkbaits.
It is.
Based on some feedback from Smalljaw67 it sounds like the RC STX is actually more finicky than the slow rising 110, and the lighter katsuage hooks are less likely to interfere with suspension.
I might owe him a beer now.
aavery2 reply :
On 1/7/2015 at 5:10 AM, conorsixtakc said:It is.
Based on some feedback from Smalljaw67 it sounds like the RC STX is actually more finicky than the slow rising 110, and the lighter katsuage hooks are less likely to interfere with suspension.
I might owe him a beer now.
I missed that, thanks.
MarkH024 reply :
On 12/11/2014 at 10:23 AM, MarkH024 said:Has anyone gotten their hands on the 6th Sense Provoke 106? I'd like a review of one before picking it up. If not ill be the guinea pig for it come spring time.
I guess in the recent weeks this bait has already sold out. Did anyone nab one?
MarkNJBass reply :
A lot of great information in this thread. I prefer throwing a jerkbait on a spinning rod, medium action. The last few years I've switched to braided line. I use 15 pound Power Pro which is only a 6 pound diameter. I find with the stained spring water the green line is pretty much invisible. As far as brands go....like most of us I would guess....I have boxes and boxes of different ones. My new favorite is the Spro McStick 110. I have used that almost exclusively as of late and have had great success. The hooks are incredibly sharp but I do sometimes put a red hook on front and see if that makes a difference. I do like the Rick Clunn version from Luck-E-Strike which is just like a Megabass but a lot cheaper. The Live Target baitball series jerkbaits are really cool and I caught some nice bass on them last spring. I'm looking forward to trying the Fingerling series this season. I also always have a few of my choice Rogues that I leave in the boat at all times. For me water temp is the key....under 40 I don't catch much....once water temps start creeping into the 40's is when the suspending jerkbait shines for me.
nestor reply :
On 1/7/2015 at 5:04 AM, aavery2 said:This thread is so full of great information, I continually come back and read it over and over again, picking up little pieces of information I missed the first or fourth time.
Someone should make this a sticky, similar to the Senko thread. It should be required reading for anyone asking questions on jerkbaits.
I agree with you @aavery2 and I'm just starting to digest the thread. That said, I have a love affair w/ the Shadow Raps!!
dam0007 reply :
Any of you guys try jerkbaits at night? I have a night tourney coming up and want to be active to keep me awake. Lol
Canyon explorer reply :
Getting a jerk bait to perfectly suspend the same all the time does not happen as water density and temperature will affect it. I usually tune mine to rise very slowly as I believe a lot more bass will come up to it rather than go down after it.
Canyon explorer reply :
On 10/13/2012 at 12:05 PM, Hooligan said:There are many theories on it, in terms of rise, sink, true suspension. I fish the Vision110 Silent Riser an awful lot, and I catch an awful lot of fish on it- the theory of not wanting a jerkbait to rise. I believe Mike was misquoted on that- he doesn't want a jerkbait that rises in very cold water. At least that's what I've gathered from conversations and from writing he's done on the subject.
I'm very particular about jerkbaits, because there are specific things that I want them to do. A huge portion of my annual catch is attributed to jerkbaits; I'd go so far as to say that it's a full 1/3 of what I do every year.
When it comes to what I'm doing in terms of which style, and the floatation of a bait, I'm almost always looking for a true suspending bait. That said, it's only at specific water temperatures that it is going to do that. I would prefer a bait to rise slowly in a nose down attitude than I would prefer to fish a sinking bait in cold water. I select my baits a lot by what I'm fishing them over, or around what sort of structure I'm fishing them. I like some baits more in rock than in wood, the same can be said for open water or over weeds. In the Highland Reservoirs that I so often fish in Spring and Fall, the LC Pointer 100 and Pointer 78 are king as my all around baits- the size is based on depth and forage. When fish are on smaller profiles, obviously I fish the 78; and vice-versa. I prefer the Vision 110 for shallow weeds and wood, and in open water where there's very good visibility. I'll fish LCP100 in open water and wood as well, but typically where there's a little less visibility. Only very, very rarely do I go to a silent, or wood, bait. I do love my wood pointers, as they're simply superb for those situations in which an absolutely stealth bait is the way to go. The other style of bait that I have a lot of confidence in is the Flash Minnow 110- This bait, or style of bait, if you will, is a far more active bait. It's a bait that I generally do well with in spring and in certain situations in fall. When fish are on the tops of shallow rock or shallow primary points in fall, it can be absolutely dynamite. I'm not 100% certain of why it's so much more effective in those specific situations than other baits I fish; I'm sure of it is just my confidence in the bait. Sure it's the right depth and profile, but there are other guys that would rather fish a Vision 110. The depth of the Flash Minnow, I'm sure, is what does it for me in those situations- or at least that's the heart of it. A bait that will without fail stay at the 2' depth is pretty key.
Lastly, when I desire a deep bait, such as when fish are stacked on deep edges or on the backside of primaries in the 12-16' range- the only bait of choice is the Staysee90. It's extremely tight moving and it's very erratic.
Overall, in jerkbaits, it's getting an idea of what works for you. For instance- less is more. I really prefer to move a bait far less initially, until the fish tell me what they want. I'll move the bait very, very slowly at first.
Dwight's post is absolutely stellar with information, too. Hopefully he chimes in on this. I'm very proficient with a jerkbait but I took several things out of his post and have since applied them to my fishing style.
Very well presented. +2 on the preference for Mega Bass Vision 110
Canyon explorer reply :
On 6/11/2015 at 12:00 PM, dam0007 said:Any of you guys try jerkbaits at night? I have a night tourney coming up and want to be active to keep me awake. Lol
I don't consider any jerk bait a good night bait. Much prefer a dark spinnerbait with a #9 Colorado blade to cover water and Berkley 10"Powerworms and jigs in deep brush and structure.
poisonokie reply :
I like mine to sink, especially if it shimmies on the way down. Think Senko or spinbait.
Blwaz23 reply :
My season of fishing is pretty much over because of school so I thought I could stock up this winter on some baits for fishing next year around February when the season just starts to begin. From my research jerkbaits are one of the best baits to go with in the colder earlier months such as February. What are good jerk baits for cold, dark, muddy, murky water?
Big Fish Rice reply :
My first fish of 2015 came in 39° water on the KVD 300 jerkbait and it's a lure I fish all year long. I have purchased so many jerkbaits over the last 3 years, I usually end up selling them on ebay because it's hard to find brands that are consistent package to package. I have suspen-dots, split rings and replacement hooks and when I'm fishing in cold weather, the last thing I want to do is to have to modify lures. I can barely feel the tips of my fingers as-is, so buy a few that work as advertised. I like them to suspend right out of the package.
For me in the north, we have perch, trout and panfish when it comes to matching the hatch. While I fish the KVD 200, I prefer the 300 size because it's much easier when casting against the wind (which is something you should always do). Each has their own advantage of course depending on baitfish and conditions.
Here's a photo, the lake's top third was still covered in ice. When it comes to spring, there's not much else that can fill the boat faster with smallies either. It's a dynamic lure and certainly worth your time. It's now one of my most confident lures. 
Blwaz23 reply :
On 10/12/2015 at 8:02 AM, Big Fish Rice said:My first fish of 2015 came in 39° water on the KVD 300 jerkbait and it's a lure I fish all year long. I have purchased so many jerkbaits over the last 3 years, I usually end up selling them on ebay because it's hard to find brands that are consistent package to package. I have suspen-dots, split rings and replacement hooks and when I'm fishing in cold weather, the last thing I want to do is to have to modify lures. I can barely feel the tips of my fingers as-is, so buy a few that work as advertised. I like them to suspend right out of the package.
For me in the north, we have perch, trout and panfish when it comes to matching the hatch. While I fish the KVD 200, I prefer the 300 size because it's much easier when casting against the wind (which is something you should always do). Each has their own advantage of course depending on baitfish and conditions.
Here's a photo, the lake's top third was still covered in ice. When it comes to spring, there's not much else that can fill the boat faster with smallies either. It's a dynamic lure and certainly worth your time. It's now one of my most confident lures.
Thank you. Any recommended colors that work the best for you?
GoCougs14 reply :
Looking to get into jerkbaits this spring. As of right now Im working with two setups. While not being ideal, Im wondering if these two combos would get the job done:
6'10" ML/XF spinning rod w/ 10lb braid
6'10" MH/F casting rod w/ 12lb yo zuri hybrid
adam lancia reply :
I'd tend towards the spinning rod since that's likely to be a lighter combo.
ABW reply :
On 12/28/2015 at 12:06 PM, GoCougs14 said:Looking to get into jerkbaits this spring. As of right now Im working with two setups. While not being ideal, Im wondering if these two combos would get the job done:
6'10" ML/XF spinning rod w/ 10lb braid
6'10" MH/F casting rod w/ 12lb yo zuri hybrid
Does your baitcast rod have a soft tip to it? I'd throw the jerkbaits on that then. I can throw Pointer 78's on my 6'8" MH EF loomis rod.
Max Dec reply :
i used a storm twitch stick today and caught 3
everythingthatswims reply :
On 10/2/2015 at 9:45 AM, Blwaz23 said:My season of fishing is pretty much over because of school so I thought I could stock up this winter on some baits for fishing next year around February when the season just starts to begin. From my research jerkbaits are one of the best baits to go with in the colder earlier months such as February. What are good jerk baits for cold, dark, muddy, murky water?
A Jig
EricTheAngler reply :
How would you work a rapala floating minnow f11 sized?
adam lancia reply :
The same way you would work a suspending jerkbait, just as a topwater lure. If anything, longer pauses between twitches. Someone once told me that if I moved it before the ripples faded away, I would be moving it too soon...
EricTheAngler reply :
On 1/7/2016 at 9:28 AM, adam lancia said:The same way you would work a suspending jerkbait, just as a topwater lure. If anything, longer pauses between twitches. Someone once told me that if I moved it before the ripples faded away, I would be moving it too soon...
Ok, I was using them all wrong then! I was just cranking them like crankbaits. Ill pick up some suspending and sinking lures soon.
adam lancia reply :
On 1/7/2016 at 10:10 AM, EricTheAngler said:Ok, I was using them all wrong then! I was just cranking them like crankbaits. Ill pick up some suspending and sinking lures soon.
You can use them that way as well, though I have had my best results with twitches and pauses of varying number and frequency. Look for used lots of jerkbaits with a couple of different manufacturers in the lot. This'll help your trial and error of finding which ones you like and works best for you.
EricTheAngler reply :
On 1/8/2016 at 2:39 AM, adam lancia said:You can use them that way as well, though I have had my best results with twitches and pauses of varying number and frequency. Look for used lots of jerkbaits with a couple of different manufacturers in the lot. This'll help your trial and error of finding which ones you like and works best for you.
Thanks man!
chefdadfishingGa reply :
So i just got the reaction strike
xrm-80md in ghost sexy 5 to 8ft depth
Never really fished a jerkbait before any tips or thoughts on that bait
Got the bait in this months lucky tackle box
EricTheAngler reply :
On 1/15/2016 at 5:05 AM, chefdadfishingGa said:So i just got the reaction strike
xrm-80md in ghost sexy 5 to 8ft depth
Never really fished a jerkbait before any tips or thoughts on that bait
Got the bait in this months lucky tackle box
So did I, will it be to deep for a 2 acre pond?
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/16/2016 at 12:44 AM, EricTheAngler said:So did I, will it be to deep for a 2 acre pond?
No, I would say that is probably be a good depth of bait. No need to crank it down to max depth though.
EricTheAngler reply :
On 1/18/2016 at 1:10 AM, HoosierHawgs said:No, I would say that is probably be a good depth of bait. No need to crank it down to max depth though.
Thanks man!
GoCougs14 reply :
So what would the benefit be of a slow sinker(specifically the rapala shadow rap)?
Do I need to be more careful of snagging it then? I guess I just dont have a good idea if how fast its going to sink haha.
Also can anybody explain a good beginner LC jerkbait to get? So many options....flash minnow, pointer, flash pointer...whatever SP and MR are...thanks guys
Choporoz reply :
Put one in your bathtub, fish tank, or a bucket, even.....lots of value in understanding what your lure is doing below the surface
msp reply :
On 2/3/2016 at 3:50 AM, GoCougs14 said:So what would the benefit be of a slow sinker(specifically the rapala shadow rap)?
Do I need to be more careful of snagging it then? I guess I just dont have a good idea if how fast its going to sink haha.
Also can anybody explain a good beginner LC jerkbait to get? So many options....flash minnow, pointer, flash pointer...whatever SP and MR are...thanks guys
Pointer 100 is a nice bait to start with. Great colors and suspend excellent right out of the box
New from last year is the Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10. Killer bait. Super loud ball bearing rattle and swims to a depth of 10 feet. Worth a try.
kash1 reply :
What I have been reading on here and from watching videos on YouTube, I get the idea that Jerk Baits are for early spring and colder water temps. Does anyone fish them deep during the summertime in water that is 70-72 degrees on surface? Also can you troll them like a normal crank bait?
roadwarrior reply :
I fish jerkbaits some in the summer, but just in low light as a substitute for topwater.
For trolling there are some deep diver that will work:
Montanaro reply :
I fished a duo110 yesterday in 80 degree clear water and caught the fire out of them.
Around wood and grass they couldnt resist me ripping it in their faces. Clearly not just a cold water lure
OCdockskipper reply :
On 3/2/2016 at 1:03 AM, roadwarrior said:I fish jerkbaits some in the summer, but just in low light as a substitute for topwater.
X2, especially when there are weed beds that are 3 or 4 feet below the surface in 5 feet or deeper water. The jerkbait lets me get closer to the fish without diving into the weeds & on my lake, they produce better than squarebills in this scenario.
"hamma" reply :
I will use them year round, wider wobble models in summer, tighter wiggle for spring and fall
NCbassraider reply :
Some or all of this may have been posted as I did not read every post but In clear water I try to fish natural shiny jerkbaits like the magabass line. They reflect sunlight in clear water and really put on a show.
Late in the day or in stained water I go for brighter colors. I like the ShadRap slow rising line for the brighter colors. Their hooks are garbage so I replace them with a heavier Gamakatsu #4 hooks which turns the bait into a slow sinking bait.
As for rising and sinking, I only fish risers in very shallow water to help keep the bait off the bottom. Otherwise I like them slow sinking or suspended.
I love jerkbaits. IMO there is no better hit. They are usually not moving when hit so, unlike a crankbait, you know you didn't run it into a log or something else.
My 2 cents.
NJ Fishing reply :
I'm a northern guy too and let me tell you if you are familiar with floating rapalas, a jerkbait will be easy for you. If you are fishing above or on the edges of weed beds throw the floating one, in cold water throw a suspending one, and in water where you aren't sure of the depth, or you know its's deep throw the sinking jerkbait. Jerkbaits also do really well in current for smallies.
- Liam
MysteryTackleBox reply :
Jerkbaits are one of the perfect pre-spawn baits. Perfect for imitating dying baitfish, jerkbaits can be fished across the country in Spring, Fall, winter, and even Summer. They are especially great on windy and overcast days. In this video Lake Fork Guy breaks down the best ways to fish jerkbaits. Check out this link to watch! How To Fish Jerkbaits
GoneFishingLTN reply :
How come a baitcaster is more common for a jerkbait than a spinning rod
J Francho reply :
On 11/9/2017 at 9:51 PM, GoneFishingLTN said:How come a baitcaster is more common for a jerkbait than a spinning rod
Most are heavy enough to throw on casting gear, and generally you want to use 10-12# line with them. It's also more comfortable to me to hold a casting rod tip down. Smaller, lighter baits can be thrown on spinning tackle using 6-8# line.
timcauliffe reply :
Need some purchasing advice...
I can get good deals on both the LC Pointer 128SP and Slender Pointer 127MR. Which should I do?
Both suit my fancy.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 11/30/2017 at 10:49 PM, timcauliffe said:Need some purchasing advice...
I can get good deals on both the LC Pointer 128SP and Slender Pointer 127MR. Which should I do?
Both suit my fancy.
Get both. The 128 runs a little deeper & has a more audible knocker & weighs more than the 127. Both are killer baits for smallmouth & just about everthing else. I have caught 10 & 11 lb walleye on the 128 as well as largemouth, steelhead, lake trout & pike. The 128's shape replicates a shad or alwife better while the 127 looks more like a smelt.
tonka_blue reply :
For me the only time I'd want to use a jerk bait for sinking purposes would be around time when baitfish are dying off. Slow rise can be deadly in the spring time and during the post spawn blues. Floating for me would be in the summertime if I'm chasing smallmouth up shallow and just need to work it fast
GrumpyOlPhartte reply :
Dang! I’m sure you folks will identify this as a rookie question, but although I have sworn to concentrate on jigs and finesse baits this year, I have seen and watched so much on the production of jerkbaits that I am contemplating picking up a Megabass (or some other make and model) with which to fool around if I get bored or impatient with the slower fishing methods. Besides, the Bait Monkey said it was OK since I’d be using a gift card so it’s not like I’m spending my own money. I’m not asking for advice on which jerkbait, but I am really wondering about technique. I fish from a sit-in kayak so obviously if I attempt to jerk my rod tip down, the results will be humorous, but not very productive. So, can I fish a jerkbait by working it with a side action? Would particularly like to hear from other kayak fishermen about successes and failures. Seems to me I could still jerk my rod to the side since I seldom fish in deep water and have to keep the lure above weeds, but maybe I am overlooking something. Any thoughts on this approach? Thanks in advance and I hope this isn’t considered highjacking the thread.
deep reply :
On 1/12/2018 at 8:23 AM, GrumpyOlPhartte said:Any thoughts on this approach?
Nope, no problems at all.
I twitch, rip, jerk, pull jerkbaits to the side from the yak all the time, and the fish haven't complained yet.
I don't have a rod shorter than 7'5"; so I do the same deal from the bank or a boat too...
GrumpyOlPhartte reply :
@deep I thank you ... and the Bait Monkey thanks you since I was going to use my gift card to just buy hooks and trailers.
Dangerfield reply :
I wanted to chime in as it's still 'Spring' and we're gearing up for bass opener on my lake next weekend. I know there's a huge Vision 110 following when it comes to jerkbaits, but I wanted to share 2 other contenders.
The 1st and my personal preference is to the Duo Realis 100/110/120sp and a close 2nd would be a the Jackall Rerange. Their shape is almost identical to the MB option, they aren't exact copies as they each have different attributes. The colour variety is good across all 3 options, Jackall offering around 8, DR with roughly 20 and MB around 40 or something insane. I would give MB an advantage in the paint/colourway department - they are the leader, Duo has some unique colour patterns that aren't shared across each bait size. For example, I really liked the Twilight option but it was the 110sp, and not an option in the 120sp. I ended up with the 110 Neo Pearl and the 120 Midnight Blue 2.
The Duo has some of the best stock hooks I've ever seen, they're super sticky and feature a matte finish. Also, I have not tested the floating options yet, I might grab a 100 or 110 when the water warms up this summer. The Duo comes in 3 sizes and the smallest being a 2 treble bait instead of 3 and it doesn't feature the magnetic cast system. Jackall has a few other offerings too, the Dowzvido has a smaller slender profile and the bill is built into the nose of the bait, while the Squad Minnow has distinctive shad profile and the bill is separate from the nose of the bait.
Anyway, just wanted to share some experience I've had with both. I have Rapala Shadow Rap shads (and the deep option) that produce. They're just not as durable, the bodies crack and the hooks are trash. I replaced all the hooks on my Rapala jerkbaits with Mustad KVD Elite Series Triple Grip Treble Hook because they were the best option outside of the X1 and X2 options ($$$$).
Oregon Native reply :
Was fishing a megabass last night....have never thrown it much due to not wanting to loose it and all. Caught a few on it and then .....wing....knot breaks and off it goes into the unknown.....sadness....much sadness
TnRiver46 reply :
On 6/22/2018 at 8:44 PM, Oregon Native said:Was fishing a megabass last night....have never thrown it much due to not wanting to loose it and all. Caught a few on it and then .....wing....knot breaks and off it goes into the unknown.....sadness....much sadness
Hahaha. Sorry for your loss
Gundog reply :
On 6/22/2018 at 8:44 PM, Oregon Native said:Was fishing a megabass last night....have never thrown it much due to not wanting to loose it and all. Caught a few on it and then .....wing....knot breaks and off it goes into the unknown.....sadness....much sadness
That's why I stick to cheaper baits like the Rapala Husky Jerk. Does the same job and less sadness when lost. Don't get me wrong, I still feel a twinge of remorse. Just not that much.
N Florida Mike reply :
I have read through some of this thread and wonder if someone can dumb things down a bit.I have caught fish on jerkbaits and have a few in my box, but have never really done that well with them. It just wasnt ( isnt ) ? very popular in my area. Almost None of my friends here ever fished with them. I fish mostly shallow, weedy , moderately clear to stained lakes and just get tired of pulling weeds in with so many casts. And they dont cast as far as Id like them to. Most of the fish Ive caught with them have been on the surface fishing very slow. Normally, I'll catch a fish or two with them , then no more bites . So I go back to my plastics and start catching fish again.
Looking to grow in this area, esp. that the weeds have died off some now due to our " winter " Does anyone have 3 or 4 tips to kind of steer me in the right direction with jerkbaits ?
Dwight Hottle reply :
Mike they are tougher to fish in Fl because most of our lakes are shallow & filled with weeds. Look for deeper areas around lily pads, stump fields, stickups & rock riprap & weed edge lines. Otherwise you have to work them over top of the weeds or in weed openings. You can fish a jerk bait slowly like a topwater with twitches & frustratingly long pauses between movement. Floater & shallow suspenders are best for this approach. If you don't have the patience for that approach try working it with jerks & twitches & ocasional long pulls with pauses interspersed in between movements. Regular suspenders & slow sinkers work good with the second approach. I throw a lot of jerk baits as that is my favorite approach and they can be very effective. Give it a honest try & you will get rewarded.
soflabasser reply :
It is a common misconception to think that all bodies of freshwater in Florida are shallow with heavy aquatic vegetation that you can't fish with a jerkbait. Another misconception is that you cannot fish jerkbaits in areas with aquatic vegetation. With that said one of my favorite ways to catch bass in South Florida is with jerkbaits and I catch bass with these lures every single month, rain or shine, day or night. Jerkbaits are also very good multi species lures and I have caught many peacock bass, tarpon, snook, and other species of fish on jerkbaits.
Dens228 reply :
Use a jerkbait that will suspend above the weeds, or around the edges. I didn't use them much until this fall.
When the crank bite stopped and the water was cooled down quite a bit,,,,,,low 40's, I switched to a jerkbait to slow it down AND keep it at the level the bass were at and had some great days.
N Florida Mike reply :
I always get a little action from them but never can say Ive done well with them.
If I made myself fish them more, Im sure Id do better. Do they seem to work better on a bright or cloudy day ? Calm or windy ?
Dens228 reply :
I've had my best success with them in water with decent clarity, clouds or sun hasn't mattered.
N Florida Mike reply :
Thanks. Think Im going to go with only my jerkbaits and see what happens. Kind of excited about a new challenge.
I know how they love plastics around here so itll be fun to try something they havent seen much. I plan to rig 2-3 different ones up and alternate until I see what they want.
I'll report back. Will probably go later today or tomorrow.
NHBull reply :
I would not hesitate to go with a floating JB and/or add 1 heavier treble to run it just below the surface
N Florida Mike reply :
Well, I tried several jerkbaits for several hours today. I was not skunked, but not by much. I caught these 2 on a small gold rapala, both with a moderate speed retrieve. Tried every kind of retrieve I could think of. No wakes, no blow ups , no misses. Even the fish that bit did not hit it very hard ( of course their size may have been a factor ) I diligently cleaned all the weeds off after every other cast. Even tried lipless crankbaits with no sucess. At least I did not turn to my plastics like normal.
Think this is driving me to live bait before the end of the week ????
soflabasser reply :
On 12/25/2018 at 8:44 AM, N Florida Mike said:I always get a little action from them but never can say Ive done well with them.
If I made myself fish them more, Im sure Id do better. Do they seem to work better on a bright or cloudy day ? Calm or windy ?
I have caught bass in all the conditions you mentioned but prefer days with low to moderate wind for jerkbait fishing. A good jerk bait to use is a Rapala X Rap. Choose the size and color you feel will work best in the area you fish.
On 12/27/2018 at 6:45 AM, N Florida Mike said:Well, I tried several jerkbaits for several hours today. I was not skunked, but not by much. I caught these 2 on a small gold rapala, both with a moderate speed retrieve. Tried every kind of retrieve I could think of. No wakes, no blow ups , no misses. Even the fish that bit did not hit it very hard ( of course their size may have been a factor ) I diligently cleaned all the weeds off after every other cast. Even tried lipless crankbaits with no sucess. At least I did not turn to my plastics like normal.
Think this is driving me to live bait before the end of the week ????
That looks like a good choice. You can get some bigger jerkbaits in that color and try them out for a bigger bite. Keep fishing with jerkbaits until you feel more confident in this lure. They are great lures and have there place and time they do best.
N Florida Mike reply :
I was suprised I didnt do better. The lake is full of quality fish, and I thought they would be all over it. It has been colder recently up here though , I had bluebird skys , I had a brisk wind in the more open parts of the lake, and the sheltered areas were full of floating leaves, etc, so it was harder to not have the leaves get caught nearly every cast. Like I said, I fished a variety of baits and presentations, and depths but the fish just werent active.
Hook2Jaw reply :
Was taught to fish jerkbaits as a kid in the rivers with more of a power fishing retrieve. Jerk jerk, reeling all the while, jerk, and so on.
Recently having good success with 1-5 second pauses beginning this fall. During the jerk, rip, slash, whatever you want to call it, I can feel bites just fine.
During the pause, I feel like I'm missing fish with a lot of slack in my line for a true, stationary pause.
Recently I've been carefully maintaining my slack with a slow reel/sideways pull to maintain contact when I cannot see my line. My lure is barely inching forward, almost imperceptibly to me.
Is that correct? It's been working.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 1/5/2019 at 12:43 AM, Hook2Jaw said:Was taught to fish jerkbaits as a kid in the rivers with more of a power fishing retrieve. Jerk jerk, reeling all the while, jerk, and so on.
Recently having good success with 1-5 second pauses beginning this fall. During the jerk, rip, slash, whatever you want to call it, I can feel bites just fine.
During the pause, I feel like I'm missing fish with a lot of slack in my line for a true, stationary pause.
Recently I've been carefully maintaining my slack with a slow reel/sideways pull to maintain contact when I cannot see my line. My lure is barely inching forward, almost imperceptibly to me.
Is that correct? It's been working.
There is no wrong way to work a jerk bait. Try what ever you think will work. Just remember your successes & continue to repeat them.
Hook2Jaw reply :
@Dwight Hottle, I seem to recall you talking about Rapala Husky Jerks in multiple threads. Have you fished the Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk any?
Specifically, I'm wondering if they suspend well, get bit, and how deep they get. I'm looking for a few baits to round out my deeper jerkbait arsenal and the DHJ12, 4 1/2", 1/2oz, 8-19'(I realize the upper end is trolled) has caught my eye.
I can probably touch 35-40 yards with my other half ounce jerkbaits, and more with the wind, on 10# fluoro, if that helps any.
roadwarrior reply :
Hook2Jaw reply :
Thanks, @roadwarrior, it's nice to know the reindeer can catch snowflakes.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 12/11/2019 at 12:51 AM, Hook2Jaw said:@Dwight Hottle, I seem to recall you talking about Rapala Husky Jerks in multiple threads. Have you fished the Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk any?
Specifically, I'm wondering if they suspend well, get bit, and how deep they get. I'm looking for a few baits to round out my deeper jerkbait arsenal and the DHJ12, 4 1/2", 1/2oz, 8-19'(I realize the upper end is trolled) has caught my eye.
I can probably touch 35-40 yards with my other half ounce jerkbaits, and more with the wind, on 10# fluoro, if that helps any.
Yes I have used the HJ14DD husky jerks extensively on lake Erie for smallmouths. I mentioned in another thread that the HJ14DD in glass perch caught at least 30 smallies over 6lbs in my boat. I used then on 10lb braid with a 15lb maxima ultragreen mono leader from 10'-20' long. I drifted with the wind at my stern using my electric trolling motor to steer. I was long lining them behind the boat 100 to 200 feet back. They would touch bottom in 17' to 21' depending on the bait. I also used the HJ12DD a little but mostly the bigger HJ14DD. Early on I used both sizes equally but got more bites on the bigger size which also has 3 trebles instead of two. The HJ12DD would get around 12-15' depth on the same gear. I always used two rods out per man in my boat. One in a rod holder & one held by hand. We would stagger the lines with two out long & two out shorter to keep tangles to a minimum. By drifting with the wind you allow the waves to impart action on all baits. The rod holder baits would sweep forward with every wave then return to limited action. The hand held rods we worked as normal jerk bait rods with twitches, sharp jerks, pauses, sweeps & any other actions we chose to impart. When someone got bit we would bring the other rod closest to it in or leave it out depending on how cooperative the smallie was coming into the boat. I would always stop the trolling motor once bit. Often times the other three rods would get bit while the first fish was coming into the boat. That happen fairly often.
Yes they suspend well, they get bit very well & achieved good depth among my arsenal of deep diving jerk baits.
Hook2Jaw reply :
@Dwight Hottle, thanks, man! I'll probably add them to the box, then. I would need a heavier jerkbait rod to try the 14, but that gives me an excuse to build another short stick and stepping up to a MH will let me double up and roll cast some spinnerbaits on it.
Now I need to make room for the Rapala Licky Reindeer as well.
bazzelite19 reply :
You can give the best bait to a poor fisherman and he will get beat by a good angler with the worst bait most times. Just learning how to cast consistently and accurately and how to reel in bass and set the hook with ANY lure goes a long way. Theres no way to build skill without the proper fundamentals . Dont make it to complicated, pick out a x-rap or rogue and just start chunking it.
skekoam reply :
I'm probably the only guy on this site who hasn't caught one with a jerk or crank bait. I love throwing them though.
galyonj reply :
On 1/7/2020 at 5:43 AM, skekoam said:I'm probably the only guy on this site who hasn't caught one with a jerk or crank bait. I love throwing them though.
If it makes you feel any better, I've never caught on a jerkbait before, either. Haven't been fishing them long, and I'm probably still not doing it right (especially now that the water's cold), but it sure is fun.
Dangerfield reply :
Jerkbait is a pike magnet where I fish, especially if you rip em fast. I started fishing them slower with lighter twitches and the smallies love em. Lots of confidence in a rapala ripstop.
J Francho reply :
On 1/7/2020 at 9:44 AM, Dangerfield said:Jerkbait is a pike magnet where I fish, especially if you rip em fast. I started fishing them slower with lighter twitches and the smallies love em. Lots of confidence in a rapala ripstop.
This has been my experience on several local lakes that have large populations of Esox. Nothing worse than seeing a huge musky swipe at your $17 Pointer!
Slowing down, going subtle is a key.
galyonj reply :
On 1/7/2020 at 8:55 PM, J Francho said:Slowing down, going subtle is a key.
I have to ingrain this, because I get so jacked up that I just start yanking on them. Probably scare all the daggum fish away doing it.
Eric Rybak reply :
vision 110 is one of the best bass jerkbaits out there. These things are near perfectly balanced and have great rattle. They are expensive ($20+) but they are one of the best overall bass lures you can find at a Sportsmans Warehouse for example.
Zoom super flukes are amazing soft jerkbaits.
SpinLight reply :
Most of my 55 years of fishing has been for other species of fish. Fishing for spotted bass mostly now in Lake Martin, a deep rocky lake, and don't have much experience with a jerkbait. What size and model for a couple of jerkbaiit lures to start out with for winter spotted bass now? Thanks for your help.
roadwarrior reply :
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megabass_Ito_Vision_110_Jerkbaits/descpage-MB110.html
galyonj reply :
So…couple things.
Earlier this week I went to a new spot that usually gets a lot of play, thanks to a suggestion from @TnRiver46.
After no action for a while, I tied on a 6th Sense Provoke and went real slow with it, and two things happened:
1. I got my first ever jerkbait hit.
2. I actually got to fish water that was clear enough to see the investigation/charge/strike.
It was rad, and I was so excited that my sinus brain misfired and I couldn't find my phone for a picture WHEN IT WAS SITTING RIGHT BESIDE MY LEG.
Then I cast out again and the lure was acting funny, and I realized that the bill broke. So that kinda sucks.
Nice bass, though. 3ish pounds and feisty.
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