Do We Stop Jerkbaits In The Summer

[buzzfrog]

every artilce, tv show and usally people i talk to say, that freezin to early spring use a jerkbait, what about summer and fall.. just wondering

[NoBassPro]

They work in summer and fall as well. I prefer aggresively worked floating models if I use one in the summer is all.

[Jake P]

Fish go deep the hotter it gets so bottom contact lures will get thrown before a jerkbait that is high in the water column.

[guitarkid]

no. pointers slowly sink in hot water, and catch fish

-gk

[smalljaw67]

I use them all year, I use suspending baits in water temps to 58 degrees, once it gets to that I make a switch to floating style jerkbaits, there are 2 kinds of floaters, some float to the surface very fast and others slow. I have a lot of success with these and part of the reason is most anglers quit throwing them after the spawn, but I use them anytime I see bass chasing baitfish. I use them at the same time a topwater would work, low light early and late in the day but I've had days on the river were I used one from morning until 5 in the afternoon. The most important thing is match the bait to the water clarity, if there is less than 2' of visibility then I will use a differnt kind of lure. The less visibility the bigger the lure, you want to throw the 4.75", 5" and 5.5" baits and go down in size as the water gets clearer, also match the bait to the mood of the fish, if they are lethargic I'll use a slow floater like the Rapala Flat Rap and if they are aggressive I'll use a fast floater like the Smithwick Rattlin rogue or super rogue.

[Nitrofreak]

I use them all year, I use suspending baits in water temps to 58 degrees, once it gets to that I make a switch to floating style jerkbaits, there are 2 kinds of floaters, some float to the surface very fast and others slow. I have a lot of success with these and part of the reason is most anglers quit throwing them after the spawn, but I use them anytime I see bass chasing baitfish. I use them at the same time a topwater would work, low light early and late in the day but I've had days on the river were I used one from morning until 5 in the afternoon. The most important thing is match the bait to the water clarity, if there is less than 2' of visibility then I will use a differnt kind of lure. The less visibility the bigger the lure, you want to throw the 4.75", 5" and 5.5" baits and go down in size as the water gets clearer, also match the bait to the mood of the fish, if they are lethargic I'll use a slow floater like the Rapala Flat Rap and if they are aggressive I'll use a fast floater like the Smithwick Rattlin rogue or super rogue.

WOW, really nice post !!!

One thing I will add that has helped on my home waters and maybe it will help you, I have found that when the fish are suspended in 8 to 15 feet of water and are lathargic during summer days, is to look at the fish and see if they move at all, if they are not moving at all I will pull the JB down under them and let it float up through the water colum where they are staged, I will use very very little movement as it does float up, usually when these fish are that lathargic it's due to a few different things like o2 levels etc.. the fish in turn will use very little energy to grab a meal and the bait has to look like a really easy target.

If they are aggressive enough then it is used just as if I were fishing the spring time, but with shorter pause times, as with a JB you have to get the right cadence to attract attention so a little extra time spent with the JB may be needed.

Good luck and be safe !!!

[countryfried]

nope. i use flukes all summer long.

[buzzfrog]

thanks for all the tips guys, i believe i have a few of those rapalas i got on sale, the flat raps, i will try, this is the worst summer ever for bass, so anythng is worth the shot

[Vinny Chase]

Fish go deep the hotter it gets so bottom contact lures will get thrown before a jerkbait that is high in the water column.

This..Get some LC Stacey's

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I love fishing a jerkbait/ripbait in the summer. The lake I live on has a bunch of pelagic bass in it. Those jerkbaits are just a great way to get into some of the schools of fish suspending below the surface. Love using something like a pointer or a stacey to get em going.

[NoBassPro]

I rarely give mine time to float honestly, I'm more worried about the side to side action. I did some searching on here awhile back, and catt I believe, had a pretty good write up about the way I also like fishing jerkbaits. With the right action they can elicit quite a few reaction bites imo.

Granted, there's also a real good chance fish in the lakes near me don't ever get stressed from summertime temps, and will locate wherever they can find food.

[Bluebasser86]

They work all year long but they usually aren't the best option around here, not the suspending models anyways. A floating minnow like an original Rapala twitched on the surface can be deadly.

[quanjig]

Year round for me. Warmer summer months on points and trees off banks into deeper water. Keep them moving and bang them off anything you can. If you have a main lake point that you have been catching fish from, give that thing a long cast and crank it down and jerk the dog snot out of it!!

[buzzfrog]

thanx guys,

[J_Pearson]

_{If I went by the old textbook, I wouldnt throw them much in the summer...}

_{BUT...a couple hundred bucks from a local T last week tells me I'll throw them throw the summer}

_JP