Rapala Husky Jerk

[rowyourboat]

What situations do you gouys like to fish these and how to do you them?

thanks

[BUCKEYEone]

I throw HJs and X-raps a lot in springtime just trying to figure out where the bass are at.  They are great in river fishing for smallies too.  There is no 1 way I work them, whatever works on that day will do the trick!

[Goose52]

I just broke-out an HJ-10 the other day. Ice has melted here and water temp is back up to 46-48deg so based on some recommedations on this board I thought I'd try fishing the HJ slow - trying to find those sluggish bass.

[Gone_Phishin]

I like a straight retrieve/pause cadence with HJ's.

[ww2farmer]

I use both the Husky jerk and X-rap. I fish the HJ in colder water when a less aggresive presentaion is needed. When the water gets up into the mid 50's I switch over to the X-rap. I tried for 3 years to force the X-rap in cold water, yeah I caught a fish here and a fish there, but  just not like the Husky jerk. I am not even going ot bother with the X-rap any more in cold water.

[Paul Roberts]

I use both the Husky jerk and X-rap. I fish the HJ in colder water when a less aggresive presentaion is needed. When the water gets up into the mid 50's I switch over to the X-rap. I tried for 3 years to force the X-rap in cold water, yeah I caught a fish here and a fish there, but just not like the Husky jerk. I am not even going ot bother with the X-rap any more in cold water.

I think I'm coming to a similar conclusion. Not sure yet. I do catch fish with the X-Rap in cold water but with LONG pauses. I find those painful though. I'd rather be busy. The subtle roll of a Rogue I like in cold water. I think it's the forward speed that's the issue. Still playing with it.

[JKarbo214]

I have never used these but would like to try come spring.  Any favorite colors to recommend?

[wisconsin heat]

in the summer, burn it, with no twitches, let the bait do the work for you 

[Crestliner2008]

The HJ and the X-Rap are fine suspending jerkbaits. I've caught a lot of fish on both, as well as with the Pointers. It all depends on the mood of the fish. Sometimes one out produces another. That's why they call it "fishing".

Early spring is the best time of the year for me with these baits. I really like the smaller HJ and X-raps during this pre-spawn period, when the bass (both species) are up along the edges of the shallow spawning flats.

Again, no "best" way to fish them, although with water temps in the low to mid 50's, I'd give them a lengthy pause between twitches.

[roadwarrior]

I use both the Husky jerk and X-rap. I fish the HJ in colder water when a less aggresive presentaion is needed. When the water gets up into the mid 50's I switch over to the X-rap. I tried for 3 years to force the X-rap in cold water, yeah I caught a fish here and a fish there, but just not like the Husky jerk. I am not even going ot bother with the X-rap any more in cold water.

The X-Rap is for a VERY aggressive bite.

Technically, Rapala calls it a "slash bait".

The Husky Jerk is a more traditional jerkbait.

8-)

[MALTESE FALCON]

When the ice melts in my canal, the Husky Jerk is the first bait I grab. I fish with a very slow retrieve, and subtle twitches. I only fish the HJ06 and HJ08, in Tennessee Shad, and Silver Blue. They are a close match in size of the shiners in my canal.

Falcon

[zach t]

I fished the HJ as my first jerkbiat/slashbait. Then I went to Lucky Craft pointers. I never picked the Rapala up again.

Kinda like when I went from Walk-the-Dog to a Sammy

Or the DT to the RCs....

See a pattern?

[Tin]

I use both the Husky jerk and X-rap. I fish the HJ in colder water when a less aggresive presentaion is needed. When the water gets up into the mid 50's I switch over to the X-rap. I tried for 3 years to force the X-rap in cold water, yeah I caught a fish here and a fish there, but just not like the Husky jerk. I am not even going ot bother with the X-rap any more in cold water.

I think I'm coming to a similar conclusion. Not sure yet. I do catch fish with the X-Rap in cold water but with LONG pauses. I find those painful though. I'd rather be busy. The subtle roll of a Rogue I like in cold water. I think it's the forward speed that's the issue. Still playing with it.

Agree 100% about the Husky Jerk vs X-Rap in colder water. If I'm fishing for all largies and the water is under 50 the Husky is the way to go, if they are active or aggressive or not. We do not have any all smallie lakes around here so when the water hits 50* I go to the Rogue. When I do travel and fish all smallie waters and the water is under 60* the X-Rap is the way to go. Glad to see it is not just me.