Jerkbait Help/ Advice

[Choporoz]

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]

On ‎2‎/‎2‎/‎2016 at 2:50 PM, 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]

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]

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]

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]

On 3/1/2016 at 9:03 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"]

I will use them year round, wider wobble models in summer, tighter wiggle for spring and fall

 

[NCbassraider]

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]

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

[GoneFishingLTN]

How come a baitcaster is more common for a jerkbait than a spinning rod 

[J Francho]

24 minutes ago, 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]

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]

On 11/30/2017 at 9:49 AM, 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]

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]

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]

1 hour ago, 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]

@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]

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]

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]

On 6/22/2018 at 5:44 AM, 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]

On ‎6‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 8:44 AM, 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]

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]

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]

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]

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.