Night time jitterbug Queston

[Limpinglogan]

Night time jitterbug Question..

Should I do a slow constant retrieve or stop and go action...or try both?

[Catt]

Do both & let the bass answer the question...they never get it wrong. 

[A-Jay]

One of favorite baits and ways to fish.

For me - I prefer the Blackest of nights and a constant retrieve. Although I can usually Hear the strike all right, I rarely if ever actually see the strike. So to keep from setting the hook and missing (and to avoid having 2 sets of trebles rocketing toward my face in the dark ) I simply maintain a slow steady pace with the bait even after a strike. I just keep reeling and when I feel the weight of the fish I set up on him. If you haven't already, you might think about changing out the trebles from the stock ones to one of the many higher end hooks - I use a few different ones ~ Mustad triple grip and Gamakatsu to name a couple. If the fish are hitting with the enthusiasm they often use at night, it doesn't take much of a hook set. Now getting an over sized bass that repeatedly goes air-born at night, is a whole different problem. But it's one we really like to have as often as possible.

Good Luck - btw check out the Crazy Crawler as well. Some nights this bait is like magic.

A-Jay

[kLuo]

One of favorite baits and ways to fish.

For me - I prefer the Blackest of nights and a constant retrieve. Although I can usually Hear the strike all right, I rarely if ever actually see the strike. So to keep from setting the hook and missing (and to avoid having 2 sets of trebles rocketing toward my face in the dark ) I simply maintain a slow steady pace with the bait even after a strike. I just keep reeling and when I feel the weight of the fish I set up on him. If you haven't already, you might think about changing out the trebles from the stock ones to one of the many higher end hooks - I use a few different ones ~ Mustad triple grip and Gamakatsu to name a couple. If the fish are hitting with the enthusiasm they often use at night, it doesn't take much of a hook set. Now getting an over sized bass that repeatedly goes air-born at night, is a whole different problem. But it's one we really like to have as often as possible.

Good Luck - btw check out the Crazy Crawler as well. Some nights this bait is like magic.

A-Jay

x2. Keep the retrieve constant and don't try to set the hook until you feel weight on the line.

[gobig]

I agree with Catt. Mix it up and see what they want. By slow rolling this bait and doing nothing else you are turning it into a one trick pony. You can also call attention by adding short rips creating a splash. Changing out the hooks is a good idea the stock ones are crap.

[Limpinglogan]

Th hooks are terrible!! I am putting Gammies on them.

I have been having good luck with big bass on hula poppers (I put new hooks on those as well) and I thought I would give the Jitter bug a try.

I had an absolute monster nail my hula popper a couple days ago and jump three times until it shook  me off. Is there anything I can do to prevent shake offs? I hate losing giants...especially when you get such a good look at them!

[Grey Wolf]

Th hooks are terrible!! I am putting Gammies on them.

I have been having good luck with big bass on hula poppers (I put new hooks on those as well) and I thought I would give the Jitter bug a try.

I had an absolute monster nail my hula popper a couple days ago and jump three times until it shook me off. Is there anything I can do to prevent shake offs? I hate losing giants...especially when you get such a good look at them!

Keep your rod tip low , under water if you can , this will keep the bass from jumping and keep a lot of pressure on the line.

[bilgerat]

Replace the hooks on your Hula Popper. It's got the same crap hooks as the Jitterbug.

[kLuo]

i'm always hesitant to replace the hooks on my jitterbugs because i'm afraid if I unscrew the bottom part, it won't be as strong after I rescrew it back in. has anyone had any experience in this area?

[=Matt 5.0=]

i'm always hesitant to replace the hooks on my jitterbugs because i'm afraid if I unscrew the bottom part, it won't be as strong after I rescrew it back in. has anyone had any experience in this area?

Cut the stock hooks off, use a split ring when replacing.

[bass or bass ?]

My preference is Owner Stingers. I agree with Matt 5.0, cut off old hooks and use split rings to attach new hooks. Place a drop of superglue on each screw head, hook hangers and lip attachment.

[Limpinglogan]

Two weeks ago I caught a 5lb 21" bass on a stock hula popper at 6am...the night before I caught 4 nice fish at 11pm before my wife made come inside.

Since then I took my hula poppers and stripped the hooks off...custom painted them...moved te back hook so that it is coming directly out the back and added owner stingers.

Overall they look realy good! From what I can tell July and august the bite gets tough around me but they seem to like the top water stuff at night and really early in the morning. A big popper seems to single out the big ones too. I lost a giant last week on my custom popper.

I thought I would try the jitterbug so I picked up too and they are half way through my custom paint job and hook modification. These are getting gammies but I think I like the owner stingers better.

One jitter bug is going to be all black the other is getting all black with flecks of glow paint.

I am going to be fishing at night during august!

-Logan

[NebraskaBasser]

Two weeks ago I caught a 5lb 21" bass on a stock hula popper at 6am...the night before I caught 4 nice fish at 11pm before my wife made come inside.

Since then I took my hula poppers and stripped the hooks off...custom painted them...moved te back hook so that it is coming directly out the back and added owner stingers.

Overall they look realy good! From what I can tell July and august the bite gets tough around me but they seem to like the top water stuff at night and really early in the morning. A big popper seems to single out the big ones too. I lost a giant last week on my custom popper.

I thought I would try the jitterbug so I picked up too and they are half way through my custom paint job and hook modification. These are getting gammies but I think I like the owner stingers better.

One jitter bug is going to be all black the other is getting all black with flecks of glow paint.

I am going to be fishing at night during august!

-Logan

Sounds like some cool mods!  Be sure to let us know how you do... and pictures would be nice too!   

[Gone_Phishin]

i'm always hesitant to replace the hooks on my jitterbugs because i'm afraid if I unscrew the bottom part, it won't be as strong after I rescrew it back in. has anyone had any experience in this area?

Cut the stock hooks off, use a split ring when replacing.

Do this. Much easier, and takes the leverage advantage away from the fish; the hooks will move freely and with the fish.

[Jermination]

Reviving this thread, going to go out and do some jitterbug fishing tomorrow night. Growing up i usually only had success doing this on the clear mountain lakes(Hiwassee, Fontana, Chilhowee, etc) but I've had one of those strange feelings that they will get destroyed on Norris(very clear, deep lake, tons of rock). My question is, do you guys throw these things on baitcasters? I learned about this technique from my pappaw about 25 years ago and don't think i've ever thrown one on a baitcaster--15 lb mono on a MH moderate action should be the ticket? 

[georgeyew]

What size Jitterbug do you plan on using? If you are throwing the 3/8 or 5/8 oz, the 15 lb line and MH rod should be just fine. I use 12 lb line and MH on mine.

[scbassin]

What Catt is the way to go. I do use the plop plop method most of the time. I like to also be able to hear it. When I don' t, I set the hook. I have caught many over 5 lbs doing this. Some nights when it is slow switch to a buzzbait it makes more noise.

[Jermination]

9 minutes ago, georgeyew said:

What size Jitterbug do you plan on using? If you are throwing the 3/8 or 5/8 oz, the 15 lb line and MH rod should be just fine. I use 12 lb line and MH on mine.

buddy i bet i have 200 jitterbugs in the garage that were given to me when my pappaw passed, most are the 5/8ths and i'd say half of them are the broken back models

[Guitarfish]

The 5/8th's broken back is the one.

[Smells like fish]

Gee thanks for bringing this thread up ? I've knew that I've always owned some jitterbugs but I never took them seriously and now that I look over what I have I can tell I am slacking bad. So I got on the auction site and found a good deal and I know @JediAmoeba needs to know about this too and yes I know you already have jitterbugs. But there is a seller on there has the jointed 3.5" 5/8oz in about 7 colors $5.99 each. I managed to snag 3 of the black for $23 shipped. So anybody following along there's you a source for a hard to find lure and color.

[RoLo]

Regardless of the lure, varying the retrieve speed & cadence is a given.  

My favorite retrieve for a Jitterbug (day or night) is slow, steady & burbling.  

 

Roger

[JediAmoeba]

43 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

Gee thanks for bringing this thread up ? I've knew that I've always owned some jitterbugs but I never took them seriously and now that I look over what I have I can tell I am slacking bad. So I got on the auction site and found a good deal and I know @JediAmoeba needs to know about this too and yes I know you already have jitterbugs. But there is a seller on there has the jointed 3.5" 5/8oz in about 7 colors $5.99 each. I managed to snag 3 of the black for $23 shipped. So anybody following along there's you a source for a hard to find lure and color.

Did you buy them all?  I cant find it!

[Smells like fish]

Search for "jointed jitterbug 5/8" you'll see the $5.99 price

3 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

Did you buy them all?  I cant find it!

 

[oysterk]

@Smells like fish ugh just made me buy two, my lure-head addiction continues...

[Smells like fish]

I picked up a 6 pack of #1 Owner Stingers to go on my incoming Jitters. Wonder what the preferred size split ring will be? My local shop only carries Owner Hyper Wires so I'll be using those. 

 

Can anybody tell me how to do the rat tail mod to one of these? I'll have a jittery Spro rat style of action using a finesse or trick worm on the rear. 

 

TW and lure net both have these lures currently too for $7.29

So I could have ordered 4 from lurenet, used the code that saved $5, got the free shipping and got 4 of these for $24.16 shipped ?