Jerkbaits Fishing

[JWOA]

  I read of all the articles I could fine here, question is line size....Mono or Fluro? Is a 6.3 or 7.1 to fast....I will be throwing it on  a 6' fiberglass rod...according to one article. I know the article said match colors....but what colors match shad and bluegill? Any more tips...also here in Georgia the water is 62 degrees...

[rockchalk06]

After a bunch of switch ups, change ups, I've finally found my set up. I settled on an Avid 6'6" MF with a Curado 50E. I had a bunch of people recommend Sunline Supernatural Mono in 12#.

I can't see any reason to go with a 7 gear reel. 25-26 IPT feels perfect for me.

As for colors, I'm still experimenting with some myself. I've been doing good on Ghost blue and bright colors.

[Hi Salenity]

It's going to be a lot of personal preference and trial and error. I like a medium extra fast rod. I also use 12# yo-z or abrazx.

Some use braid and a moderate rod.

[iabass8]

i use a 68mxf rod and a 51 size shimano for jerkbaits. i prefer 10# fluoro right now but that's based on the waters i fish and how i want the bait to work. i prefer 10# mono over 12# when i use mono.

[BradGuenette]

6'3" MF Shimano Cumara paired with a Chronarch 50MG for me, I'm also using #10 fluoro.

[kingkong85]

Fluorocarbon because it sinks & that will give you more depth. I've read ***'s article about gear ratios and they said 7.1:1 for jerkbaits.

[Fishes in trees]

I like spinning gear for jerk baits, basically because when the jerkbait bite is on it is generally windy and for me it is easier to deal with spinning gear in the wind.  I am currently using a 6'3" med action spinning rod.  I know that a longer rod will give me more distance.  A longer rod will also slap the side of the boat every time I jerk, if I'm not careful and I am often not careful.  My current line choice is 14 lb Fireline crystal and a 2 or 3 foot fluorocarbon leader, generally 15 lb or so.

 

The cool thing about the Fireline crystal is that once you get to the depth you want, you can let it go slack and it will function kind of like a strike indicator like you'd use for trout fishing.  I know dozens of times when I got the pointer down to 5 or 6 feet, let the line go slack, wait 20 seconds or so, the line jumps and you tighten up on a fish.  Never felt the strike at all.

[Primus]

 I also prefer spinning gear, I have a 6'9" Medium power fast action rod with a Shimano 3000 size reel with Sunline floro this year. I prefer floro as their is more direct contact with the bait for better response over mono and it usually will get the bait down a little deeper, that said if using floro make sure watching your line for kinks and nicks and when in doubt retie as most of the better jerkbaits are pricey.

 

 Most of the lakes I fish do not have shad where I live in SW Michigan, that said colors like Chartreuse Shad work well for under overcast conditions or if the water has a little stain. Slightly stained or algae green water I like colors similar to the Lucky Craft American shad on sunny days. Sunny days on clear water I will usually fish Ghost Minnow, Ghost Bluegill or Pro Blue translucent type of of colors.

 

 My favorite jerkbaits include the Ima Flit, Megabass Trick Darter & Vision 110, Lucky Craft Pointers and flash minnows and the Rapala Xrap. Good luck.

[JWOA]

  Thanks guys...and if I ever get over my (pride) I'll pick up a spinningr reel

[Smokinal]

See my avi? That's a springtime jerkbait day right there. 7' Med spinning rod, 2500 series reel, 10# Power Pro Super Slick with a 6ft 10# fluoro leader...killin em! I find that jerkbaits are too light for me to use a baitcaster so I use spinning and with that setup, I can cast a mile with it and it's still pretty sensitive.

[SirSnookalot]

Jerkbait fishing is all about the pause, some people pause that bait a minute or so others just a few seconds, what ever is working for the day.  I move the bait with an arm movement and just let the reel take up slack.  I can fish a jerkbait with any rod, hook up is pretty easy the fish is coming after that lure hard.

[Primus]

Great point brought up by SirSnookalot regarding pause in addition cadence has to be considered. Generally speaking when fishing colder water the pauses need to be longer and more frequent, usually when the water is above 50 degree surface temp I can get bites fishing a little quicker pace. For example I've done well with a 3 jerks, short pause followed by 2 jerks cadence. There have been times when after one slight jerk or short pull I've had to wait 30 seconds or more before the next movement especially when fishing very cold water. These variables have to be experimented with each outing, though with experience and practice you can usually sort it out  quickly.

 

Last but not least regarding the retrieve you will want to jerk the semi slack line to make the bait dance, though with certain baits like the Lucky Craft Staysee in colder water I sometimes do better with short pulls.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

i use a 6'6 medium, 10# fluro

[SirSnookalot]

Flouro all the way on that for sure. Fighting fish on jerkbait with braided line kinda scares me. I like getting a lot of line in fast and using a decently limber baitcasting setup.

Why scared with any line ?  It's only a fish, if your bass fishing in most cases you're at least 20 or 30 times bigger, you have the fish outmuscled.  Larger fish don't come around near as often, take your time and enjoy it. If you're a yanker and cranker  and dragging those fish in at warp speed, braid is a heck of lot stronger and lot less to worry about.  Just do the opposite of what the fish does, it jumps you push your rod down, it dives keep your rod up and put pressure on it.  The hardest part about fishing is locating and enticing a strike, the easiest part is landing them.  Your own natural reflexes and reaction will make you master of any fish with any line.

[roadwarrior]

After a bunch of switch ups, change ups, I've finally found my set up. I settled on an Avid 6'6" MF with a Curado 50E. I had a bunch of people recommend Sunline Supernatural Mono in 12#.